PORTO RICO AS A MISSION FIELD.
By David M. Traill
From Mission Board Correspondence. I AM glad to be able to say that workers have entered the field here. The Lord has blessed my prayers and efforts with a genuine interest. I have received several letters from brethren who have become interested. From among these, two—Brother A. M. Fischer and wife—came to San Juan in May last. They have definitely proved that this field is ready for the message. It may interest my readers if I recite briefly some few items of Brother Fischer’s work to show what can be done. Though studying Spanish faithfully, he has not yet mastered it, and so has been somewhat hampered. Still, he has done considerable canvassing work successfully, having sold quite a goodly number of our books, tracts, and Spanish Bibles. He stated to me that he finds it as easy to sell these for cash as to take orders for them. The people are willing to read, and some have shown signs of conviction, or at least prove that they are thinking deeply. He has done personal work with excellent results among both Spanish- and English-speaking people. Indeed, though I always felt confident of the future here, I am happily surprised with the way the work is unfolding. Above all, these servants of the Lord are living the message. This is doubly important in such a country as this, where few live pure lives. They are enthusiastic over the bright prospects for the work here, and well they may be. But what are they among so many?—more than nine hundred and fifty thousand souls, with only two workers! What Brother and Sister Fischer are doing, others can do also,—nay, ought to do. The harvest is ripe. Who will enter the field? I have received a great many letters from brethren in the States who have become interested in this field. Most of these letters practically ask me to call their writers here. Brethren, I cannot do that, and will not do it. I cannot do it in a commercial line, because I do not know their means or capacity. I will not call them in a missionary sense, because that is the Lord’s prerogative, so I dare not usurp it. I can only lay before my brethren and sisters the pressing spiritual needs and glorious opportunities of this field. If the Lord wants you here, He will call you. If you are deeply impressed that it is your duty, write me by all means, asking what you want to know, in concise form, and I will try to answer you. I would not advise any one to come with the idea of starting business, or as day laborers. What we need here are workers,—God-chosen, consecrated, trained or experienced workers. These can go to work immediately. The medical work should be started in Mayaguez right away. A lady doctor, with one or two nurses, would soon have her hands full. In San Juan a lady doctor, medical missionary for one of the popular churches, has all she can do. Will none of our medical missionary sisters come here? Several canvassers and colporteurs are needed immediately. These should be persons who know how to do personal work. There is no country, I believe, where personal work could be made more effectual if properly done. Brethren in the ministerial work may be glad to know that the conditions are such here that they also might do a good work. Though nominally a Catholic country, the great majority of people are not genuine Catholics. Many, very many, will see and rejoice in the light. Brother Fischer says that the lack of a good knowledge of the language is the only drawback that prevents him from holding successful meetings, and I say that he is right. The Lord is at work here. If there are any young people of good education among our churches who are waiting and longing for an opportunity to use their talents in the Master’s service, I will give them a suggestion. Every summer there is a demand for English teachers in the public schools. Come as a teacher, study the language, the people, and then you can become really useful workers, either here or in any other Spanish-speaking land. As a teacher here, one has many opportunities to work for the Master. For years the work in Spanish countries has dragged for lack of workers and means. This is not as it should be. But to-day we have more than ever before to do with these lands. They are not as “foreign,” as they were. The duty comes home to us with more force than before. The world—the commercial world—recognizes this fact. The colleges and schools of the United States are seeking teachers of Spanish. I recently received an offer of one hundred dollars a month to teach Spanish in a city high school in a Northern State. I refused it, because I believe I can serve the Master better otherwise. If the world recognizes these facts, should we close our eyes? Can we do so and be justified? It is not Central Africa or Thibet that cries loudest, but an American territory where the stars and stripes float,—a lovely land where nature’s God has placed a docile people,—a land where, I believe, the work can be made self-supporting in a brief space of time. The Lord’s hand is with us. Do you want to be co-laborers with Him? What a glorious privilege! Let us unitedly pray and labor for the advancement of this work. DAVID M. TRAILL.