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.
[Illustration: On Board Ship]
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?
[Illustration: Carl on bridge of ship at sea]
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!
[Illustration: Some natives of a tribe in Guatemala, C. A.]
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.
[Illustration: “Come over and help us”]
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.
[Illustration: Taking their morning bath]
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.
[Illustration: A Native Village]
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.
[Illustration: Picturesque Street Scene of the Port of Corinto, where we
landed]
[Illustration: Resting during the heat of the day]
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.