OUR ARRIVAL IN LEON
Our arrival in the city aroused much curiosity among the people. As we passed through the streets they came out of their houses and followed us to see where we were going. When we came in sight of the house where lived a Christian woman, who had suffered much at the hands of her people, she came out to meet us. The power fell on her, and she danced for joy, and we wept and shouted. A crowd soon gathered to see what had occurred, and we had a meeting right there, telling them of the Savior’s love and His willingness to save them from all sin, and to present them faultless before His Father. These people had persecuted this dear sister for ten years after she was saved. They would come and whip her, throw her goods into the street, and tell her they would kill her if she did not turn back into the Roman church, but she stood true, and now had the Baptism of the Spirit, and in her house we had our meetings.
We slept on cow hides for beds, with a straw mat under us. We ate our food out of gourds for two weeks until our things came and we could get a house. It was sweet to be in the Master’s dear service.
Street Scene in Leon
The city of Leon is anti-American because it is the headquarters of the Liberal party, which is trying to overthrow the rule of the church of Rome. The United States appointed a president twelve years ago, thus stopping the revolution then in progress. As the president is a church man the Liberal party hasn’t much love for an American.
This was a difficulty which we had before us. Not only were missionaries hated, but we were American missionaries, which was far worse. We looked to the Father for a house in which we might live, and preach the Gospel to these dear people. A man came to us and said we could have a house, so we moved in the following day. It was a poor thing to call a house, being dirty, and infested with scorpions, lizards, and a species of ant which builds a big mud house and eats not only one’s clothes but also the furniture.
We were situated between two saloons and houses of ill-fame, right in the slum district. People danced, drank and caroused all night in these places. It was a pretty good place in which to open fire on the enemy, being right in the midst of his works. When an army advances to fight the enemy it goes to the strongest point.
On one side of our house, which was built of thin lumber, there were cracks in the wall, and we could look through the cracks into the saloon. We remembered the scripture which says we are not to light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candle stick, so all can see; so we would get out our little organ and sing and play, then kneel and pray, and the people would peep through at us. We were told they might throw rocks at us, and burn down the house, and might even kill us, but we were not there to draw back, so we opened fire with the heavy artillery of God’s power in the Holy Ghost.
We had not had, as yet, any public meetings, but had been waiting on the Lord for guidance. One morning there appeared a woman in our doorway, crying out
“Will You Come and Pray for My Baby? It Is Dying!”
We went with her to her home, which was a few doors away. There on the bed lay a little child, seemingly just passing away. A crowd had gathered about the door. When I saw the baby and that crowd there arose a cry to God from the depths of my soul to heal the child, thereby proving His power to the people. The child seemed to pass away, but we called on God to heal it for His glory. The little thing rose up, climbed off the bed, and began playing on the floor.
The mother shouted and gave herself to the Lord then and there. The doctors had given the child medicine to make it die easy, for it had been sick a long time. The mother brought the baby to our house, and sang, and praised the God of Heaven until the people from far and near came to see the child. She afterwards took the child and went all over the city from house to house telling how God had healed it and saved her. Then the people began to come to be prayed for. Often they would come and stay far into the night.
Mother with child that was raised up from death
We were having such a blessed time that we forgot about living in the slums, and about the saloons on either side of us, although at first we could not sleep for the noise from them. Soon we discovered they had moved the saloon which was so close to our bedroom. When I saw the proprietor come into the meetings, with others who came for prayer, I asked him if he had moved. He answered he had, as he did not feel good to have a bar so close to where we prayed so much. Besides, he said, he had no customers left, as they all came to hear us. Hallelujah! Jesus did move in a mighty way.
On the other side was the biggest house of ill-fame in the city. Men and women gathered there by dozens, some of them perfectly nude, dancing and drinking at all hours of the night. It was so awful we felt that hell had been uncapped in that place. But here came the “madame” to us, asking for prayer, saying she was sick, and she knew she was living a bad life. After her came many others. We prayed with each one and gave them each a Bible, until there were some mighty changes wrought in that section of the city.
