“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.
