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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 27, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 37.

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Ecuador

By AN ECUADOR WORKER

There has been a great battle going on here. The enemy of truth is contesting every inch of ground, and has been trying to discourage the Lord's workers.
The first year we were here twelve persons accepted present truth, but because of some difficulties that arose, seven of them became offended, and I think we have lost them from among us. One of these was a teacher of the normal school, a young lady of exceptional ability, who had a strong desire to become a worker for God.
This experience was indeed a great trial to us. Satan thought to bring discouragement upon us, but the promise of God found in Joshua 1:9 is ever comforting. When Satan saw that we would not be discouraged because of difficulties, he came to us as he came to Job. O that we in affliction would remain loyal to God, and show the same firm faith as did Job!
In August our child was terribly burned with boiling water. There seemed no cause for this accident. It was four weeks of constant care before she was well again. After this, in November, I fell a victim of bubonic plague, and in this severe sickness I thanked my heavenly Father for a knowledge of the rational treatments by which I was saved from the results of this terrible disease, the duration of which was very short, but from the after-effects of which I suffered much for three months.
Following these experiences, on the fifth of February another worker, on his way to church, fell on the sidewalk and broke his leg and his ankle joint. These injuries have proved to be very complicated fractures. The sidewalks in Quito are made of stones, and are very irregular. Hence a person is not always sure of his footing. March 7 the director of our canvassing work was taken very ill with typhoid fever. All the year of 1915 our work was severely hindered, but we are not discouraged. We can truly say, as did Job, "Blessed be the name of the Lord."
The work in Ecuador is difficult, but nevertheless it must be done. Who will come to share in the difficulties of this benighted country? The darkness is very great. We do not know how long liberty will continue here. This year there has been a great struggle to change the constitution and have another form of government. A few years ago a teacher in a public school could not receive his salary without a certified paper from his confessor, nor could any one rent a house without such a paper. Thus the priests controlled everything.
Only a few weeks ago some missionaries went out to hold meetings in one of the public plazas. At first the people had a desire to hear, and many came to listen; but when the priests heard of it, they immediately began to tell the people not to go to listen to those Masons (that is what they call us here). On the third Sunday the priests told the people that if the missionaries went out in the plaza the following Sunday, the people should be prepared to kill them by stoning them and dragging them in the street. On the fourth Sunday about five hundred people gathered. Even the women had their aprons filled with stones; and when the missionaries began to sing, the people began to insult them and to shout, "Heretics!" "Masons!" "Let us drag them to death because they are not worthy to live!" Finally, by the help of friends, the missionaries were taken to a place of safety.
Just a short time ago we were holding a meeting with an audience that filled the room. Suddenly there came a great crash, and the people rushed out. The windows had been smashed with stones. Many said that those who did this were sent to do it by the priests.
The first of January there was much excitement here because of the election of a new president. The result was an uprising among the soldiers. Just around the corner from us we could hear the shooting and shouting of the people. This happened at three o'clock in the morning. A half hour later twelve men, armed, knocked at our door, demanding that we open it. I asked for an explanation, but they refused to give any, saying that if we did not open the door they would break it down. It was finally opened by the owner of the house, who was living below. We were living in the upper part of the house, and thinking that they had come to kill us, we used benches to bar the door at the top of the stairs. I escaped by a back door and climbing over the roofs of several other houses, in the cold night air, clad in only night clothes, I sat down waiting for what might happen. I heard the men climbing the stairs. My blood chilled, but as they ascended the stairs the owner of the house followed them, saying that we were foreigners, and if they bothered us they must give an account to our government. At last they went away.
The second night, at two o'clock in the morning, I was attracted by a noise in the street. I looked out, and in front of the house was a priest, a soldier, and another man. The priest was fighting the man with his fists. It seemed that the man was not willing to do something that the priest wished him to do. In a few minutes they passed on, going about two blocks, then the priest and the soldier returned. When they arrived again in front of our house, they stopped, and the priest, making signs with his hands, said to the soldier, "This is the house." I understood quite well what his plans were. Soon another priest passed hurriedly by, and then another. For five nights we were thus bothered. Protection was sent us by the authorities after we went to a hotel to live for two weeks. If there is a country in all the world that needs special help from God, and the special prayers of God's people, it is dark Ecuador.
AN ECUADOR WORKER.