One Dark Night
when the rain was falling in torrents, we were sitting around our feeble candle-light, reading our Bibles. We heard a knock on the door. It was late, and we had been warned by both missionaries and the Christian natives, to be very careful to whom we opened our doors after night, as there were people who would as soon kill us as they would an animal, so we did not open the door immediately. The knocking continued, and we heard a man’s voice asking us in Spanish to let him in. My husband partly opened the door, and in the small opening we saw a tall, dark native. He pushed into the room, looking very much frightened. When we asked what he wanted, he asked if we were the missionaries. We told him that we were, and he told us that five years before he had found a Bible, and began reading it. He had become convinced of the truth of the Gospel and wished to talk with us. We talked and prayed with him, then asked him to come to the meetings. He said his mother was very angry because he did not go to the church any more, and he was afraid that if he were to come to our meetings the people would kill him. That was why he had come on such a dark, wet night to have a talk with the missionaries. We were reminded of the ruler in Israel who interviewed Jesus in the night.
Waiting for the Gospel
He came to the house every night for two weeks. When we opened our class in English he attended. We always had a lesson from the Bible, and the scholars had to learn scripture verses. One day this man came out boldly and said, “I am coming to the meetings.” By this time we had several of the leading citizens of the city attending our meetings. This young man has since been called to preach the Gospel to his people. Pray for him. The following is a copy of a note he wrote us when we left Leon.
“I am returning your book. I thank you so much for it. It has been a great blessing to me. Please pray for me, as I feel a call to preach the Gospel. Send me Bibles and tracts from your land for my people.”
Others came to the class, being anxious to learn English. The judge of the city, doctors, lawyers, and many others heard the Gospel preached. To one young man who came to the class we gave a Bible in English, and one day he came to ask us some questions. The priests had told the natives we were nice people but were teaching error, for we taught people to read the Bible and the Bible was a very bad book, and they must not read it. But this precious boy was convicted of sin, and was seeking God. We asked him to pray the Lord to forgive his sins, and then to believe that God did it. He asked for a prayer-book, so he could pray. We told him we never used prayer-books; we simply asked God to forgive us and save us from our sins. He was sweetly saved and went away to bring a cousin to the meetings. This cousin was also saved. These two were among our brightest pupils. They could read and speak English quite well in a few months.
One morning, very early, before we were up, there came a knock on our door and a little brown-faced Indian girl appeared. She was about thirteen years old, and very pretty. She asked us to take her as a servant. She had nowhere to go, and had been sleeping in the market. As I looked at that dear little brown face and heard her story I looked up to my Heavenly Father and breathed a prayer that He would remember the thousands who, like her, had no home and were perishing. We told her we would take her, and I wish my readers might have seen that dear little face light up with joy because she would have a home with the missionaries. She was a very bright girl, and very quick to learn. Soon she could play the organ and sing the Gospel hymns. How she did love to go to the meetings and to read her Bible!
Carl’s Ball and Bat
Carl had a ball and a bat which had been brought from the homeland, and in the daytime he would go out into the small park near the house, gather all the boys from the streets, and play ball with them. They had never seen a ball or a bat before, and it was all very wonderful to them. Carl’s face would become very red from the heat, and the children thought it queer to see a red-faced boy with such white hair, and such peculiar things as the ball and bat. He would play with them until lunch-time, then they would come home with him, and he would get his Bible, read from it, and tell them of Jesus, and numbers of them were brought to God in this way.
Carl, with his boys
Many boys and girls came to us asking for a school and a home, but I am sorry to say that we could not possibly take them in, our house and means would not permit. But we are asking God to stir up the people in the homeland to give till there shall be a home and school opened in this dark city of Leon where these precious jewels may be gathered in and taught the Bible, and the way to God.
We were having precious meetings, and one day a man came saying he had walked a long distance to find the missionaries, to get them to come to his home and teach the Gospel. Husband and I went with him, going as far as possible on the little railroad, then walking the rest of the way. When we arrived we felt as if every drop of our blood were boiling, we were so hot, walking so far under the tropical sun. We found the family gathered to hear the Word of God, and thought of Peter going to the house of Cornelius.
“Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span!
At Calvary.”
The Lord touched these dear hearts with His love in a mighty way. They wept, and cried to Him to save them. Even the little children were hungry to seek the Lord. Far away from all Christians, in a dark land, filled with idols, where the powers of darkness fill the very air, were those precious souls, just waiting for someone to come and tell them of a Savior’s love. There are many thousands just like them. Dear reader, what will you do to get the gospel to them? Ask the Lord to show you what He would have you do.
