Part 2

We stopped at several places on the way and held meetings. We also gave out tracts and papers, filling the rural mail boxes along the highways with gospel literature. Each morning we cooked our breakfast and had our morning worship by the roadside, then went on our way praising God for all His goodness in permitting us to preach His glorious gospel.

One night when we were sleeping out on the open prairie—as we were too heavily loaded to carry a tent—there came up a terrible storm. The wind blew at a terrific gale and the thunder and lightning were awful. We were fast asleep when a large coyote came near and began his loud barking, evidently sent by the Lord to awaken us just in time to see our clothes and hats sweeping across the plain before the fierce wind. We ran after them, and prayed the Lord to stop the storm, telling Him He had promised us that it should not rain on us. Then the wind stopped, also the thunder and lightning, and we had nice dry weather the rest of the way.

Arriving in Colorado Springs, we were welcomed by the dear pastor and people. They had a nice assembly, and the Lord sweetly worked the few days we were there.

Some people from the plains came asking us to come and hold meetings for them in a school-house. They had never heard Pentecost preached, excepting one woman who had read some about it and was hungry for the Baptism. We found the whole country Free Methodist, and they said they had the Holy Spirit.

We had meetings every night for about a week, everybody sitting back and looking on. On Sunday we were invited to the home of some of the leading people for dinner. After we had eaten, someone went to the piano and began playing a hymn, and we started to sing. Soon we heard a terrible noise. Looking around we saw the man of the house laid out in the middle of the floor, shaking from head to foot under the power of God. In fact his feet were up in the air and his whole body was shaking violently. His wife and the people were running out after water to throw on him. But we told them it was the power of God, and they must leave him alone. They declared he had a spell with his heart and was dying, but we kept on singing and holding on in prayer till he came through.

The news spread all over the country, and that night all the rigs and autos for many miles around were there bringing the people to see the strange sights. While we were singing, the daughter of this same man arose, came to the altar and fell under the power. The fire spread over the house, God working in a wondrous way. Some said it was the power of God, others said we were hypnotizing the people, and that was what made them fall. The whole country was stirred, and many heard the last-day message of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. We still receive letters from these people. They are holding on to God, and He is blessing them.

We also visited with dear Brother and Sister Roper and their sister Stout, at Immanuel Faith Home, in Pueblo. This is a school for orphan children, and a faith home where saints and missionaries can come and rest for a while. We were there for a week, and those were days of great blessing and refreshings from the Lord. These clear saints have opened that wonderful work in faith, looking to God to supply every need, and surely He has done according to His promise. The way we saw God work there in answering prayer was far beyond anything we had ever witnessed before, and the way the dear little children were taught to pray and trust God for their needs was blessed.

From there we went in the machine to Denver, where we spent two weeks at the camp-meeting. How the blessing of the Lord did come down on our souls! We were greatly refreshed and our faith was quickened. The latter was needed, for we were going to the mission field by faith, looking to the Lord alone to supply every need.

The camp-meeting was coming to a close and the tents were being taken down, but we did not know where we were to go next. As I was packing the suit-cases, and getting ready to leave, the Lord said to me, “Arrange your clothes, for you will go to Los Angeles in a few days.”

Offerings had been small and expenses heavy, so we had but little money, therefore we did not see how we could get to Los Angeles. But never mind. “The natural man receiveth not the things of God.” Don’t reason, but believe. As I walked out by the lake, and saw the pretty little fish so at home in the beautiful water, without a care, for God took care of them, He spoke to my heart, and said, “Not a worry, for as I made this beautiful crystal lake for the fish, so I have made a great and beautiful way for My children. And just as the fish swim through the water and drink it, so My little children shall live and move in Me.” “For in Him we live and move and have our being.”

Just then three women came up in a machine and stopped near where I was. All were strangers to me, but the Spirit said, “Join yourself to them.” I went over and spoke to them, asking if they were Christians. They said they were, and were wanting to see me. They had heard me speak the night before, and wanted to see more of me. When I bade them good-bye one of them went with me to my tent. She said she had some of the Lord’s money for me, but did not know how to find me, as the camp was breaking up and everyone was going away, but she had been directed back to the camp-ground. “Give me your address on the mission field,” she said, “as I am to help support you there.” Besides what she gave me at the camp-meeting, she was one of our main supports on the field, sending her offerings in no small sums.

