Visa Vacation to St. Lucia

Last weekend we took a short “visa vacation” to St. Lucia, South Africa so our squad could renew visas before heading back to Eswatini. Even though it was only a couple of days, it felt like such a gift. A time to rest, make our own meals, spend time at the beach, and catch up with our entire squad was simple but so needed.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a trip without a little chaos. I got stung by a jellyfish and we found out there were wild hippos that literally come out at night and will eat people. Just your average weekend getaway, right? But somehow, between the salt water, laughter, and hippo danger, God was doing something deeper.

All day Saturday, I had this strange feeling in my stomach. We knew baptisms were going to happen that night, but I didn’t really know why I was thinking about it so much. During worship at the beach, while we talked about baptism, my chest felt tight; it wasn’t anxiety, but something was definitely stirring inside of me. Then it started storming, so we moved everything back to the hotel.

As I sat by the pool praying over people getting baptized, I couldn’t shake that feeling. When things started to slow down, Braden asked the Holy Spirit to speak, and I just kept hearing one word over and over again: go. I tried to ignore it, but it wouldn’t stop. I told myself I wasn’t doing it; I was cold, wearing someone else’s clothes, and had just showered. But then this huge wave of nausea hit, and again, I heard, go.

The second my feet touched the water, the sick feeling disappeared. When they asked why I wanted to be rededicated, the words just came out:

“My first baptism was real, but the God I know now isn’t the same God I gave my life to two years ago. I don’t just know Him, I KNOW Him. I don’t just love Him, I’m IN LOVE with Him. I want my whole life to belong to Him.” It was like I had no idea what I was saying but everything was what I felt so deep in my heart. I want to go wherever He leads. I’m not who I was before, and He’s not who I thought He was. He’s more merciful, kinder, more loving, more powerful than I ever knew. He’s my everything.

It was the most incredible night, unexpected but overflowing with God’s peace and presence. I came to St. Lucia for a visa, but I left with a renewed heart and a deeper love for the One who never stops pursuing me.