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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Aug 12, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 32.

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Chile

By J. W. Westphal

VALPARAISO.—I came here yesterday, expecting to get a boat for Antofagasta; but the steamer had left the evening before, and so I have to wait here three days. This affords me a little opportunity to do urgent writing.
It was hard work for me to pull away from home and the Argentine work for this long, perhaps eight-months’ trip. Everything is in a formative, developing state. Discouraging feelings have crept over me of late as I have seen so much to do, so many things untouched, others incomplete and inadequate for the work, and the churches not more than half looked after. So much is lost because souls can not be cared for. I am tramping over a continent, and seem able to do so little. How can we ever do this great work? Where will the men and means come from to do the work and place our institutions in these fields on a basis, as regards their appearance, condition, and conveniences, that will make them in some measure representative? We are so glad for the help you have been able to send to Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil recently. This gives us hope. But some time will pass before a number of them can do much, on account of the language, and then it is little, compared with the great needs.
God bless the brethren that are willing to sacrifice of their means for this work, and those who are willing to come to our assistance! What a day of rejoicing it will be when the work is done, the souls gathered for whom we have labored or sacrificed, and we all be taken home!
In Chile the message is making progress. The people seem to be more susceptible to the truth than those of Argentina, and somewhat stable. They are also quite faithful in paying tithes and giving offerings. They are more willing to buy our literature and read.
J. W. WESTPHAL.