The Awakening Coast: An Anthology of Moravian Writings from Mosquitia and Eastern Nicaragua, 1849-1899

25. Commencing Work along the Wangki River, 1896

25 Commencing Work along the Wangki River, 1896 “Commencement of Regular Work amongst the Wanks Indians,” Periodical Accounts Relating to the Foreign Missions of the Church of the United Brethren 2 (1897): 322–24. Benjamin Garth was a native son of Pearl Lagoon. He was ordained in 1899, the first Creole and Nicaraguan to become a deacon in the Brethren’s Church. It is not clear when Garth became a missionary, but earlier he had been a rubber trader in Pearl Lagoon and, as a consequence , had learned the Mayangna language (he was a native Miskito and English speaker). His language skills probably explain why he was often stationed at places likely to receive Mayangna visitors. He was at Kukalaya (1879–82), Yulu (1882–83), Quamwatla (1884–90), and Layasiksa (1894–96) before founding the Wasla station (1896) described in this article. He stayed at Wasla until about 1907 and then, with Guido Grossman, founded the Wangki River station of Sangsangta, a gateway to the Mayangna Indians of the Río Waspuk. At Wasla he was joined by his wife, a Creole woman whom he married after 1892—apparently his unmarried status was a concern among his fellow missionaries. In 1918 he was still serving back at his native Pearl Lagoon. The letter here can be read as a follow-up to no. 23, where Frederic Smith was shown to have blazed a trail along the Wangki River. Garth apparently made a big first impression, as many Miskito were sick and those who “applied to [him] for medicine have recovered.” As a result, he obtained “quite a reputation as a doctor.” He notes the presence of a Commencing Work along the Wangki River | 295 Catholic priest along the middle Wangki River. This priest was at Saklin two years later, but apparently the Miskito chased him out (see no. 26). In December last, we referred to the initiation of new work at Wasla, on the Wanks River, and expressed the hope, soon to be able to report a little more in detail respecting this and other new openings. Since then a large amount of information respecting Wasla and district has come to hand, but the space at our disposal this time will only allow of our giving some of the most recent intelligence. About the same time when Brother and Sister Colditz were appointed to Sandy Bay, Brother and Sister Garth received a call to take up regular work at Wasla, where formerly visits had been made—more especially by Brother Smith—a goodly number had been baptized, and services had been held at intervals. On Oct. 24, 1896, they arrived at Wasla and met with a friendly reception, some of the older people shedding tears of joy. As there was no missionhouse as yet, Brother and Sister Garth took up their abode in the church Brother Smith had built, a small portion of the building being partitioned off for their use. The day after their arrival being Sunday, they had a good opportunity to become acquainted, not only with the Wasla people but also with those from Kum and Tuskru who came to the service. Brother Garth at once set about building a house, and as most of the materials had to be cut and prepared in the forest nearby, the dwelling was not ready for occupation until just before Easter. Sunday services as well as week-night meetings were held regularly all the time, nor was the visitation, more particularly that of the sick, neglected. Building of the Mission-House at Wasla On Dec. 6, 1896, Brother Garth writes:—“I am hard at work not only in erecting the building and its out-houses but also in fighting the kingdom of Satan! The Wanks district is still deep in the power of the evil one. Every day we hear of poisoning, of witchcraft, the catching of the spirits of the 296 | Commencing Work along the Wangki River departed, and the exorcising of evil spirits. Before our arrival here, there had been much sickness and many had died, which was all attributed to the burying of poison somewhere. Thank God, all who applied to me for medicine have recovered, so that I have got quite a reputation as a doctor. . . . Here, at Wasla, the prevailing superstition does not show itself so badly, as it is not practised so openly; but if one questions the people closely, it is...