NEWS! Our first Quichua center in Ecuador is launched! On April 3rd we took possession of the facility, and as of that date the doors have been open. One hour after we took over, the first Quichua arrived and for the first market day we had six of their horses in our patio. Several Quichuas, representing two of the highland provinces, have slept in the center. God, dear friends, is marching on in Ecuador!
We admit that our beginning is not the most organized undertaking ever! Little David had his sling, and we, too, have the essentials, such as a building, a couple of missionaries, a caretaker, and a certain amount of supplies and equipment such as tracts and slides and phonograph records.
But the building is somewhat in need of repairs and improvements – electricity, new windows and a bathroom. The eleven rooms boast of almost no furnishings save a metal strong box and a lone canvas chair. Moreover, we workers are far from being fluent in Quichua, the language of these indigenous people. Still, we are off! And what is most important, God is with us.
This center that we have opened is essentially an inn or hostel. We have three large rooms where our guests may sleep, plenty of patio space for something like forty horses and mules, and room for the safe-keeping of their saddles and wares.
Behind the building is a small pasture in which the animals may graze. Upstairs are quarters for the caretaker and his family. There are also rooms that can be used for offices, a meeting hall, a classroom, and a room where inquirers may come alone to ask questions and have the way explained more fully.
The purpose of the center is to win friends and establish a Christian witness among the Quichua people from two provinces who come into the city of Cuenca for market purposes. We will offer them the services of our inn, and in other ways try to help them while they are here looking after their affairs. Each guest will be given a portion of the Scriptures or a tract, and a testimony by one of the missionaries or other workers. And we would like to work out a pattern of simple preaching services. The ultimate aim is to win invitations to go out to their country communities for evangelistic campaigns.
The Quichuas live in small country settlements or on haciendas that may date to the colonial era. Almost every week they go in to some town or other for market purposes, and Cuenca is the major market center for this Azuay Province in which we live, as well as for Cañar Province to the north. Thousands of Quichuas from all directions stream into Cuenca each Thursday, which is the biggest market day here. On other days, too, one may see them in town, but in much smaller numbers.
The first important thing upon their arrival is to find a posada or inn where they may safely leave their animals while they themselves go about their market affairs. And if they are in town for some days, they would also like to find a place to sleep. Though they are generally suspicious of Spanish-speaking city dwellers, and fearful, they readily trust their animals and their wares to the owners of these inns.
It is our strong conviction that God has been leading us as we have prayed about a way to reach the Quichuas, and as we have planned the practical details of this first outthrust. We feel that our Lord is slowly but surely going forward with a program for building his church among the Quichuas of Ecuador. Two and a half years ago our Mission entered this field, believing that God had here given us another responsibility. After some time spent in surveying the area, we moved to Cuenca as the place best suited to begin work. Then a year ago Rev. John Johnson and family came, thus raising our staff to where we had two couples. Following this, God began to reveal a plan for our work. And now, after all manner of delay, we have finally made a beginning.
We thank God that he has put us in touch with some friendly property owners, for many would not rent to Protestants, particularly Protestant missionaries. The inn is splendidly situated, and the building adequate. So we are grateful for the friendly police officer who introduced us to the owner, and who has been a constant counselor and friend.
AND WHAT OF THE FUTURE?
Remember, first of all, as you pray for the work, that the missionary staff for this station is not yet complete… Then think of the other areas where we would like to move in and establish similar centers, and lay before the Lord the need for workers to man those stations. We have barely established a beachhead for Christ in this Andean republic. Pray that God may enable us to consolidate quickly – AND TO ADVANCE!