Chapter II: Part 2

The city was very beautiful, nestling in the valley, surrounded by mountains and sea. The beach was thronged with bathers. The streets and courts were lined with tropical flowers, palm and cocoanut trees. The sun was so warm that we were soon persuaded to remove our coats and sweaters, and we stepped into a hotel court to rest.

We noticed one beggar after another coming in and asking alms. Going out into the streets again we noticed they seemed to be filled with poor, ragged, barefoot people begging. On inquiry we were told this was “Beggars’ Day,” when the poor came out and received help.

As we sat in the plaza and saw all the sin and wickedness around us, we were reminded of Paul’s experience at Athens. His spirit was stirred when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry, and found the altar with the inscription, “To the unknown God.” Truly our spirits were stirred when we saw the high spires on the cathedral, and the altar within, and realized that God was not known to the people. The many beggars were a striking picture of the great need of the whole city. The beggars’ dirty rags told of their need of the robes of righteousness. Their bare feet showed the need of being shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, for truly they had no peace. Many of them were blind, and surely they were blind to the truth. Beggars would come and touch us, and ask alms. Like Peter and John, silver and gold we did not have, but we could tell them of Jesus, and we did so. But they were so blind and deaf they did not seem to know what we were talking about.

We were taken by a gentleman in a carriage to see the places of interest in the city, which were many. Then we returned to the ship, but found it would not be ready to sail for some time yet. We seated ourselves on the deck and watched the many boats and launches that covered the waters. The wind was strong and the waves ran high. We saw a small row-boat with two men in it, rowing hard for the shore. It made me think of the great mass of people here who were being tossed by the waves of sin.

=“Captain, Lower the Gang-Plank for I am Coming.”=

Then the Spirit gave me a picture of the sinner as the small boat tossed to and fro by the high waves of sin. The large steamer, with all her passengers, very peaceful, and with no toiling to keep afloat, represented the children of God with all His cargo of love and grace in their souls. They did not have to work to keep saved, but He saved them and they were at home on the waters of His love. I seemed to hear the Lord say that as the waters of this mighty ocean could come in on that little boat, and sink it beneath its waves, never again to be found, even so His great love for the sinner could come in on his frail bark of sin, swallow it up, and sink it in the sea of forgetfulness, never again to be found.

Darkness began to settle over the waters. The whistle had blown, the gang plank been pulled in, and the vessel was slowly moving away. Suddenly we heard a cry coming over the waves, =“Captain, lower the gang plank, for I am coming.”= In the dim evening light we could see a man standing in the launch that was coming as fast as it could. Again the cry came, =“Captain, lower the gang plank, for I am coming.”= It was our freight clerk, who had been ashore, drinking and indulging in sin, until he had almost missed his opportunity to get on board. But at the captain’s command they lowered the gang plank, the clerk jumped on it and came on board.

To me this taught a lesson. The big ship Salvation has pulled into the harbor of the needy, the needy one comes in his little row-boat of trouble and cries for help, and the gang plank, the Gospel of love, is let down to him, and he jumps on and is saved. So, as we go among these needy people, in their little old row-boats toiling on the angry waters of sin, we hope to see the dear old Gospel ship of Zion pull into many a harbor, and lower the gang plank of love and mercy, and see people jumping on and coming aboard for the glory-land. For truly, Jesus is coming soon, and what we do we must do quickly, ere they perish.

At another port we had to wait a day for the unloading of cargo. Many natives came to the ship to sell birds and different things, and we had a wonderful opportunity to give out the Word of God to them. How eager they were to hear of the love of God to save them. One old man came up out of his little boat and said. “Are there many people in your country who know about this great God, and how He sent His Son to die for us?” We told him there were many who knew about it. Then he said, “Why don’t they come and tell us about it and help us to find Him.” We were speechless, for we knew there were few who would leave all to tell them of Jesus and His power to save.

=“I’ll Be Waiting for You When Your Ship Returns.”=

Several little boys came on board from the many boats and lighters, and played with Carl. He brought out his little train, that ran on a track. They had never seen anything like that before, so they spent the day with him. We gave each one tracts and a Testament to carry home. How their little dark faces did shine with delight when we told them of the love of Jesus for every one of them, and how God had sent us to tell the people to get ready, for He was soon coming back to earth. One little fellow was very much interested, asking many questions about the Bible and the tracts we had given him.

Just then the bell rang, and orders were given for every visitor to get off, for the ship was ready to go. As this dear little fellow took Carl’s hand and shook it he said, =“I will be waiting for you when you come back. I will wait every day till I see this ship return, and then you can tell me more about Jesus and how to find this peace you have.”=

He rowed away in a small boat, and, as far as we could see, we saw his little hand waving, and heard him saying, =“I will be waiting for you when you come back.”=

How we wept, for we knew we would not come that way again, and realized that the little fellow might never again hear the Gospel. Shall we fail to go to them with the bread of life?

