God Guided with an Unerring Hand

Many times God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform. All we need to do is to keep completely sold out to the will of God, willing at all times to let Him have His own way. If there is anything drawing us from the will of God, He can never work out His full plan in our lives; but if our surrender is complete, we need have no fear. He will accomplish all He has designed to accomplish in and through us.

Surrendered, yes, fully surrendered,
To Father's most Holy will;
Where rest, sweet holy rest unbroken
Sweeps over my soul each day.

Selling out to God brings a soul rest, a peace that cannot be disturbed by exterior things.

In July of 1943, I felt a heavy burden on my heart to open a home for poor children in Havana. During my years of labour in the mission work here, I had suffered keenly at seeing so many homeless little children begging in the streets; sleeping at night on benches in the city parks or in doorways; in the rain and chill of the nights. At last I felt God wanted us to stretch out our hands to help save these helpless little ones. We began praying about it and I felt directed to go to Florida for advice from a few of the ministers before taking such a step. Plans had begun to form in my mind and these I freely laid before the brethren there and met their hearty approval. On leaving Cuba I planned on being back in eight days. That was during the time when we had to travel from one country to another with passports, so as I left the plane in Miami my passport was taken up and I was told to call at the passport department in the Post Office when I was ready to return to Cuba, and get the passport there. A "claim check" was given me for it, so when I was to return, I went to the passport office and presented the claim check. Imagine my surprise when told I had no passport there. I referred to my claim check, and they only calmly replied that they knew it should have been there but that it was not. Nothing could be done about it, but to wait. I waited just three months before my lost passport came to light. Knowing my ways had been committed to the Lord, and being assured that "He was abundantly able to keep what I had committed to Him," I decided to calmly wait, and went about doing what I could for souls from day to day. In the meantime, I planned and prayed much about the Children's Home. Having but little money with me, I at last found myself entirely without funds. While in this condition, I received a letter from a Sister in a far off state, saying she had heard I was thinking of opening a home for destitute children, and that she was interested and would like for me to go to see her. Knowing the trip would be an expensive one, and having money, I decided to write to her thanking her for her letter but explaining the impossibility of making the trip. This same day I visited a dear woman who had lost her husband during the time I was held there in Miami. I spent the afternoon with her and before leaving there; she slipped an envelope into my hand. When I opened it I found I had the price of my passage to the western state to which I had been invited. Two days later God witnessed to my heart that the money was for that purpose, so I went right to the railway station to book up for my trip. I was staying in the home of Brother Oval Cunningham in Miami at that time and as I told them what I was going out for, his reply was, "You will possibly have to book up and wait a month." This would have been true if God had not been planning. But as I stood in line waiting at the ticket window, a passage for Oklahoma City (the city I was booking for) was cancelled and I bought it. This was Saturday night, and I was to take the train leaving Monday morning. When I arrived in Oklahoma City I was given a telegram that had been waiting for me there. It was from Brother Cunningham in Miami telling me that my passport had arrived there the morning I left. God let it be lost to hold me there, so he could work out many things for the future of the Children's Homes. The letter from this sister, inviting me to her home to talk over the plans for the Homes, came in the morning of the same day in which God had moved on a kind heart to supply means for the fare. But he did not let me feel this burden for two days, or I would have booked up, with many days for room in the train. He made His will known at the very time when a passage was to be cancelled. Praise our God! Because of having been kept away so long from the work in Cuba, I would have rushed over the very day after getting my passport, had not God so perfectly arranged things that I found myself there in Oklahoma instead. He who was raising up a staunch friend for the Children's work, kept the passport away until I left for the west. How marvelous are His thoughts towards us, and His ways are past finding out. Read Psalm 139:17-18 and Psalm 40:5.

I remained only one day and night with this newfound friend and sister, and we freely talked over plans for opening a home for destitute children. I saw this good saint was much touched as she learned of the conditions that existed here, making it necessary for many homeless little ones in Cuba to live in the streets and to beg for food. Although no definite promise of help was made, I left that home feeling assured that my steps had been ordered of the Lord, and that this aged Sister was going to, in some way, fill a place in God's plans for the children's home. When our ways are committed to the Lord, He will lead us in a plain path--that His name may be glorified.

