<TITLE>03. Par 9-11</TITLE>L-9 So I said to the wife, I said, "Well, I'm going over and take an offering."
She said, "I'm coming over to watch you, to see what kind of an expression will be on your face."
Said, "All right, young lady. You just get you a seat back there, my dear sweetheart, and I'll show you how it's done."
I walked over. We didn't have an offering plate. Nothing in the church, never did have one. So I said... Now, they have got one now. I've left from that. The pastor, they have to pay him now.
Then I went over, and I said, "Friends," I said, "I'm sorry I have to do this, but I've met just a little flaw, that I haven't got the money to meet. I need about five dollars." I said, "If each one of you gives a nickel, or a dime, or something?" I said, "It'll sure be appreciated." I said, "Uncle Jim," an old fisherman friend of mine, one of the deacons of the church, I said, "Would you come, get my hat and pass it?"
He said, "Sure, Brother Billy." Started over after it.
Setting right down like this from me was a little old woman, that had one of these little aprons that you had the pocket on the inside. How many ever seen one of them? You know, you--you carry it around like this and have a pocket on the inside. She was a prayer warrior. And I looked around at her, and she was reaching down under that apron, getting that little pocketbook out that snaps on top, pulling out them nickels. Brother, I couldn't have took that. It would've choked me to have that. I didn't; I said, "Oh, I was just teasing you. I didn't mean that." Put my hat back up, Brother Jim." That's the closet I ever come to get--taking an offering.

L-10 And you know, there's an old fellow rode a bicycle down there that was backslid. I--I wouldn't want to say it was backslid; it was just wore out. See? And he--he gave it to me. And I went out to the ten cent store the next day and got me two cans of paint: red and white. That's Jeffersonville basketball colors, you know, the team colors. And I thought that would have a great psychology on the kids. And I painted it all white and red, and set it out there, put a big sale sign on it for five dollars, and sold it the next day. Paid it, and didn't have to take an offering after all. So that was my closest I ever come of taking an offering.
And tonight, I sure appreciate your fine love offering which will be given me after the service. I will promise you, there won't be any cigarettes, any whiskey, anything wrong. It'll go for preaching the Gospel in Australia, and wherever the Lord will send me. And a soldier born in the Kingdom there, it'll be your credit the day that... I'm only following a leading of the Spirit. And that's... I must do that. And you're sending me--your money, your tithing is sending me.

L-11 Now, I see laying here handkerchiefs, and scarfs, and so forth. It reminds me in Mexico, not long ago, about a year ago, going on two years now. They promised us a bull ring; then wouldn't let us have it. The church down there kicked up against it, so we had to take them out in a big lot, the Mexican people. And they really loved it.
And they would gather in that place at nine o'clock that morning, and I wouldn't be there till nine that night. No place to set down, stand up, lean against each other.
And the Lord had been doing some great things. I was there three nights. And there was a--an old blind Mexican brother came to the platform. And poor old fellow, barefooted, ragged clothes, blind as he could be come walking through the platform. He kept saying something. And my interpreter, Brother Espinosa.


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