I shall never forget the scene when we started to leave these people. They clung to us, begging us not to leave them. But there were our own dear children at Leon, in a foreign land, far away from all loved ones, and with no one to protect them, and the shadows of night were beginning to fall. We had to pull ourselves away from those pleading, soul-hungry people, and say good-bye. We promised to come back when we could, telling them we must go back to our little ones, and the work in Leon. The father and mother had seven bright-faced boys, and asked us if we would take them into our school, and we told them we would if we could but we were not able for lack of means.
Returning it seemed as if the slow train would never get to Leon. We were tired, and our feet were blistered from the long walk in the terrible heat. But as we looked to the Lord to refresh our bodies and heal our sore feet, the Holy Spirit came sweeping through our beings, so refreshing us that we hardly knew we had gone through such an ordeal.
In a few days there came a call to another home far away in the mountains, where the people were begging that the Gospel be brought to them. I took a native woman with me and we traveled on the train as far as we could go. We purposed going to the home of some native Christians who lived in that town, and who had been in the meetings at Leon, where we thought to rest until the sun went down, as the other trip had taught me not to walk far under the hot sun. As we passed down the street I heard the people calling out in Spanish, “Hay una Evangelista!” (There is a missionary!) But I thought nothing of it, knowing they were not accustomed to seeing foreigners walking through their streets.
Arriving at the house of the Christians I was told the people would not allow missionaries to come to that town. Some months before, one of their young men had been converted. When he came back and told it, men, women, and children, with the priests as leaders, gathered, and cut him to pieces in the street near the house where we then were.
The dear native Christians were looking for the people to come at any moment and kill them. They declared that we all would be killed that day. I began praying to find out if I had missed the Lord’s will by coming there, but the Lord spoke to my heart, saying all would be well and not to fear what the people might do. So we gathered inside and prayed to God for protection, and to convict the people of their awful crimes. When we arose from prayer a large crowd was gathered outside, watching us. The house was made of small poles stuck in the ground, with large cracks all around, so we could easily see and be seen.
We planned to leave the house at sunset, to walk out to the farm where we were going to preach the Gospel. I told the dear ones not to fear, but to trust God. However, they were greatly frightened and said the mob would certainly kill me when I went out. But I knew I had been sent there by the Lord, and all would be well.
I went out and spoke to the crowd, and then started down the street, leading to the country. When I looked around only my woman was with me. She told me the others had gone another way, hoping to miss the crowd, which I saw was following us. I saw some women give a boy a machette, and tell him to cut me with it. He came running toward me, talking in Spanish as fast as he could, and swearing at me. I went right ahead. He kept at my side, swearing. The mob followed us. We walked on until we came to where the road left the town, and turned into the country. I felt the power of God coming upon me in a way I had never felt before.
The veins of my neck swelled, and my body began to shake. Then I turned toward the mob and began speaking to them in tongues. They turned and ran, until not one was to be seen. A little disappointed feeling came into my heart. I said, “Jesus, I wanted to die a martyr for you here in this dark land, but now the mob is gone.” The power still filled my being, until I could do nothing but worship God. The native Christians came up. They said they had seen the people run, and heard them exclaim that fire fell from Heaven and burned them, until they could endure it no longer, and they had to run. I did not see the fire, but felt it burning in my soul in a mighty way.
At The Farm
I preached and sang until midnight, and still the people begged me to tell them more “good news” as they called it. Truly it was good news of great joy to those poor people who had so long been under the heavy yoke of the enemy. There was a family of fifteen, also several hired men, besides about twelve travelers who had stopped for the night. They had only one room. When I told them I could not preach any more that night, but must have some rest for my body, and a place where I could lie down, they all went into the room—family, travelers, hired men, some thirty people in all. They took two young calves and three small deer with them, also several hens with their little chicks.
I decided not to sleep with all those people and animals in that room, with no ventilation—as the adobe houses are built without any windows. I told them to fix me a cot outside in the corridor. They said wild animals came at night, and I must not sleep outside. But I decided I would almost prefer being eaten by wild animals to being smothered. As I insisted, they put a cot for me outside, and I did not awaken to see whether any wild animals came. If any came, they did not molest me.
Arising next morning I ate my breakfast off of banana leaves, then gathered the family for prayer. How the power of God did fall and fill every hungry heart! After prayer I told them I must leave them, and return home. We gathered our blankets together, and climbed into the ox cart which had been brought to carry us to the railroad station. I was too tall for the cowhide covering, which was intended to protect us from the sun, so I sat in the back and let my feet hang down over the end, and so rode to town. We sang and talked all the way, about the love of Jesus. Several times we stopped at houses by the roadside and preached to the people, giving them tracts and Bibles.
