Baptism

This day started like any other Sunday, except I was overly excited. I got my change of clothes ready and I couldn't wait for what was going to happen today. Today, I was going to get Baptized, and so were a bunch of other people. Not to mention, this was going to be my dad's first time baptizing since he became a reverend. I got to church, surprising everyone that I was getting baptized today. I wanted it to be a surprise.

¨Guess what Tete,¨? I said.

¨What?¨ she answered.

¨I´m getting baptized today!¨ I said with excitement.

¨Really, you never told me that,¨ she replied.

¨Yes ma´am, I wanted it to be a surprise,¨ I said.

¨Well you definitely surprised me,¨ she said

I walked away to go upstairs to the changing room and put my change of clothes in it´s designated area. I was so happy that I squealed. I walked back downstairs to the sanctuary and took my seat next to my sister and my aunt.

I tried my very hardest to focus during church. I didn't want to have the thought of getting baptized to control my mind, but still I was very pumped up. Although I was really nervous during the service, I felt really good during church. I felt like God was really proud of me and that he was smiling down on me.

It was getting closer to the time we had to go upstairs and change. My older sister told me that I could go upstairs and take the other girls with me. Being the younger sister that I am, I listened to her and told the other girls to come up with me. The preaching was coming to an end anyway so I tiptoed down the aisle and signaled the other girls to come and join me. We all went to the room.

¨Are you sure that we are supposed to go now,¨ questioned one of the girls.

¨Yeah I'm pretty sure, my sister told me,¨ I explained.

¨If you say so,¨ The girl said.

As we were changing my grandma, the first lady, and the other lady ministers came upstairs. The sermon must be over, I thought.

¨You girls were not supposed to come upstairs without me,¨ my grandma explained.

¨Kayla told me I could go so I thou-¨

¨Well Kayla doesn't know how to run this,¨ my grandma said while cutting me off.

I stayed quiet and kept changing. Everyone else got ready and we all were dressed in white with different color shower caps on our heads. Although I got shut down by my grandma, that didn't stop me from being so excited. There were seven of us counting me that were girls getting baptized.

We finally finished changing and waited for the guys to come down and pray with us. There were more guys than us so there were 16 of us in all. My grandma prayed and when she was done we all got in line from youngest to oldest. The girls went first downstairs and they all were giggling nervously. We sat in the front row where everyone could see us. The church pews were filled with people and the smell of tub water was in the room. Everyone started to sing an old hymn called ¨Take me to the water¨.

It was finally time to line up by the stairs to the tub. All the girls quickly walked over to it. One at a time had to be the case because there were a lot of people. After my younger sister went, it was finally my turn. I walked up the stairs and cautiously walked into the tub. I was so nervous, scared, and excited all at the same time. I'm really doing this, I thought. The water was semi cold and warm. My dad looked me in the eyes and smiled. He asked me a question.

¨Do you want me to hold your nose or do you want to hold your nose¨

I replied, ¨I´ll hold my nose,¨.

Everyone got quiet and my dad started speaking.

¨Kennedi ¨Dee Dee¨ Smith, by the Profession of your faith I baptize you in the name of the father, son, and holy spirit.¨ Then I held my breath and my dad dipped me into the water and picked me back up. I was soaking wet. When I got back up everyone started clapping and singing again. I felt so good and I bet that God was proud of me. At the end of the day I felt closer to God. It's important to get baptized because in the bible Jesus said to do it and I always want to follow and obey him so I did. I had already accepted Jesus into my life and that was the next step. It changed me in a way I can't really explain. Me and God's relationship got closer because I took the next step towards him.