Ecuador by T. H. Davis

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 29, 1906

Ecuador

By T. H. Davis

ABOUT a month ago we went to Posorja, from Guayaquil, to spend the winter. Posorja is a small town about thirty miles from Guayaquil. Many families spend the rainy or warm season at this coast town. This is a very dry year at this town and neighboring places. Water is brought by donkeys a mile or more in small barrels.

After getting settled, Elder Casebeer and I started out to visit the other three small towns on this peninsula. At Moro, the first place at which we stopped, we were able to sell a number of small books and papers; we also took two orders for “Patriarchs and Prophets.” At first we thought that nothing could be done, as it seemed that all the town had gone to church, but the Lord soon opened the way for us to sell something. At Playas, the next small town, we were welcomed by a friend of mine, who, like ourselves, had gone to the coast to spend the hot season. This man, who was a strong Catholic and had once opposed me at his home, welcomed us, and provided for us for the night. In this we could see the hand of God. At these small towns there are no hotels or lodging houses. The first man we saw was the only man I knew in town.

Playas is a very cool place, but dry like the others. The inhabitants live largely on fish. Very early in the morning we looked out upon the beautiful bay, and saw many of the people out fishing. They stood in their dugouts, which are so small they can hardly be seen. At a distance the people seemed to be walking upon the great deep. We were able here to sell several books and tracts. Elder Casebeer, although having only a limited knowledge of the language, was able to sell quite a number of small books and papers. He thinks this a good way to learn the language.

After dinner we started for Data, which lay around the peninsula, on our way home. The road along the beach is the prettiest I ever saw, very wide and covered with pretty, colored shells. Some places were literally covered with red crabs. After a long walk we arrived at a palm grove, and asked for some green coconuts to quench our thirst. To get the nuts a man climbed the tree by walking up the trunk on all fours, like a monkey. Coconut water is a delicious drink, and is the best we have here in the tropics. After trading the Senales de los Tiempos for the nuts, we started for home.

At Posorja I was able to sell several copies of “Patriarchs” and a number of small books. The governor bought a copy of “Patriarchs” and one of “Christ Our Saviour.” The teacher of the public school bought a Bible of me, and the same day the priest came to see him; on seeing the book, he took it to the door, tore it in pieces, then threw it out in the public square. Some of the children brought me a piece of the Bible, and this was the first I heard of what had happened. This same priest not long ago went to see a young man who was very ill, and on seeing a Bible on the table, ordered it to be burned. The teacher got another Bible from me, and says he will change the priest ten sucres for the one he tore up. This he can do, as he owes the priest that amount.

At the present writing I am in Guayaquil, and it is carnival days. People, houses, street-cars, and fences are painted, or rather blotched, in about all the colors of the rainbow, by the colored water which the people throw at one another during these three days. I am staying indoors, for if one would go out, he would be sure to get soaked with water thrown from the windows, or with dye, which they put in egg shells. I am glad this is the last day, for I am anxious to take some orders for the Senales and for books.

Brother Vaca, our only Sabbath-keeper in Ecuador, came to see me to-day. He began keeping the Sabbath just a few days before we all left for Posorja. I was glad to see him first, although he has been sick, without money, work, or friends.

T. H. DAVIS.

Guayaquil.