Our First Steps

Soon after returning to Cuba, from the trip just mentioned we opened the children's home in one of our own mission houses--in Santa Fe. From the time our hearts first felt definitely burdened to reach forth a helping hand to the destitute children of this city (Havana) we earnestly prayed as did David of old "Teach me thy way, oh Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies" Psalm 27:11. Feeling how great the undertaking was, and knowing that if we stepped forward even a good work, going ahead of the Lord or without His Divine Leadership, we could not be sure of His provision and His protection, both of which we must have if the work was to succeed. Therefore we steadily looked to Him for guidance. One day I received a check for $10.00 specified clearly "For children's work." This was laid away and in a few days I had $28.00 in the "Special children's fund." This amount of $28.00 is what the work of the Children's Homes was begun with. Some donations of clothing and beds came in and on February 10th, the 1tHome" was opened and fifteen children were admitted on that day. Policemen brought the most of them from the streets, and to show God's greatness, I might mention that we had no food supplies on hand for the first meal. In cash, we had only $1.00. No one knew of it but the workers and we just trusted in God--the Father of these little ones. Late in the afternoon a Catholic lady came to the door bringing a dozen hot rolls for the children and on the tray underneath the rolls lay a dollar bill. A few moments later, another lady called bringing a good supply of oranges and bananas for the little ones. Thus God put His Seal on the Homes and from that day to the present, with now a family of 106 children and four workers beside myself, God still supplies our daily needs.

We have sometimes been tested almost to the last hour, but before time for the food to be served, the Lord would move in some way and have it there ready. What a mighty God we do serve and what wonderful things could be accomplished in the work of the Master if only Christian people everywhere would learn to take Him at His Word; and resting on His Divine Promise, move forward in His service giving Him an opportunity of manifesting His compassion and His power in the world. Personally, I am fully convinced that one reason why we do not see more people moved to seek the Lord is that they have not seen enough of the Divine miraculous working power of the Master to be drawn to Him. Did not Jesus say, "And if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me?" Come let us "lift the Saviour up" that the world may see Him as He is in reality.

God Supplied Definitely for Buying the First Home

From our first day in the little home we had opened for destitute children, we saw clearly that God had a larger plan for our activities among the children. We began definitely praying for Him to move on hearts and open the way for us to buy a larger place where we could open the doors to rescue many of Havana's destitute, homeless little ones. The dear Lord began answering prayer in a marvelous way. Although no appeal was made for funds, we soon had $7,000.00 in our Children's Home Building Fund. With this in hand, we began searching for a place, and after some days we found a beautiful place, a site of about seven acres of land, well spotted over with fine fruit trees, and with a large substantial brick house. The place was held at $12,000.00 (twelve thousand dollars). After much prayer, feeling God was definitely directing in the matter, we purchased it. The owner was willing for us to make a down payment of the $7,000.00 we had in hand, and he would then accept the other $5,000.00 in monthly payments; but we let him know that we preferred to do a cash business and that he could expect cash. However, we accepted his kind offer to let us go right away at making alterations. While getting the place ready, we held on to God's promises in a definite way. Has He not said, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:7. He knew we had here a little group of saints who were abiding in Him and His Word was abiding n them, so united, we prayed that God would get to us before the time that had been fixed for the transaction of this business, the full amount needed so we could pay cash and be able to meet fully our obligation. God's word declares, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away" Matthew 24:35. We therefore believed right through to victory. We were tested to the last day, but on that morning a brother went to the Post Office to get our mail, as the postman would leave the office. On his return, he brought the $5,000.00 in full. Praise our God! Oh what a time of melting before the Lord! We had not tongue enough with which to praise Him that afternoon as we transacted the business. We had a wonderful opportunity there, of exalting the name of the Lord before a group of men who knew nothing of the power of God to answer prayer and we did not hesitate to do so. This check came from the sister in Oklahoma whom I had visited while being held in the States because of my passport being lost. "All things work together for good to them that love the Lord, to them who are the called according to His purpose" Rom. 8:28. God had planned my delay in the States to work out one of His great plans in my life and in the work in Cuba. This new Home was dedicated and opened to the public just two months and seven days after we had opened the doors of our little mission in Santa Fe, and had there admitted our first fifteen children. When the work of God is under the full control of a "board of men" no matter how good they may be, the work can go forward only as fast as they can supply funds for it; but when a work is left entirely in the hands of God and moves forward under the direction of the Holy Spirit it has an opportunity to grow and to expand. So as we leaned on the Lora and followed Him, He gently but surely led us forward, accomplishing His own will.

