West Indies by H. C. J. WALLEKER.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 15, 1913

West Indies

By H. C. J. WALLEKER.

JANUARY 10, I left St. Thomas to visit some of the different places in our island field. Sabbath I stopped at St. Croix and had meetings with our brethren. The following Sunday I went ashore at St. Kitts and visited some of our brethren there, but the steamer did not remain long enough for me to have a meeting with them. I found them of good courage and doing what they could to sell the West Indian Watchman. I sincerely hope that before long a worker can settle in this place, as they have had no help for many years. There are a number of other islands in this group, where there are a few Sabbath-keepers, but no public effort has ever been made.

Monday, January 13, I spent with Elder Matthews at Antigua, visiting some of our people (there are about one hundred believers on the island), and planning with him for the advancement of the message in that place. One aged sister whom I always make it a point to see when there, is one of the earliest believers in the truth in the West Indies. I also stopped at Guadeloupe, where we now have a few Sabbath-keepers. Brother Philip Giddings has been all over this island of two hundred forty thousand inhabitants, with our literature, and I hope before long a hall may be rented and a public effort made to give the message to the people. Brother Giddings was at his home in Dominica. The church there is also getting along well, and additions are being made. I spent four days with this church. We had good meetings, and the brethren are of good courage.

Sunday morning, January 19, I left Dominica for Trinidad, to attend the session of the South Caribbean Conference, and to counsel with Elder Bender about the work in the East Caribbean Conference. The next week, after our good conference, I returned home to St. Thomas.

February 7, I left for St. Croix. On Sabbath, February 8, our neat little church was dedicated to the Lord’s service, free of debt. We feel very thankful that our people here have their own houses of worship, and that another memorial is erected to the great threefold message.

While we have had a church building at St. Thomas for a number of years, it was not entirely free from debt until a short time ago, and consequently had not been dedicated. Last December the last payment was made, and February 22 the building was dedicated to God’s worship free from debt.

During the year 1912 fifty-three were baptized in the East Caribbean Mission field, and our tithes and offerings have increased several hundred dollars. We feel thankful to the Lord for his prospering hand in this part of his vineyard. To him be all the praise.

March 2 with my family I sailed from St. Thomas, and arrived safely six days later in New York. We are now in Michigan, at my wife’s old home, taking some much-needed rest before the convening of the General Conference.

H. C. J. WALLEKER.