SOME devoted servants of Christ, laboring for Him in Spain, thus write to us: ―We have had heavy falls of snow lately. The severe weather brought down fifteen wolves from the mountains, which chased some unwary peasants. They ran to the castle and jumped into the moat, thus escaping with their lives. Now it is warmer, and both snow and wolves have disappeared. The severe cold, however, laid down one of our number— dear old Maria, the fortune-teller — she being taken seriously ill during the snowstorm. Her relatives do not take sufficient care of her, and will not even give her the food, which we take her. Not being Christians themselves, they do not love or sympathize with Maria. At the same time, they will not let her come to our snug little hospital, where we would take such loving care of her.
Maria’s conversion took place three years ago, and in the following manner: ―One Sunday afternoon, as she was passing along the street, she heard our school children singing, and, thinking it was a musical entertainment, she peeped in, entered, and stayed to the close. On leaving, she asked the colporteur, “When will there be another performance?” and at eight p.m. she was there again, and since that day for three years she has never been missing from our Sunday-school or our services.
At first the converts were strongly opposed to the old fortune-teller coming amongst us, and said, “She has only come to spy. She is very bad, and will be a Mrs. Judas amongst us.” Then we answered, “How do we know that she will not turn out to be a ‘Mrs. Peter’ or a ‘Mrs. John’ instead, and be better than any of the rest?” And Math has certainly not disappointed our hopes!
The text which arrested Maria was this: “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” Fully convinced of her sinfulness, and, with all the dark pass of her life before her, she wondered what she could do to be saved. She thought the pastor would surely tell her to go with bare feet up the steep mountain of the Virgin, or else bid her do some penance; and, oh, how great was her surprise and joy, when she heard that Jesus had done everything for her, so that she had but to receive the precious gift of God. Her joy in learning that the goodness of God tells us what His Son has done, and also how He is glorified by that work, was great indeed. Ever since that day she has given bright testimony to the grace of God being in her heart. A changed life is hers, and she seeks to live to the praise of Him, who by free grace has turned her “from darkness to His marvelous light.”
It was suggested that, as our mission-hall was situated in the town, it would be well to have services a little distance from it, in order the better to reach the villagers.
Maria at once offered the use of her house, and this we thankfully accepted. On reaching it at the time appointed for the service, we found Maria standing in her doorway, earnestly asking the passers-by to enter: amongst them happened to be her former confessor, who said to her, “What is this―what is the meaning of so many people being about your house? You are going to have a dance, I suppose?”
“No, sir, not a dance,” said Maria; “but we are going to have the joy of hearing the word of God read to us, and a good man is to explain it to us. Welcome in to the house of your servant.”
Maria is seventy-eight years of age, and she works hard in the fields to earn her bread, getting about fivepence a day for her labor, but, though so poor, she loves to give out of her poverty to the Lord’s work. It was not long ago that, one winter’s day, she brought a dozen new laid eggs to the pastor, who was laid down with rheumatic fever, as a token of her love, and, it being winter time, she could have sold them for nearly a penny a piece, but she would not accept any return for them.
“It is very little that I can do,” said she, “to show my gratitude to the beloved pastor, who has shown to me the way of eternal life.”
On another occasion, she said, with tears, “Every day I thank my good Saviour for His kindness to me, and I pray for three things―patience to bear my trials, strength to do my daily work, and, at last, a quick road to the glory.”
In contrast with the bright faith of this aged woman may be mentioned the case of a young girl, Orencia, who has for a long time attended our meetings, and is “almost persuaded.” Her mother does all she can to hinder her from deciding for Christ. This year she has not, as formerly, joined in the carnival procession, nor in the dances, which is a great sacrifice for a Spanish girl, but she has not yet the courage to stand up against the persecution which falls here upon all who are true Christians. However, persecution has one great advantage— it tests the sincerity of the converts, and goes a great way to keep hypocrites out of the ranks. I often think that, were it the same in England as it is here in Spain, it would almost empty some churches and chapels. E. L. R.