Our Mission Home Building in Havana

Although our new Home was wonderful, it was not long before we realized clearly that although the children's work could at that time be cared for, the general mission work was beginning to suffer. I had lived for some thirteen years in a more central part of the city, and the Mission House (my home) was the center of activities. There, the ministers and workers had freely come with their problems and together we connected and prayed. But as I had to move into the Children's Home to he able to direct it, the ministers and workers were being deprived of this blessing, as there was absolutely no place where we could be alone with them. We knew this would greatly affect the mission work in general. A place must be had where the general office work of the mission could he carried on and where workers from over the island could be received and helped.

Again we laid our problem before the Lord, and once more He came to our aid. No public appeals were made for financial help, but the day soon came when we were again brought to our knees in gratitude to Him who never fails to answer the prayer of faith. "If we know that He heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petition that we had desired of Him." 1 John 5:15. God enabled us to build, right beside the children's home, a good apartment containing the general Missionary Office and living rooms for the missionaries. Praise our God for His loving kindness and His marvelous works. His ways are truly past finding out. The seasons of inspirational fellowship that have been enjoyed in this building have sent their influence out far and wide. The hours spent there in group prayer services have uplifted our work throughout Cuba and other countries. Thank God for our little Missionary Home.

Our Girls' Home

During the first two years in our Children's Home, we had the boys downstairs and the girls upstairs in the building. But as time went on we knew we could not do proper work among them unless we could completely separate the boys from the girls. We were so overcrowded at that time that we were having~ to turn away some very needy cases. Prayer once more prevailed. We presented before the Father of these orphans, the urgent need of another home. We planned on building but as time went on, we clearly saw the impossibility of this, as the cost of building materials was so extremely high, and many materials were almost impossible to secure even if we had the money. This need grew more and more into a heavy burden on some of our hearts. We cried mightily unto the Lord and He heard us and delivered us. "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you." God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 Since building was not possible, what could we do? One day early in the morning, I was sitting on the front verandah in meditation and prayer, and this was the outstanding burden of my thoughts. At last I cried out of my very soul, "Oh, my Father, do something for us. Direct our steps in this important matter." Immediately, the answer came through the voice of the spirit of God, "Why don't you buy the lovely home next door?" The home next door--we did not know that home was for sale. How could we have the thought of buying it? But the voice that had spoken was unmistakably that of God's spirit, and He is all-wise and makes no mistakes. In a few moments, I sent someone to ask the owner if they were wanting to sell, and the answer was that they would consider an offer. Promptly, three of us went over to look through the house and we were soon convinced that this was all in God's plan. On asking what the price was for the place, the owner replied, "Nothing less than $10,000.00." This was the amount we had in our building fund for the Home. Praise God forever! Before noon of the same day, we had all the papers in the hands of a good lawyer to make sure that everything was clear. Two days later we purchased and paid cash for the place. This added a few more acres to our farm, and this property lay side by side with the grounds of our first Home—both facing to the front on the same public highway--with the mission house and office which had been built the year before, located between the two Homes. None but God could have planned so wonderfully. Trusting God to finish what He had begun, we moved forward planning alterations and also a large addition, and as we worked God worked with us supplying everything needed. On the last day of November 1946, we had a blessed time as large numbers of Christian brethren and friends gathered in to witness the "opening" of the door to our Second Children's Home. As the door swung open, the girls who had long waited for their home, with radiant faces and happy hearts, rushed through the door without any ceremony, taking possession of what God had prepared for them. The boys with no less joy, rushed back to enjoy a freedom in their Home that had been hitherto impossible. From that day we were able to work more effectively than ever before.

