Central America by H. C. GOODRICH

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Oct 5, 1905

Central America

By H. C. GOODRICH

I CAME to French Harbor July 6, to attend the dedication of the new church. The company here is small, numbering only fifteen; but with the help of many friends who are not yet members, they have erected a very neat little building, sixteen by twenty-eight feet, furnished with lamps, bell, and an excellent organ, dedicated free from debt. It is located on the same ground where Elder F. J. Hutchins pitched his tent eleven years ago; and although at that time not one accepted the truth to obey it, many of those who now accept it date the beginning of their experience back to that time.

Since the dedication, we have continued the meetings in the church, and at this writing eleven more are keeping the Sabbath. We can only praise the dear Lord for his tender mercy and his power to save. How wonderful is his long-suffering in keeping us alive, that now we may give our hearts to him! We pray that others who are yet halting may soon be led to yield all to their Redeemer.

The French Harbor church is very anxious to have a church-school, where the Bible can become one of the text-books. Not only in words is this desire expressed, but the members have already subscribed a liberal support for the teacher. A lady would find here a pleasant, healthful home, among a people who are all united and ready to work, and who would appreciate very much a Christian school. One brother has three bright children, ten, twelve, and fourteen years old, deaf from birth. He is very anxious that these should learn to read and write, and he would contribute liberally to the teacher's salary. We are very desirous also that this teacher be able to give instruction in music. There is no teacher here for this people, and our hands are reaching out to our brethren in the more favored parts of the world for help. The burden of prayer in several families in this place of is, Send us a teacher for our children and youth.

If some family reading these lines has one in its number who could take up church-school work, I would say there are openings here for farming operations, also for a good blacksmith. There is a shipyard here, also one at Coxen Hole, eight miles west, and another at Oak Ridge, eight miles east, with no blacksmith at either place. A small schooner is being built here now, which has waited for more than a month for irons to be made in Truxillo, forty miles across to the mainland, and when they arrived a few days ago, they were not right. I consider this a good opening for blacksmith work, as well as church-school work. The two combined, or the school work and farming, would make this a good opening for a man and his wife.

In this connection we must not fail to mention Utilla also, another of the Bay Islands, as a good location for a teacher. Here the citizens have contributed the means to build an addition to the church, eighteen by thirty feet, for a schoolroom, but for nearly a year now there has been no school. Three times our Mission Board has sent a teacher to this place; but for various causes the mission so far has not been a success. Utilla is a pretty place, with a nice class of people, but our membership is very small. Here also a music teacher would find plenty to do.

There is no physician on the island, and to call one from the coast is very expensive, costing forty dollars gold for every day he is absent from his office. And there is no baker here. Could a man and his wife combine teaching and medical work, or teaching and farming, or teaching and nursing or baking, this could easily become a self-supporting work. We anxiously look forward to the time when some of our own number shall be able to take hold of this work; but till that time comes, we pray that some one may be inclined to come and help us.

We are now holding meetings at French Key, a beautiful little island about one mile from this village, where there is an interest to hear the word of truth.

H. C. GOODRICH.