A large crowd was at the station waiting for the train. I went to the platform and spoke to the crowd. They asked me to give them Bibles and tracts. Some of them were members of the mob which the night before had been ready to kill us for coming into their town to preach the Gospel.
We arrived at Leon very tired and needing rest. But there were so many to be ministered unto and the needs were so great that I went right into the meetings, where God blessed my soul and rested my body.
Where I preached until midnight, and the entire family was brought to the Lord.
The Lord Rolled the Sea Away
One day a young man who had been in the United States, came to see us. He spoke English well, also had been in different churches and had some knowledge of the Gospel. He came many times to read and pray with us. One day he asked if we would not go to the beach for a day’s outing. We felt we could not spare the time, and it would be too much of a luxury for us. But as he insisted on bringing his machine and taking us, we consented to go and prepared a little lunch. Before going we asked if we might preach to the people on the road. He consented, so we went for the day, taking Bibles and tracts with us. Many were the precious souls to whom we spoke about the Lord Jesus, giving them the little printed messengers. Our hearts were moved with compassion as we saw the extreme poverty of the poor people out in the country, with no one to love or help them. The roads were almost impassable and the heat was intense, but at last we saw the white-caps dashing up against the shore, and felt the cool breeze from the ocean. We stopped some distance from the water and walked down to the beach. Many Indians were there. Some could not speak Spanish, but had a sign language. We spoke to all who could understand us, and they told the rest about the Gospel, for although they spoke Spanish, they also understood the sign language.
There was a dressing place for bathers and a stand where refreshments were sold by the Indians, who could not speak Spanish. I sat down in the shade while the rest went bathing in the surf. Suddenly I was startled by the screams of my daughter, Alma. She and the young man were quite a distance out in the breakers. They were drowning, and calling for help. I saw them go under. My husband was trying to reach them, but the strong undercurrent took him down also. I prayed and called on God to save them.
Running to the Indians, I tried to tell them to run with a rope and save them. I could not make them understand, but suddenly began talking in tongues, with signs, which I afterwards learned was their language. They told the young man that I had implored them to help save my daughter, husband and himself. They ran to help Alma and the young man, but they could not be seen. I started in that direction calling on the Lord to save them. The sea rolled up in a great heap, and there they were on the sand. How it all happened I cannot tell. But I know the Lord rolled the sea away, and they were saved. They were filled with water and Alma was sick. But the Lord soon delivered her. The young man knew the Lord had saved them from death. He was an expert swimmer, but could not swim in that strong undercurrent, which had drawn them so far out before they realized the danger.
Where the entire family was brought to Jesus, and the mother’s hand was healed of blood poisoning. Note the hand wrapped in a large piece of cloth.
How we did praise God for His wonderful deliverance! It was a mighty miracle, which convinced the Indians that God had delivered, for they saw the waters rolled up in a heap. It made them believe. The news of the wonderful miracle God had performed for the missionaries soon spread about the city. It was published in the papers, and many who had not come before, came to see us and were convinced of the Gospel. Many people came from all parts of the Republic to hear the Gospel, and to ask for Bibles.
The dear saints in the homeland sent us Bibles, Testaments and tracts, and the Word of God went forth. We cannot tell how many precious souls were reached by the bread cast on the waters, but we shall know when we reach the beautiful land beyond, and see their dear faces shining with heavenly glory. We are told to sow beside all waters, and are promised that “he that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:6.
Many were the nights and times we went forth weeping over the sheep that were out of the fold, lost among the idols, vice and sin of every kind. It was almost more than we could bear when so many of the people came to us, and we were unable to take them all in and help them. We could only weep and cry to the Lord to help us to reach them, and to stir up the saints at home to give all they possibly could to aid in helping them. For this purpose we are sending forth this book, that funds may be raised to send Bibles and tracts to these people.
It was at this time, when many were pressing upon us for help and our means were so limited that God told us to return to the homeland and tell the church of the great need of sending more Bibles, tracts and missionaries to these destitute fields. As we looked to the Lord and told Him we did not have the money to get back home, He spoke and told us we were to pack up and go to the port, and He would send the money for us there for our fare. So we began making ready.
