At first it felt like an accidental brush of fingertips on my forearm. Then it turned to a stroke of the hand from my wrist to my elbow. I glanced down to see the sweet grin and shy eyes of a girl of perhaps eleven as she ran her fingers over my arm, seemingly enthralled with my white, sunblock-smeared skin. I smiled back at her and then returned my gaze to the speaker of the morning church service. Her hand gently clasped mine, and I winked at her. We held hands for a long time. This precious child became my shadow throughout that Sabbath day on our recent visit to the Gogodala Project in Papua New Guinea.

It was a high Sabbath. Five villages had united to rejoice over the baptism of 31 souls. For many, it was the answer to years of prayer that loved ones would accept Christ as their personal Savior.

After the church service, we gathered at the edge of the swirling river. The sun beat down on us, and perspiration drenched me. However, no one seemed to notice the heat as the first two people entered the water. Then it became a time of rejoicing as my shadow and I watched each person come out of the water brand-new in Christ! I noticed that my sweet friend was riveted to the scene before her. When I touched her shoulder, she seemed not to notice. When everyone had come back out of the water, she beamed from ear to ear. Something important to her had just happened, but I didn’t know what it was.

I was surprised early in the evening when the much-beloved head elder of the Kotale church mentioned to me that he was the father of my young friend. I always enjoy connecting with this godly man each time we visit. His story is a testimony to the transforming power of God. Once he was known as a dangerous criminal. Now he is standing strong in the Lord with a smile that radiates love for his Savior who has forgiven him.

He told me how excited his daughter was to receive the fan I gave her and about the pact we made that she would pray for missionaries in Southeast Asia. He said he had told her that one day she, too, could be a missionary to reach others—people like her mother, who had been baptized that day.

My mouth fell open as I realized why my young friend had been so focused on the baptism. After many years of praying for her mother’s conversion, their family was now united in Christ!

My heart overflowed with praise to God at His Spirit’s working in the hearts of this family and the desire of this young girl to serve Him and reach other people’s mothers!

Thank you for giving me the privilege of witnessing such a beautiful day and seeing my shadow becoming a light for Jesus.

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