W. G. KNEELAND by W. G. Kneeland

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 29, 1916

W. G. KNEELAND

By W. G. Kneeland

Nicaragua

W. G. KNEELAND

ON a recent trip to the northern part of our conference [West Caribbean], I spent four days on Corn Island, one of the small islands about forty miles northeast of Bluefields, Nicaragua. This island has a population of about eight hundred. Now that there are prospects that this island will become a United States naval coaling station, these islands are likely to come into more prominence soon. Although the island is under Spanish rule, the people speak English, and favor the Protestant faith.

Our work began there a few months ago, when Elder J. A. Reid and family were sent to that island. A good beginning has been made. Nine adults have been baptized, and a Sabbath school of eighteen members has been organized. Plans have been laid for the erection of a small house of worship in the near future.

Leaving Corn Island, in company with Brother Reid I spent more than two weeks among the Sabbath-keeping Mosquito Indians in the Wava River district. During the day we worked with the Indians, getting out material from the forest and preparing it for a church building. We also had daily studies on the cardinal points of our faith, which were translated into the Mosquito language, and also into Spanish, as circumstances required. Nearly enough material and cash were secured to complete the eighteen-by-thirty-foot building they are erecting from native pine and mahogany timber.

Four adult persons were baptized, a church of twenty-six members was organized,—about one half of whom are aboriginal Indians,—officers were elected, and the ordinances were celebrated.

We also made two visits to another village of 130 inhabitants, about ten miles from our church. None of these people are able to read. Our brethren have been doing missionary work among them, and now the headman and the majority of the people do not go to their work on the Sabbath, and are anxious to be fully instructed in the gospel truths.

Some years ago they built a house and invited the Moravian missionaries to establish a school among them, but nothing permanent was done for them. About fifty attend the Sabbath service whenever we can send some one to explain the Sabbath school lesson to them from the picture roll. Already we see marked improvement in their way of living, and many evidences that they desire to know the story of Jesus, who died to save these children of the forest.

They are very anxious for a day school to be conducted among them for their children. The headman tried his best to convince us that we ought to take his only son along with us and teach him to read, so he could return and help his people. As soon as he found out that we were willing to co-operate with him to provide a school, he called the whole village together to consider what they could do to secure a teacher. They at once began to plan to build a church like the one they saw us building in the other village, so there would be a place ready for us. Each family having children promised to give a stated sum each month in cash or provisions for the support of the teacher. The headman also took us into the hills, where they would all work together clearing and planting lands for the support of the school. Several years ago one of our brethren from the Bay Islands took his family and settled among the Mosquito Indians. He has learned their language and gained their confidence. By caring for them in their sickness, he is now having many opportunities to minister to their spiritual needs as well.

Although the New Testament has been translated into their dialect, only a very small per cent of the Indians can read it. Their great need is teachers who will learn their language sufficiently to converse with them in their own tongue, and then conduct elementary training schools for them in both English and Spanish, teaching them how to establish and maintain Christian homes. In these little schools we believe a number of persons could soon be given sufficient training so that they could visit their people scattered in small groups throughout this country, and tell them the old, old story of Jesus' love, which they have never heard.

Although we have already gone beyond the limit of financial safety, according to our visible resources, by opening up Colombia and strengthening our staff of workers in Costa Rica this year, yet we did not dare refuse altogether this urgent call from a most needy people.

We are inviting all our people in this field to make special offerings, in addition to the offerings they are already making, which are very liberal considering their abilities, trusting that by the time the Indians have a building ready, we can raise sufficient funds to pay the transportation of a teacher, and to furnish some other aid until the work can be established on a self-supporting basis.