Another missionary and his wife came by, going home on furlough. They were going via Guatemala, believing they could save quite a sum of money by going that way. But the Lord had told us to go via Panama. We packed our trunks and made ready. But oh, how we did hate to tell our dear people we were leaving them, for we loved them so, and they loved and clung to us. We knew they would feel so badly to have us leave them.
Where Carl attended native school to study Spanish. Neither the teacher or any of the pupils could speak a word of English, so he very soon acquired the Spanish.
When we went to the meeting that night we told them the Lord had led us to return to our homeland, to put the great needs of their country before the people. They cried, both men and women, and pressed upon us until we thought we could never get ready to start. I had to put our suit-cases in a room and lock the doors so I could finish packing, for the house was full of precious souls begging to hear more of the Gospel, and telling us how much they loved us, and what a great blessing we had been to them. Our hearts were breaking over the people, for they were as sheep without a shepherd. May God bless and keep them true to Him.
We were packed and ready to go to the train when there came a big procession of people marching into the house. Some of them we had not met before, and some we had seen on the streets and in the markets, when we were preaching and giving out tracts. Many of them had come to our meetings, had heard and accepted the Gospel, and had been filled with the blessed Holy Spirit. They brought many presents, among them a nice leather bill-book for my husband, a manicuring set for Alma, pretty fans for me, and boxes of candy for Carl. Many useful presents they brought, some of which had cost much money, for everything is much more expensive there than in our country. Even rich people had come and brought presents to show their appreciation of our missionary work among them.
When the train pulled in, and we were about to go on board, several doctors and lawyers and the judge of the city came, saying they were going to the port with us to stay until our ship sailed, and there was the crowd standing outside waving their hands and saying, “Good-bye, don’t forget to pray for us, and send us Bibles.” Oh that scene! We shall never forget it. As the train started the people hung on to the side, waving their hands, and calling “Good-bye, our good missionaries; we love you so much.”
We had many opportunities to witness for Jesus and to give out literature on the way to the port. The people were so hungry they would run and beg for more tracts.
When we arrived at the port station we were taken to a hotel by one of the men who had gone with us, and there a fine dinner was given us in a special dining room, and we had a nice time.
We found we must appear before the American consul twice a day for several days before sailing, as we had come from a yellow fever infected region. We began to go that morning, for the ship bound for Panama would come in seven days.
We made ready to leave on that boat, but there was no money for the fare. As I prayed in my room one morning the Lord said, “Go and ask for your mail.” I thought, “I don’t believe the mail is opened here, but on arriving in the port is immediately sent to the different parts of the country.” But as I prayed again the Lord spoke once more, “Go and ask for your mail.” I knew it was the voice of the Lord, for He had wonderfully spoken to us and led us all the way, so I went. On asking for the mail I was told that no mail was coming for two weeks, and when it did come it would not be opened there but would be sent out to the different parts of the republic.
Women coming from the market place
I returned to my room, wondering. I believed the Lord had sent me for our mail, but why had the postal officials said it could not be obtained there? Besides, there was no mail boat coming until after the other boat had sailed. But as I prayed I heard the voice of the Lord telling me to go again and ask for my mail. I waited until the next morning, then went again. Once more the postmaster told me the same thing, that it would be impossible for me to get my mail there when it did come. I must admit that I felt at a loss to know what to do, or what it all meant. But I couldn’t doubt the voice of the Lord. I waited another day, and prayed until I was sure the Lord was speaking to me. Though I couldn’t see how it all could work out, yet I knew that He knew, and had spoken.
I went again to the postmaster and explained to him that we were sailing on the ship which was then in the harbor, and which was to leave in three days, but again he told me the same thing; there would be no mail boat in for two weeks, and it would be impossible to receive my mail before that time. I returned to my room and, falling upon my face, I cried to the Lord for help, for this seemed more than I could bear, for the enemy was taunting me, saying that the Lord was not speaking to me, that we had been deceived, that the Lord had not even told us to come to the port, and that our fare would certainly not be provided. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord came again to me, saying, “Ask for your mail tomorrow morning.”
When we arose the next morning we saw another ship at anchor in the port. It had come in during the night. My husband strolled down to the dock, and was informed that this was the mail boat from Panama, also that our ship was not to sail until the following day, because the cargo was not yet unloaded. When he returned with the welcome news I began to pray again about the mail, feeling certain there was something for us on that ship. Then I went again to see the postmaster, this time taking a Testament to give him. This seemed the wrong thing to do, for he was a fanatical church man, and the Gospel was not allowed to be preached in that port. But we had gone unmolested all over the place, distributing tracts, and preaching to the people, and the dear natives had begged for Bibles and the little papers (tracts).