The Nursery for Babies

Having several babies brought into the first Children's Home, we separated one room and filled it with only babies. The little ones were cared for in the general Home the best possible, until we had our second home ready to move the girls into. It was then decided to remove the little tots over in the new girls' Home as the older girls were already taking much care of them. However, there were many dangers for the little ones, while living in this home--stair steps, etc., so we began again talking to the dear Lord about the need of a separate Home for infants from a few months of age up to six years of age. The more we considered it and the more we prayed about it, the more we were concerned and convinced that this was also in God's great plan. So we prayed on until prayer again prevailed. How marvelous it is that God never grows weary of our oft' approach to His throne bringing before Him the burdens of our hearts. Praise His Holy Name forever. We selected the building site and prayed on. The day of victory came in mid-summer of the year 1948, and came in a very unexpected way. A nice gift came from dear Mother Emma Meyers, who recently went home to her reward. Mother Meyers had been a faithful minister in the true Church of God for over 50 years. It just seemed to thrill us all as we planned to use her gift for the erection of the nursery building. Although we endeavour to do all our building work as economically as possible, still as the building work went on, it seemed that every workman tried to beautify it as much as possible, as it was to be a shelter for some of God's little lambs. When the building was done, it was lovingly dedicated to our beloved Mother Meyers, and the group of little ones sheltered there will early in life have their little minds filled with pure heavenly thoughts. It would melt your hearts to tears if you could know how some of these babies have been rescued. Could you know the condition of some of their little bodies when they came to us, and then see them as they are today, you would cry out, "What a mighty God we serve."

Little Marcelino was brought to us at the age of one year, and he was nothing but skin and bones. The mother, having tuberculosis, could not give him the breast and she was so poor she could not buy milk for him and he had been fed only with water drained from rice. We took the little bundle in our arms, and breathed a prayer for help. Shortly after this baby was admitted to the Home, three doctors having heard of the case, came to the institution asking permission to examine the baby. Permission was given, and after they examined it, they frankly told us that its bones were like chalk (and it had no teeth), and that it would never be able even to sit up in bed. They said it would just keep in bed, a helpless bundle. They also said it would be an idiot as its little brain had not developed. I told them we had taken the child in Christ's Name, and that He could make of it what He wanted it to be. About a year and a half later, one of these same doctors was passing the Home and he came in to greet us and see how that body was. I wish you all could have seen the doctor when I called a boy and sent him out to bring in from his sleep, little Marcelino. It was difficult to convince him that this was the same child, not a drop of medicine being given to him. Only good care and much fervent prayer were provided and today this little boy is one of our healthiest, happiest little ones in the nursery. He is in Kindergarten and learning with the others, and the best of all, he is learning to pray and is being guided gently in the ways of truth and righteousness.

CHAPTER 6

Temporal Needs

"There Hath Not Failed One Word of All His Good Promise"

"There hath not failed one word of all His good promise." 1 Kings 8:56. We read the marvelous promises of God over and over but as a people we seldom drink in the fullness of these, or stop to apply them to our individual lives as children of God.