THE STARS AND STRIPES AND BEAUTIFUL MANZANILLA

We reached Manzanilla on January 19th. Pulling ourselves up on the dock out of the little boat that brought us ashore, and walking a short distance, we came to the street on the water front. It was filled with people who had gathered to see the ship come in. With eager faces they watched the unloading of the cargo. We thought if only the many launches and boats that had gone to the ship for passengers and cargo could bring messengers and messages to this hungry people’s souls, what a blessed thing it would be!

We walked through the little city. The streets were filled with barefoot men, women, and children, many of whose clothes were ragged and dirty. Many pigs and sick dogs were roaming about eagerly hunting food, which appeared to be scarce. Our hearts were touched. As we looked up to Heaven there came a cry from my soul for the deliverance of these people.

Our attention was attracted by the ringing of a bell away up the mountain side. There we saw a small white Temple. The people began to swarm up there, answering the call of the bell. We went up with them. As we stepped inside the great iron gate that is kept closed at all other times, but was now opened for the people to enter, we saw the poor barefoot, ragged creatures enter, and kneeling down, make the sign of the cross and worship the tall image before them, then rise to their feet and pass out.

The floor of the temple was dirty, and the seats covered with dust. We were made to think of the Scripture in Isaiah 1:6:

=“From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores; they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Your country is desolate.”=

Surely the whole country is devoid of the power and glory of the God who made them in His own image.

As we stood there in the gate of the temple, we saw, high up on the mountain, the American flag waving in the ocean breezes. The flag was on the home of the American consul. It seemed to speak of freedom for that poor suffering people.

Oh that God’s children, who have been touched by Divine power and filled with God’s love, would go in upon the wings of faith and prayer, lift the blood-stained banner of Jesus, and wave it o’er this desolate land till it resounds with the falling of the Latter Rain, which is able to make it bud and bloom and bring forth fruit unto eternal life!

Upon returning to our ship the burden was so heavy on me that I fell on my knees and cried to God to save these people. Then the Lord said,

=“What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the churches.”—Rev. 1:11, 19.=

We saw men with bands around their heads holding great packs on their necks. They were carrying loads from the boats which were bringing the ship’s cargo to shore. Truly they were pictures of the spiritual bondage of the people staggering under their burdens of sin, and with the yoke of the devil on their necks.

O, my Lord, in travail of soul I cry,
That Thou wilt hear and answer from the sky,
And send Thy Holy Spirit down in power!
O let it fall, my Lord, in a mighty shower!

O save this people from the tempter’s snare!
Let them in Thy heavenly glory share—
Save them, O Lord, from sin and shame,
That they may know the power of Jesus’ name.

SALINA CRUZ, MEXICO.

My Vision Interpreted

Here God gave me the interpretation of the vision which I had when I was saved, fifteen years before. From under the altar where I was kneeling I saw a great white cloud boiling out, full of upstretched black hands.

We were in Mexican waters and there was some trouble at this port. We expected to stay there about two days. Everyone was cautioned to be careful not to do or say anything that would stir up trouble. As we had been giving out tracts and Bibles at every port as we came down, we thought to do the same here, but we were told it would be dangerous to do so for it might cause a disturbance.

As we sat there and saw the dear people come down to the boat to sell things, our hearts were stirred, for we saw them as sheep having no shepherd. A group of fruit peddlers was sitting near. Taking some Spanish tracts and Testaments, I went over and talked to them as much as I could with my limited knowledge of the language, and gave them Gospel literature. A crowd gathered around, each holding out a hand for tracts. Even the custom house officers dressed in white, as is customary in the tropics, came over. The people came running from all sides, till soon I was pressed upon by them. Some flat cars were standing near. I climbed upon one of these to get out of the press, but the people climbed up, too, holding out their black hands for the little messengers. There must have been two or three hundred crowding around.

As I was up there on that flat car looking down upon the poor hungry souls, holding out their black hands for the Bread of Life, I began to weep, and to speak in tongues. God spoke through me in Spanish to these dear hearts, telling them the story of the cross, and how and why Jesus died for us. It must have been an hour that I stood there in the hot sun, talking to them. They wept and begged for more tracts to carry home to their loved ones. One man, who could speak English, said to me, “We did not think you could speak our language so well,” then he told me what I had said.

