Abraham, Cecelia, Christmas

Even though, due to logistical concerns, the actual event is still probably a few days off, we thought we would tell everyone that Abraham desires to be baptized!
We really haven't said much (almost nothing) about the fact that our Sunday group was "asked" by the school and the public security bureau to stop meeting, but since that time we have followed their instructions and have not held any "open" meetings with our students. We have, however, continued to invite a very select group of seriously interested disciples-in-training to our house for reading, discussion, and prayer.
For Christmas Eve we invited those same students to come over, with any carefully chosen friend whom they thought might be interested, to hear the Christmas narrative, bake ginger bread cookies, and sing a few carols. Cecelia, with her usual enthusiasm, brought two guys from a neighboring college that, somehow, she and Abraham both knew. (I thought I might have heard them say those guys had attended the Sunday group, but I'm not sure. In its heyday that group was attracting a wide and ever-changing array of students, apparently more people than we, or the authorities, could really handle.) We only had a few carols prepared for us to sing, which were, in Cecelia's estimation, a few too few. She insisted that we sing more! "Let's sing the hallelujah songs!" she said, meaning that we should sing more or less all the hymns that she had fallen in love with during our group worship services. So, from memory and by finding karaoke versions online, we proceeded to basically have an impromptu church service.
Her and the others' enthusiasm encouraged us to go ahead and hold a small meeting in our home that next Sunday, which we did. We had just five of us (Phoebe, who would have made six, was already in bed) but it was a good little group. After nearly an hour of singing, followed by group prayers, we dismissed the group, but Abraham asked to stay behind for a minute to speak with us privately. He immediately announced his desire and intention to be baptized, and we then spent another half-hour or so discussing that and other spiritual topics.
He's a great guy, a good disciple, and an amazing example of someone whom God himself has set apart and called. Pray for him and us as we get closer to the actual baptism date.