We reached a place in our work (in the city of Havana, Cuba) where we definitely had to hear God. Some bills were due and must be paid on a certain day. Also there was not a penny in hand for transportation in the mission work in the city. Several of the Bible Training School students lived with me in the mission home-and supplies of food were out. We had been diligent in prayer but some way we had not yet reached the throne of God in faith--for does not His Holy Word say, "If we know He heareth us, then we know we have the petition we have desired of Him." Praise God. During the long night hours I was unable to sleep and kept pressing the need before the Lord in fervent prayer. In the early morning hours the blessed Spirit of God spoke definitely in my soul in the words of the text used at the beginning of this testimony. Never did I hear a voice more clearly. God said to my burd­ened soul "There hath not failed one word of all His promise." "Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name." I knew the Spirit had spoken through the Holy Scriptures, so I sprang from my bed and searched for this quotation. As I read it, every word was illuminated as with a light from Heaven. When the students arose in the morning and learned of the message I had from Heaven, all hearts were melted and together we worshipped at His feet as we waited for the ful­fillment of promise which we knew was on its way. That day an "air mail-special delivery" letter was brought to the door and on opening it we found a gift of one hundred dollars to be used as needed. How our hearts did overflow as we again were strengthened by this wonderful manifestation of His care. The prophet Jeremiah said, speaking of the mercies of the Lord, "They are new every morn­ing." How wonderful! New every morning! Oh troubled soul, no matter what your needs may be, or what your burden--look away to Jesus. He surrounds us daily with a fresh and bountiful supply of mercies, and He will not fail us, if we confidently trust in Him.

God Is Everywhere

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro through­out the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars." 2nd Chronicles 16:9.

What a wonderful thing it is to be a child of God! There are so many marvelous promises given in the Word of God for those who are truly His. If we open our hearts so the Holy Spirit can illuminate our minds and souls, and in this attitude really study these promises, we shall soon find that they actually cover every phase of our lives. Not only the spiritual side, but also the physical and tem­poral needs. If we are "sold out" to God and definitely "seeking first the things of His Kingdom" His every promise becomes ours; and we have a right to lay hold by faith in prayer, and expect from Him a definite answer in the supply of whatever our need may be.

God's power is so great that when moved by the cry of faith from His children, He reaches forth His mighty hand and does for them, things that are so far beyond the power of any man that we marvel, and are made to cry out from the depths of our soul, "behold the wonderful works of our God." Then we turn our eyes in another direction and we behold His great arms moving to help in the little things of life. There is nothing too great and nothing too small for our Father's notice.

It was the week before Christmas in 1948. We were working hard to prepare everything in the Children's Homes in Los Pinos, Havana, for the reception of a number of brethren from the States. But so many things were lacking that it was difficult to arrange. One day the housemother in the girls' home called me to look over several mattresses that just could not serve any longer. As we stood looking at them my heart grew very burdened, as I knew we did not have money with which to buy new ones and I also knew there were other things badly needed. In speaking with Sister Claudina, I said, "Sister, we need $100.00 for these things and funds are so low we just cannot buy unless God moves mightily on some heart to supply." We agreed to hold it definitely before the dear Lord in earnest prayer. The following day, one group of our vis­itors arrived and conditions remained the same. Just as we were serving supper, someone called me to the door and as I stepped out on the verandah, I was greeted by one of our fine young converts who lives some miles out in the country. He, Juan Torre, is the oldest son of a very poor widow. I had not seen him for about one year and was happy indeed to welcome him. He made a very short stay, saying he must return to his work, but that he had come to bring a gift to the Lord. This gift he said, was what he had been able to save in sac­rifice during the year and that he felt an urge to bring it and that he wished it to be used for whatever was most needed in the Homes. I could not withhold the praises that were due my Lord Jesus. Right there, I had to honor God and encourage that young saint by telling him how very definitely God had used him to answer prayer. Several inexpensive mattresses and other needed articles were purchased the following day and our hearts not only rejoiced but were strengthened in the faith as once more we beheld the goodness of our Heavenly Father in answering the prayer of faith. Oh that men ev­erywhere could know His love and His power. David in his life had so many experiences of the Divine care that he cried out, "Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me bless His Holy Name." Psalm 103:1. At another time, he cried out, "Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord." Psalm 150:6.

Yes, His love is very great towards His children. "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him."

Clothing Supplied for Workers in Answer to Prayer

In 1933 we passed some testing times in the mis­sion work in Cuba. Because of economic and po­litical conditions the sufferings among the labour­ing people were great and these conditions brought many and varied problems in the missionary work. We reached a time when some of our brethren who were either in the active service of the ministry, or who were in the Bible training School definitely preparing for the work, were almost destitute for clothes. Together we prayed and trusted, but the answer was delayed some days. At last a group of workers met and definitely laid this need before the Heavenly Father and just committed it all away to Him.

