My Cousins’ Baptism

I believe in Jesus and that discovering God means committing your life to Him, leaving your old ways behind. This transformation, often called an awakening, is celebrated through baptism, symbolizing rebirth.

I was baptized at six, and though some thought I was too young to understand, I knew who Jesus was. I might get re-baptized to reaffirm my faith.

A few years ago, I photographed my cousins’ baptisms, which took place in a lake instead of a church pool. Baptism is a profound, joyful experience, filling you with the Holy Spirit and a sense of purity. It’s a life-changing moment, like a marriage commitment to Jesus.

Before the baptism, we prayed, feeling the gravity of the moment. Birds circled above, adding to the beauty. My grandma, the pastor, and my uncle, my cousins’ father, performed the baptism, just as John the Baptist did with Jesus.

Baptism reveals your flaws and your need for Jesus, but it also uncovers your gifts and purpose. Though the world may distract you, the joy and clarity you find in God’s presence are profound. You return to the world with a renewed purpose, understanding, and child-like joy.