Record Breaking in Cuba

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 27, 1913

Record Breaking in Cuba

We are glad to pass on this cheering item from Cuba. Since Brother Geo. A. Sandborn was obliged to leave the island on account of malaria, Brother H. A. Robinson has been acting as field agent there. He and the two Shidler brothers and Brother Spicer, the son of Elder W. A. Spicer, are now working together in the eastern part of Cuba. Brother Robinson sends the following encouraging report of recent experiences which they have had together. It surely does please us, as he suggests:—

“I am writing this now as I am sure you will be glad to know that Cuba has broken all former records. Albert Shidler took $104 worth of orders last Thursday in 7 hours. In 28 hours for the week he got $311 worth.

“This is really the best place we have found yet in Cuba for selling books. We have lost very few exhibitions. And the best part of it all is that we four have all done well. The report at the end of the first week we were here was as follows:—

	HOURS	VALUE
W. H. Spicer	14	$ 73
A. L. Shidler	16	85
Earl Shidler	10	30
H. A. Robinson	16	113

This past week was the best of all in the history of Cuba. Following are the figures:—

	HRS.	ORDERS	VALUE
A. L. Shidler	28	88	$311.00
Earl Shidler	27	48	147.50
W. H. Spicer	27	86	259.50
H. A. Robinson	24	64	209.50
Total			(gold) $927.50

When I get the reports of Roman and Avila, the two natives, it may pass the $1,000 mark. I feel thankful to God for this manifestation of his goodness, and I trust that we may each realize our indebtedness to him who gives to them that ask in his Son’s name. Of course the boys feel much encouraged over this, and expect good deliveries, as the orders are mostly from a good class of men.

“As the Cuban office has run out of books lately, we came here so as to be able to continue working while the books are on their way from California. As there are several sugar-mills outside of the city, I thought it would be a good idea to see what could be done among them; so on Tuesday, Brother Spicer and I worked one of them. The number of orders we took surprised us. We got about $76 worth between us. In the afternoon Brethren Spicer and Earl Shidler visited another mill. That day Brother Spicer took $74 worth of orders. On Thursday, Albert Shidler and I worked two mills. He got 26 orders, or $104 worth, and I got $60 worth. Thus he passed my former day’s record by $13. The second mill was about six miles from town, so we went on bicycles. We left there at about 6 p. m., and after riding some 15 minutes the rain overtook us. We had to carry our wheels to the next mill, about half a mile away, and then walk in the mud from there home. I did not enjoy the experience much at the start, but later thought that it was not much to suffer after all, if we were doing other people good, as Jesus did when he was here on earth. Maybe if we had to suffer a little more like this, we should love him more and appreciate his help more than we do now. I trust that experiences and successes like these will make us more faithful to him, and also help others to have more courage to press the battle on to victory.

“We had a hot bath when we got home, and the next day Albert and his brother visited another mill farther on, while Brother Spicer and I worked the railroad. Albert got 27 orders, or $96 worth, and Brother Spicer took 31 orders, or $96 worth,—the best he has ever done in a day, he says. We secured most of the best men and jefes (leaders) for cueros (moroccos) or mediocueros (half morocco), Brother Shidler having 34 of these.

“I am sure this report will please you, and I trust we shall be able to send you another as good or better soon.”

H. A. ROBINSON.