It was necessary for some of us to make a trip to Santiago de Cuba, a city of some 800 miles from Havana. Four of us started out in the car ex­pecting to drive to a certain place that we would have reached late in the night before stopping; but God planned otherwise. About 5 p. m. we discov­ered that something was wrong with the car, and we were afraid to continue traveling after night, so we pulled into a garage about 6 p.m. to see what the trouble was. To our disappointment, we learned that the mechanic was not there and would not be until the next morning so there was nothing for us to do but to go to a hotel and pass the night. The following morning the car was rapidly repaired and we were soon on our way again. Some of the younger ones in our group were inclined to ques­tion as to why we had been thus delayed, and had been obliged to pay a hotel bill for the night; but I reminded them of how we had at the beginning of our trip, committed every detail of the journey to the Lord, and that we should be contented with what He permitted to come to pass.

We had not been out on the highway more than a half hour that morning when we saw, right ahead of us, lying in the middle of the highway, a large package. We stopped the car and got out to look at it. For some moments we were afraid to touch it as at that time many bombs were being placed in the highway, as this happened in the days of Rev­olution in Cuba. However, after spending a few moments in looking at the package, we came to the conclusion that it had dropped off some truck that had passed that way with a load of materials from some factory. The package was placed in the car and care was used to inquire all along the high­way at each bus station, if notice had been turned in of a lost package. We advertised in different ways but never had any response. After doing all we could to find the owner and having failed, we opened the box and to our great joy we found we had six new white drill suits (of the best material) right from some factory or store, but we found no mark anywhere that could serve to guide us to the original owner. The suits were of different sizes and fitted the group of minister and workers who had been in such dire need as if they had been made to order. Praise our God forever. The God of the Israelites who made their garments that they waxed not old while they were in the wilderness where they could not get any more, can supply for His trusting children today, "Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee . . . these forty years" Deut. 8:4. Thank God, "He is just the same today" Heb. 13:8.

Had we not had the little trouble with the car we would have passed by that place before the package was dropped. God had planned the whole thing for us. Oh, that we might learn better how to commit our ways unto Him, trust also in Him and let Him bring to pass what should come in each day of our lives. Psalm 37:5.

"Present Help in Every Time of Need." Psalm 46:1

In June of 1946 the oldest girl in the Children's Home was very ill, so ill that we had to comply with the laws of the land, in calling a doctor, as she was a minor. At this very time, we were without a cent in hand to get even what would be needed for that night for the sick girl. We had been pray­ing and trusting, but it seemed impossible to expect anything, as the mail in the morning had brought nothing, and we do not have a delivery of mail out here in the afternoon. But I stood on the promises of God, and as often as possible I would slip out of the sick room, and into my office alone, pleading with God to move in some miraculous way and supply in this time of great need. Every time I prayed I felt consoled but could see no way for the prayer to be answered, as I thought on it in the natural. The hours wore away, and the child grew worse. Our hearts were sad, but still the assurance kept coming that God, in some way was going to take care of us. Late in the afternoon, one of the workers came to the sick room and called me, say­ing two gentlemen were in the hall waiting to see me personally. I went in and they came forward introducing themselves, saying that they lived here in the city; but in former years lived in Chicago and had boarded with a certain lady whom I knew. They had recently gone to Chicago on business and naturally had rushed out to see this family where they had formerly boarded. They told how this lady began asking if they knew me, and the work I was doing here in the city for the poor children and when they answered in the negative, she said they must know me, and that to make sure they would really come, she was going to write a letter and send it with them. So here they were to make my acquaintance and to deliver her letter to me. They made a short visit, and as they left, I went into my office to open the letter-and there was God's answer to our cries. FIFTY DOLLARS not sent in a cheque, but in cash, just for ready use. Oh how wonderful are God's ways! His mercies are new every morning. The Prophet Jeremiah said in Lamentations 3:22 "His compassions fail not. They are new every morning." God not only supplied the temporal needs but the sick child was soon re­stored to health. If He feeds the sparrows--cannot He feed His little children?

