Page 91 of Perilous Healing

I cross over toward Abana.

“Good day?” she asks as she releases Eloise and straightens.

“Great day,” I reply.

“I agree.” Abana raises her hand in greeting as Laring, new baby in tow, steps out of the small cottage built just for her and Idra. Everyone here pitched in over the past few months and got most of the village built back better than it was before.

And now that the villagers get to profit off the diamonds found in the mine, they’re flourishing. The church was finished within a month, the wooden building complete with cushioned pews and a cross built and brought here by Silas’s cousin, Bradyn, who as it turns out, loves working with his hands.

It seems so surreal that not that long ago, we were standing amongst pure destruction, and now all around us, people are happily living their lives, laughing, playing, and selling goods they crafted or food they grew.

A hand slips into mine so I tilt my face up to look at Silas. He smiles down at me. “You ready?”

“I am. Are you?” I ask.

He nods. “More than. I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment my entire life.”

“Then let’s do it.”

He leans down and presses his lips to mine. Lance and Pastor Redding make their way over to us, both men chatting happily. Pastor Redding has been in his element since we arrived, along with a friend of his who is going to build a seminary over here in addition to being a guest pastor himself.

“You ready?” Pastor Redding asks Silas.

“I am. Eloise!” he calls out.

She gives Adara a high five, then rushes over toward us. Silas lifts her up and sets her on his shoulders. “Let’s go do this.”

We all climb into the back of trucks, and they take off down the dirt road, heading past where River’s gates once stood, and out into the lush wilderness. I close my eyes and smile as the warm wind hits my face.

I’m so at peace. So completely and utterly different from where I was even a year ago.

Lord, thank You for this moment. For this time here, in this lovely place. Please watch over these people and guide them further into Your light. Please watch over Silas as well. Please continue to work in his life, growing his faith into abundance. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

I open my eyes as we park near the river Silas took me to when I’d been sick. The same place we were rescued by Michael, Bradyn, and his team.

Silas climbs out first, taking Eloise with him before reaching up for me.

“Come stand with me, baby girl,” Adara says as she takes Eloise’s hand and guides her over toward the riverbank where Laring and Idra are already waiting.

Pastor Redding falls into step beside us, and together, alongside Lance, we head down toward the river, too. The water is bright and clear, the air around us charged with the hope we found in this very same place three months ago.

Pastor Redding heads into the water, and Lance follows.

Silas takes my hand and together, we walk down into the water.

It’s cool around my ankles, wrapping the fabric of my skirt around my legs. My heart is pounding, my soul warm even before we make it to the very center where Pastor Redding and Lance are waiting.

I turn back toward the bank.

Michael and Reyna are waiting there, along with Andie and Elijah. Bradyn, Elliot, and Riley are also present, standing on the bank with matching smiles as they watch their cousin prepare to officially accept Jesus.

I take a deep breath.

Pastor Redding begins speaking. “Let us pray.” We all bow our heads. “Dear Lord, we thank You for every blessing You have bestowed upon us. Thank You for the salvation through Your death and resurrection. We ask that You be with Silas and Bianca as they take the next steps in their faith, and that You guide them so that their faith is ever-growing. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.”

“Amen,” I whisper at the same time Silas does.

“Baptism is a time of renewal. Of accepting Jesus and agreeing to follow Him in every part of your life. You are washing away the old and becoming reborn in Him. Silas, do you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and recognize that He is our salvation?”

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