Nov 13, 2019 The question Judy never expected to hear
On a recent mission to the Philippines, Judy experienced something for the first time that she never dreamed would happen! Even though she is a veteran QHM team member and has been on many mission trips, Judy never fails to encounter a unique experience. That’s what’s beautiful about missions, whether on mission trip five or 100, God is always doing new things through those who are willingÑand Judy is a perfect example!
When she arrived at her site, Judy met Jonabel. This young 17-year-old girl had arrived, along with several other youth, to help Judy lead the children’s program. But most of the youth were church members and Jonabel was a Catholic. Judy discovered that church members had been studying the Bible with Jonabel for a long time, but she always said she wasn’t ready to be baptized.
Although Jonabel longed to help and be involved, she was a little bit shy. Judy noticed that each night Jonabel would attend, but she mostly just watched and didn’t interact with people. So, Judy determined to make friends with her and encourage her to participate. Slowly, over the course of the week, Jonabel started interacting with people.
Judy told Jonabel that she should keep studying the Bible because, she said, There’s a lot happening in the world today and we don’t when Jesus is coming! She also encouraged Jonabel to get baptized. When Judy asked if there was something stopping her from being baptized, Jonabel said there wasn’t–she just didn’t want to. Judy simply continued encouraging her.
On the last Friday of the meetings, Jonabel came up and whispered to Judy that she had decided to get baptized on Sabbath, which surprised Judy after everything Jonabel had been saying! The young girl said she didn’t want anyone to know ahead of time that she was getting baptized. Then she said something that shocked Judy!
I want you to be in the water with me when I’m baptized, whispered Jonabel. Judy was amazed! She’d never been in the water with someone when they were being baptized and she felt honored that Jonabel felt cared for enough to ask.
On Sabbath morning, however, Judy didn’t see Jonabel at church and, knowing her shy personality, Judy figured she had changed her mind about the baptism. But soon, one of the youth helpers said, “Jonabel is outside crying and wants to get baptized but she didn’t tell any of us before now!”
Judy told the youth that they were a key in Jonabel’s journey even though she was afraid to tell them she was making the decision. Without their friendship and inclusion, Jonabel may never have made the decision.
To everyone’s joy, Jonabel was baptized by Pastor Dan Smith as Judy stood in the water alongside her! Judy had never had that experience of going in the water before and she was honored to be that special support for Jonabel.