And there my vision of the white cloud full of black hands was interpreted. Dressed in white, they were reaching out black hands for the gospel. Shall they call in vain? Oh, no! We will carry to them the gospel, the blessed story of Jesus and His wonderful love. They, too, shall be saved and ready when He comes.

In many places in Mexico the power of God is falling. In one place a Mexican heard the gospel and was saved. He began preaching to the people. The Holy Spirit fell, and about a hundred received the Baptism. They were calling for a missionary to come to them. Shall we linger? Shall we not answer these calls?

The wonderful love of God is better far than gold;
The wonderful love of God is better felt than told;
The wonderful love of God so deep, so full, so free;
The wonderful love of God as fathomless as the sea;
The wonderful love of God from Heaven to earth is sent;
The wonderful love of God for each poor sinner is meant.
Tell it! Sing it! Preach it! Till all the earth around
Shall hear thereof, and God be found.

THE VIRGIN OF THE ANGELS

The people worship many different kinds of idols. Sometimes they walk hundreds of miles to do penance to some stick of wood or piece of stone which has been set up by the priests.

We met one young man who told us he had crawled three hundred miles, carrying a golden dish, valued at ten thousand dollars. This idol to which he crawled is in Costa Rica, and is called “=The Virgin of the Angels=.” The people have been made to believe that this little image of black stone, three and a half inches high, can perform all sorts of miracles such as opening blind eyes, healing the deaf, and driving away evil spirits. The temple in which this idol is kept was built at a cost of one million dollars. Once a year this “Virgin of the Angels” is carried to visit all the other santos (saints-idols) that she may bless them, and give them more power for the ensuing year. This immense temple is literally lined with gold and silver dishes and cooking utensils brought there by the rich inhabitants of the country, with the hope that the image would bless and heal them. Just outside the temple are stacks of corn, bananas, coffee, sticks and stones, which the poor people have brought that they, too, might have their sins taken away and their diseases healed.

They are begging for the Gospel. Their call comes to you and me,

=“Come over and help us!”=

and God asks, “=Who will go for us?=” Isaiah 6:8. Who will leave home, friends, and loved ones, and go out, not knowing whither they go? They will have to eat native foods that are unclean and unwholesome, and which may cause fevers and various sicknesses. They may have to sleep in old dirty native huts, where mosquitos, scorpions, bats, and vermin will attack them. Nevertheless God is calling now, as He called in Isaiah’s day, “WHO WILL GO FOR US?” Jesus is Coming Soon! The message must go forth regardless of the cost.

As we went aboard the ship, the Lord said to me,

=“Cast thy bread upon the waters.”=

Many dear souls were reached by the tracts on the different vessels upon which we traveled. To God be all the glory! Eternity alone will reveal the number who received the Gospel in this way. Passengers and crews alike read the tracts, and called for more. People from all parts of the world have taken the little messengers with them and as they have grasped our hands with a hearty “Good-bye, and God bless you in your work,” our own souls have been blessed and refreshed, for we have seen the Word of God, that liveth and abideth forever, finding its way into the hearts of men and women.

People who were sick and afflicted, traveling in search of health, have heard the message of healing through Jesus Christ, and have been healed, as we told them of the body of Christ that was broken for us, and that by His stripes we were healed. Souls who had sought comfort and rest in various religions, hearing the story of the cross, and of how Jesus died that we might live, have accepted Him, and gone on their way rejoicing.

=“Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days.”= Eccles. 11:1. We know that when we reach the pearly gates of Heaven we shall see many who have been redeemed from sin, because they read and heard the Bread of the Word, which we cast upon the waters.

While we were giving out tracts and Testaments to the people who came to sell fruit and birds in one port in Mexico, we met a Mexican who had never heard the Gospel, or seen a Bible or a missionary before. I gave him a tract, in his own language, on the second coming of the Lord. He looked at the tract, then at me, and then said, “What is this for?” I told him it was a tract telling of the soon coming of Jesus back to this earth again. I could not speak or understand much Spanish. He said, “I will read it, then bring someone to interpret for me, for I want to know more about this.” He went away, and in a few minutes came back with a young man who could speak English, for his interpreter.

He asked me where I heard the Lord was soon coming back again. I said I had read it in the Bible, and that God was pouring out the Holy Spirit upon the earth in these last days; that thousands were receiving the Spirit, and that the Holy Spirit is revealing to the people that Jesus is coming soon.

He then told us he had been going all over Mexico, Central and South America, visiting idols and saints, walking several thousands of miles, carrying heavy loads of gifts to these idols in the attempt to get peace of soul, but had not found it. At last, sick and weary, and in despair, he gave up.

