Sunday, August
31-'30.
Dearest Sweetheart,
At last we have
arrived in Ecuador. Our boat
docked yesterday at about 4 p.m. and Mr. Young with
several other missionaries met us. (I hope you received
word from Howard by the cable I sent him.
Our steamer had
to anchor in mid stream and our
luggage, with us, was taken off by launches. The tide
- a very swift one here - was running out so we had
quite a thrilling journey to shore, about a mile away.
Guayaquil is by
far the biggest and nicest South
American city I have seen so far. I expect we'll stay
here a week and then move on up to Quito to
see Stewart Clark. Reuben has gone back into the
jungle and will not be out until the Field Conference
to be held Oct. 3 to 9. This means I will probably
have to go into the jungle to see him, first, so I
can hurry things along and get back to you.
Boy, oh, boy! How
I miss you, honey. If there
weren't so many missionaries around and so much
to do - I would mind this lonesomeness much more.
2.
Mr. Young and his
wife have charge of the Guayaquil
work for the C.&M.A. There are two lady missionaries with
them - a Miss Morison and Miss FIgg. (You will want
to learn the various names so you will be familiar
with them when you come.)
The "Templo
Evangelica" is by far the largest and, in
many ways, the best equipped church I've seen down here.
It has a very high central part, and our rooms open off a second story
inside balcony. We are very comfortably set
up here. I am expecting another missionary to share the room
most any day. He is a Mr. Chrisman - a veteran, they say.
The Sunday program is full here - much like at home
only in a different way. This morning we conducted the
10 o'clock service. John spoke and I played. At 2:30, they
held Sunday school with 235 present - a great sight. They
seemed to appreciate the trombone. At 4 o'clock, we went
to an open-air service just opposite a large cathedral here.
The priests had a band inside for a fiesta and between
them and the cathedral bells, they did their best to break
up our service. I gave a testimony in English which Young
interpeted during course of the service. They don't allow
instrumental playing out of doors. One man accepted
the Lord this aft. and several this morning.
God is moving in a marvelous way down here.
I have not seen such open hearted attention to the
gospel anywhere before. The elder Mr. Reed (the one
who was so sick with stroke of paralysis in the States)
is back again. He is unable to do much anymore -
after his his thirty years of splendid preparation work
on this field, it is hard on him.
The two Reed boys are great chaps. They have
a going stationary business here and one teaches in a
college. They are constant helpers at the church.
3.
I received a letter from Stewart Clark from
Quito explaining he could not leave there to
meet our boat but assuring me of his interest
and intentions to help. Hope these survey prep-
arations will not take long - I want to see
you and the kidies soon again; you bet!
There seems to be every opportunity in the
world to get out the gospel here. I only hope
the radio project proves sufficiently practical from
what I find out here to be used of the Lord for
souls. I can see an increasing need for us
all to know the language well. Be sure to
urge Eric, Ann, Howard, Dwitght & Stella to make...
4.
Please give me addresses
of F.F. Bosworth; B.B. Bosworth;
Floyd Johnson; Charles Neighbour. How are your moving
arrangements developing? Is everything satisfactory with
Joe's place? Is Lillian staying with you? What
have you done with the furniture? Are the Tab. checks
coming thru o.k.?
How are you, dearest,
and Marion and Marj?
Thank them for the handkerchiefs they sent to the
boat. I appreciated them so much - and the card
and letter you sent. It all made a big lump come
up in my throat - but great thanks to the Lord for
such a precious family.
Tonite, I am to bring the message; there will
be between 200 and 300 present. I know you will
be praying, darling. I remember you all each
morning and evening; our time is the same as yours
with Daylight Saving (we are on E.S.T.)
Remember me to mother and dad. Give them
all the information and news of this letter, will
you. I will try to be faithful as time will permit
in writing everybody. Encourage them all to
write me, dear. It helps more than anything
to hear from home.
|
