Ecuador by C. E. KNIGHT

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 4, 1915

Ecuador

By C. E. KNIGHT

C. E. KNIGHT

It has been four months since my wife and I arrived in Quito, Ecuador, from Argentina. I had not expected to see such a pleasing landscape, especially in the highlands, neither did I think that the climate would be so agreeable. At Quito, although on the equator, the temperature is about the same as at Oakland, Cal., during the spring and summer. The mountains, even at an elevation of twelve to fifteen thousand feet, are covered with grass or small growth, so that the great plateau appears like an immense pasture dotted by numberless patches of cultivated ground.

Ecuador is a most favored country naturally. Crops are raised the year round, and it is a curiosity to see apples maturing at the same time that peach trees are in blossom and other fruit trees are putting out new leaves. Corn and barley are two of the staple products of the uplands; and the former, prepared in various ways, is one of the principal foods of the people. Many other temperate zone fruits and grains are raised in abundance.

Our work has not become strongly established as yet, owing, first perhaps, to the intense religious sentiment in favor of the Roman Catholic religion. In Quito alone there are more than thirty large churches, and many city blocks are occupied by convents and monasteries. Probably half the population are so conservative in this respect that, had they the power, they would exclude all Protestants from the country.

We are, however, beginning to see some good results from our labors. My wife has had interesting experiences in medical missionary work, and the effect has been to break down some bitter opposition, gaining thereby many friends as well as some attendants at our meetings. Our evangelical work will undoubtedly continue to advance slowly and under difficulties, but Ecuador is included in the “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”

Those who do accept the truth are usually very poor, and with some it is more difficult afterwards to earn their living. Owing to the hard times, generally we are unable to help them much. We see, however, one way by which their situation might be improved; and to bring this about, we are hoping to buy four hundred acres of government land, which can be had for less than one hundred dollars, and let our poor brethren make their living from it. In three or four months vegetables can be matured; in one year a banana crop; and in three or four years the first crop of cacao, from which chocolate is made. Rubber is also raised.

The land is timbered, and the soil is rich. If a number of families from the States would come and buy some of this land, they would not only have an independent living for themselves, with every possibility of substantial gains, but would be a great help to this needy field.