He was wondering if there were a God and had asked that if there were He should make Himself known to him in some way. Then he said he saw a great, strong man coming up out of the sea, so powerful that he could make every nation of the world bow to him. This man destroyed the Pope of Rome and the Catholic Church, built a great church for himself, and sought to compel all the world to worship him, but there were many who would not do this, so he made war against them, killing them all, and the earth was covered with blood. The people called on God to stop the terrible war and take away this man from the earth. Then Jesus came on a great white horse with many angels following him, destroyed the wicked man, and set up a beautiful kingdom of peace, in which everyone was so happy, and the whole earth became a great beautiful garden.

Then this Mexican said, “I felt very happy in my heart, and had such great peace of mind.” He had prayed God to send someone to tell him more of this way. He said he was very astonished to find someone giving out tracts on the ship. Always before when he made his trips he saw only gambling and dancing, but this time he found people preaching the Gospel.

He went away happy, to tell his people he had found the Bible and the Way of Life. He talked to all the Mexicans on board, telling them how God had answered his prayer.

One man, who owned a gold mine in Mexico, and had been in the United States and was returning, told us, as we were giving out literature to the people, that we were the first missionaries he ever met coming that way. He said he had been in Mexico forty years, had made many trips back and forth, but had met no Christians in those parts before. He himself knew something of the Gospel, and was glad to have the papers, and told us of the great need among the people there.

Oh! shall not we who have received this great outpouring of the Spirit, cry, as did the holy ones in Isaiah, “_Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts!_” till the whole earth be filled with His glory? As I write in the hot state-room of the ship, my soul is full of glory, and my hands are being moved over the typewriter by the power of the Spirit, while He tells me that Jesus is coming soon, that we must work fast, and open our souls to Himself until we are filled with His power and glory, so that the people with whom we come in contact will know we have been with Him, and learned of Him.

A young man came to me and said, “I heard you praying in your state-room this morning. May I come in next time when you have prayer? I want to know about the Gospel.” We had given him a Testament. The next morning he came and knelt with us and prayed to the Lord to save him. He arose, with his face shining with the glory of God, saying, “Won’t you come to my country and tell my people about Jesus? My mother has been making long trips to worship ‘The Black Christ’ in the great temple on the Honduras border, but she hasn’t found peace. Won’t you come and tell her of this wonderful salvation?” We corresponded with him later, sending him tracts and papers, and he is going on with the Lord. Won’t you pray that God will raise up someone who will go to them with the Gospel before it is too late?

As I have already said, Central and South America are opening their eyes, and fast turning from Romanism. They are accepting Spiritualism, New Thought, Christian Science, and all kinds of false religions, because the true Gospel is not being preached to them. Shall we not awake, rise up, go forth with the message of the cross, and reach these people before they are destroyed with these awful things?

A man from Honduras, who had been in the States studying New Thought, was returning with several boxes of books to sell to the people. This dear young man had never heard the Gospel. He said he found that Rome was keeping the people in ignorance. Having met some New Thought teachers in his country, he had been to the States and studied New Thought for a year, and was now returning to teach it to his people, who, he said, were anxious to have him do so.

We gave him a Bible, the first he had ever seen, and he read it every day. We talked and prayed with him until he was saved, for the dear old Word of God always wins its way into the hearts of men. He threw the New Thought books overboard and went on his way with tracts, Testaments and Bibles for his people, rejoicing that he had found the true God. Let us pray for this precious soul, that God will greatly use him. He is a finely educated young man, whose influence will tell on his countrymen.

Oh! how glad we were we had been led to take that boat, and had had the opportunity to give the Bread of Life to that hungry man! God had led us on that very ship, and certainly we were blessed as we cast the Word of God forth and saw many people running after it. There is a great ministry on the ships, not only to passengers, but also to the officers and crews. They spend all their time on the water, and do not have any opportunity to hear the Gospel, only as it is taken to them.

Another man, a Jew, was very sick, had been for a long time. He was traveling for his health. As my husband spoke to him about the Lord and told him God could heal him, he said, “Well, I will come right into your room now and have you pray for me. I am suffering so, I can’t live until I reach my destination if I do not get relief.” He came in and we prayed for him, and anointed him with oil in the name of the Lord, asking God to touch his body. Instantly he threw up his hands and began to say, “Glory! Glory! Glory!” The power fell on him, and he was saved and healed. As he left the boat he took with him some tracts and a Testament, and, best of all, the glory of God in his soul.

He declared he was going to preach the Gospel, and he began right on the ship. He was so filled with the power and glory of God he could not keep from telling it. Here was one more poor suffering soul who received the Bread of Life that was cast upon the waters, and who went on his way rejoicing, to tell the glad news to other suffering ones.

Let us not be weary in well doing, but rise up in faith and go forth in Jesus’ Name, casting our bread upon the waters, for we shall find it bringing forth life.

A woman that I spoke to became so interested that she came every day for tracts and papers to read. I also gave her some good books on the second coming of the Lord, and on salvation. She, too, was saved, and went away with her suitcase full of the Word of God to give to her people.

“With this blessed hope before us,
Let no harp remain unstrung,
Let the mighty heavenly chorus
Onward roll from tongue to tongue;
Christ is coming;
Come thou blessed Prince of Peace.”

ARRIVING IN OUR PORT AT NICARAGUA

Nearing Nicaragua, in the distance we saw three mountain peaks, and were told that was the Port of Corinto, where we were to land. As the ship moved on, we could see the light-house, its white head towering high in the air pointing out the way we were to go.

The scenery was beautiful. Cocoanut and palm trees lined the beach. The sea was calm and we slowly moved into the harbor, getting a good view of the little city spread out before us. Great peace settled down over our souls, and the Holy Spirit whispered to us that we were in His will. I stepped into my stateroom and opened my Bible, and this passage came to my sight:

=“The Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drouth, and make fat thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not.”=—Isa. 58:11.

We had cabled Brother Schoenich to meet us, but our boat arrived two days earlier than scheduled, and on going ashore, we found he was not there. We went to work, speaking some English and a little Spanish, and making many signs and gestures. The next morning Brother Schoenich arrived, and worked faithfully, helping to get our things through the customs house. After seeing that everything was ready for the coretta (oxcart) ride to Matagalpa, we took train for Leon.

Arriving at Leon we went to the home of one of the native Christians. The food was strange and new to us, but it came from a heart of love. The next day was Sunday, and a company of dear ones, who had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, met for worship. Brother Schoenich preached to them, admonishing them to stand true. They had no pastor, but were going on with the Lord.

Next morning we went to the market to buy food for our three days’ trip on mule back. We found some of the saints there. They were reading their Bibles, and witnessing for Jesus in the midst of the priests and thousands of Catholics. They had their walls covered with scripture mottoes. When saved, these people make good soldiers for Jesus, enduring hardness joyfully. They remember the pit from whence they were digged.

Bidding them good-bye, we prepared our lunch, mounted our mules, and rode until about ten o’clock that night. Stopping at a camp ground for coretta travelers, we lit our candles, ate our meal, strung up our hammocks, and lay down to rest amid the lowing of the many oxen. All coffee and freight is moved to and from the interior on oxcarts (corettas in Spanish).

The next morning we made our toilet in and by the large trough where the mules and oxen were watered. After eating breakfast under the shed of the native hut, we were off for our day’s travel.

At noon we stopped again at a little house on the hillside for food and water. While waiting for the meal to be prepared we strung up our hammocks for a rest. Our bodies were very tired, as we had never ridden horseback before. By this time we felt better down than up. Brother Schoenich, being accustomed to these trips, did not tire so easily, so he gathered the family together and preached to them. It was the first time they had heard the Gospel.

About five o’clock we again mounted our beasts, and traveled until midnight. We passed over some rough country, the many wild parrots and birds seemed to be screeching and singing to the dusty, wayworn travelers. Once in a while we got a hot breath from the great volcano in the distance whose smoke we could see billowing up towards the clouds.

Again we had supper by candle-light, then hung up our swinging beds in the corridor of an adobe house, and rested till the dawn, when we heard the now familiar alarm, the braying of our faithful mules, who seemed to want to be traveling. We arose, dressed, and soon were off.

At noon we stopped again for rest and for food. The food they offered was so seasoned with flies and worms that we decided to buy a chicken and cook it ourselves. We bought a “fryer” but it proved to be an old hen of many years. We were invited by our hostess to come into her kitchen to fry our fowl. As we were trying to get the earthen pot fixed on the fire, which was made in a sort of furnace in the corner, the smoke poured out into the room.

We noticed some strange sights in that kitchen. In one corner a nice fat pig was having his noon-day swim in a trough of slop that had been arranged for his benefit. Meanwhile a large red rooster lifted up his merry “cock-a-doodle-doo” above the noise of all the rest of the fowls and animals that filled the place.

We managed to get the old hen smoked as well as fried, and as we went out to place it on the small table which had been fixed for us, we discovered Brother Schoenich had gathered a company together and in his enthusiastic way was preaching to them, showing them that worshiping the Virgin Mary and the santos, (saints), and learning catechisms, etc., was not the true religion of the Bible. They listened with great interest, asking many questions about the Bible.

