Ecuador by T. H. DAVIS.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Sep 28, 1905

Ecuador

By T. H. DAVIS.

I HAVE recently made three trips up the Rio Grande River, taking orders and delivering books. It takes about eight or nine hours to make this trip by small steamers from Guayaquil. These trips were interesting ones. Baboyo, where I went, was once the third town of importance in Ecuador, but since the railroad has advanced into the interior, nearly all freight and passengers go by rail, which is much quicker.

After arriving at Baboyo the first time, I went to work taking orders. The Lord helped me in securing several orders for “Patriarchs and Prophets.” The next trip, to deliver, was more interesting than the first. All to whom I went, took the books. The first man took two. Besides not having enough books to fill the orders, I took more orders than on the first trip, something that I never did before. My third trip was the most interesting of all. On board the steamer there was an American who belongs to a syndicate that has many natives killing alligators for their hides. As the steamer stopped at his place, we saw the skins of hundreds of these animals ready to ship to the States.

On board there was a Catholic priest, also a man with him who seemed to be the sexton. Both of these read their “missal” much of the time during the voyage. After offering my books to the passengers, I gave all a tract to read. The sexton took the tract that the priest was reading, and threw it overboard. I told the priest he had him well trained. One of the passengers asked for another tract, and on hearing that, this young man yelled out, “Deliver us from the works of the devil!” Not thinking that he would bother me any more, I took very little notice of him, but on turning my back a Bible was gone — overboard of course. After this I kept my eye on my books and on him. He watched me very closely. I tried to talk to him in private, but to no avail. Sometimes these young men can be convinced. One in the same business who treated me in a similar manner in Chile was convinced in a few minutes.

The principal of the boys' school in Baboyo treated me very kindly, he and one of his teachers each buying a copy of “Patriarchs and Prophets.” After school they listened attentively to a reading on the coming of Christ in this generation. The words from the Bible seemed to make quite an impression on the four teachers present. A young druggist of that town offered me a hall in which to hold meetings; he also offered to bring his friends to the services. This is the first offer of the kind that I have had since coming to Ecuador, and I am thinking and praying about going back and starting a series of meetings there.

My heart is rejoiced to hear that Brother Casebeer is coming to Ecuador. I wish to thank all the brethren who have sent me papers to distribute among the English-speaking people.

T. H. DAVIS.

Guayaquil.