Costa Rica by H. Louie Mignot

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 17, 1907

Costa Rica

By H. Louie Mignot

H. LOUIE MIGNOT

COSTA RICA is one of the territories of the newly organized conference known as the West Caribbean. It is a Spanish republic, and lies between the republics of Nicaragua and Panama. It is divided into seven provinces and eighty towns. These provinces and towns contain two hundred and ninety-five thousand inhabitants. The most important provinces are Puntarenas, Limon, and Cartago. The first is the shipping port on the Pacific coast, and contains fourteen thousand seven hundred inhabitants. The second is the shipping port on the Atlantic side of the country, and is famed for its great export of bananas. It is a growing town, and contains nine thousand and forty-one souls. The third is valuable as a health resort. It is situated on a fair altitude above the level of the sea. Its climate is cool, its air bracing and refreshing, and its soil productive. It has forty-six thousand inhabitants.

Roman Catholicism is the religion of the inhabitants of the country. There are also some Protestant organizations; namely, the Baptist, Wesleyan, and Anglican. They labor chiefly among the West Indians. These people number about eighteen thousand. A goodly number of them reside in the town of Limon. Others live in the several sections along the railroad, while thousands are to be found scattered on the many hundred banana farms.

In this country, with its many thousand inhabitants, there was but one worker until the latter part of this year (1906), when two other workers entered the field. One is located in San Jose, the capital of the republic, a city of ninety-three thousand inhabitants; and the other at Cartago, a city of forty-six thousand souls. Think of the other towns, and their many thousands who must be warned of the coming day of Jehovah’s wrath! The banner of truth has been unfurled, and some have turned from the power of darkness unto the power of light. The believers in the country had reached an aggregate of ninety-three; but from removals and apostasies, their present number stands at seventy-four.

This is among the most needy fields. Its present needs, however, are more workers—workers that are consecrated, experienced, wide awake, and hardy—men who are able to stand the burning tropical sun and the heavy rains—men who know the customs of the West Indians as well as those of the natives. With such workers, we are certain that a bountiful harvest of souls will be gathered in Costa Rica, to await “the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” That the dear Lord himself shall direct such workers to this most needy field, is the prayer of his humble servant.

Pacerarito.