THE STARS AND STRIPES AND BEAUTIFUL MANZANILLA

We reached Manzanilla on January 19th. Pulling ourselves up on the dock out of the little boat that brought us ashore, and walking a short distance, we came to the street on the water front. It was filled with people who had gathered to see the ship come in. With eager faces they watched the unloading of the cargo. We thought if only the many launches and boats that had gone to the ship for passengers and cargo could bring messengers and messages to this hungry people’s souls, what a blessed thing it would be!

We walked through the little city. The streets were filled with barefoot men, women, and children, many of whose clothes were ragged and dirty. Many pigs and sick dogs were roaming about eagerly hunting food, which appeared to be scarce. Our hearts were touched. As we looked up to Heaven there came a cry from my soul for the deliverance of these people.

Our attention was attracted by the ringing of a bell away up the mountain side. There we saw a small white Temple. The people began to swarm up there, answering the call of the bell. We went up with them. As we stepped inside the great iron gate that is kept closed at all other times, but was now opened for the people to enter, we saw the poor barefoot, ragged creatures enter, and kneeling down, make the sign of the cross and worship the tall image before them, then rise to their feet and pass out.

The floor of the temple was dirty, and the seats covered with dust. We were made to think of the Scripture in Isaiah 1:6:

“From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores; they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Your country is desolate.”

Surely the whole country is devoid of the power and glory of the God who made them in His own image.

As we stood there in the gate of the temple, we saw, high up on the mountain, the American flag waving in the ocean breezes. The flag was on the home of the American consul. It seemed to speak of freedom for that poor suffering people.

Oh that God’s children, who have been touched by Divine power and filled with God’s love, would go in upon the wings of faith and prayer, lift the blood-stained banner of Jesus, and wave it o’er this desolate land till it resounds with the falling of the Latter Rain, which is able to make it bud and bloom and bring forth fruit unto eternal life!

Some natives of a tribe in Guatemala, C. A.

Upon returning to our ship the burden was so heavy on me that I fell on my knees and cried to God to save these people. Then the Lord said,

“What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the churches.”—Rev. 1:11, 19.

We saw men with bands around their heads holding great packs on their necks. They were carrying loads from the boats which were bringing the ship’s cargo to shore. Truly they were pictures of the spiritual bondage of the people staggering under their burdens of sin, and with the yoke of the devil on their necks.

O, my Lord, in travail of soul I cry,

That Thou wilt hear and answer from the sky,

And send Thy Holy Spirit down in power!

O let it fall, my Lord, in a mighty shower!

O save this people from the tempter’s snare!

Let them in Thy heavenly glory share—

Save them, O Lord, from sin and shame,

That they may know the power of Jesus’ name.

SALINA CRUZ, MEXICO.
My Vision Interpreted

Here God gave me the interpretation of the vision which I had when I was saved, fifteen years before. From under the altar where I was kneeling I saw a great white cloud boiling out, full of upstretched black hands.

We were in Mexican waters and there was some trouble at this port. We expected to stay there about two days. Everyone was cautioned to be careful not to do or say anything that would stir up trouble. As we had been giving out tracts and Bibles at every port as we came down, we thought to do the same here, but we were told it would be dangerous to do so for it might cause a disturbance.

As we sat there and saw the dear people come down to the boat to sell things, our hearts were stirred, for we saw them as sheep having no shepherd. A group of fruit peddlers was sitting near. Taking some Spanish tracts and Testaments, I went over and talked to them as much as I could with my limited knowledge of the language, and gave them Gospel literature. A crowd gathered around, each holding out a hand for tracts. Even the custom house officers dressed in white, as is customary in the tropics, came over. The people came running from all sides, till soon I was pressed upon by them. Some flat cars were standing near. I climbed upon one of these to get out of the press, but the people climbed up, too, holding out their black hands for the little messengers. There must have been two or three hundred crowding around.

“Come over and help us”

As I was up there on that flat car looking down upon the poor hungry souls, holding out their black hands for the Bread of Life, I began to weep, and to speak in tongues. God spoke through me in Spanish to these dear hearts, telling them the story of the cross, and how and why Jesus died for us. It must have been an hour that I stood there in the hot sun, talking to them. They wept and begged for more tracts to carry home to their loved ones. One man, who could speak English, said to me, “We did not think you could speak our language so well,” then he told me what I had said.

And there my vision of the white cloud full of black hands was interpreted. Dressed in white, they were reaching out black hands for the gospel. Shall they call in vain? Oh, no! We will carry to them the gospel, the blessed story of Jesus and His wonderful love. They, too, shall be saved and ready when He comes.

In many places in Mexico the power of God is falling. In one place a Mexican heard the gospel and was saved. He began preaching to the people. The Holy Spirit fell, and about a hundred received the Baptism. They were calling for a missionary to come to them. Shall we linger? Shall we not answer these calls?

The wonderful love of God is better far than gold;

The wonderful love of God is better felt than told;

The wonderful love of God so deep, so full, so free;

The wonderful love of God as fathomless as the sea;

The wonderful love of God from Heaven to earth is sent;

The wonderful love of God for each poor sinner is meant.

Tell it! Sing it! Preach it! Till all the earth around

Shall hear thereof, and God be found.

Taking their morning bath