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.