Saturday, May 19, 1951: We left Agato early for the city of Otovalo, where the great weekly market of the Quechua Indians is held. After a drive of a few miles around a beautiful lake, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, we arrived at the market and found thousands of these colorful long-haired Indians busily buying and selling their produce. We spent a little time viewing the interesting sights of the market and photographing the people. Then we had a great open-air meeting. We brought gospel messages to these Indians, with the aid of Dr. Turner as our efficient interpreter. We were all busy too, giving out gospel tracts. The Indians were very eager to receive them. As many of these Indians can read Spanish, we were able to give them the gospel in this language. After the market was over, we drove back to Quito, crossing the equator a number of times as the road wound through the mountains. We returned to Quito just about the same time that Dr. Talbot got back from his visit to the Colorado Indians. He had had a very rough trip, a long truck ride over almost impassable roads, and then ten hours on horseback as the mud was so deep the trucks could not get through. Finally he arrived at the sta tion where Dee Short is working. The next morning they had gone out by horseback, and after sliding up and down muddy mountain slopes for a few hours, had found the Indians and had a good visit with them. These Indians are called the Colorados because they paint their bodies with a bright red paint, even their hair, until it is stiff. They had a meeting with the Indians, ate with them, and then started the long trip back to Quito, first by horseback and then by truck. This was a very difficult trip, but Dr. Talbot felt it was well worth-while in order to help get the gospel to these very primitive Indians, and also to get some pictures of this work for you folks at home. Sunday, May 20, 1951: This was a very busy day, as both Dr. Talbot and I spoke in churches of the city, at both morning and evening services. There were good crowds, and the people were really inter ested in the gospel. God graciously blessed His Word, and we had the joy of seeing decisions for Christ. In the afternoon we went out with the group of missionaries to visit the equatorial monument about fifteen miles out of Quito. Despite the fact that it was right on the equator, still it was very cold, as the elevation is so high. The peaks around are snow capped all the year around, and the whole area around Quito is cold all of the time, despite the fact that it truly is an equatorial country. It was quite a change for us from the jungle heat we had been in for the past few weeks. The cold and the altitude make the work here very difficult.
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Wednesday, May 16, 1951: There was just too much to see and to do in this interesting little country of Ecuador, so today we decided to divide forces. Dr. Talbot and I planned to visit different places and thus be able to see and photograph twice as much. While I was looking after business matters, such as mailing off film, Dr. Talbot took a short trip by car with Dr. Turner and Mr. Carlson of the C&MA to Ambato to visit the work of Miss Agnes Brown among the Salasaca Indians. This fine work among these very interesting Indians has been greatly blessed of God. It was a great joy to see the results of the faithful ministry for our Lord. Many Indians have turned to Him and are giving a good testimony by leaving their old pagan practices. Thursday, May 17, 1951: We were up early and got Dr. Talbot away to an early start by truck for a visit to the Colorado Indians with Mr. Dee Short, Biola graduate of 1941 and 1943, who is doing a wonderful work for the Lord among these very primitive Indians under the Plymouth Brethren. Soon after their de parture, I left Quito with Dr. and Mrs. Turner, and Dr. Roberts of HCJB and a nurse who works with him in their rural medical work, for the city of Agato in the Otavalo valley. After a wonderful drive through the most beautiful mountain scenery I have ever seen, we arrived at the mission station where Mr. and Mrs. Carl T. Carlson (Biola ’19) are working among the Quechua Indians under the Christian and Missionary Alliance. It was late at night when we arrived, so we had a short visit with the Carlsons and heard a little of what God was doing through and for them. Friday, May 18, 1951: Long before daylight, the Indians began to arrive for the clinic which is a very fine part of the rural work of Radio Station HCJB. Not long after daylight Dr. Roberts was busy ministering to those who had come. This is an excellent means of reaching these folks, for every one is dealt with in relation to spiritual needs, as well as given physical aid. These Quechua Indians are known as the long-haired Indians, as the men all wear braids down their backs, reaching below their waists. It is from these Indians that the myth of the fierce Amazon women sprang. The early Spanish explorers thought that it was women who were fighting so valiantly against them. We went out with Mr. Carlson and visited many of these Indians in their homes, and found them busy spinning, weaving cloth, and making blankets, ponchos and articles of wearing apparel out of very fine wool. In the after noon we went out with Dr. Roberts as he visited the sick in their homes, and of course we sought to take the gospel into the homes of the people along with the medical help Dr. Roberts brought. It was a busy day, among scenic splendors of lovely snow-capped mountains. At night we gathered around the fire with a deepened respect for those who work year after year among these Indians at this high altitude, trying to win them for Christ.
Interior of Mexican Home
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