Courageous Though Surrounded by Perils and Difficulties
By Editor
BROTHER JOHN OSBORNE writes something of his experiences in the work in Ecuador, where he has been laboring for about three years and a half. We extract the following items from his letter: “I thought I would send you a letter up out of the obscurities of South America, which I believe must be darker than Africa, from a gospel standpoint. There are just two distinct classes here, the Catholics and those who do not believe anything. They are at issues in politics; and they are not content to wait for an election, but will bring a revolution at any time, if they are not under guard by the soldiers. There are reports of revolutions springing up in some part of the country all the time, and we have to have a passport almost always to go from one place to another. Every time we leave home, we have apprehensions that we will be cut off by a revolution among this merciless people.” Brother Osborne is working practically alone in this difficult field, Elder Mangold, the superintendent, having broken in health, and being obliged to go to a more salubrious climate. Elder Mangold recently lost his wife from yellow fever, and is left with four small children. There were two or three other workers associated with him, but all were compelled to leave on account of their health or that of members of their families. In spite of these conditions, Brother Osborne is of good courage. He hopes to see some natives put into the work soon, and has confidence that the work will grow more substantially. He closes by saying: “I do hope we will have the privilege of staying right here until the Lord comes. Pray for our work here.”