Canvassing on the Mexican Border by W. F. Mayers

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Sep 14, 1916

Canvassing on the Mexican Border

By W. F. Mayers

On the twenty-third of May I left Keene, Tex., for El Paso, and crossing the Rio Grande, began taking orders for “The Coming King” in Juarez, one of the principal points of entry into Mexico. I had good success, in four weeks taking two hundred orders for this book in Spanish. The books were late in arriving, as the United States had put an embargo on the export of everything, but I was fortunate in getting one hundred books a few days before the embargo went into effect. I was able to deliver one hundred and fourteen books; then the anti-American feeling became so great that I could do no more. Owing to the fact that nearly all paid me in Mexican silver—fifty-cent pieces, dimes, and nickels—I lost considerable on exchange.

The last few years I have often been reminded of the Testimony which says that what we have not done in the time of peace, we shall have to do in a time of war and trouble.

After finishing my delivery, I went to Douglas, Ariz., and from there crossed into Mexico, and began work in Agua Prieta. At this place a barbed wire fence forms the boundary between Mexico and the United States. I called on the customhouse officials, and they promised to let me bring in the books free of duty. I was very thankful for this favor, as I dread the red tape which always attends the paying of duty. The duty itself is a small item, but it sometimes takes a long time to get all the papers made out right. On this visit I took an order from the superintendent of the customhouse, besides orders from four employees.

About half the houses of the town were closed, and the merchants were nearly all Chinese, few of whom could read Spanish; so, as the town is very small, the outlook was not encouraging. But with God's blessing, in three days I had sixty orders.

I began delivering on the fifth day, and placed forty-five books among the people. I went to see the leading military men in their office; and while waiting to see them, I showed the book to some men who were also waiting. Two of them gave their orders. By that time one of the men from the inner room came out and asked what the book was. These men told him it was about the prophecies of Jesus and their fulfilment, and that the canvass was good: so he put his name down, which I recognized as that of the governor of Sonora. He and two others paid me in advance, and I sent their books by mail,—the governor's to Hermosillo, Sonora, one of the others to Nacozari, for the mayor, and the third to Nogales, for the major of the army. I was glad to get this book into the hands of these leading men, and thus bring present truth to their attention.

It is not advisable to go into the interior of Mexico at present, mainly because the paper money in circulation there is not worth much. But here on the border and in some near-by towns there are splendid opportunities to place our literature; and as wages are paid in Mexican silver, the books can be sold on a solid financial basis.

Profiting by my experience in Juarez, I charged $1.50 American money for the books in Agua Prieta, and what few did pay me in Mexican money gave me pesos, which I was able to exchange for forty-nine or fifty cents apiece. (Fifty cents is their regular value.)

Cananea and Nacozari are mining towns. The mining operations are now going on, and these places offer good inducements to the canvasser. I am thankful for these experiences in this war-stricken country, where famine and disease are abroad in the land, and I am sure it is an encouragement to all workers to know that our work can be done successfully, even when we see these signs fulfilling in the earth.

The Mexican people are ready for the message. One man told me the book was very suitable for such a time as this. The man or book that explains what these things mean will surely get a hearing, for the distressing experiences of these troublous times are convincing, and many believe that the end is near. I have now sold all but two out of two hundred books, and I expect to deliver those.

Pray for the work in this needy field, and that the Lord may raise up laborers of faith and courage to enter the work and help to bring it to a successful finish. The work of the threefold message will close in triumph. “Thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place.” 2 Cor. 2:14. W. F. MAYERS.