Rica starting October 1941 for a time and his activities were covered in local newspapers before he moved onto Honduras in 1942. He was drafted by June 1943 and left the area. Eichenauer would later play an important role in the re-development of the Baháʼí Faith in Germany. After the first conversions in January 1942 in April 1943 an assembly was elected in Puntarenas and by June a group studying the religion began in Alajuela Province. Latin American connections An All-American Convention was held in 1944, and Raul Contreras was the delegate from Costa Rica. At the same time, Gerardo Vega, of Costa Rica, was the first Latin-American native to pioneer when he began work in Panama. After 1946 Woolson became more involved in developments in Panama and a regional committee overseeing Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua was appointed. In January 1947 Panama City hosted the first congress of the northern Latin Americas to build a new consciousness of unity among the Baháʼís of Central America, Mexico and the West Indies to focus energies for the election of a regional national assembly. Its members were Josi Antonio Bonilla, Marcia Steward, Natalia Chávez, Gerardo Vega, and Oscar Castro. By July 1947 Costa Rican pioneer Marcia Steward was appointed secretary of the committee and planning a periodical for the region. Secretary for this publication would be Guillermo Arias. Retrospectively a stated purpose for the committee was to facilitate a shift in the balance of roles from North American guidance and Latin cooperation to Latin guidance and North American cooperation. The process was well underway by 1950 and was to be enforced about 1953. A new campaign At the Panamanian conference Steward mentioned a campaign had begun and demanded her return to Costa Rica. It was explained more in May 1947 that she and others had advertised in major newspapers of several cities along these lines: We are seeking people of good will to organize a Center of Study and Teaching founded on the following principles (a formulation of Baháʼí teachings). This movement already has affiliated groups established in all the major countries of the world, which function by means of the collective consultation of all their members. Without obligation, you may ask for literature and every kind of information by writing to (address in San Jose). From this advertising 45 enquiries came. In response to these letters individual letters were returned with pamphlets.