We now have a church of over two hundred Indians here at Puno, Peru, and not one has backslidden.
Rev. Ambrose, Left, a Fijian Chief Who Is Also One of Our Church Elders
Prominent people come to visit us, and I am having calls to visit the sick from villages where the people were very bitter at first. There are calls for us to establish missions in other places. Some have offered land and a house. They see that when the heart of the Indian has been touched by the grace of God, he is growing honest and clean, thus becoming useful to the community, instead of being worthless, if not an out-and-out menace.
The opening of our school here met with strong opposition. The enemies lied and threatened, but to no avail. God wanted it opened, and it is open. Now the very people who were in opposition are coming around to visit us, and they all say, “Espléndido”—splendid. This work is a wonder to them. The more they tried to hinder, the more it has grown. I believe the conviction has fastened on some of them that they have been fighting against God. Many feel sorry now.
One prominent man said recently: “We have to send Indians to the large cities to bring in our cargoes of rice, sugar, etc.; and by the time it arrives at our stores, we find that it is short weight many pounds. They take a little out of each sack, and we are helpless. We cannot teach them. O that we had such Indians as you people are surrounded with! Do come and teach the Indians here.”
This is now known far and near. The people used to think and say that we gave the Indians money to be good, but they know better now. We have taken great pains to explain to them how Jesus has come into the lives of these Indians, and that they are looking forward for their reward for faithfulness to the coming of the Saviour.
