Cuba an Open Field by I. E. Moore

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 9, 1905

Cuba an Open Field

By I. E. Moore

I. E. MOORE

KNOWING of the great interest already existing among our people in this field, and thinking others might be interested, we beg leave to call attention to the work already under way, openings for work, and some of the advantages and disadvantages of this field.

The efforts thus far have borne some fruit.

Brother and Sister Hall and Brother and Sister Sturquel came to Cuba about two years ago, and settled at La Gloria, the former remaining here a little more than a year. Through their efforts one is now rejoicing in the truth, and others have become interested. Brother and Sister Clark are holding up the banner at Cebellas, and have been distributing literature and doing what they could, at the same time being self-supporting. Brother Stytch, who has doubtless been on the island longer than any other Seventh-day Adventist, is now at Bahia Honda. His influence is felt not only there, but he has paved the way at Guines, and some seem deeply interested.

Brother and Sister O. L. Dart, of Graysville, Tenn., arrived in Havana the last of November. They are here as self-supporting workers. They have been doing some house-to-house missionary work, but Sister Dart has now opened a school in Vedado, a suburb of Havana. At first it was a family school. The father of the children, who is a government officer, has taken considerable interest in our work, and has given one room of his house to Sister Dart for school purposes, and offers to assist in getting other children to attend. Already one pupil has been added, and an application has come from the country for another to enter. This school is conducted in the afternoon, while another family has engaged Sister Dart to teach their children in the forenoon in their own home.

We hope to make the school work a permanent feature of our work here in the capital city of the island.

By next autumn we hope to have a schoolroom opened, and regular work carried on. The same place should be suitably arranged for a chapel, where regular services may be held by our minister, whom we expect to be with us soon after conference. At the present time we need at least two ministers for this island, and I hope that not only the Mission Board, but some of our State conferences as well, will see that we receive two ministers as regular conference workers. One could be learning the language, but the other should speak it fluently when he enters the field. The superintendent of one of the leading Protestant denominations on the island has volunteered to do all he can to assist our minister to get a start in his work, and has also asked for some of our literature, that he might know more of our belief.

My wife and I have been on the island since last May. We came under the direction of the Mission Board, but bear our own expenses, our special line being the medical missionary work. Our first work was to call on the physicians and get acquainted, with the view of receiving work through them. Most of them gave us a cool reception, and did not promise us much work. The Spanish and Cuban people do not employ trained nurses, but prefer having some member of the family attend the sick. However, the physicians are beginning to see the folly of this. Their coolness did not discourage us; for we knew that God, who rules the universe, had called us to this place, and that his guiding hand would open the way in his own good time.

For nearly three months we spent the time visiting the people, thus making friends, and giving treatments whenever we had an opportunity. About the first of August Mrs. Moore began to receive calls for her services, and has been busy most of the time since. At the beginning of August I began work in a bath-house that reopened, and remained with it for over four months. Since that time I have been giving treatments, doing general nursing, and also what I could to get our work started in other lines.

As for openings for future work in the island, there is enough work for quite a corps of workers. We know that much good can be accomplished here in house-to-house work, getting cottage meetings started, and thus opening the way for the minister of the word. Doubtless the canvassing work could be made a grand success. Thus far very little canvassing for books has been done. It is something new to this people, and if a few consecrated canvassers who understand the language should take up the work, our books could be scattered in this field as the leaves of autumn. I believe, however, that the colporteur work would soon take the place of the canvassing, or rather that the two would be combined.

School work can be made a success. If other denominations make a success of it, why can not we? The Methodist school has an enrolment of over two hundred pupils, paying from $1.50 to $3.50 each per month. Why can not our school, which has been in progress only about a month, become a nucleus, or base of operations, for the work in this island? This is our intention. As this is

the capital of the island, and should be the center of our work, we have opened the school work here. Experience has taught others that the best way to reach the parents is through the children. Some of our people are planning for an industrial school. Brother and Sister J. E. Davis are here in the interests of that work. Two one-hundred-acre tracts of land have been offered for this purpose and for sanitarian work. There are other tracts of land

sanitarium or hospital here in Havana. One of the leading doctors in the city has already asked me to look for a location, and wishes my wife and me to take charge of the work. Since there is such a demand, why can we not have such an institution managed according to true principles? A suitable place with buildings already erected could be bought for twelve thousand dollars, and eight thousand dollars more would put it in good running order. The location is high, overlooking the sea. There are other well-located places that might be secured. We shall need money for these different institutions when the proper time comes to open such work. I am not calling for means now, but I know the Lord, who doeth all things well, will send it in the right time. However, the field is open for help, and those who wish may give as the Lord impresses them.

Being within less than one hundred miles of the States, and with three or four mails each week, we can not say that we are in a foreign country; and if it were not for the language, Oriental buildings, and some strange customs, we should not even think we were in a foreign country. As this country is so near the United States, and has a climate that all enjoy, there is no reason why much can not be done by those of our people who have some means at their command, and who wish to engage in self-supporting missionary work, or by others who wish to move here and live the truth before the people. Of course we do not expect to find all sunshine in this world. “Clouds and sunshine go together; oaks grow stronger in the storm.” We can not expect to find in Cuba the lily and beautiful foliage on every hand, with all kinds of trees dropping down their luscious fruit in abundance. This country, which has been laid waste many times by war, is far behind the expectations of many. However, it is not necessary that our people should suffer for the necessities of life, especially those who expect to give some attention to the cultivation of the soil. It is true that most things are more expensive than in the States. But in this country, where nearly all kinds of vegetables are produced, with proper care and attention one can easily get along without the use of meat, which is very expensive, and by so doing reap the benefits of health, with little fear of the climatic fevers or tropical diseases. As for the dreaded yellow fever and malaria, there is little to fear when proper attention is given to diet and sanitation. There has not been a case of yellow fever in the island for three years, except those brought in on ships. Malaria is not noticeable except in swampy districts where mosquitoes abound. We are not free from troublesome insects, but where is there a warm country that is free? They must be dealt with in this country as in others. The ants give the most trouble.

Just a word to those who contemplate coming to Cuba. One should not think of buying land of a land company without first seeing the land himself, or, if that is impracticable, he should have some one he can trust see it for him. A great deal of land in Cuba is practically overflowed during the summer, the wet season, and would not be at all suitable for homes. Land that looks nice during the winter, the dry season, may be so wet during the summer that it can not be used. When it is possible, it is best for the prospective purchaser to come and select a location, and see what will be needed, and then plan accordingly. If some are planning to come to the island, I should be pleased to answer, to the best of my ability, all questions. The postage to Cuba from the United States is the same as in the United States, but from Canada it is foreign postage. Address me at Calle C., Entre 21 y 23, Vedado, Havana, Cuba.