While we were giving out tracts and Testaments to the people who came to sell fruit and birds in one port in Mexico, we met a Mexican who had never heard the Gospel, or seen a Bible or a missionary before. I gave him a tract, in his own language, on the second coming of the Lord. He looked at the tract, then at me, and then said, “What is this for?” I told him it was a tract telling of the soon coming of Jesus back to this earth again. I could not speak or understand much Spanish. He said, “I will read it, then bring someone to interpret for me, for I want to know more about this.” He went away, and in a few minutes came back with a young man who could speak English, for his interpreter.
He asked me where I heard the Lord was soon coming back again. I said I had read it in the Bible, and that God was pouring out the Holy Spirit upon the earth in these last days; that thousands were receiving the Spirit, and that the Holy Spirit is revealing to the people that Jesus is coming soon.
He then told us he had been going all over Mexico, Central and South America, visiting idols and saints, walking several thousands of miles, carrying heavy loads of gifts to these idols in the attempt to get peace of soul, but had not found it. At last, sick and weary, and in despair, he gave up.
He was wondering if there were a God and had asked that if there were He should make Himself known to him in some way. Then he said he saw a great, strong man coming up out of the sea, so powerful that he could make every nation of the world bow to him. This man destroyed the Pope of Rome and the Catholic Church, built a great church for himself, and sought to compel all the world to worship him, but there were many who would not do this, so he made war against them, killing them all, and the earth was covered with blood. The people called on God to stop the terrible war and take away this man from the earth. Then Jesus came on a great white horse with many angels following him, destroyed the wicked man, and set up a beautiful kingdom of peace, in which everyone was so happy, and the whole earth became a great beautiful garden.
A Native Village
Then this Mexican said, “I felt very happy in my heart, and had such great peace of mind.” He had prayed God to send someone to tell him more of this way. He said he was very astonished to find someone giving out tracts on the ship. Always before when he made his trips he saw only gambling and dancing, but this time he found people preaching the Gospel.
He went away happy, to tell his people he had found the Bible and the Way of Life. He talked to all the Mexicans on board, telling them how God had answered his prayer.