After our meal we lay down on some boards to rest, and fell asleep, only to be awakened by the chattering of many little voices. On investigating we found the children were having school in one room, all reading at the same time, taking turns at the door with a stick to keep the pigs and chickens out. We left there and traveled until dark, then stopped for the night. Rising early the next morning we traveled several leagues, and then came in sight of the lovely little city of Matagalpa, nestling at the foot of the mountains. The only evil and unlovely thing, there, was man, who has sinned and gone far away from God.

Dear Sister Schoenich and some of the native Christians came out to meet us, as Isaac came out to meet Rebekah. We alighted, had a drink of water, and rested a little before going into town. We certainly were glad to see the entrance-gate to our new home, which was, I think, the largest gate I had ever seen. We thought of our entrance through the gate of Heaven, after our long, weary journey through this world of sin and sorrow.

On dismounting, we were met by some more of our dear brown-faced friends who had gathered to greet the new missionaries. When we saw their faces shining with the glory of God, and heard them sing the praises of Jesus we were refreshed in soul and body. After a few hours of rest we were able to go into the meeting and help push the battle for our King.

We will work here with Brother and Sister Schoenich for a while, for they have a large work, and need help. They are much worn in body after almost eight years on the field, and need a furlough. Pray for us. The fields are white unto harvest, and the laborers are few. We want to bring some glad trophies home to God.

OUR STAY IN MATAGALPA

Our stay in Matagalpa was a very pleasant and profitable one in many ways. It was a great pleasure to see the way God worked among the dear natives. They were delighted to come and worship the Lord, and anxious to see others of their people brought into the fold. The awful sins and idolatry of these people are beyond our power to describe.

We had been there about four days when Brother and Sister Schoenich were called to one of their other stations over in the mountains. Perhaps you can imagine us poor little folks there without the language, taking care of the station and carrying on the meetings while they were away. Rising very early to help them off before the sun was hot, we bade them good-bye, then turned our faces toward Heaven and asked God to help us, for we were there, and must be brave soldiers, not get frightened and run away from the battle. The Holy Spirit fell upon us, and the Lord spoke to us saying He would be mouth and wisdom unto us.

As we stepped into the corridor leading from the yard, we met our first problem, which was to speak to one who knew only the Spanish language, with no one to interpret for us. The man from the finca (little farm) had come in to ask for the hammer. He talked and laughed, and we all talked and laughed, and tried to see whether we could get what he wanted. We brought him the horses, the harness, and almost everything in the kitchen. At last we took him into the tool room to let him see if what he wanted was there, and he picked up the hammer. Ever after that we remembered the Spanish word for hammer. But, oh my! there was a pile of things lying all over the corridor to be picked up and put in their places. However, it was a very effectual way to get the language.

Next the girl in the kitchen must be told what to cook for dinner. Into the kitchen I went, knowing the mountain was before me, and must be surmounted, and I meant, by the help of the Lord, to go over the top. Putting out the things for her to cook, I showed her by signs, as much as possible, how they were to be fixed. She did pretty well and the meals were good.

But the worst was to come. The next morning was Sunday, and there were the dear natives gathering into the chapel. What were we to do? Oh, we felt so helpless! Down on our faces we went to ask God to come upon us that day, and fill us with his power and pour out the Spirit on all the dear people. We took our Spanish song books, and went in, and played and sang the hymns the best we could. We had learned to say, “=Let us pray=,” so we knelt down and, we in English, and they in Spanish, poured out our supplications before the Lord, and the power fell. We were there over two hours, just worshiping the Lord, and the language was well understood by all, for the Holy Spirit did the speaking and worshiping, and we did not make an effort to do anything. Oh, how we did feel the mighty presence of the Holy One that day!

Their only way to clean clothes is to rub them on a flat rock]

The next day many new things came up. First there was the laundry to send out, then the marketing to be done. We all rose early, got our Spanish grammars, and, by the time the woman came for the washing, we were ready to speak a few words to her about it. Then we studied what to say at the market, and my husband came home with some of the things we wanted, and some things we didn’t want, but we were learning the language right along.

I wanted to season something with butter, so called to the cook to hurry and bring it to me. I thought she was awfully slow. Hearing a great noise behind me, I turned and saw her leading the horse into the kitchen. I had asked for the horse, instead of the butter, to put into the cooking. After a hearty laugh from all of us, I went into my room for my Spanish grammar and looked up the word for butter, to be sure I should not make that mistake again.

Things were going pretty well by this time, except for the few mistakes we made occasionally.

The next thing I called for was a spoon, with which to eat my soup. They brought the broom in, and laid it on the table. I couldn’t very well eat soup with the broom, so sent it back and kept asking for a spoon, until either I had the word right, or they guessed what I wanted, I don’t know which.

