Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

“This is just a small congregation,” Archie explained, “and therewould not be enough income for you and your large family. Ifyou are willing to work, I can find you some.”“I have two hands,” I asserted, “and by the grace of God, I amnot afraid to work.”The Hardy brothers promised to take an offering to help me movewhenever I was ready, for which I was very grateful. They cameto me week after week inquiring, “When are you moving?” Icouldn’t very well tell them I was waiting for them to take up theoffering before I could tell them when I was moving, but thatwas the issue. I didn’t have any money at all to move.My Aunt Ada, who was eighty-eight at the time, inquired aboutthis. “I understand that you have accepted an invitation to copastora work in the south.”“Yes,” I replied.“Why haven’t you moved?” she asked.“I don’t have the money,” I explained.“Well, I’ll tell you what,” she said. “I’ll contribute £10. I’ve got£10 saved up toward my burial, but between you and me, whenI’m gone to be with Jesus, I don’t care what they do with mybody.”It seems so pathetic now to talk about such a small sum of money.I went down to the traveler that the moving people picked forus, and I asked them what they would charge. They told me £44,which was an enormous sum of money in the ‘60’s. Then, I inquiredat the railway station, where the agent told me, “We willdeliver a container to your door. You pack it and stack it, andthen you must be responsible to unpack it at the other end. Wewill charge you £19.”With Auntie Ada’s £10 for the down payment, I ordered the container,promising to pay the remainder at the other end. I didn’thave it but believed God would send it.Accompanied by two of my boys, Joseph and Steve, I hitchhikeddown to Kent and a good lady there opened her home up to us.110