Our young missionary made his way from the Port of Arica to the Railway Station. It was confusing to be rushing along with others who were all shouting and talking, yet not to be able to understand a word, even though he had studied Spanish as much as possible on shipboard.
At last he arrived at the Station. As the old train puffed into the station, he noticed the wheels were different from any he had seen before. Later he learned this system of locomotion was necessary in order to climb the very steep mountains.
Another difference he noticed in train travel in Bolivia was that the train made frequent stops for servicing. During these stops passengers could get off and buy fruit, bread, meat and other things from women who sat around on the ground selling these items.
After the two day train trip from Arica he arrived in La Paz, Bolivia, feeling very much alone and very weary. The Lord enabled him to find a room with a gentleman about whom someone on the train had told him. He was there only one day when he became seriously ill with "soroche," or what we call "mountain sickness." This was caused by the high altitude of 13,000 feet above sea level. The gentleman in whose house he was staying advised him to go to the hospital immediately and kindly offered to walk over there with him.
The doctor who treated him was an American. He advised him he must go to a lower altitude and then get accustomed to the high altitude slowly. When he realized the young man had no friends in Bolivia and no way to go to a lower altitude, the doctor told him he would be welcome to use a little cabin he owned in the valley just outside La Paz, if he wished. The young man thankfully accepted the doctor's kind offer, believing that it was truly of the Lord.
Before discharging the missionary, the doctor called in a young American nurse to give him the needed shots to relieve his sickness. Some years before this young nurse had volunteered to leave her home in New York to help open an American Hospital in Bolivia and to train Bolivian nurses there. Of course she and the doctor became interested in this young man who had such a desire to preach Christ to a people whom he had never seen and whose language he could not even speak. He returned to his room praising the Lord for His faithful care over him, and packed his belongings.
He spent two quiet and peaceful weeks alone with the Lord in the doctor's little cabin, reading the Scriptures and studying Spanish. As soon as he was feeling better he went back to La Paz to thank the doctor for his kindness. The doctor gave him a thorough check-up and advised him to go slowly in the high altitudes because he was having some difficulty with his heart. It was good advice.
Hearing of the Inca Indians who worked in the mines, he soon bought a train ticket to go to Potosi, a large mining city, where he rented a room on one of the main streets. Every morning he walked the streets giving out gospel tracts. Sometimes he visited the Conventilla in the city of Potosi. A "conventilla" is a large building where many families live.
In those early days there was much opposition from the people and their religious leaders, so his life was often in danger. One morning just as he had finished distributing gospel tracts to many in the Conventilla, a howling mob of some 200 people followed him, crying out loudly, "Kill him! Get rid of him! Do away with this heretic!" They followed him down the street. Some had already picked up stones to throw at him. He walked on, earnestly praying that the Lord would graciously protect him as He had promised.
Just ahead of them was a pile of stones, ready to be used in some new building, which he feared would be used to throw at him when they came near him. But just at the critical moment a little boy-a fair-haired little fellow-came across the street, threw his little arms around him, and looked up at him with loving blue eyes, as much as to say, "Don't be afraid!"
The missionary was so surprised to see such a blond-haired lad in a land where everyone has such black hair. He gently stroked the little fellow's head and spoke lovingly to him.
Suddenly the mob stopped, ceased from their shouting, and someone was heard to say, "Leave him alone; he must be a good man. See how he loves that little fellow." Dropping their stones, the crowd dispersed, and he was left alone with his little fair-haired friend. Soon after, the lad crossed the street, and the missionary never saw him again even though every day he went that way to see if he could see him again. He came to the conclusion that this was another instance of which that wonderful Scripture speaks: "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them" (Psa. 34:77The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. (Psalm 34:7)).
He spent much time in studying Spanish and began to make friends with the children and young people on the street. In a few months he was able to preach the Gospel on the main square. Many were opposed, but others showed a real interest which was a great encouragement to him. He soon made friends with a few young men who listened to the Word of God. They accepted Christ as their Savior. They often went to his room to read the Scriptures with him.
A little later, through the help of his family and friends at home, he was able to rent a small Meeting Room. He was also able to find work teaching English in the University of Potosi. Sometimes he used the Gospel of John as a text book to encourage his students to read English. Some became interested in the Word of God and came to the little Meeting Room in the evening.
Two of the young men went with him everywhere and also helped him with his Spanish. Then they started having Special Meetings, giving out invitations with the Gospel tracts to invite people to come and hear the Good News of salvation, In this way he was gradually able to expand the sphere of his work for the Lord.