We then went to Colorado Springs with a brother in his auto. All the way the Lord kept saying to me, “You will leave for Los Angeles soon after arriving at the Springs.” As we must have $100.00 more for our tickets, we did not know how it was going to work out. When we went to the post office we received a letter from a brother in Kansas with a check for $100.00. In the letter he said, “I supposed you were in California, but as I was writing this check I was led to send it to Colorado Springs. Hope you receive it o. k.” So here was the rest of our fare. Just as God had said, we were to go to California. He had the money right on hand, bless His name! After buying our tickets and a little lunch, we had $3 left. We praised the Lord we were on our way to the mission field, to tell the heathen of this wonderful salvation.

As the train pulled out of the station, a little sister who had been very kind to us threw $4 in at the window.

THE CHURCH IN UNITY

The Wonderful Vision

We passed through Royal Gorge, and over the mountains, reaching the highest point just as the sun was sinking behind the western hills.

They call it “The Top of the World.” There is a post office there where tourists mail folders and cards to all parts of the country, describing the beautiful scenery. Here is the Arkansas River, dividing at an elevation of 10,000 feet, running two ways, growing wider and wider as it flows down the mountain beside the railroad. I sat looking out the window at the stream which waters the fields all along the sides of the mountains and in the valleys. The water is conducted through great flumes running in all directions, even carrying the water up hill in some places.

The scene faded before my eyes, and in its place I saw a great desert, O, so big and barren! There was nothing but bits of thorny cactus growing here and there. The sand was dry and parched. Far out in the middle of the desert there was an old house. It was only a shack. The roof boards were so old and weather beaten they were curling up at the ends. The sides were beginning to fall away from the roof. The door was small and falling off the hinges. There seemed not one ray of hope for the little old shack so far away in the desert. The winds of many centuries had beaten upon its sides. It was ready to fall.

As I looked far away on every side I saw nothing but hot dry sand. Over the sand came a man. He was weary, and the hot sun beat fiercely upon his bare head. As he came nearer I saw he was reading a Bible. He was so interested in it that he looked not to the right or left. His face was right down in the Book. Behind him came another, and still another, until there was a great company of people, thousands of them, both men and women. All had their faces buried in the Bible. They were entering the little old shack, passing in one by one. I wondered at so many people being able to get into so small a house. But soon I discovered that the house was enlarging. The door became new and swung upright on new hinges.

As far as I could see across the plain people were coming. Each one’s face was down in the Word of God. They were all moving toward and into the house, now no longer a dilapidated shack but becoming a great strong building. The roof was now of new material, of such a bright red color that my eyes could not look upon it. The sides had become new. From the door clear water was beginning to flow. I could see the sands of the desert carried before it as it went down and out of the building. Then the water burst forth from all sides of the house, till all but the roof was clear, crystal water.

The water spread over the desert, until it had become a mighty river covering the whole country, and people of every nation came running to it. The great house in the center was of such beauty that my eyes could not look upon it. The people began to come out of the house, but they were not the same as when they went into it. They were now large men and women, as tall as telephone poles. Their countenances were shining with the glory of God. In their hands were large nets. These they cast into the stream, in which there were many fish, for as the people of all nations ran and fell into the water they became fish. I could see their tails as they swam about. Each net was brought up full of fine, large fish.

Over the top of the building was written in letters of fire, “THE CHURCH IN UNITY.” As the vision disappeared, I realized I was still on the train. Having my Bible in my hand I opened to this Scripture, “DECLARE HIS GLORY AMONG THE HEATHEN, =HIS MARVELLOUS WORKS AMONG ALL NATIONS=.” I Chron. 16:24.

Then the Lord showed me that when His people receive, through the Holy Spirit, the revelation of the Word, they will come together in unity; not merely be brought together by some creed or doctrine, but by the revelation of the scriptures, as they are made Spirit and life. This will cause the dilapidated building, which represents the church out in the desert of unbelief and false doctrine, to become new, strong and great, with the waters of the Spirit flowing out to all nations. And just as the Arkansas River, rising at the mountain summit, divided and ran both ways, watering the fields on either side of the mountain, so as the church reaches the mountain summit of God’s love and revelation of the scriptures, the waters of salvation will flow both ways, to the home and also to the foreign field, and there will be a Heaven-taught and Spirit-trained ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, and for the evangelization of the heathen.

OPENING THE WAY.

Arriving in Salt Lake City at noon the next day, we were told the train we should take for Los Angeles did not carry chair cars, so we would have to wait for a train that left at midnight. We were very tired from our long train ride and went aside in the station to rest. I lay down on a couch in the ladies’ rest room, but just as I had settled down for rest the Lord said to me, “Go and buy your berth on this train, for it will be the last train through.” I did not know what it meant, but I did not doubt the voice of God that had spoken to me so many times in the fifteen years I have been saved.

