Page 75 - Unseen Hands by Nona Freeman

It Came to Pass
posed her that he should kidnap Erkenesh and force her to marry him.
With six young men to help him, the teacher came barging into her house without an invitation. With sneers and mockery they began to make light of the Holy Ghost experience and declared Tekle to be a liar. As they railed against her, she, not knowing the real purpose of their coming, begged them to leave. She felt as if she were hemmed in by wild animals.
They rejected her request to leave with cursing, blasphemy and more insults. Silently, she cried to the Lord to drive them away. After some time, one accomplice stood and snarled, "What do we have to do with a crazy woman?" And they stormed out.
Trembling and deeply disturbed, Erkenesh fell on her knees under the somber shadows again. "Lord, I cannot bear all of these things. It seems that since I have been filled with the Holy Spirit my sufferings are increased to more than I can endure. Please take away Your Spirit."
She felt as if the Holy Spirit left her, and simulta neously a powerful hand threw her into horrible blackness. She felt as if she were hovering over the very midst of hell. She struggled in profound anguish imtil conscious ness returned. Realizing the dreadfulness of her words, she wept uncontrollably, begging God to forgive and to restore her in the Holy Ghost. Just when hope had almost vanished, she felt forgiving love flow over her soul.
The mountain retreated and persecution doubled. In sulting letters from relatives hurt, but she did not stum ble. Her cousin who had sent her g^fts during the difficult school days came to see her, armed with a pistol, saying, "I would rather kill her myself than to see her marry that
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