Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.
Dear Miss U.:
Thank you for your letter which I was glad to receive. As to the little paper “Mensajes de Amor” we can use all you can, send. We have what we call the “Open Book,” (El Libro Abierto). Here we have Bibles, pictures, and calendars, as many things as possible to make the place attractive, and thus call attention in a pleasant way to the dear old book. At this room, dedicated exclusively to the Bible, we give away hundreds of tracts.
My native men go to outside towns, with Bibles and tracts. There is nothing more in demand than the “Messages of Love.” We could use a thousand each issue, and then not have reached a tenth of the people who would be glad to take them. So tell me the condition on which we could have a thousand of each issue, for we can easily use that many.
We are very busy in the Master’s vineyard, and are happy in our work. Mrs. M. and I go to the work day and night, with an ever new delight.
Very sincerely yours,
J. T. M.
(Translated from Spanish)
Coatepeque, Guatemala, Central America. Esteemed Sister in the Lord and our Savior: I desire that the richest blessings of the Lord may rest upon you and all your company, and after sending you all my Christian love, I acknowledge having received, in perfect condition, five packages of the papers, which you have had the kindness to send me. How much joy and pleasure the brethren and I feel in having these “Messages of Love,” and in truth it is indeed the “Love of God,” for now we have much love and sympathy for our brethren, who so kindly send us such instructive reading. Today we have raised a fervent petition to the Lord, to bless you all.
We hope that in the future you will not forget to send us these “Messages.” May the Lord give you all in that day, the crown of Victory, for I know that at the sound of the trumpet we shall all be united, even though here on earth it be impossible to meet face to face, yet the “love of Christ constrains us,” and we are united by the Spirit.
I shall faithfully divide these papers among those who are leading souls to the feet of the Savior.
Yours in Christ,
M. V.
Chile, South America.
As the days go by, and we see more of the life about us, one truth impresses itself deeply on our minds—the need of regeneration, rather than education; of Christ, rather than culture. Some people would have us believe that what the people of this land need is better environment, opportunity to develop “the good in themselves,” but God says: “There is none righteous, no not one” (Rom. 3:1010As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)).
Chile is different from some other mission fields, as in Africa or India. Here we have practically all the conveniences we find at home. Civilization has preceded the missionary. But with all these advantages, what of the people? Are they living on a high moral and spiritual plane because of this fact? No! a thousand times, no! The rich who enjoy all the advantages of modern civilization, are as a class atheistic or materialistic.
The large majority of the educated have no faith in God; their education itself, having robbed them of this priceless jewel. No missionaries have ever begun to touch these. Our work is among the poor. As in the days of our Lord, “The common people heard Him gladly.” Here too, it is into the homes of the poor that we find entrance.
And what shall we bring to these to whom we go? As we enter homes, and see poverty, degradation, ignorance, and vice, there comes the temptation to first help the people to a better standard of living, to teach them how to live in a wholesome manner, properly caring for their homes and their bodies. But it is clear from the condition described above, that education is not their first need. It is Christ, and Him crucified, who alone can bring light, joy, and peace to these darkened hearts.
So our desire is to preach Jesus, Jesus only, and we ask your earnest, intercessory prayers, that the power of the Holy Spirit may be upon us, a body of workers, missionaries and native helpers, to the end that our vision of the real need may not be lost, but that we may not only preach, but live Christ day by day, before those who are lost in sin.
(Translated from Spanish)
Infantes, Spain.
Dear Sister in the Lord:
Many thanks for the copies of this month’s
“Messages of Love.” I do like them so much, as do all those who assist at our Gospel meetings.
Now I must tell you something of our work in this city, and of the great trials through which we are passing, notwithstanding the Lord defends us and aids us in everything, glory be to Him!
I do not know if I told you that we were to be turned out of our house the end of June. It seemed impossible to find another one, first because houses were scarce, and second because we were Protestants, for there is much ignorance, superstition, and fanaticism in this city, so we were praying to the Lord day and night to give us one.
At last at the end of June, a building was offered to us, containing a large hall and three apartments, for sixty dollars a month in advance. I did not have the money, but as we live by faith, I made the contract, and in four days the Lord sent me the money.
But when the priests and richest men of the city heard that we had acquired a new hall that would seat 500 people, they began to work against us to see if they could make us break our contract, going to see the landlord and trying to intimidate him, and threatening him because he had done so wrong in renting to Protestants. The wives of these rich men, who are Counts, Dukes, and the like, visited the houses of those who assist at our meetings, threatening to dismiss them from their employ, and give them no more work if they attend our meetings.
This is a very backward city and dominated by the priests, and we need much constant prayer to the Lord. The “Messages of Love” are doing much good, for though they say that which we preach is bad, they see that the reading is good in this paper, which we distribute at the close of the meetings. We have confidence in the Lord, in Him alone is our hope.
Your brother in Him,
F. V.