We employed a teacher and every morning for a couple of hours we studied the language. This was a great help. We soon were able to ask for butter or spoons with no such mistakes, and before long we could sing and read our Bibles quite well, also give our testimonies in Spanish. From day to day we could note the progress we made in learning the language.

Then came the day when Brother and Sister Schoenich returned home. They were tired and worn, for they had been working very hard in the meetings while away, and we wished we could take all the burdens from them, and let them rest. But there were many things to attend to. They went right to printing the paper, toiling almost day and night, not sparing themselves one moment. These dear souls have come into this dark land of sin and idolatry and laid down their lives for the Gospel. Let us hold them up in prayer and by our means. Let every reader of this book breathe a prayer to God for these dear workers. Their bodies are tired and worn and they need a rest very badly. May the Lord of the harvest send forth laborers to this dark land to take their place long enough for them to have a furlough. Many were the precious lessons of faith and love we learned from them for which we praise God.

Note the glare of the sun on the white sand]

The days went by. Three months passed. We had no thought of leaving, until one day while we were out giving tracts to the Indians as they passed by, God spoke to me and said, “Go to Leon.” We didn’t see how we could possibly do that, for we had so little of the language, and no money to go with, and it would take at least seventy-five dollars. But as we waited before the Lord, we were sure it was His dear will. Then we asked for the means to be sent for the oxcart to carry our baggage over the mountains. The next mail brought a draft for just the amount needed. Brother and Sister Schoenich told us that before Sister Yeagges’ death she had said the Lord showed her we were the missionaries for Leon. At that time we had never met any of the workers, but had been merely corresponding with them.

Then there was the packing of our things in preparation for the trip, which was a long tiresome one over the mountains and plains under the tropical sun. We worked hard, and in one week were off. Brother Schoenich took us down on his mules, which was very kind of him. His heart is in the work in this country, and he has been willing to make every sacrifice to get the Gospel to these people.

LEAVING MATAGALPA FOR LEON

After seeing our trunks and baggage loaded on the oxcart, and started on the way, we set about to prepare a lunch for the trip, as the only food available while traveling through the country is tortillas, (corn cakes), and frijoles, (beans), and many times one cannot even get these, for the people are very poor, many of them living on roots and leaves from certain trees.

After saying good-bye to Sister Schoenich, and to the native Christians who had gathered to see us off, we mounted our beasts and were soon on our way through the little village, waving good-bye to the many friends we had met while there. The road being very good for some distance we had several races, and we remarked how clean we then were, but how different we would look on reaching our destination. The sun was just sinking behind the western hills and we could see the natives driving in the animals for the night. As we rode on we saw the hills were all on fire, for the custom there is to burn all the shrubbery before planting crops. As we saw the great flames winding their way up the tall trees, and flashing into the air, burning up the thorns and briers, and leaving the ground clean so the seed which was to be planted might grow, there came to my mind the thought that even so, the power and fire of God could fall on that country and burn up all the awful sin and idolatry which was binding those people, so that the Word of God could be sowed and bring forth fruit in their lives. And there arose from our hearts, a cry to our Heavenly Father to send out His messengers into that needy land to light the fires of the Holy Spirit, till sin should be burned, and the people be freed.

“Send down Thy power, O Lord!
And let Thy mercy flow,
Till all the people of this land
Shall Thy salvation know.”

Riding until about 10 o’clock, passing over some very rough road, we reached a little village. Being very tired and hungry, we decided to stop here for the night. We hung our swinging beds up in the shed of the native hut, which was used for a saloon, and after eating our scanty meal by candle-light, we committed ourselves to the keeping of the One who never slumbers nor sleeps, then lay down to rest amid the talking of many other travelers, who were stopping there for the night. Each one carried in his belt a big revolver, and a machette (a large knife), which all the people, even the children, carry, and with which they kill one another, when they become angry. Nevertheless we were conscious of the angels camping around us, and there was no fear in our hearts.

Awakening next morning very early, we arose and brushed off the dust which covered us from the constant traveling on the road, near which we had been sleeping, for the people travel all through the night, as in the day the sun is very hot. We ate our breakfast again by candle-light, and after our morning prayer, we mounted and were off for a day’s trip. Though our bodies were very tired we went on singing and praising God for the glorious privilege of carrying the Gospel message to that dark land.

We rode until about noon, when we came to a stream of water which looked very refreshing to us. The poor animals were so glad to see that water that when they got in it they drank, and drank, and drank. We spread our lunch on the sand, and washed ourselves and drank heartily, for that was the first water we had seen for two days except the little the natives had given us to drink. Then came one who told us that just upstream all the dead animals of the neighborhood were thrown in. But we claimed the promise, that “=If ye drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt you=.”—Mark 16:18.

