Baptisms in the Lingayen Gulf

I am so far behind on my blogging, and actually, I have about four unfinished posts waiting, but I want to get this one out there before it gets old.

Saturday afternoon, we were trying to meet up with another couple, to trade off mail and supplies.  As the day progressed, we learned that they would be at a baptism in San Fabian, where we were, so we coordinated with them to meet there.  Turns out, the baptism was to be held at the beach, not at the church, where they usually are.  So we met with several others and caravanned to the beach.  They'd already held the service (hymns, talks, etc.) in the chapel, beforehand.

We'd been to a couple beaches here before, but not this one.  It was much more crowded than what we've seen, though these pics don't really show that.  The beach is lined with "cottages" and "sheds" to rent, and there were lots of vehicles on the beach.

We've noticed that most people here swim in their clothes.

I love these colorful outriggers.

We had to drive half a mile to find a spot private enough for a baptism.  The branch mission leader talked with the owners of the house adjacent to where we were, to get their permission to hold a baptism there.  We had to pay five pesos for each person who went in the water, and more if they wanted to use the shower afterward.  Five pesos is about eleven cents.

Tony really doesn't like driving on the sand, but we never did get stuck.

 Most of our baptisms take place in a font in one of the church buildings.  But yesterday a woman was baptized whose legs are paralyzed, so she couldn't walk down the stairs into the font.  Some men would need to carry her, and the little stairway into the font is just too narrow for that.  So . . .

First, this young boy was baptized.

Then, his sister.

Then the other lady was carried into the water . . .

and baptized.  Look at that smile! 

We don't know these people who were baptized yesterday, because they attend a different branch than we usually do, but it's easy to feel like brothers and sisters with these good folks who have embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ and made this commitment through baptism.

We're so grateful to have these wonderful experiences in the mission!  Life is good!  : )