"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" Matthew 6:26. Yes, God does care for the fowls of the air, and we should know in our hearts that He will not let us suffer unnecessarily if we trust in Him. At the time of which I am now speaking, I was living in the suburb of Buena Vista, Havana, in the little mission house. I had four Bible students. They were all girls. Several young men, who were also studying in the Training School, lived in an apartment close to me. We all lived and worked by faith, trusting alone in God to supply every need for the work and for us individually. Thank God, He just never failed us. On a Saturday night after supper, we were faced with the problem of shortage of food for the following day. We had what would make breakfast, but NOTHING for the rest of the day, and our Sundays were our heaviest days of work. We had prayed and we committed it all away to the Father whose we were. After having breakfast the following morning, the girls went out to gather children for Sunday School, as was their custom, and then went to Sunday School. I met them there, and as I en­tered the building, one of the boy students came to me saying there was a large package out in the other room with my name on it. I asked who brought it, and he said a man came and said a Methodist minister who lived some blocks from there had sent it by a servant. When Sunday School was over, I asked this same young brother to kindly carry the package out to the house for me, which he did. On arriving we opened it, and found everything we needed for good substantial meals for two days. Yes, everything for the group of workers and the students. What rejoicing! We knew God Himself had done this thing, for the gentleman scarcely knew us. I met him only twice, and he knew nothing of how we lived by faith. At the time of his sending this, he had no way of knowing anything of our needs but God did know and that was suf­ficient. Many times when I think of how God has planned to take care of us, and of all the wonderful examples He has given us in the Word, besides all the wonderful promises, I wonder how He must feel when He sees how little faith the most of the professed Christian people really have in Him. If a good kind earthly father would tell son, "son, I want you to go to this place and do a certain work for me, and as you know, I am well able and I will supply everything you need, so go on without think­ing anything about how you will be looked after, for that is absolutely my responsibility," would a son or daughter have trouble believing the father? Cer­tainly not. But how few are willing and able to take the heavenly Father at His word. Paul has said in Phil. 4:19, "But my God shall supply all my needs, according to His riches in glory." Thank God, Brethren, then let us launch out and prove our trust in Him.

Answer by Cablegram

In the year of 1942, just following our Annual Convention in Havana, Cuba, we had a remarkable experience of answered prayer. Because of the pov­erty of most of our Christian Brethren, meals were furnished free, but near the end of the convention food supplies were running short and there was no money in hand to meet this need. A very poor sister had her own house rent money in hand and she kindly loaned this to supply the need--naturally expecting that in a few days we would be able to return it to her. But God permitted us to be tested to the utmost that we might have our faith strengthened and that His name, which is worthy, might be exalted among His people. Day after day passed and noth­ing came with which I could pay this bill. Two other rent bills for the mission had become due and for the first time in the history of this work we could not meet our obligation. With these three rent bills staring us in the face the spiritual workers cried Out of the deep of their souls for God to inter­vene that we might be able to meet our obligations as people of honor. The final test came when we reached the place where if we were not able to meet these bills on that day, one mission would have to be closed down, and also the poor widow sister who had kindly loaned the money for the food for the last day of the Convention would be forced to va­cate the house where she was living-with no place to go. The night before had been spent in prayer and on this morning a group of us were on our faces before God--unwaveringly holding the Divine Promises before Our Father who had made them.

About 8:30 a.m., while we were still in prayer, a telegram was brought to the door. The telegram contained a notice that I was wanted that morning at a certain bank in the city. Our night was turned to day! Our tears to praises! I hurried down in the city to this bank and there received money that had been sent by cablegram from the States that very morning. I asked for the name an address of the sender and to my great surprise learned that a stranger had sent it. And blessed be the name of Our Lord, the amount was just enough to meet the three rent bills and to furnish the means of transportation that would be needed, with food for the mission workers for the day. Sufficient unto the day…" Matthew 6:34.

