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.
Leaving Matagalpa
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.
Alma and Carl feeding the pet deer
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.
Carl with his faithful pony
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.
The only Jesus they know
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!
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
had come down from the mountains and, after killing two cows and injuring several more, had escaped. They were greatly frightened, as the animal was still in the neighborhood, but we lay down under the shed, and went to sleep, awakening just when the sun was coming up through the trees. We hustled and dressed, and after ordering some hot milk from the people there, we mounted for another day’s journey. We went down the road in the direction which the tiger had taken. The natives warned us that we were likely to meet the ferocious animal in the forest not far away, but we went on, singing the sweet songs of Zion, and trusting ourselves to His keeping, who said, “I will give you power over all the power of the enemy.” A tiger was a very small thing compared to the awful monster of sin which had ravaged the whole country. We realized that the King’s business demanded haste, so we passed on, and rode over the dusty road unmolested. The blessed Holy Spirit filled our hearts with joy at the thought of soon reaching the place where we should have meetings with the dear faithful little band of Christians who were awaiting.