While in San Francisco I was very busy in meetings and had many letters to write. Sister Kerr said, “Ask the Lord to give you a typewriter to take with you.” “Oh,” I said, “I could never have faith for a typewriter, as I could get along without that, and need so many other things.” While I was praying in my room the Lord said to me, “You can have faith for a typewriter. Ask for one, and you shall have it.” I said, “Lord, I do not know how to use a typewriter.” He told me that when I went back to Los Angeles I could go to night school and learn to use a typewriter, and then He would give me one. This I did, and soon learned how to typewrite. Then I received a letter from a brother enclosing a check for $50, saying it was for a Corona typewriter to take to the mission field. I had never seen the brother and do not know how he knew of me, but God knows. I almost ran to the Corona office to get my typewriter, and with it I am writing this book.
“I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.”—Psalm 116:1, 2.
While in Oakland dear sister Rawlins told me the Lord had spoken to her to take her new Singer sewing machine, go home with me to Los Angeles and do up all my sewing. Here again was the dear loving hand of my Heavenly Father. He said He would give me mothers and brothers and sisters. This dear sister was truly a mother to me. She came with me, did up the sewing, and, as we were packing ready to leave for the mission field, and she to return to Oakland, she gave me the machine to take with me. How sweet that God has so many precious children who are ready to lay down their lives for the Gospel. We may not all be called to go, but we all can do our part. God bless every one who has given so freely and made it possible for the missionaries to go. As I think of the many things and the money that have been given by the dear children of God, it makes me fear I may not prove true and use it all to His glory. But there is a cry in my soul that the Lord will help me to be faithful, and render unto the Lord for all His benefits unto me. Psalm 116:12.
Everything was provided for the trip. New trunks were sent up to the house. Two nice handbags were given. One woman gave my daughter and me beautiful riding suits made to order. A certain book I had long been wanting to read, and had not been able to get, was brought and laid on our table when I was out. Many little tokens of love were brought by the saints—nice useful things.
But there was one thing lacking, a most important one. That was our fare. The Lord had miraculously interfered and gotten us our passports, and everything was packed and ready, but no money for the fare, which was near $700.00, including excess baggage. One morning, while praying in my room, the Lord said, “Go to the steamship office and make your reservations.” “But, Lord, I haven’t the money to pay down.” He said, “Get ready; I will send the money.” By the time I was dressed and ready, a friend entered the room and gave me $15. Well, why hadn’t the Lord sent all that was needed for the fare? Never mind; He had another lesson of faith to teach us. I went to the office and found out about the steamers. One sailed January 12th. The Lord said “Take that one.” Different faithful friend, asked, “When does the steamer sail?” We told them. “And you haven’t your fare yet?” “No, we haven’t the fare yet, but it is coming.” They said they did not believe we were to sail so soon or God would have sent the fare. But we knew God had spoken and we believed.
One afternoon a woman came with a message which she claimed was from God. Some of them had been praying about our going, and had received a message that we were not to go yet. Instead we were to go to a certain place and open a work. For that reason God had not sent us our fare. I replied, “I can’t believe that, for God has spoken to me many times, and this message is the same that came through my lips in San Francisco, when He told me that we were to sail about the first of the year.” At that time, as already related, we found the port was under quarantine that would be lifted about the first of the year. Later we found it had been lifted, and the Lord had told us we were to sail on the steamer that went on Jan. 12.
We kept in sweet communion with the Lord, and every time these friends came with a message, He whispered to us to be still and know He was God; and we should see His salvation. Time went by. Only a week more before sailing, and we must have our ticket in three days in order to have our baggage attended to, still there was no money in sight. We kept praising the Lord that He had spoken, and it would come to pass. A dear saint, we thought much of, came in. She asked if we had our fare. We said we had not. She said, “Surely there is something wrong. God does not want you to go now.” But we quietly praised God. He had spoken, and it was so. Like Paul, we thanked God and took courage, when it seemed that everything was against us on every side, and the darkest hour was there. Then came dear Brother Norris from San Bernardino, California. He said the Lord had sent him to pay our fares. So he went down and paid for our tickets and excess baggage.
Why did we have this test? It was just one more lesson for us to learn. We must come to the place where we know the voice of the Lord and there must be no mistake about it. He wants us to know beyond the shadow of a doubt. We are in dark days and there are many spirits to deceive. We must know the voice of God, and then, no matter how impossible it may seem, follow His voice.
Many were the tests and trials we passed through, but glorious was the victory He gave in the end.