p. 18 | Canvassing in Mexico by J. A. P. GREEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 22, 1908

Canvassing in Mexico

By J. A. P. GREEN

TACUBAYA.— Though at first we felt like strangers in a strange land, we are now beginning to feel at home. In a few months we shall be able to make ourselves understood. I must confess that it looked like a great undertaking, still we entered the field with our “Spanish canvass,” committed to memory, and faced all we met. The homes here are not like the homes in the States. The rich are very rich, and live in small palaces. It requires much tact to gain an entrance into these homes. We first pass through the tall, heavy iron gates. A servant stops us, asking “Que quiere V?” meaning, What do you want? I hand him my card and say, “El señor.” That is all I could say. He then turns me over to another servant; and many times, before I see the señor, a third servant takes care of me. Their homes seem to be full of servants.

From this you can see that much time elapses before we give an exhibition of our books. Sometimes we spend from five to fifteen minutes before seeing any one. The time is well spent; for if we get a name for a book, it helps to take other orders. Names have a wonderful influence here. Thus far I have succeeded in getting the names of several of the best physicians and lawyers in Mexico City, also the ambassador of the republic of Cuba.

I am convinced that these people have been neglected, and are hungering for something they have not. I believe that the Saviour wants us to go at our work as if we meant to do something. At first we were told that the rich could not be reached. If we listened to human words, we should have but little success. “I will, with God’s help,” conquers every time. My orders for the first week amounted to fifty-eight dollars; the second, seventy-one dollars and a half. The Lord has truly done great things for me, inasmuch as I had to work with many who did not know the English.

I hope you will pray for this field. I can see great things to be accomplished here by the one who will persevere. The poor are very poor, so we shall have to work differently with them. There are many rich people throughout the republic.

Our afternoons are spent in studying the language. J. A. P. GREEN.