Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt
Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt
Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt
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Walney Island. The storm…God had blessed me while on Walney Island. Dur<strong>in</strong>g my first sixweeks <strong>the</strong>re, I preached <strong>the</strong> Gospel, had a few outstand<strong>in</strong>g heal<strong>in</strong>gsand many people were saved. After God gloriously healed awoman <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> tent meet<strong>in</strong>gs, she and her husband <strong>in</strong>vited meback to <strong>the</strong>ir house where <strong>the</strong>y built a big bonfire and smashedand burned all her packages of medic<strong>in</strong>es.One night, <strong>the</strong>re was a big storm. It almost destroyed everyth<strong>in</strong>g.I worked by myself <strong>in</strong> those days. I played <strong>the</strong> accordion, sang<strong>the</strong> solos, preached <strong>the</strong> sermons, and prayed for <strong>the</strong> sick. I pa<strong>in</strong>ted<strong>the</strong> posters, delivered <strong>the</strong> leaflets, shopped and cooked for myself.I was a one-man show. My marquee was big, hav<strong>in</strong>g three15-foot poles and sixty 6-foot poles, with room for about 250people.The night of <strong>the</strong> storm, I struggled frantically, try<strong>in</strong>g to hold downthose bobb<strong>in</strong>g poles, while <strong>the</strong> w<strong>in</strong>d screamed and <strong>the</strong> ra<strong>in</strong> lashedme. I was wear<strong>in</strong>g my pajamas and a light coat and got soaked to<strong>the</strong> sk<strong>in</strong>, fight<strong>in</strong>g and struggl<strong>in</strong>g alone, pull<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> ropes untilabout 3:00 <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> morn<strong>in</strong>g when <strong>the</strong> storm f<strong>in</strong>ally beat me.With a shatter<strong>in</strong>g, shudder<strong>in</strong>g, howl<strong>in</strong>g roar, <strong>the</strong> whole th<strong>in</strong>gcrashed over! The poles went down, <strong>the</strong> canvas ripped and tore,and everyth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>side <strong>the</strong> tent — hymn books, organ, chairs, everyth<strong>in</strong>g— crashed to <strong>the</strong> ground soak<strong>in</strong>g wet. Thoroughly exhausted,I crawled <strong>in</strong>to bed <strong>in</strong> my little caravan, groan<strong>in</strong>g, “OhGod, <strong>the</strong> devil has won.”I slept late <strong>the</strong> next morn<strong>in</strong>g. When I awoke, <strong>the</strong> storm was overand <strong>the</strong> sun was sh<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, while under <strong>the</strong> canvas it looked like adesolate battlefield. The ra<strong>in</strong> had drenched all <strong>the</strong> hymn books.They looked like <strong>the</strong>y had been soaked <strong>in</strong> blood. Everyth<strong>in</strong>g wasripped, smashed, broken, and I never felt more negative <strong>in</strong> all mylife. I really believed what I had concluded <strong>the</strong> night before, “Thedevil has won”. But I was wrong.The people on <strong>the</strong> Island took me to <strong>the</strong>ir hearts. It was <strong>the</strong> bestadvertisement I could have had for my meet<strong>in</strong>gs. The boy scouts,<strong>the</strong> girl guides, <strong>the</strong> British Legion, <strong>the</strong> men who worked <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>shipyards, <strong>the</strong> townspeople… all came to my assistance. Theygave me money, brought me food, got fresh ropes and tent poles37