I went to my husband and told him, and together we went to the Pullman ticket office. The agent said, “I have not a berth left. The train is full and leaves in fifteen minutes.” I told him the Lord had said we were to go on that train, and there must be a place somewhere for us. He said he knew he had not a berth left. I said we must have two upper berths, as we did not have sufficient money for lower berths. The $4 given by the little sister in Colorado Springs as our train was leaving and the $3.00 we had was all we had for the berths. Just then a man stepped up and said there were two upper berths left, as some people had decided not to go on that train. “Well,” said the agent, “I guess they are for you, but you will have to hurry, as the train is ready to go.” Entering the coach we found the two berths were together. How the Lord does plan for His children, opening doors which no man can shut. =Hallelujah!=

As we neared the California border the strike came on that paralyzed all street-car and train service for ten days. Three times the men were about to leave our train out on the desert. But we prayed, and God took the train through to Los Angeles. Other trains that started were forsaken by the trainmen and hundreds of people were left in the desert without food or water. Relief was sent to them by auto trucks, and they came through in that way. But God spoke to us, and we obeyed, and went on the last train that got through for over ten days.

How God does care for His own! We were going out as missionaries and He wanted to teach us lessons of faith. That is why He took us along with just enough money for one trip at a time. Many times we were without money or had but little. Then, He would tell us not to look at our little means, but to look to Him, with Heaven’s great storehouse full for all who would believe. “=The just shall live by faith.=” The new creature in Christ Jesus becomes heir to ALL His riches in glory. “=O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!=” Rom. 11:33.

We arrived in Los Angeles with seventy-five cents. The taxi man asked $4 to take us to the camp-grounds, and no street cars were running. We asked Father how we were to get out there. It was too far to walk. I was directed to a little lunch-counter across the street, to ask the man about a machine standing in front of his place. He told me he would take us out there, as he was carrying passengers since the strike was on. We asked him the fare and he said, “Seventy-five cents.” We laughed, for Father knew just how much we had, and would not let him ask more.

We reached the camp-grounds about nine o’clock. The Evangelist was preaching on faith, and how we should trust God. She stretched out her arm toward us and said, in a loud voice, “=The just shall live by faith=.” This was a familiar text to us, as it had been our motto for some three months, or more, but it is always new.

Brother Fisher came and said, “We have a tent up and ready for you, but we have made no arrangements for meals for you, as everybody makes their own arrangements for those.” We praised God for the tent and knew He would take care of the rest, for He had sent us there, so He would provide.

We were invited home with some friends that night, but returned to the camp to stay the next morning. Noon came. Everybody was going out to the stand to get lunch. We had to pray. So we went into our little tent, knelt down and told our Heavenly Father about our needs. He says He knows our needs before we ask Him, but we receive by asking. It is so sweet to tell Him about every little need. We had spoken to no one else about them, as that would not be faith. We went across the grounds to the big tent. A sister came, put her arms around me, and said, “Sister, are you a missionary?” I told her we were just going out for the first time. She said the Lord had laid it on her heart to open a dining tent for the missionaries on the camp-ground, and she wanted to invite me and my little family to eat with them. I need not say that dining tent was one of the sweetest places I have ever seen. We would gather there and sing and praise God and eat the food He had provided. It was Heaven on earth. I am sure dear Sister Craton and her sister, who worked so faithfully, will receive abundant reward when Jesus comes.

The meeting was wonderful. The Word was preached under the mighty anointing every afternoon and night. Hundreds were brought in and baptized in the Holy Spirit, and many were healed. One day they carried in a Jew. He was an invalid, had been sick for many years and did not believe the Bible or in God. We gathered around him and prayed. A great ball of fire came down through the tent, struck that man on the head, knocked him out of his chair and on to his feet, and almost knocked down all who were praying with him. He was healed and baptized in the Holy Spirit, and ran over the grounds leaping and praising God. Many things God did there that strengthened our faith and prepared us for the life of faith on the mission field.

After the camp-meeting we rented a little apartment where we might live and make ready for our trip, for there was sewing to be done and things to be made ready. We were expecting to sail about the first of October. But one day, as we were praying about when we should sail, the Lord said, “You will sail about the first of the year.” We thought that was a long time off, and did not understand why we were to wait so long. Going to the steamship office we learned that the port of Corinto, where we were to land, was under quarantine for yellow fever, and had been for several months, but the ban would be lifted about the first of the year, and it was.

