We second that immersion

MD volunteer Lucinda takes the baptismal plunge on location. She explains how it happened and how it has changed her:

“I often wondered when I would finally take courage in hand and 'take the plunge.' I had never imagined my baptism would take place in the seas of the Caribbean, though.

I grew up in a Christian household and loved going to church, mainly for the music and games! When I got to school I was bullied quite a lot so I hid my faith, but by doing that I started to doubt everything myself.

A friend took me to Soul Survivor a couple of years a go and something  sparked my interest again. I began to get involved in the kids’ church and started reading my Bible. I was ready to reinvigorate my faith. Going on the mission to the Dominican Republic was amazing; I loved every minute of it. What was really inspiring for me was seeing that the people who lived there had so little, yet they were so happy.

In those two weeks I grew so close to God, I could pray for people and talk to others about my faith. At the same time I could feel myself becoming more confident and being more and more comfortable with whom I am - all things I have never been able to do before. Something had changed in me, and getting baptised suddenly felt completely right – I knew it was the next step in my life. I asked Claire, one of the team leaders and she agreed to it; I was delighted.

It happened in the sea on the final morning before church. I had always thought that my baptism would be a low-key affair, but it turned into something rather more public: along with the whole team there was a small crowd of onlookers who were breakfasting at a beach-front café. All the same, I felt so comfortable; one of the team, Keir, had learned my favourite worship song especially for the occasion.

At the end, everyone applauded – even the breakfasters!

The trip and baptism made me so much more involved in my church at home and I have found myself reading my Bible so much more. Together, the trip and baptism felt like a kind of starting block for my life as a Christian.

And we really deserved that round of applause; there had just been a hurricane in the DR and the sea was really chilly."

To learn more about Mission Direct trips to The Dominican Republic click here.