The missionary's wife, Rose, was not well. Very naturally her husband was greatly concerned about her. The Indians loved her dearly. Her timely ministrations had been helpful in relieving many of their aches and pains. She had assisted many in the birth of their children into the world. She had given of herself without reservation, but when her ill-health was mentioned, she would only smile and say, "I'll be alright soon."
One day one of the English engineers in the Aramayo Mines in Siete Suyos sent for her to help his wife, who was in the hospital at the mines waiting for the birth of their first child. Rose hurriedly packed her little bag, but her husband would not let her go alone. He hoped to get one of the good doctors at the hospital to give his loved one a "check-up."
To her joy she knew well one of the doctors working there. She had worked with him in surgery in the hospital in La Paz before she was married. When he remarked how sick she looked, she told him her husband was with her and he wanted her to have a good check-up before going back to Yulo. Later she introduced her husband to this doctor. He was thankful for this opportunity to ask him if he would examine his wife, to see what was wrong, because she had not been well for some time.
Next day the doctor gave Rose all the tests possible. Later he told her husband he was afraid there was not much that could be done. It appeared that she had advanced cancer of the stomach. He didn't think it possible to operate on it. The missionary's heart was well nigh broken to think of his loved one suffering so. They prayed together that the Lord would guide them as to what He would have them do.
Rose had a cousin in London, England, who was known to be a clever surgeon. The missionary suggested they go to England-maybe her cousin could help his dear one. Also, perhaps the sea voyage would do her good. So they started to pack, asking two Indian families to take care of their home while they were away. The two families were very happy to do this, and the missionary believed they could be trusted to do the right thing and to keep things in order.
The trip to England was a great joy and blessing to them both. But when the missionary was alone, he shed many tears. Dear Rose was sometimes too weak to leave her stateroom. Other times she would come out and rest on deck where she enjoyed watching the sea-gulls and waves, while her loved one sat beside her, reading the Word of God to her, or talking with her.
Once safely in England they went directly to London where they found a room near the hospital where her cousin, who was a surgeon, was located. He was not a Christian but, little by little, when he heard of their work for the Lord among the Incas, he showed more interest in his Cousin, Rose. He gave her a complete examination and had other specialists do the same. Sadly he told her husband there was absolutely nothing anyone could do. It was impossible to operate. It would not help but would cause her more suffering. Rose always came out of these consultations with that sweet smile of hers. She would say, "Never mind, Sweetheart, the Lord's will be done. There is just one thing I desire, and that is to go back to Bolivia, and go to be with our Lord and Savior from among the dear ones we love there."
After receiving the opinion of the doctors, there was no reason to prolong their stay in England, so the missionary bought two tickets from Liverpool to Buenos Aires on the first ship sailing out of Liverpool.
Despite all he did to relieve her, it was a very hard voyage for dear Rose in her weakening condition. But it was not all sad. For instance, one day it was very hot in the cabin (no air-conditioning of the Staterooms in those days), and she was not strong enough to be on deck. So he opened the porthole so she could get some fresh air. How refreshing this was! She was enjoying the breeze so very much when suddenly a huge wave struck that side of the ship and water poured through the porthole, drenching dear Rose. Her sense of humor rose to the occasion. She just smiled and laughed as she sat up while her dear one helped her change to dry clothes.
The next stage of this long, arduous journey was by train from Buenos Aires to the Bolivian border. The trains in those days were not the comfortable type we see in America, and the missionary prayed earnestly that the Lord would undertake for them and give Rose the needed strength for the train ride.
The final part of the trip would probably be more difficult before they would reach their little home, and the missionary just did not know how he was going to arrange for that segment from the Bolivian border. He was completely cast on the Lord, feeling his helplessness. The Lord had to arrange for this-which He did in His own wonderful way. He knew their need and had gone before them to prepare the way. "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear" (Isa. 65:2424And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24)).
Since they were not expecting to know anyone when they got off the train, imagine their surprise and delight to meet the Colonel on the station platform! This was the Colonel who had rescued the missionary from jail in Potosi. He was at the station that day because Bolivia, on the verge of war with Paraguay, was under "martial law" and the Colonel was in charge of the Forces there.
When the Colonel saw them, he greeted them warmly, then remarked how very ill Rose looked. The missionary told him of their long journey to England with the hope that she might receive beneficial treatment. He told him they had learned treatment was not possible, but it was her desire to return to Bolivia so she could go to be with the Lord among the people she dearly loved. The Colonel was very gracious and said he would do all he could to help them. He ordered an express truck to take them directly home to Yulo. What a great mercy this was indeed!
The Lord strengthened Rose and her loved one for this last part of the trip together. She thanked the Lord that she could go home to her own bed, and go Home to glory to be with Himself from there.
She lived just eight days after they arrived home in Yulo. The day the Lord took her Home to be with Himself Rose called her loved one to her side. She told him she had always hoped to meet his mother and father. She also told him she would like him to claim a sum of money she had deposited in a bank in San Francisco, California, before leaving the States. She handed him the bank book and urged him to try to visit his parents in New Zealand as he had been away for many years, but pleaded, "Do come back, Dear, to our beloved Incas." Then she told him she thought there would be enough money to buy a small car when he returned, which she knew would be a help to him in the work for the Lord in Bolivia.
She lay quietly for a few minutes and then said, "Honey, will you kindly open my Bible to Rom. 15, and read verse 13 to me."
He quickly opened her Bible and read, "Now the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."
"Honey," she said, "this is a good verse to rest my head on, and for you, too, to rest on in your sorrow. I know you will have a very trying time, but the Lord will be with you." Then she looked up into the afflicted face of her dear one, smiled, and was immediately "WITH CHRIST WHICH IS FAR BETTER" (Phil. 1:2323For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23)).
The missionary did not know where he would be able to bury his dear one because no Protestant was allowed to be buried in a Catholic cemetery, and there were no cemeteries for Protestants. He went to the Mayor of the nearest town and asked what he should do. The Mayor told him, "You will bury your dear one in the best place in the Catholic cemetery here in this town. She showed so much love and kindness to everyone and was very much loved by all the people here. I myself, and the Chief of Police, with two guards, will help carry her coffin to her burial place."
Many of the Indians, whom they both loved so much, followed her body to its resting place, where it still waits until "the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:16,1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17)). The sympathy and love of these dear people was very touching and so greatly appreciated.
Her dear husband was too heartbroken, weary and ill to go to the funeral; but later on, he, with some of the Indians, cut a special large stone and put a bronze plate on it engraved with her favorite Scripture verse: "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)).
It is still there, and although that was forty-six years ago, someone is still keeping the grave and memorial in good condition. It must be someone who loved her so many years ago.