OCR Text |
Show Faith Of Indians In Bolivia Is Very Strong LA PAZ, BOLIVIA "The Indian people are blessed Immediately after their baptism. Its amazing, according to Keith Schofield, U.S. vice consul in the embassy here and first counselor in the presidency of the Andes South Mis- sion. "Once these wonderful people are given a chance to show they are being treated as equals they show great improvement, Pres. Schofield said. Pres. Schofield noted that there are more than five million Indians in the misson, more than there are in the entire United States. The Book of Mormon is really being accepted by these people. They have a plain and simple faith. Once theyre convinced of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, their faith is very strong. The Indian people are prompt and reverent at their meetings, and they are the best tithe payers, Pres. Schofield said. The Indian people are kept isolated by the government, and they are looked down upon by the other residents of Bolivia. The Indians of Bolivia are in the depths of poverty and their living conditions are not the most hygienic but they are a people proud of their heritage. Their carvings have a distinct Incan flavor. Missionaries working among them have a language problem. Although Spanish is the national tongue, a great many of the Indian people do not speak Spanish. There is a language program being carried on by the missionaries in Bolivia. Some are learning Quechua, the language of the Incan empire. This tongue is spoken by most of the Indians. The other language is Aymara which is spoken on the high plains of the country by those Indians who never were conquered by the Incas. Special classes are being held for missionaries who are assigned to the Indian areas. Some day the missionaries are going to have to learn all the Indian languages to be effective, said Pres. Franklin K. Gibson, who formerly headed the mission headquartered in La Paz. The Andes South Mission takes in part of southern Peru, northern Chile and Bolivia. The mission is a land of contrasts with 135 missionaries laboring in the area. For example, Potosi has the highest branches in the world at an altitude of 14,500 feet. The town has about 30 d00 residents and there are two branches one of European stock and the other an branch. one in Arica and one in There are two branches five cities in southern northern in Chile; Iquique Peru have eight branches, and there are 23 branches all-Indi- School in LaPaz Indian Branch. in Bolivia. Church membership in the mission totals 3,000. Pres. Gibson noted that Bolivia is the most liberal as far as religion goes of any country in South America. The mission president said that there are a lot of young people coming into the Church, but some fall away because of family and other pressures. We are having our most success in the conversion of whole famines in both the Indian converts and those with European background, Pres. Gibson said. He added that there is an amazing amount of leadership in the youth coming into the Church. Balderama Castel, president of La Paz Branch, with his counselors B. Austin Haws and Heman Cane-laexplained the problems of a branch presidency in a poor country. We have 280 members in our branch, said Pres. Castel. We are trying to build an addition to our building so we can use it as a chapel and a school. But we have many problems. Mr. Haws explained that the average income of branch members is around $150 to $200 per year and doesnt see how more than 50 would be able to participate in the building of the addition. s, WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 13, .1969 CHURCH- -7 |