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As a little girl, Jana knew
she wanted to be baptized one day.
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At 13, she remembered her wish.
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"I'm going to be baptized," she said.
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So Jana started taking
a six-month baptismal class
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at the Russian-speaking
Seventh-Day Adventist church
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that her family attended in Prague,
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the capital of the Czech Republic.
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She excitedly told others about her plans
to give her heart to Jesus.
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Olga, her 21-year-old
adopted sister in Ukraine,
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heard the news and announced:
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"I want to be baptized, too."
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Olga began taking
baptismal classes in Ukraine
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and made plans to travel to Prague
to be baptized with Jana.
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Jana was thrilled that Olga
wanted to be baptized.
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Now, one baptism would become two.
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As the day of the baptism drew near,
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Jana invited relatives and friends
to come watch at the church.
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She also invited her 17 classmates
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from the only Adventist school in Prague.
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"I'm very excited
about being baptized," Jana said.
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"This is a big celebration,
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and I would be happy if you came."
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The school principal
marveled at Jana's excitement,
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as she spoke with her classmates,
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many of whom belong to
other Christian denominations
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or didn't go to church at all.
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Jana's face was shining with joy.
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Finally, the big day arrived.
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Relatives and friends packed the church.
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Jana was so happy.
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When she came out of the water,
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she knew her dream had come true.
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The pastor asked if anyone
wanted to be baptized next time.
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Jana's younger sister, Esther,
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immediately leapt to her feet
and ran to the front of the church.
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Two teenage girls joined her.
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Jana was thrilled.
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Now, one baptism
would become five baptisms.
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Several of Jana's classmates
accepted her invitation
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to attend the baptism.
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After a little while,
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three of those classmates,
two girls and one boy,
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decided that they also
wanted to be baptized.
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Jana was thrilled.
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Now one baptism would become eight.
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But that wasn't the end.
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Jana has an older sister
named Dianna, who is 21
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and a University student in Ukraine.
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Dianna traveled to Prague
to watch Jana's baptism.
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Afterwards, she said,
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"You know?
I also want to be baptized."
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A month later,
Dianna was baptized in Ukraine.
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What is the power of one baptism?
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The Holy Spirit
used Jana's decision to be baptized
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to touch the hearts of eight other people.
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One baptism became nine baptisms.
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"After I was baptized,
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other people also
wanted to be baptized," Jana said.
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Praise God!