59
February 1931
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
guage with which few of them are at all familiar. When they have the Word of God in their own dialects, many more may be reached with the gospel. The story of Sixto Guajan, one of the early converts of the Cakchiquel tribe, is very interesting, not only as an illustration of how the Scriptures work miracles among the Central American Indians, but also because it is an important link in the recently completed work of trans lating the New Testament into the Cakchiquel language. Sixto lived with his brother-in-law in Cajagualten, a mountain hamlet of Guatemala. He was very religious. When the festival of the Lord of San Felipe was near, Sixto decided to borrow money from his employer in order to make a pilgrimage to San Felipe and, incidently, to get drunk. On the trail to his employer’s home, Sixto met Manuel Hernandez, a converted Indian from San Antonio, who asked him his errand. Sixto told of his proposed pilgrimage. Then Manuel explained to him that God is a Spirit and can be worshiped in any place. This was a new idea to Sixto. He was greatly impressed with the fact that he,need not go to a shrine in order to worship God, but he might pray to Him in the field, on the trail, or in his own home. He was so gripped with the thought that he gave up his intention to borrow money and returned home. There he went into his little hut, closed the door, and knelt down to try to talk to God. As he knelt, he felt someone prick him from behind. He looked around but saw no one. Again he knelt, and again he felt the pricking of a pin. He looked all around, but no one was in sight. The third time he attempted to pray he was not disturbed, and when he had finished, he went out to tell his brother-in-law, Ignacio, about it all. Igna cio, far from rejoicing, declared: “It was one of those abominable Protestants who told you that! They are in league with the devil. They have horns and a tail like their master, and they go about trying to deceive innocent people such as you. They won’t get me, though. If one comes to my house, I ’ll kill him.” A few days later, two misisonaries on a journey lost their way. As the sun was about to sink from view be hind the high mountains and they were wondering where they could spend the night, they met an Indian with such a bright, cheery face that they knew at once that he must be a Christian. One of the missionaries recognized him as Manuel Hernandez whose mountainside home they were seeking. They cordially greeted Manuel and said, “We were going to your place to hold a service tonight, but we have lost our way.” “That is too bad,” replied Manuel.. “Since you have your saddle mules, you will have to follow the bridle path, and that is a long way around.” He thought for a mo ment and then continued speaking: “I have been visiting a near-by hamlet where a man named Sixto Guajan lives. He and some of his neighbors are interested in the gospel. Let us go there and hold services.” The missionaries agreed that it was God’s leading, and so they accompanied Manuel to Cajagualten. There the Indians received them cordially but awkwardly, for they had never entertained white men before. The most prosperous of their number, Jose Xate, was the host. He was a keeper of bees, and he offered to each of the missionaries a glass of honey for their refreshment. Sup per consisted of tortillas, hot peppers, honey, and black coffee. Before the meal was Oh, Wonderful Word Oh, wonderful, wonderful Word of the Lord! True wisdom its pages unfold; And though we may read them a thousand times o’er, They never, no never, grow old! Each line hath a treasure, each promise a pearl, That all, if they will, may secure; And we know that when time and the world pass away, God’s Word shall forever endure. Oh, wonderful, wonderful Word of the Lord! The lamp that our Father above So kindly has lighted to teach us the way That leads to the arms of His love. Its warnings, its counsels, are faithful and just; Its judgments are perfect and pure; And we know that when time and the world pass away, God’s Word shall forever endure. Oh, wonderful, wonderful Word of the Lord! Our only salvation is there; It carries conviction down deep in the heart, And shows us ourselves as we are. It tells of a Saviour, and points to the cross Where pardon we now may secure; For we know that when time and the world pass away, God’s Word shall forever endure. —J. F. Sterling. and the Word was expounded. That night, and at a ser vice the following morning, about a dozen souls made profession of faith. Sixto was among the number, and —marvel of marvels—so was his brother-in-law! A n I nd ian ’ s P rayer A nswered A month elapsed, and Sixto continued to give expres sion to his new-found joy. But persecution grew more and more bitter, until Sixto began to wonder if he had made a mistake. Many of his old friends assured him that he had, and he was unable to refute their arguments. True, he possessed a New Testament in Spanish, but he could not read it, nor could he quote for his accusers any of the passages that he had heard expounded in the ser vices. One day, as he was hoeing in the field, the thought flashed through his mind that he could ask God right then and there to show him if he had made a mistake. He dropped his hoe and kneeled down among the beans and prayed: “O God, if I have done right in accepting this new religion, grant that the next time I attend a ser vice my poor brain, which thus far has failed to retain any of the messages I have heard, may grasp and hold
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker