Leah had long since left pride behind her, but she was pleased she understood perfectly Bishop Stoltzfus’s words in Deitsch as she knelt before the bishop and the deacon, in the presence of the whole community. She placed one hand over her face, covering her eyes. The deacon’s wife removed her kapp, and she felt unclothed without it.
Speaking solemnly, the bishop intoned the ancient words. “Are you willing, by the help and grace of Gott, to renounce the world, the devil, your own flesh and blood, and be obedient only to Gott and His church?”
“Yes.”
“Are you willing to walk with Christ and His church and to remain faithful through life until death?”
Leah didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“Can you confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of Gott?”
“I confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of Gott.”
“Can you abide by the Ordnung of the church according to the word of the Lord, be obedient and submissive to it, and to help therein?”
This is it, thought Leah. “I can.” And immediately she felt a great weight lift off her shoulders.
“Then...” The bishop paused, and Leah heard the sound of water. She knew the deacon was pouring water into the bishop’s cupped hands. “I baptize you in the name of the Father...” Water poured over her head and dripped down her neck. “And of the Son...” More water. “And of the Holy Spirit. Amein.”
Leah lowered her hand and smiled at the bishop, blinking through the drops running down her face. The deacon’s wife handed her a clean handkerchief and waited until Leah mopped up, then—grinning—leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Welkom,” she murmured.
Leah laughed with pure joy. “Danke.” She took her kapp from the deacon’s wife and slipped it back over her hair.
The bishop helped her to her feet. “May the Lord Gott complete the good work which He has begun in you, and strengthen and comfort you to a blessed end through Jesus Christ. Amein.”
Leah felt a surge of sureness, of rightness, from the ritual. She was now a full-fledged member of the community. She turned and locked eyes with Isaac, whose face shone like a lighthouse.
This baptism had taken place on a crisp October Sabbath after the church meeting. During this service, she was the only one being baptized, unusual for the ceremony. In less than a week, she and Isaac would be wed. Edith and Ivan were to stand in lieu of parents for her during the marriage ceremony.
During the remainder of the Sabbath service, in which other ministers gave testimony about the importance of baptism, she sat next to an expectant Sarah, whose beautiful face had only grown more beautiful during her first pregnancy.
“Happy?” Sarah whispered.
“Completely,” she murmured, feeling an inner glow of joy.
After the service, when people gathered to visit, Rachel bestowed a rare hug on Leah. “It’s hard to believe you’ve been here over a year.” She spoke in Deitsch.
“Best year of my life,” replied Leah, also in Deitsch, nodding as Aaron joined them, standing next to Sarah, his wife.
Edith, carrying little Charity, wandered over.
“I’ll take her.” Leah slipped the toddler into her arms. She never lost an opportunity to hold the child, though Charity was learning to walk and more often than not wanted to practice her new skill.
“That was a lovely ceremony,” said Edith. “I’m so happy for you.”
“But not as happy as I am.” Isaac strode up.
Leah turned to her fiancé. “Ready for the big day?” she asked, referencing their wedding that was to take place the following Thursday.
“Can’t wait!” He winked.
Leah laughed, again from pure joy. The sense of love and community she had found among these people never failed to fill her cup to overflowing.
Conversation turned to general topics, but Leah found herself a bit aside, looking over the clusters of men and women and children, chattering and talking.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Isaac asked her in English, in a low voice.
“Just—just so thankful God put me here,” she replied. “I mean, look at them. Every one of these people have accepted me, taught me, instructed me in the Ordnung, corrected me, loved me. It’s something that just doesn’t exist in Los Angeles.” She touched her cheek, where the scar was fully healed, though still visible. Since mirrors were rare, she seldom thought about it anymore. “This is the best thing that ever happened to me. God had such plans for me, and I just couldn’t see or understand them at first. But now...” She felt her eyes prickle.
“I feel the same way. When I first laid eyes on you, I knew Gott had sent the woman who would become my wife.”
“I just didn’t know about it yet.”
“Oh, you knew about it right away. You just fought me tooth and nail.” He grinned.
She chuckled. “It wasn’t you I was fighting. It was God. Fortunately that was a battle I was happy to lose.” She resisted the urge to step up and kiss him.
Kisses would come soon enough.
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Available now from Love Inspired!
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Keep reading for an excerpt from His True Purpose by Danica Favorite.