Part 4

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!

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.

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=