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This was written many years ago and tells a little about Pastor Hugo's family:
To God Be the Glory
She appeared at our house, crying. Her family had just moved in a house up the street from our house. "I am your neighbor," she said as I invited her in. She was weeping uncontrollably. She was burdened down by the weight of sin and a very unhappy home. As we began to talk about a Jesus that could bring peace, she wiped her eyes and said: "Do you think He could do that for me, and my family?" "Of course." I replied. "He would love to do it for them."
Brother Alvear was in bed sick, but I said, "My husband and I will pray for you." We went into the bedroom and she knelt down by the bed where Brother Alvear was, and Mrs. Olga repented of her sins, and decided to follow Jesus. Following Jesus is not always easy. Her husband was not a bit happy about his wife's decision.
Let me tell you a little about Mr. Joaoquim; He was a man that slept with a gun and knife under his pillow. He was a big built man with a big mustache, and he was not afraid of anyone. He drank a lot of "pinga"(a strong drink made from sugar cane that is very intoxicating) and he was very "macho." He had been in many fights, and his wife and children trembled in his presence, when he was angry.
Since baptism follows repentance, Sister Olga decided to be baptized. "I will kill any man that tries to baptize my wife," he threatened. "And I will kill you too, Olga" He said. So we prayed very much, and even though he spoke many curses to us, God kept his hands tied so no evil could be done. It was not long until their children began to come to church. He would sit and brood at home. He would threaten to lock his wife out of the house, threaten her life, and almost every imaginable thing. Since his jealousy was so great he would unlock the door for her, because he sure didn't want her to spend the night at our house.
After many months of her faithfully coming to church, Sister Olga said to me: "Missionary, why don't you come and talk to my husband?" "O.K. tonight I will be there." In Brazil lots of the men eat red peppers and drink pinga. He was sitting at the table when I walked in. I took my little "Search for Truth" chart.
Sister Olga was washing dishes. She tried to act surprised by my visit. She sure didn't want him to know that she had invited me. Well, I might as well get this over, I thought, so I looked him right in the eyes and said: "I've come to give you a Bible study." Having a Bible study was the last thing he ever planned to do, but making sport of the missionary would be a good past time. "Sit down and have some peppers," he said.
I walked over to the dishes, got me a fork and a saucer and walked back to the table and sat down. I put some peppers in the saucer. (He got more than he bargained for, for what he did not know is that many trips that I had made into the interior areas where "food" would be cooked with dirty water and who knows what else for so many years.
When I'm in those areas, I take jars of peppers and pour it over the food, so I can't taste it.) As we studied, we had a little contest, who could eat the most peppers. After about fifteen minutes or so, our contest was over we were tied, but our Bible lesson continued on for an hour or so.
Eating hot peppers had won me a friend, and the presence of God that accompanies His Word had won a candidate for Heaven. Since Brother Alvear was in the states I asked two of our national pastors to baptize him in the lovely name of the one who died for the "macho men" of South America.
Even today, when he talks about his conversion, his eyes fill with tears as he says "The missionary ate almost a whole jar of hot peppers so she could tell me how to be saved." Such a small price to pay to help a soul. Missions are a constant and costly command, that requires continual commitment. There is no discipleship at discount prices, nor is holiness available wholesale.
That day so many years ago when I sat at the table looking into the eyes of the man who was a great sinner. I knew that his greatest need was Jesus. I knew that it would be a small sacrifice on my part, for me to eat hot peppers, in order to get him to listen to the Word of God, and thereby have his life changed. For me to have the chance to present to him the one that solves every problem, and has the answer to all the world's needs was a privilege.
No matter how small or meager the resources, God can take them and do great things with them. We owe a debt of love that is never fully paid, and is eternally due.
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