After a rest for ourselves and beasts, we were again on our way. The sun being very hot by this time we prayed that the Lord would send a cloud over it, which He did. Praise His Holy Name! “The sun shall not smite you by day.” We went on, passing over great rocks and boulders. The mules had to climb up and over them until at times it was impossible for new and inexperienced riders as we were, to stay in the saddles. However, some of us missed our saddles only a few times and took a tumble.

Sister Finney, putting her confidence in a broken part on the back of her saddle, fell off as she was going up a steep place, and after standing on her head for an instant, rolled down the bank, the mule stepping on her chest. Rising, she praised the Lord that He had sent His angel and delivered her. She mounted, and we were off again, after finding she was not hurt. Evidently I did not have so much faith in the matter of falling off mules, and rolling round amid the rocks, for while passing through a very deep cut, with high banks on either side, the mule which I was riding pushed against the bank, and having a bad saddle, I lost my hold and fell under the animal’s feet. She was kind enough not to step on the poor missionary who was such an inexperienced rider, but who had been called to learn, and she very carefully stepped over me. I was picked up, and, after a little prayer-meeting there in the dust, I was able to remount and ride on to our destination, thirty-five miles away. God wonderfully blessed me and the Holy Spirit came upon me, and I sang and praised the Lord in tongues—with interpretation. All the way I felt the strong arm of Jesus upholding me. On arriving my foot was found to be badly broken and crushed, and so swollen that I could hardly remove my shoe.

Praise the Lord! He came down and blessed my soul, and touched my body! How His love did burn in my heart! As the devil seemed to be angry I felt that I was surely called to preach the Gospel in that place. The power went through my poor, crushed and swollen foot until it was entirely straightened, for it had been so twisted that my toes were behind, and my heel was in front. I could feel the bones set and straightened as the mighty power surged through like bolts of electricity. I did not stop preaching although for a time I was unable to put my foot to the floor, but the people came to me, sitting there in the house, to ask about the Gospel.

One night I felt the healing touch so strong that I knew I could walk, so, arising next morning, I attempted to put on my shoe, but it would not even go over my toes. Nevertheless, I praised God, laced the shoe on the other foot, ready to walk, and then kept pulling at the other shoe until it went on. Soon it was laced up and I was ready to walk. I went into the meetings, and have been going ever since, and that foot is as good as it ever was. How we do praise Jesus that we can suffer for His name’s sake. No warrior returns from battle without wounds, or marks of hardships endured, and one national hero declared he was sorry that he had but one life to give for his country. Much more should we endure and give, who are fighting for our Heavenly country under the leadership of our great Captain, King Jesus.

We have heard the Macedonian call, “=Come Over and Help Us=,” and the love of God constrains us, so “onward we must go, regardless of the foe.” Truly these dear people are calling for us to come and give them the Gospel. Shall we fail and allow them to perish without the knowledge of the love of Him, who so freely died to save them?

Late one afternoon we arrived at a small village, and being tired from the hard day’s travel we decided to stay for the night, but when we stopped, ready to dismount, we were told that

=Robbers=

had swept down from the mountains on the towns and villages of that district, had robbed the people, and driven off their stock. The soldiers had been sent out, and already one battle had been fought, and more trouble was brewing, so it was very dangerous for us to be traveling. We looked to the Lord for guidance, and felt that we must lose no time, but taking the Blood for our protection, should move on. Arising at two o’clock the next morning we went over the road on which the robbers were supposed to be, through a dense forest, but saw nor heard nothing except the many parrots and birds, screeching and singing.

We made seventeen leagues that day, crossing mountains and plains, stopping at noon at a little hut by the roadside for food for the beasts and rest for ourselves. We were received with much hospitality by these people, with their bamboo covered house, its walls composed of a few sticks stuck up at intervals. The entire inside had on its dress of mourning from the smoke from the family cook-stove, which was a pile of rocks in one corner. While the woman was making us a fresco of gourd seed, (a favorite drink they make there), grinding the seeds on the tortilla stone, the old mother pig and her babies were having a real jubilee under the rickety table. In that country hogs seem to be the family pets, for in every house there are many of them. The beds were merely a few sticks covered with a rawhide. Other sticks surmounted by a rough board served for a table, and a black smutty pile of rocks was the stove. These articles completed the home furnishings. The host was poor, but oh, how he and his family listened to the Gospel story! This is the picture of thousands of homes in that country. The people are exceedingly poor, but hungry for the Bread of Life. How we enjoyed preaching the Gospel to them! Although there were numerous hardships to endure, it was sweet to be in God’s will, and to tell these dear ones of His great love for, and His desire to save them.