Experiences in Mexico by E. Virginia Martin

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 25, 1916

Experiences in Mexico

By E. Virginia Martin

[This report was written just before the receipt of the telegram from the Mission Board advising our missionaries to come out of Mexico for a short time because of international complication and possible danger to the lives of the missionaries.]

THE Bible work is onward in Mexico City. Since ceasing Red Cross work, my readings have kept increasing, until now I have sixteen studies each week. While visiting in connection with the Red Cross work, I came in contact with various families, and with three of them I am now studying the Bible. One Catholic family, when I began studying with them, manifested much interest as I explained the way I gave the studies. I asked if they had any objection to having prayer before the beginning of the study. The father said, “No, should you like me to bring an image?”

One of our church members is a teacher in the public schools. When she was telling her children about how the pagans worship idols, one of the pupils stood up and said, “Then we are idolaters.” Two girls with whom I am studying waited five years, longing to have Bible studies. It is now two years since I began studying with them, and it does me good to see how they have grown in the knowledge of the truth, although they are not yet members of the church. The first change which I noticed was that the lamp ceased to be lighted before the images, and finally disappeared altogether, although the images still hung on the wall. One day I pointed to them, saying that I was sad to see them there, and one of the girls said, “Ought we not to burn them?” I told her that was the best thing to do with them. The next week the walls were all free from the relics of paganism.

The work is onward in Mexico.

E. VIRGINIA MARTIN.