Alma with her music class in Leon
Walking up to the office window, I told the man the Lord had spoken to me, telling me there was mail there for me, which had come in on that ship. He came to the window, began talking about the Lord, and asked me how I knew the Lord had said there was mail there for us. I answered that we had come to port in order to sail on the ship then in harbor, that we did not have our fare, but the Lord had told us the fare would be provided after we reached the port. I was sure there was mail for us there, and would he please give it to me? Handing him the Testament, I told him to read it, and learn about the wonderful Savior who could come into our hearts and talk to us, and lead us in such straight paths. He began to weep, and told me he had never before seen a Bible, had hated and persecuted the missionaries, had hated me when I came inquiring for mail, and had not even believed in God before; but my coming so many times, saying the Lord had told me there was mail coming for me, in spite of my knowing that the mail ship was not due for two weeks, then the arrival of the mail ship before time, and the postponed sailing of the other vessel upon which I said we were to sail, had convinced him that God was actually speaking to me, and he promised to try to get our mail. However, there were thousands of letters, and he was rather doubtful if he could find our mail in the midst of so much other, but promised that if I would return in the afternoon he would do his best for me. In the afternoon, I returned for the mail, which I was sure would be there. The man came hurrying to me, and handed me two registered letters, saying they were on the top of the pile of mail in the first bag he opened. Surely God had spoken to me, he said, and he knew now there was a God, and he was going to serve Him, so as to have Him speak to him, too. And very earnestly he promised to read the Testament, also he asked for a Bible for his wife, and tracts for his friends.
When I opened the two letters there, lacking twenty-five dollars, was the amount for our fare. We sailed the following morning. Later I went into my stateroom to find out the exact amount of money we had, to make sure how much was lacking for the entire trip to the homeland. Sure enough, there was exactly twenty-five dollars lacking. Again I looked to the dear Lord for help to believe for the needed amount, and again He spoke, telling me to open my Bible. I did so, and my eyes fell upon this scripture:
“And the Lord, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee; He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.”—Deut. 31:8
Looking at the little scripture calendar hanging on the wall I saw in the space for the day on which we would land in Panama the identical verse I had just read. Strengthened and encouraged by this, I felt that Jesus would make it all right, and that we were simply to trust and obey.
Upon arriving in Panama we were taken to the American Bible House, where we were treated with the greatest kindness. Dear Mr. Duffey and his wife gave us much valuable information about the whole of Central America, as they were in touch with every mission station, and had themselves been missionaries there for many years.
We had to wait three days for the ship to New Orleans, and we sweetly rested in the Lord and trusted Him to supply that twenty-five dollars.
One day we met a young Mexican on the street, whom we had known in Nicaragua. He was a traveling salesman from St. Louis, Mo. We had given him a Bible and talked to him about giving his heart to the Lord, and he had been very much interested in our work in Nicaragua. We invited him to visit us at the Bible House, and in the evening he came. We read the Word of God and had prayer, and he told us of his having persecuted the missionaries in Mexico. He had never seen a Bible before he met us, but in the United States he had learned that missionaries did a good work among the people, so he no longer hated them. He said he was glad to have met us and heard us preach the Gospel. “In return for this Bible which you have given me,” he said, “and the way in which you have talked to me, I feel I should do something for you, and the Lord,” and he passed twenty-five dollars across the table to me. Praise the Lord! there was the rest of our fare home. Surely God does temper the wind to the shorn lamb, and take care of His little ones, leading them in and out where they can find pasture.
We sailed the next day. Many were the precious souls reached by us with the Gospel while we were in Panama; also on land and on sea after we left there. Shall we not praise God forever for all His goodness to us, and for the privilege of being called to preach to the nations of the earth?
Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest truly is ripe;
Put ye in the sickle, and reap with all your might;
Put ye in the sickle, for the Lord calleth thee;
Put ye in the sickle, and to Him, ever faithful be;
Put ye in the sickle, ye worker of the living God;
Put ye in the sickle, in every land ye tread;
Put ye in the sickle, for the day is surely nigh;
Put ye in the sickle, for Jesus cometh from on high.
—Given in tongues, with interpretation.
Alma with her English class of native girls