FABIAN had worked for many years in the tin mines of Bolivia. But the dust from the ore had ruined his lungs; now he was suffering from chronic silicosis, and he had to leave the mines.
It was during those years as a miner that he had met a missionary who labored throughout those regions and told Fabian of Christ who loved him and died for him upon the cross. The Lord opened Fabian’s heart to receive the gospel and he became an ardent follower of the Saviour.
One day Fabian pleaded with the missionary to take him with him into the interior to help carry the gospel to the Indians living there.
“Well, Fabian,” said the missionary, “anything I have I’ll share with you. So you come along and we’ll trust the Lord to supply our needs.”
Fabian went along and spent a year with his missionary friend in the Indian region of Yulo. Then one day his friend said to him, “Fabian, you remember you told me you would like to carry the gospel to the Indians?”
“Indeed I would,” returned Fabian. “I know I am weak and may not live too long, but I’d like to spend the rest of my days in giving the gospel to those poor people.”
“Very well then,” said the missionary, “I’ll make up a package of little things for you to sell along the way, to help pay your expenses.” So he made him up a package of needles, knives, scissors, cotton spools, and a few pieces of cloth. Soon after Fabian started out with his bundle over his shoulder. He made his way right across the country, a distance of 200 miles, till he reached a town called Chita.
Fabian at once began to preach the gospel in the open air to a crowd of men standing idly around. Among the crowd was a man named Lino Bueno. Lino was a musician, a band master, but a drunkard. Once in a drunken spree he had let off some dynamite sticks which nearly cost him his life. He was blinded in one eye and badly crippled; but God spared him for he was to be a trophy of His marvelous grace. Standing there listening to the message of redeeming love, and all unknown to Fabian, Lino’s heart was stirred. The seed had fallen into good ground. Lino Bueno came to trust the Saviour as his own and became one of His most faithful followers.
A whole year Fabian trudged up and down preaching the gospel to the Indians in that large northern section of Bolivia but saw no visible fruit from his labors. Weary and down-hearted he returned to the missionary and said, “Brother, I’m so sorry; but I haven’t seen any response to the gospel. I know it is the power of God unto salvation, but I haven’t had the joy of leading one soul to Christ.”
When the Chaco War broke out between Bolivia and Paraguay Fabian was drafted into the army and the missionary became a chaplain. One day a commander of one of the regiments sent a message to the chaplain saying, “There’s a man who wants to see you. His name is Fabian Estrada. He went at once through the jungle to the outer trenches, and there he found dear Fabian, just skin and bones. He was dying.
“Oh, dear brother,” said Fabian feebly, “I’m so glad to see you.” He tried to get up on his feet, but he was too weak. Kneeling down in the trench beside him his friend prayed for him, and they both wept together. When it was time for the missionary to go, Fabian whispered, “Brother, I’ll see you in the morning.”
Early the next morning the missionary went back to the trench, but all there was left of dear Fabian was a stick stuck in the ground to mark his grave. He had died during the night, and like so many thousands of other men who had perished in that cursed war, they had just dug a hole and buried him in the jungle. But dear Fabian was at home with the Lord, to await the trump of God and that glorious resurrection morning, that “morning without clouds.”
The stick that marked the grave of Fabian has long gone, but God has erected a monument to his memory that neither time nor eternity will ever efface. That monument is the life and labors of Lino Bueno, one of the richest trophies of His grace among the mountains of Bolivia. Lino saved through hearing the gospel from the lips of Fabian Estrada, has served the Lord for many years among the poor in those remote mountain regions, and many an Indian brother has cause to thank God for the life giving message heard from his lips, for he has won many for Christ. As a result there are in that area at least 15 assemblies of believers, gathered simply to the precious name of Christ, fruit of His wondrous grace and the faithful labors of Lino Bueno. He is an old man now, and soon when the trumpet shall sound he and Fabian will meet in heaven around their blessed Lord.
ML-04/25/1976