THE STARS AND STRIPES AND BEAUTIFUL MANZANILLA

We reached Manzanilla on January 19th. Pulling ourselves up on the dock out of the little boat that brought us ashore, and walking a short distance, we came to the street on the water front. It was filled with people who had gathered to see the ship come in. With eager faces they watched the unloading of the cargo. We thought if only the many launches and boats that had gone to the ship for passengers and cargo could bring messengers and messages to this hungry people’s souls, what a blessed thing it would be!

We walked through the little city. The streets were filled with barefoot men, women, and children, many of whose clothes were ragged and dirty. Many pigs and sick dogs were roaming about eagerly hunting food, which appeared to be scarce. Our hearts were touched. As we looked up to Heaven there came a cry from my soul for the deliverance of these people.

Our attention was attracted by the ringing of a bell away up the mountain side. There we saw a small white Temple. The people began to swarm up there, answering the call of the bell. We went up with them. As we stepped inside the great iron gate that is kept closed at all other times, but was now opened for the people to enter, we saw the poor barefoot, ragged creatures enter, and kneeling down, make the sign of the cross and worship the tall image before them, then rise to their feet and pass out.

The floor of the temple was dirty, and the seats covered with dust. We were made to think of the Scripture in Isaiah 1:6:

“From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores; they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Your country is desolate.”

Surely the whole country is devoid of the power and glory of the God who made them in His own image.

As we stood there in the gate of the temple, we saw, high up on the mountain, the American flag waving in the ocean breezes. The flag was on the home of the American consul. It seemed to speak of freedom for that poor suffering people.

Oh that God’s children, who have been touched by Divine power and filled with God’s love, would go in upon the wings of faith and prayer, lift the blood-stained banner of Jesus, and wave it o’er this desolate land till it resounds with the falling of the Latter Rain, which is able to make it bud and bloom and bring forth fruit unto eternal life!

Some natives of a tribe in Guatemala, C. A.

Upon returning to our ship the burden was so heavy on me that I fell on my knees and cried to God to save these people. Then the Lord said,

“What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the churches.”—Rev. 1:11, 19.

We saw men with bands around their heads holding great packs on their necks. They were carrying loads from the boats which were bringing the ship’s cargo to shore. Truly they were pictures of the spiritual bondage of the people staggering under their burdens of sin, and with the yoke of the devil on their necks.