From the banker I learned the sender of this precious gift was a perfect stranger to me. I wrote at once to thank them for the gift, and in doing so I told them something of how God had used them to answer prayer in a marvelous way. In replying to my letter they said they had heard of our work for God in Cuba, and had long felt a desire to send a gift, but had been neglectful. They then told how God had laid the burden on their heart more and more until the night before it was sent, they had been unable to sleep as the burden hourly grew heavier, until they promised the Lord they would send it by cablegram as soon as the office opened the next morning. I had never heard of these people and they were in no way connected with the Church of god work, but God knew them and knew where they lived. Thank God. "Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee."

God's Care In Little Things

"Therefore take no thought for your life, saying, What shall we eat? Or, What shall we drink? Or, Where withal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:31-33. In this part of Christ's sermon on the mount, we have presented a marvelous picture of His care over His children in the little things of life. We know that our Father has planned that man should earn his daily bread by the sweat of his brow, but He is l\all wise and He knows that in life's journey many circumstances will arise that we will not in ourselves be able to overcome; and since He is not only all wise but is also all powerful, and all loving, He has kindly taken over on himself the responsibility of meeting all the needs of our daily life, or in other words, our Heavenly Father has planned to help us through all these circumstances that arise in life. In thus planning for our care in every little thing, He has made only one requirement and we must meet that requirement fully, if we expect Him to do His part.

The thing God definitely requires of us is that we "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" and He has promised that if we do, then all these temporal things shall be added. Christ has spoken here in such a sympathetic way—saying, "Your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things-even before ye ask Him" Matthew 6:32. Oh that the dear Lord would help us as His children to grasp the greatness of His love and the beauty and simplicity of His plan for those who truly love and serve Him with sincere hearts. He knoweth just what the human needs are, and He knows just when circumstances develop that throw us into utter dependence on Him, and He has told us to cease worrying and to give ourselves to definite­ly seeking after the spiritual things with the clear assurance that if we do seek first spiritual benefits He will not fail to supply or to work out a way in which our temporal needs will be cared for. Praise God forever for His wonderful plan and for the "exceeding great and precious promises." 2 Peter 1:4.

Beginning with the month of April 1948, a con­dition developed which held our mails up, and for several weeks almost no letters reached us. Since our entire work in Cuba is a "work of faith" and most of our offerings come to us through the mails, we were soon in a very difficult position. Day after day, conditions grew more serious. Something had happened, or was happening somewhere that was greatly affecting our income for the work. We took the matter before the Lord in earnest prayer, trusting Him fully, but conditions grew worse. I knew the work all over the island was dependent on us getting prayer through. Other workers and myself were living in the Children's Homes in Los Pinos, Havana, where we had at that time, a family of around ninety including the workers and the children. Our hearts were exceedingly burdened as on investigation, we learned that the mails were tied up in the Post Office because of the political unrest and confusion. It was near time for the Presiden­tial election and we were told that we could not expect a change for the better until after that was over. This increased the burden on our hearts, and as conditions continued to grow more serious the church became united in their burden in prayer. One night while this burden was pressing sore on many hearts; I arose from my bed unable to sleep and sought strength and counsel of the Lord. After refreshing my soul by reading several of the blessed promises, I turned my face to the wall and cried out of the depths of my soul, "Oh Lord speak--I must hear Thy voice. This is Thy work. Help us in some way." Getting up, I again turned to the Word. Without paying any attention to where I was opening the Bible, it fell open to the 20th chapter of Exodus and my eyes became riveted on the 22nd verse, "you have seen that I have spoken with you out of Heaven." Praise God, my burden was gone. He had heard me! Does He not say that if we know that He heareth us, we also know that we do have the petition that we have desired of Him? John 5:15. As I lay there praising God, He reminded me of the parting of the Red Sea and pointed out very clearly that He had done a complete work of deliverance for the people of God at that time. He had not only parted the waters but He had caused the Israelites to pass over on dry ground, and then had sent the waters back to destroy the power of their enemies. Praise the lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy name.