Our last Sabbath in El Nido, we witness the baptisms of the new believers.

The 74 candidates hold hands as they walk into the water together.

One by one, couples, families, friends and strangers go down and come up with smiles on their faces.

Those that have been baptized stand together closer to shore.

Those on shore sing hymns as we watch the people bury their old self into the water and come up in newness of life.

We each take a turn to shake the hands of the newly baptized members, and congratulate them. Although some of them do not speak English, we receive many smiles and nods of thank you.