We have sanitariums, treatment rooms, clinics, health books and magazines in Mexico, and for the same reasons as in the States—to acquaint the people with the best ways of healthful living and to prepare their hearts and minds for the full truth of God. We have the health program on the radio in Mexico, and also a home and health correspondence course. Experiences are beginning to show that this medium will bring in just as many souls as the other means we have been using for so many years.
The health program is being presented to the public on thirty stations once a week, mostly on Sunday mornings at nine o'clock, for fifteen minutes. We know we have thousands of listeners, and every day brings letters from some of them asking for copies of the programs given, or desirinc, the free correspondence course offered. If desiring
do not ask for the lessons, we send the first one anyway, inviting them to take the course, and many do.
The programs begin with a verse of "Home, Sweet Home" and organ music, followed by a talk on some phase of home and health, liberally interspersed with actual experiences which make the programs very practical for mothers and young people. There is nothing like it on the air in Mexico, so we have no competition. Some call it the "only" program.
The first lesson is sent out with a letter and a radio log, and upon its return the student is then put down as "active." Those who do not reply are followed up after a month with the second lesson, and a letter with some voluntary testimonies from other students, expressing satisfaction and gratitude. Those who lag behind are invited to continue their study and get their diploma, and the next- lesson they should have is then sent to them. When three months have passed, we send a card asking whether they wish any more lessons or help in studying them, or if they wish to have the lessons stopped.
Two government stations in the country present the health programs free of charge as a public service, because they are convinced that they help the people, and almost two dozen local stations are now doing the same. The enthusiasm and appreciation of the students know no bounds. One says, "Your fine programs should reach all Latin-America." Another states, "These programs should go around the world." Still others say, "These lessons are worth more than the finest gold in all the world." "They are a cauldron of wisdom." "With your cultural work we shall soon see anew race of men in Mexico—strong, healthy, happy men." "You are contributing to make of Mexico a better Mexico." "Had I known of these lessons before, we should now have a model home."
The lessons of the course are now being used in ladies' clubs, schoolrooms, mothers' societies, and other places. We are just now beginning to invite those finishing the health course to begin the religious course, called Christian Culture Course, believing that the confidence and good will gained by the first course will help in making the second course popular and satisfactory to all classes.
We are seeing some good results from personal visits to those whose interest is at the boiling point. One lady has a daughter who is a nun, but she has bought a health -book and wants some studies, as well as more views of gospel truth to throw on the screen in her home. I visited another who was not in her office, but her employer was, and while talking to her discovered that she had almost been baptized ten years before, when studying with Doctors Ritchie and Baez in "the very rooms where we now have our radio offices. Five years ago she began publishing a family magazine, and now wants to take our Voice of Prophecy as well as the health course. She plans to attend our meetings and bring her children so they will come to our church in the future. One of the hundreds of students in a government agricultural school became interested in the Voice of Prophecy Course, so we asked the worker near by to try to see him. He did so and found others interested who had Bibles. The teacher took part also and gave him time to talk to all the boys at dinner. The result was that seventy-one enrolled for the juvenile course and forty for the health course. Many of these boys will soon be going home on their vacations and will doubtless tell others of this course. Who knows where their influence will stop, for they will be living in widely scattered sections of the country!
The possibilities of the radio work are really limitless. Correspondence from merchants; manufacturers; bank clerks; professors; teachers in rural, public, and private schools ; soldiers; and others—all show a wonderful interest in what they have heard and what they expect to learn. Their voluntary testimonials prove that a fine class of people are getting acquainted with our work, feeling that it is patriotic, humanitarian, and a godsend to Mexico. As we pass them on to the course with the message, we feel sure that many will be brought to a knowledge of the truth, will accept it, and be saved in the kingdom.
