Julie is the 21-year-old daughter of Alsen’s first-born sister, and lives in Wiaru Village. After worship the first Sunday I was in Malekula she asked to be baptized. Alsen and I spent a couple of hours studying with her about the commitment she was making to put Christ as her Lord. She had many “costs” to consider, such as being the only Christian in her village, leaving her parents’ religion (with whom she still lives), worshiping in spirit and truth by herself each week, carefully considering whom she will marry, etc. Alsen did a good job encouraging her and providing insight from his own experiences. Julie was undeterred by these obstacles and was baptized into Christ. Alsen and I made the two hour trek up to her village the following Monday, so that we could have one more study session with her before I left, and also so that I could see where she lives. Her parents have shown interest in the truth, and I hope to be able to conduct studies there in August.

EB