They were precious months that followed. Everything that we needed had to be prayed in—trunks, suitcases, clothing, everything came in answer to prayer.

While in San Francisco I was very busy in meetings and had many letters to write. Sister Kerr said, “Ask the Lord to give you a typewriter to take with you.” “Oh,” I said, “I could never have faith for a typewriter, as I could get along without that, and need so many other things.” While I was praying in my room the Lord said to me, “You can have faith for a typewriter. Ask for one, and you shall have it.” I said, “Lord, I do not know how to use a typewriter.” He told me that when I went back to Los Angeles I could go to night school and learn to use a typewriter, and then He would give me one. This I did, and soon learned how to typewrite. Then I received a letter from a brother enclosing a check for $50, saying it was for a Corona typewriter to take to the mission field. I had never seen the brother and do not know how he knew of me, but God knows. I almost ran to the Corona office to get my typewriter, and with it I am writing this book.

=“I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.”=—Psalm 116:1, 2.

While in Oakland dear sister Rawlins told me the Lord had spoken to her to take her new Singer sewing machine, go home with me to Los Angeles and do up all my sewing. Here again was the dear loving hand of my Heavenly Father. He said He would give me mothers and brothers and sisters. This dear sister was truly a mother to me. She came with me, did up the sewing, and, as we were packing ready to leave for the mission field, and she to return to Oakland, she gave me the machine to take with me. How sweet that God has so many precious children who are ready to lay down their lives for the Gospel. We may not all be called to go, but we all can do our part. God bless every one who has given so freely and made it possible for the missionaries to go. As I think of the many things and the money that have been given by the dear children of God, it makes me fear I may not prove true and use it all to His glory. But there is a cry in my soul that the Lord will help me to be faithful, and render unto the Lord for all His benefits unto me. Psalm 116:12.

Everything was provided for the trip. New trunks were sent up to the house. Two nice handbags were given. One woman gave my daughter and me beautiful riding suits made to order. A certain book I had long been wanting to read, and had not been able to get, was brought and laid on our table when I was out. Many little tokens of love were brought by the saints—nice useful things.

But there was one thing lacking, a most important one. That was our fare. The Lord had miraculously interfered and gotten us our passports, and everything was packed and ready, but no money for the fare, which was near $700.00, including excess baggage. One morning, while praying in my room, the Lord said, “Go to the steamship office and make your reservations.” “But, Lord, I haven’t the money to pay down.” He said, “Get ready; I will send the money.” By the time I was dressed and ready, a friend entered the room and gave me $15. Well, why hadn’t the Lord sent all that was needed for the fare? Never mind; He had another lesson of faith to teach us. I went to the office and found out about the steamers. One sailed January 12th. The Lord said “Take that one.” Different faithful friend, asked, “When does the steamer sail?” We told them. “And you haven’t your fare yet?” “No, we haven’t the fare yet, but it is coming.” They said they did not believe we were to sail so soon or God would have sent the fare. But we knew God had spoken and we believed.

One afternoon a woman came with a message which she claimed was from God. Some of them had been praying about our going, and had received a message that we were not to go yet. Instead we were to go to a certain place and open a work. For that reason God had not sent us our fare. I replied, “I can’t believe that, for God has spoken to me many times, and this message is the same that came through my lips in San Francisco, when He told me that we were to sail about the first of the year.” At that time, as already related, we found the port was under quarantine that would be lifted about the first of the year. Later we found it had been lifted, and the Lord had told us we were to sail on the steamer that went on Jan. 12.

We kept in sweet communion with the Lord, and every time these friends came with a message, He whispered to us to be still and know He was God; and we should see His salvation. Time went by. Only a week more before sailing, and we must have our ticket in three days in order to have our baggage attended to, still there was no money in sight. We kept praising the Lord that He had spoken, and it would come to pass. A dear saint, we thought much of, came in. She asked if we had our fare. We said we had not. She said, “Surely there is something wrong. God does not want you to go now.” But we quietly praised God. He had spoken, and it was so. Like Paul, we thanked God and took courage, when it seemed that everything was against us on every side, and the darkest hour was there. Then came dear Brother Norris from San Bernardino, California. He said the Lord had sent him to pay our fares. So he went down and paid for our tickets and excess baggage.

Why did we have this test? It was just one more lesson for us to learn. We must come to the place where we know the voice of the Lord and there must be no mistake about it. He wants us to know beyond the shadow of a doubt. We are in dark days and there are many spirits to deceive. We must know the voice of God, and then, no matter how impossible it may seem, follow His voice.

Many were the tests and trials we passed through, but glorious was the victory He gave in the end.