Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not upon thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy path.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Johanna

A cool breeze gently brushed through my hair as I walked past the tall grasses I had only admired from a distance earlier. Now, standing among them, I found myself unable to stop singing praises to God. Ever since He placed that new language on my lips, I felt so alive—like something in me had awakened. My praise seemed endless, as though my spirit had found a new song that would never run dry.

Just days ago, I believed I had already reached the height of God's presence—as if what I had previously experienced was the fullness of it. But I was wrong. There was more. So much more. How could I have thought I could measure the presence of God with human expectations? His glory can't be contained or defined by any scale we know.

I sat down among the grasses, letting the earth cradle me as I admired the sunset. It was enchantingly beautiful. I had been to the mountain ranges before—but today was different. I knew, deep in my heart, I would never forget this moment.

"Isn't it fascinating?"

Startled, I quickly stood up, my heart skipping a beat. I turned and saw Melchour just a few steps behind me, his eyes also fixed on the sunset.

"Oh! You startled me, Manung..." I laughed lightly, placing a hand over my chest to calm myself. I slowly sat back down, still slightly flustered. How long had he been there?

"Sorry about that, Anna," he replied with a gentle chuckle. "I heard your footsteps. I love it here too—the sunset always takes my breath away."

I smiled as his words settled over me like the breeze. "So... you love sunsets too?"

"I sure do."

"Oh... then I guess we have that in common," I said with a quiet laugh, turning my gaze back to the horizon.

The sun had now dipped halfway below the mountains, painting the sky in fiery reds, warm oranges, and golden yellows. As each minute passed, the colors deepened, and the view only grew more magical.

"I'm glad for what happened today," he said softly.

"Oh... you mean the baptism?" I turned to him, heart still full. "Yes, so am I. It was such a beautiful, unforgettable experience." I met his eyes as I continued, "Thank you, Manung... for bringing me here."

A gentle smile formed on his lips, one that said more than words could.

"So... how did it feel when you were baptized in the Spirit?" he asked, his tone sincere.

I paused, reflecting on the moment. The emotions, the stirring, the fire... it all came back to me in waves.

"I felt..." I looked up at him, searching for the right words. But they didn't come. "...Indescribable."

He let out a quiet chuckle. "I understand. Most of the time, these moments are exactly that—indescribable."

"Yes, yes it was," I agreed, drawing in a deep breath as I looked back at the fading light. "And it was... so indescribably beautiful."

Melchour
"So, Manung... what do you love most about sunsets?" she asked, her voice soft as the light faded across the hills.

I glanced at the horizon before answering. "Hmm... maybe the way it reflects God's beauty and glory. I sometimes call it a glimpse of heaven woven into creation."

"Wow," she whispered, lowering her gaze, as if gathering the right words.

"You know, back when I was younger..." she began, her voice laced with reflection, "I always felt drawn to sunsets. Whenever I looked at them, I saw beauty... even while my life felt so messy. It reminded me that somehow, somewhere... there was still hope for me." She paused. I listened closely as we both stared at the sun slowly dipping behind the hills.

"...And now that I've actually found that hope—now that I've found Him—sunsets mean even more. They're like little reminders that even in the middle of all the world's darkness... there's still light. There's still something beautiful. There's still hope."

I turned my eyes to her, catching the golden light resting on her features. Her hair was tied in a simple bun, with a few strands falling gently around her face. There was something peaceful about her. Quiet. Steady. And in that moment, I was grateful—grateful for the Bible I held in my hand... a weight of purpose and restraint. Because as much as I wanted to reach out, to tuck that loose strand behind her ear, I knew I had to wait. I had to listen for the Lord's voice first.

"That's... fascinating," I finally said, breaking the silence with a calm nod. I looked back toward the sunset. "But look—the sun's almost gone. Should we head back? We've got a night trip ahead of us."

She gave the sky one last look and then nodded. I stood and dusted myself off, only to see her stretch a hand toward me with a smile.

"Please?" she asked simply.

I took her hand without hesitation and gently helped her up.

But when she stood, she looked up at me... and I found myself staring longer than I should have. Her eyes caught the last rays of sunlight, glowing with something I couldn't name. My chest tightened a bit.

"Uhh... Manung? Are you..."

In a snap, I blinked, realizing I'd lingered too long. I let go of her hand and looked away, clearing my throat as we began walking.

The silence between us wasn't awkward—it was full. Full of meaning. Full of things that could wait until God said it was time.

Johanna

I carefully took my folded clothes and placed them in my bag, one by one. An hour had already passed, and yet I still couldn't shake the memory of what happened earlier. The way he looked at me... the way he held my hand... it was as if something had stirred deep inside me, and now my heart felt like it was in the middle of a quiet riot.

I swallowed hard, the thoughts rushing in like an unwelcome storm.

Could he possibly...?

My hand gripped the strap of my sling bag tighter as the thought echoed again in my mind. I shook my head, almost too harshly.

No. That's impossible.

It had to be my imagination—wishful thinking running wild. There was no way. No way someone like him could feel that way toward someone like me. I was far too simple... too plain. Not the kind of woman a man like him would ever notice that way.

"Oh Lord... please," I whispered under my breath, "please take these feelings from my heart."

"Are you ready?"

I looked up quickly and saw Shiela stepping out of the bathroom, her smile as bright and easy as always.

"Yeah..." I replied, zipping up my bag with a soft sigh. "Just need to wrap up a few more things."

"Alrightie!" she chirped, giving me a cheerful nod before walking out of the room.

As the door clicked shut behind her, I drew in a long breath and turned back to my things. The more time I spent around Melchour, the harder it became to ignore what I was feeling. There was something about the way he carried himself, the way he spoke about the Lord, the way he looked at people—with strength and gentleness all at once.

And yet, even in all the admiration, a quiet melancholy pressed against my chest.

I need to guard my heart.

Before it grows deeper... before it grows serious... I have to remind myself—he belongs to the Lord, and so do I.

Melchour
A few minutes passed, and soon everyone had gathered, ready to leave. We stood together in a circle, prayed, and began our descent. It would be about a 45-minute walk to the main road, just in time to catch the 8 PM night trip back to the city.

As we started walking, I scanned the group and spotted Anna. She was trailing just slightly behind, squinting at the trail with each cautious step.

"Anna, are you okay back there?"

"Uhh... I am, Manung," she answered with a short laugh. "It's just that it's a bit dark, isn't it?"

"It is," I replied, glancing at the barely visible path ahead. "Here—walk ahead of me. I'll light the way." I reached my arm out toward her, gesturing for her to come over. She was on the opposite side of the narrow trail, so she'd have to cross over to get to me.

She paused, took a quiet breath, and finally reached for my hand.

"Thank you," she said softly.

The moment our hands touched, a wave of tension surged through me. I remembered earlier—how close I'd felt to crossing a line I wasn't sure I was ready for. The memory flickered fast, but the weight of it lingered. Just the sight of her... the nearness... it stirred something in me. Something strong. Something I wasn't entirely ready to face.

I took in a deep breath and held the flashlight steady as she moved ahead. I kept the beam focused on her path, careful, intentional.

Lord, this is getting serious.

Each step forward felt heavier than the last—not because of the trail, but because of the battle inside. I need Your word before this feeling goes any deeper. I won't act unless You speak.

I watched her figure move ahead, lit by the soft beam of my light.

How long, Lord... how long do I wait?