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.
Picturesque Street Scene of the Port of Corinto, where we landed
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.
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.
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.
An Indian Hut Where We Preached the Gospel
Indian girls grinding corn for tortillas