70 Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists
that hour I began to gather strength and courage. The next Monday I
felt no hesitancy in stepping on board the cars en route for Michigan.
In this experience I learned over again the lesson I have had to
[160]
learn so many times, that I must lean wholly upon God, whatever my
perplexity. He will never leave nor forsake those who commit their
ways to him. We must not depend on human strength or wisdom, but
make him our counselor and guide in all things.
Although I had prayed for months that the Lord would make my
path so plain that I might know that I was making no mistake, still I
was obliged to say that “God hangs a mist o’er my eyes.” But when I
had taken my seat in the cars, the assurance came that I was moving in
accordance with the will of God. Many friends had come to the station
to see us off. It was a place of great confusion, and I had not been able
to bear anything of the kind for months. But it did not trouble me now.
The sweet peace that God alone can give was imparted to me, and, like
a wearied child, I found rest in Jesus.
The weather during the first part of our journey was exceedingly
oppressive. At one place the thermometer stood at 125 degrees in the
shade. In Southern California and Arizona the wind was as hot as
though it came from a furnace. This was what I had dreaded; but to
our great surprise I was not exhausted by the heat. The blessing of the
Lord continued to rest upon me as we journeyed, and I grew stronger
every day.
Several of our friends who were going to Iowa and Michigan ac-
companied us across the plains, so there were thirteen in our party.
From Mojave to Kansas City there were only two or three other pas-
sengers in the car, and as these readily consented, we erected the altar
of prayer, and held religious service on the Sabbath. From time to
time some of the train men would drop in and listen. One day my
attention was attracted to a young man who appeared very uneasy
during the service. At one time he would seem almost ready to weep,
and again would manifest great pleasure. He afterward stated to one
of our number that it was the first prayer he had heard for five years;
yet in the home of his youth, prayer was offered by his parents daily.
I am convinced that we lose much by forgetting Jesus when we
travel. We cannot, while upon the cars or boats, enter our closets and
there be alone with God; but we can gird up the loins of the mind, and
uplift our hearts to him in silent prayer for grace to keep our thoughts