Providential Assistance

“The telegram from Mrs. White, with the letters that followed, were read to him. Suddenly he exclaimed: ‘Praise the Lord. I have been praying for months for the Lord to send me a buyer for my place, that I might get out of the city and devote my means to advance His cause. A few days ago a man came and purchased my place, and the money is now lying in the bank. The devil has been tempting me to invest it again in land, but I am sure the Lord wants it to secure this property.’SHM 355.4

“Without hesitation he turned over to us $2,400. It was such a surprise it fairly took our breath. We finally recovered our poise and said: ‘We have no receipt, brother.’ He said that was all right, as the Lord was in this thing. Bidding him good night, we caught the next car home.SHM 355.5

“This experience, simple though it was, strengthened our faith that God was in the move, and ever afterward held us steady as perplexities arose which calculated to cause us to doubt that the Lord was leading.”—From an unpublished manuscript, The Story of Loma Linda. It is to be found in the vault of the Ellen G. White Publications, Document File 8A.SHM 356.1

Now back to the story of making the first payment of $5,000. One thousand dollars had been turned over to hold the contract, and there was $1,400 toward the balance of the first month’s payment. The remaining $2,600 came due during the period of uncertainty while the Southern California Conference was considering its decision regarding assuming the responsibility of the purchase of Loma Linda. If this amount were defaulted, not only would the $1,000 already paid be forfeited, but the property might be placed beyond the possibility of being secured. The uncertainty of what attitude the Southern California Conference would assume made some of those who might have helped reluctant to do so.SHM 356.2

Again we quote from Elder Burden, who successfully solicited the required sum to meet the payment and then continued on in his work of faith:SHM 356.3

“We first asked Sister Belle Baker, now sleeping, how she felt regarding the securing of Loma Linda.SHM 356.4

“‘I do not see why anyone should hesitate,’ she replied. ‘It seems plain to me that we should have it.’SHM 356.5

“We then asked, ‘Are you willing to risk a thousand dollars in it?’SHM 356.6

“‘Yes,’ she replied.SHM 356.7

“‘You may lose it,’ she was reminded.SHM 356.8

“‘Well,’ she said, ‘I will risk it.’ And she loaned a thousand dollars toward the payment.SHM 356.9