One of your first concerns after you have been baptized into Christ is the spiritual well-being of friends and family members. Such has certainly been the case for Patrick Tasso since his baptism back in December. The native of Tanna island has worked hard to teach friends and family of his new life in Christ. He has taken me to meet and study with several family members and more studies are on the horizon. Also, he like all Ni-Vanuatu is particularly concerned for the people of his home island. He hangs his head while saying that almost none of them follow Jesus.

In the future we will go and teach but for right now the work is all in front of him. Part of that work is his sister Merriam. Merriam is a typical island woman except that she has both a speech and hearing impediment. She speaks only the local Tanna dialect and is never far from the help of family members. Patrick has been teaching her and she has been attending worship with Patrick and Ruth. Patrick came to me about two weeks ago asking for advice and whether she should be baptized. I told him again that it was her decision but that I trusted his judgment as to her understanding. I talked to him and gave him some studies to teach to her so that she would fully understand her commitment. Merriam is like many people in Vanuatu. She has been baptized five different times into 5 different denominations. Sprinkled, immersed, coerced and generally confused. People are convinced and re-convinced of their spirituality so they baptize again and again hoping to get it right in the next denomination. Patrick told her the message of one church, that Jesus will save one church, and there is only one way to get into that church. Baptism with the proper means (immersion) and the proper understanding (for forgiveness, entrance into the church, and salvation).

On the 18th of March Patrick came to me to say that Merriam was ready to be baptized. He wasn’t feeling well this day but I called Eric and Aaron and we all went down to the baptizing spot at Malapoa. Patrick said that he could not baptize her because of his illness so we asked Flexon, one of the newer converts to do it but he declined out of a little fear. So I had the honor of baptizing her into Christ. A simple act with such a great meaning. The angels rejoiced this day as a new child of God was born. Now she will have the support of her brother and sister-in-law in her new a true spiritual walk.

One of goals is to teach the people here to teach others. Patrick is doing this and his work is just starting. We all don’t need to go into all the world, sometimes family is the best mission field of all.

MO