SEBRING MISSIONARY BAPTIZED IN EL SALVADOR
Dubbed as the “crazy missionaries” from Lakeland Church, the participants responded, “Crazy for where we might be going? If Jesus wants us there, we’d be crazy not to go!”
Aldo Cendejas came on the mission trip to help people and ultimately decided to be baptized.
by Ron Hoffecker
“I’m not an Adventist,” said Aldo from Sebring Spanish Church in Florida, but I’ve been around the church for a long time, and I wanted to come on this El Salvador mission trip and help people.”
“What’s keeping you from being baptized and joining the church?” I asked, as a pastor from Lakeland, Florida.
“Nothing,” he answered. “I’ve just never done it.”
“Now’s the time, then,” I assured him.
“Yes…Yes, I think it is,” he concluded.
So, on Sabbath afternoon, thousands of miles from Florida, one of our own missionaries came down to the river. You see, there is very little in the life of a pastor (or anyone else) more wonderful than seeing someone come to the Lord. To know that someone has begun a new life in Christ, and to have the privilege of helping in that start, is something to live for.
“I’m not an Adventist,” said Aldo from Sebring Spanish Church in Florida, but I’ve been around the church for a long time, and I wanted to come on this El Salvador mission trip and help people.”
“What’s keeping you from being baptized and joining the church?” I asked, as a pastor from Lakeland, Florida.
“Nothing,” he answered. “I’ve just never done it.”
“Now’s the time, then,” I assured him.
“Yes…Yes, I think it is,” he concluded.
So, on Sabbath afternoon, thousands of miles from Florida, one of our own missionaries came down to the river. You see, there is very little in the life of a pastor (or anyone else) more wonderful than seeing someone come to the Lord. To know that someone has begun a new life in Christ, and to have the privilege of helping in that start, is something to live for.
Aldo Cendejas came on the mission trip to help people and ultimately decided to be baptized.
We were on a mission trip from Lakeland, Florida, all the way to Suchitoto, El Salvador. Many people had worked and sacrificed long and hard to get us there — so much prayer on the part of so many, and so many blessings from God.
My own personal highlights of this trip are shared in the following scenes:
My own personal highlights of this trip are shared in the following scenes:
- Daisy’s cheeks were already wet with tears of joy before plunging beneath that cleansing flood.
- Robert, who was very sick, would not go to the hospital before he had come to the Lord.
- Michael came with a wide grin pasted on his face.
- Rosa stood for her faith, even though it cost her a job.
- Aldo came in his own quiet way.
And here we were. All of our planned activities were a huge success. Many people helped in the clinics. Many kids were blessed with their activities. Many decisions were made with more to come. We had baptized more than 70 souls during the week as we reached our last Sabbath in El Salvador.
The moment sank in for me as I came down to the river. At this capstone of our mission trip, I was privileged to personally baptize five souls in a muddy river in far away El Salvador.
It doesn’t get any better than that. I can only humbly breathe, “Worthy, worthy is the Lamb.” God has done so much.