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.
[Illustration: Where they heard the Gospel for the first time]
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.
[Illustration: An Indian Hut Where We Preached the Gospel]
[Illustration: Indian girls grinding corn for tortillas]
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!
[Illustration: Alma and her music class in Matagalpa]
[Illustration: Washday at the river for native women
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.
[Illustration: Where we stopped for the night
Note the glare of the sun on the white sand]
[Illustration: Alma and Carl among the banana trees]
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.
[Illustration: Leaving Matagalpa]
[Illustration: Leaving in the early morning for a day’s journey]
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.
[Illustration: Alma and Carl feeding the pet deer]
[Illustration: On our way through the mountains]
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.
[Illustration: Carl with his faithful pony]
[Illustration: Bringing coffee down from the mountain plantations]
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.
Reaching our next stopping place late in the evening we camped for the
night. After we women were in our hammocks, and the men had seen the
animals put away for the night, they went for a swim in a nearby stream.
When their swim was finished, they found the stream was the home of some
large
=Alligators=
but, praise God! He is the same as when He stopped the lions’ mouths for
Daniel. Certainly He does care for His little children.
[Illustration: The only Jesus they know]
[Illustration: One of the first to accept the Gospel]
The God of Daniel was great and strong
Stopping the lions’ mouths, and filling his heart with song.
Rising before daybreak we sent up a thanks-giving to our Heavenly Father
for His safe-keeping through the night, and asked Him to protect us that
day. Then we loaded our beds and other belongings upon the mules and went
on our way.
That day’s journey brought us over a part of the country which was
covered with great rocks and boulders thrown from Nicaragua’s largest
volcano, El Momotombo. In the distance we could see the volcano belching
forth smoke, and the heat was intense. About one hundred years ago this
volcano completely destroyed the city of Leon, leaving a great lake
filled with water, which is there today.
The dust was very deep in the roads, because of the extensive traveling.
It rolled up about us in a great cloud. Many times we could not see each
other a few feet away. We resembled a miniature whirlwind coming down
the road, and surely we were a whirlwind coming against the devil. The
enemy would fain stir up a storm to strangle God’s people and prevent
them from invading the territory he has so long held, but we would not be
intimidated. Souls were at stake. They were being held in prison, behind
bars of iron, but their cries had reached Heaven and God had sent some
of His messengers with the glad news of freedom. The message must be
delivered, regardless of the cost, so over mountain and plain we went,
covered with dust, faint from much traveling through long, hot days, but
on to the people with the message that Jesus died to set them free.
“Will we ever think of trials, will we ever think of pain,
Or the crosses we’ve endured for Jesus’ sake,
On that Hallelujah morning as we gather round the throne,
And with Jesus of the marriage feast partake?
Let us hasten with the message which He said was meant for all.
To the black, the white, the yellow, and the brown;
Of one blood He made all nations, we must win them all for Him.
Precious jewels to adorn the Savior’s crown.”
Toward dusk we came in sight of a little adobe house, and were told that
we might stop there for the night. How nice it was to see a place where
we could rest our tired bodies, wash ourselves and comb our hair. For
three days we had been unable to comb our hair or wash ourselves for
water was too scarce. How wonderful it will be when we earth-travelers
pass on our way to that City which hath foundations, whose builder and
maker is God, where we shall see dear Jesus and hear Him say, “=Come, My
children, into the mansions I have prepared for you=.” The residents of
that city “shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall
the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst
of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains
of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”—Rev.
7:16,17. How blessed to know Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us!
How the very thought thrills my soul, and causes me to want to work to
help bring others into those mansions!
[Illustration: Carl and his father, as they distributed tracts to the
Indians by the roadside.]
While talking with the natives, they told us that
=A Large Tiger=