The missionary became quite exercised about visiting a very large mine in a place called Siete Suyos. This mine was owned by a Bolivian named Aramayo, but many of the mine officials and engineers were English. Thousands of Indians worked in the mines in that area.
After much prayer the missionary set out on his mule, Betsy, to seek permission to preach the gospel to the Indian workers in Siete Suyos. It was a four-day journey by mule (from Yulo to Siete Suyos) with night time spent sleeping under the stars.
Arriving at the mine about 5:00 p.m. he went directly to the mine office where, just as he had hoped, he found an Englishman who inquired as to what he wanted. "Sir," said the missionary, "I am an evangelist, and speak Quichua. I would very much like to preach the Gospel to the Indians in this mine. They have not heard the Gospel and do not know Christ."
In a very strong Oxford accent the Englishman answered, "We don't want any Bible punchers around here. Get going!"
He left as requested, feeling discouraged and a little downcast. It was getting dark and he wondered where he could find a place for the night. Starting up the hill toward Betsy, he heard a car coming up behind him and a voice asking in English, "Like a lift up this hill, it is pretty steep." Next thing he knew, the car had stopped and the driver cheerfully said, "Jump in!" After a pause the driver of the car asked, "By the way, what were you doing at the mine?"
The missionary then responded, "I was asking for permission to preach the Gospel to the Indians and give them some Gospel booklets, as I speak Quichua fairly well now. But the gentleman at the mine told me they didn't want any Bible-punchers there!"
With a smile the man said, "I am head manager of this mine. You most certainly may come and preach the Gospel to the Indians. You may use the Miners' Meeting Room every Wednesday and Friday evening if you wish. It is not occupied those evenings."
At the top of the hill, where Betsy was waiting in the corral, very happy to see her master, the missionary asked the gentleman where he could find a place to rest for the night. He was thankful to learn about a little hotel in town. The missionary thanked him for his kindness, saying he would accept his offer to use the Meeting Room on Wednesday. He also made arrangements as to a convenient time to invite some to come.
Many miners there have since accepted Christ as their Savior and have gone on faithfully in the Lord. ' In fact, today there is a nice little assembly there.
One day some time later the missionary and his wife, Rose, were having lunch when they heard a car stop outside. Rose went to the window to see who it was and said, "Honey, there is an English gentleman out there in a little old car."
The missionary looked out the window and exclaimed, "Why, Rose, that's the gentleman from the mines who told me they didn't want any Bible-punchers at the mine! I wonder what he wants?" Then he hurried out to welcome him and to invite him to have lunch with them.
The gentleman from the mines gladly accepted the invitation. When the missionary asked him why he was in that district, he told him he had heard the Spanish had owned a mine in that district many years ago. It was believed they had left a supply of mercury there which they had used to separate the silver from the dross. He wanted to check out that mine, but the mountains were too much for his car. He was grateful when the missionary offered to let him use Betsy.
Day by day he went in search of the mine but didn't find anything where he thought it was. At night he came back and had supper with the missionaries. After supper each night they read from the Bible as was their custom. One night while reading in John 10, their visitor said he didn't believe John 10:2828And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)-"I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish"-was true or that it was worded that way in the Greek Bible.
When the missionary asked him if he knew Greek, he said "Yes, I majored in it."
"Here is a Greek Bible," responded the missionary, "maybe you would like to read it yourself." Opening the Bible to John 10, he handed it to the gentleman and asked him to read it.
He did so and found it to be even stronger than in the English Bible. In the Greek it read "and they shall never, no never, perish." Surprised, he admitted, "Why I never noticed that. It is a double negative, and is certain!"
Although he did not find any mercury on that side of the mountain, he persisted in his search. Eventually he made a tunnel through the mountain. The mercury had flowed down the mountain until it hit clay, forming a lake there. This lake of mercury proved to be a valuable discovery for him. He shipped specially-made, not-too-large bottles filled with mercury to England. In return for these bottles, heavy with mercury, he received large amounts of English money. He was soon able to pay all his debts, buy a new car, and still have plenty of money left over. He gave the missionaries his old car, which they enjoyed using for some time.
He had found this lake of mercury after the missionary had advised him to pray about it. In fact, both the missionary and Rose prayed with him. Later, through their faithfulness, he was truly saved and enjoyed preaching the Gospel of the grace of God to the Indians, also helping the missionary in his work. He himself had become a Bible-puncher, and a number of Indians were saved through his ministry. He was saved reading John 10:27-2827My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:27‑28) alone. Some time later his heart, weakened by years of working in the mines and high altitudes, gave out, and the Lord took him Home to be with Himself in glory.