It happened back in those early days of the gospel testimony in Bolivia.
Every morning I was accustomed to visit the Conventilla in the city of Potosi. A conventilla is a large building where many families live. I used to go down there and give out gospel tracts every morning.
In those early days there was much opposition from the people and their religious leaders, and our lives were often in danger. One morning I had just finished distributing gospel tracts to many in the conventilla, and was just going out the door, when a howling mob of some 200 people followed me, crying out: “Kill him. Get rid of him. Do away with this evangelist. Do away with him!”
They followed me down the street and some already had picked up rocks to stone me to death, when at the critical moment a little boy—a fair-haired little fellow—came across the street to see me. I stopped and stroked his little head, surprised at seeing such a dear fair-haired little lad in a land where all have such dark complexions and black hair. The little fellow, stranger though I was, put his arms around me and was such a comfort to me at a time of such danger and trial.
The mob, seeing the little boy’s attitude toward me and my affection for him, ceased from their violence, and some were heard to call out: “Leave him alone; he must be a good man. See how he loves that little fellow.” Dropping their stones, the crowd dispersed and I was left alone with my little fair-haired friend.
Soon after, the lad crossed the street and went his way. Every day I went back to that section of the city and tried to find him, but I saw him no more. I 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 deliveth them.” Psa. 34:7. I could never find the boy after and truly believe that it was the angel of the Lord that intervened on my behalf on that occasion.
ML-01/23/1977