Central America by Carrie Stuyvesant

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 1, 1906

Central America

By Carrie Stuyvesant

CARTAGO.—Being compelled to find a cooler climate and a change of diet, we left St. Andrews the first of September, and went to San Jose. We stayed there only seven days, and came to this place, twelve miles distant. We find the climate delightful. It is very cool. The sun shines in the morning, and at this season it rains every evening. The scenery is much like that of Colorado, and we have found all the vegetables of the temperate zone, combined with those of the tropics. A strange thing about it all is that they are in season all the time. Four crops of potatoes are raised in a year, and one can plant any day, and have an almost endless variety. One day at dinner at the hotel we had ten kinds of vegetables; and when we went down to the market, we found over twenty other varieties.

Land is high-priced; but we hope to get a little spot to make a home, where we can have a garden, chickens, and a cow, and have a chance to devote as much time as possible to giving this people the message.

Within twenty miles of us, there are one hundred and fifty thousand Spanish-speaking people, and there is only one family of Sabbath-keepers here, besides us. That is the family of a Bible worker, who is in San Jose. There are very few in this city who speak English. This is called the “holy city.” There are churches every few blocks, and the bells ring day and night. Thousands of Catholics from all over this country visit a spring of holy water here every year. We think we are in the right place, and pray for health to earn our living, and to do all we can to give the light to these souls in darkness.

Spanish tracts are much needed. Perhaps some of the Young People's Societies in the States would like to send us some. We have no fund as yet to draw on to buy them.

Our family was organized into a Sabbath-school last Sabbath. We have regular meetings, and give our offerings as usual, and will use this fund, when it grows a little, to work this field.

We are all feeling better than when we came, and hope soon to be able to do more definite work. We want to canvass every part of the field that is not being worked.

Several have spoken to me about starting a class in English. I may do so later, but am not strong enough yet. We find our little start in the Spanish language of great help, but we know so little yet. CARRIE STUYVESANT.