YOUTH SECTION
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N igh t had fallen over the small village high in the Bolivian Andes and smoke curled from the round stone huts clustered together on the mountainside. In the dusky in teriors of the houses, Indian women were preparing the second meal of the day, moving slowly because they were tired from long hours out on the slopes tending the sheep and llamas. Zepita, stooping to enter the low doorway, sniffed with a healthy Que- chua Indian teenager’s hunger. The com meal soup was starting to bubble in the clay pot; but when Zepita’s mother handed him a bowlful he just sat looking at it. He had suddenly realized that the aroma, appearance and taste of this lawa was always the same, 365 days of every year; and as he glanced at the woman kneeling beside the mud stove he admitted that his mother was a creature of custom, just as all the Quechuas were. “ Something is bothering you,” his mother surmised, “ and it has nothing to do with your stomach. I’ve been watching you all week. Could it have anything to do with your trip to town?” “ I guess that’s it. Ever since that day I’ve felt uneasy, like I ought to look back quick over my shoulder.” Zepita wished he could explain to her how he had felt as he stood in the circle of curious Indians and lis tened as one of their own people fear- lessly warned them that judgment was on the way. The skeptical grin - on Zepita’s face had congealed and he shivered in the heat of the open plaza. Suddenly he knew he wasn’t ready to meet God. The future was something Zepita had never thought about s— life was complicated enough in the here and now. At sixteen he could turn out a man’s work and he was already oc- cupied with scratching a living for his mother from the rocky, unfriendly soil. But the speaker, waving his arms and claiming the attention of every one within earshot spoke with convic tion: The costumbres of centuries and their pagan religious beliefs must go.
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January's King's Business missionary theme is typified with this picture of a Mexican family gathered in the home making tortillas from corn flower. Many BIOLA mis sionaries labor among spiritually needy families such as above. TRAVELING THE NEW YEAR 1959 ROAD A g a in we stand at the threshold of the New Year 1959. A new road
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In Deut. 33:27 we read, “The eternal God is our refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.” And as for strengthening, consider these precious promises: “ Fear thou not . . . I will strength en thee . . . yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteous ness (Isaiah 41:10). “ Thy God hath sent forth strength for thee.” (Ps. 68:28) “ The Lord . . . is the strength of my life.” (Ps. 27:1) A traveler feels the need of protec tion above as well as round about. This too, has been provided by our wonderful Lord. In Psalm 91:1 we read, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” What protection is here set forth; His shadow — the shadow of the A l mighty.” What protection is here set forth; His shadow ■— the shadow of the Almighty. The secret place is a place of nearness, of rest and security. We once heard a translation of this lovely verse which well expresses what this nearness means: “He that chooseth to dwell in the secret place shall always be in touch with the Almightiness of God.” Yes, there are ominous clouds hov ering over the New Year Way of 1959, but with these “ exceeding great and precious promises” and best of all with the Promiser Himself, we enter the New Year road unafraid, “ Look ing for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2:13). —M.S.H.
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lies ahead, awaiting the tread of pil grim feet. The way looks dark. Many storm clouds are overshadowing the horizon. There are the dark ominous clouds in the form of rumors of war, chaos, hideous crimes, unrest and in security. Many hearts are filled with fear as they face the New Year. The way is all untrodden. We have not been this way before. But in spite of all the uncertainty there is hope and comfort for a light shines through the darkness. There is One who has trodden the way before us; even our living, resurrected Lord Jesus. “He goeth before” (John 10:4). Deuteronomy 31:8 also says, “And the Lord, He it is that doth go before thee, he will he with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. Luke 24:15, “ Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.” Exodus 33:14 “My pres ence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest” and in Matt. 28:20 we read, “ Lo, I am with thee alway” or as someone has translated, “ all the day long of all your days.” “ Before” and “with” — How near He is. But not only does He go before us and not only is He with us, walking beside us, upholding us with His own right hand (See Isaiah 41:10), but He is our “ rereward” following close be hind, to protect and strengthen the faltering pilgrims (Isa. 52:12). There is a great need, too, for up holding, and strengthening us as we journey on this New Year’s way. For this, our Lord has made provision.
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