MRS. CARRIE KNIGHT by Mrs. Carrie Knight

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Apr 26, 1906

MRS. CARRIE KNIGHT

By Mrs. Carrie Knight

Panama

BOCAS DEL TORO.— Many of the brethren write us from the States rather complainingly, because, they say, “We so seldom see a report in the REVIEW from you.” We are truly glad that they are interested in the work in this field. Often we think of writing, but our life is a busy one; and when we come in from our work, we feel so tired that we put off writing until to-morrow; and we find the days slipping away into weeks, and we still have the “mannana” fever, not that we have adopted the motto of this country, “Never do to-day what can be put off till to-morrow.”

The work is still moving forward in a very satisfactory way. Our numbers are steadily increasing. Of course there are some discouragements to meet. Where can a place be found that has none? But we never feel to give up and retreat. Our brethren here are true, many of them an honor to the cause.

We are experiencing hard times financially, due largely to the failure in the banana crop, the only source of income to many of our people. In some instances a disease of the plant has entirely destroyed the plantation. But our brethren are still of good courage, believing that misfortune is often a blessing in disguise. I wish you to read this letter, which I received to-day from one of our brethren. He says:—

“We are passing through very hard times, owing to the failure of the banana business and sickness among the plants. My cocoanut grove that has yielded me from eight hundred to one thousand a month, now gives me from two hundred and forty to two hundred and fifty. The trees are dying. Do not think we are discouraged. I must tell you how God has done, and have a dish of beans from those vines. I can not express by letter my feelings; but He knows. My daily income is so small that it is insufficient to feed one child, and still with that amount we never go to bed hungry. [To my knowledge this family of six lived on twelve dollars of this money—that means six dollars of American money—for one month, and paid their tithe out of that.] Dear sister, I am of great courage in the message. I know it is only a little time, and then comes our new home. The Lord bless you.”

This shows the spirit of our people here. You who are in the States know nothing of hard times. O, remember the poor brethren abroad! Mr. Knight has gone to Nicaragua, and will not return for some weeks; all the work here devolves upon me, but God is with me, and daily gives me strength for the work. Pray earnestly for us.