A Faithful Colporteur in the Philippines
His Successful Work—Experience with a Dog
THE following cheering word comes from Brother Floyd Ashbaugh, who has been working alone as colporteur in the Philippine Islands for the past two years: “During my two years of work in the Philippines as a colporteur, the Lord has abundantly blessed me, and kept me from sickness and disease. “Besides placing several hundred copies of truth-laden books in the homes of the people, I have had the blessed pleasure of seeing some take their stand for the gospel. One young man in Manila bought a book of me, became acquainted with our workers, accepted the truth, and is now a faithful worker. Two sisters from Iloilo accepted the gospel message from reading tracts and from a few Bible studies. “I usually board with the people when out on colporteur trips, though the fare is sometimes scanty. One man gave me two raw eggs and a piece of bread for breakfast, with the admonition, ‘Now eat heartily, for it is a13long way to the next town, and you will get very hungry if you don’t.’ “It is almost pathetic to see the efforts some of the Lord’s poor will make to purchase books containing the gospel. One man sold his pig, a woman pawned her jewelry, another arranged to make monthly payments from their small earnings,—and all that they may have the truth. “The work has its difficulties as well as its pleasures, but colporteurs do not go to their fields looking for the easy places. They take hold where the Master calls, whether the work is hard or easy. Under the tropical sun or in the pouring rain, among typhoons, plagues, fevers, or outlaws, the Lord’s promises are sure. Not one fails. It is our blessed privilege to ‘abide under the shadow of the Almighty.’ “The books are exerting a great influence in favor of the gospel message. FIRST COLPORTEUR’S INSTITUTE IN THE PHILIPPINES
“Three weeks ago, I attended our first colporteurs’ institute in Manila. About thirteen attended regularly, and several give promise of making successful workers. In the future, I shall give more attention to training native workers to handle the books successfully. The Lord is blessing in a special manner the work with the printed page in this field. “I went one evening to deliver a book. After I had waited some time for admittance, a bristling dog was suddenly shoved out through the door, with instructions to devour as large pieces of me as possible. The dog, however, was more frightened at me than I at him, and ran off growling, while I stood my ground, and asked the inmates to explain their peculiar action. After explanations and apologies, the man paid me for his book. “At one place, I took seventeen orders in about three hours. At a town gathering, I was introduced by a prominent man, who ordered the book and spoke in its favor. Then the people came up and signed their names. “The work is onward in this field. We love it, and have no desire to leave. Our courage and faith in the speedy finishing of the work were never stronger than at present.”