Peru by F. L. PERRY.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 19, 1907

Peru

By F. L. PERRY.

LIMA.—Our work here is moving steadily forward. The papers and books are being circulated. Last month our colporteur sold the largest amount of books in any month yet. We use one thousand Señales monthly.

Our meetings in Lima and Callao continue. In Lima we are still in our old place, an interior room in a sort of tenement. It is not a place to rightly represent our work, but rent is high. This costs us five dollars gold a month, and is paid by us here personally. If we could hold our meetings in a respectable hall here in Lima, the capital of the nation, we could reach a better class of people, and it would pay in the end. But I have not felt free to use mission funds to any extent.

In Callao we have had a hall about three months for eight dollars gold. It was not in a good locality for meeting. Recently we have found a nice new room, and are fitting it up for a permanent place of meeting. This costs us nine dollars a month. Our work in Callao is new, but gives signs of being permanent. It goes much more slowly than when one can open his doors and advertise. Public meetings of this nature are illegal, and so the work is difficult.

Brother Espinoza has been at Huacho, to the north, for a few weeks. He did well with the literature, and reports four persons keeping the Sabbath there. We must visit them soon. A brother whom I baptized in Ilo, away to the south, reports others interested, and needs some one to visit him for a few weeks at least. In the last three weeks I have received three letters from a man at Puno, on the banks of Lake Titicaca, beyond Arequipa. He happened to find a stray Señales, and wrote, sending his subscription. I wrote him a letter. He wants to act as agent for our paper there, and seems to have a desire to come right along with us. He perhaps does not know much about the truth, but is calling for help. There are several united with him there, who are believers in the gospel. If some one could visit that place, it is very certain that these could be established in the truth. I feel that I ought to go there at once; but how can I leave so much work here? Besides, our mission treasury is empty, and in debt.

We should have a good man stationed at Arequipa, to answer these calls from that part. We also need a man to take hold of the work here in Lima and its vicinity, so that I can visit and strengthen these souls that are awakening in many places. We should also have funds to help start a small day-school. There are many possibilities before this kind of work. We will do what we can.

God has been good to us. We have had fair health. I myself am not strong. Although I have not been sick, I can not stand the exertion here to which I have been accustomed. Men who come to Peru should be able to endure hardships in traveling and living among the natives. Here in Lima and in other cities one can do very well, for he has all the conveniences of modern times. But go ten miles or less from town, and all is changed.

We have just had another scare from bubonic plague, several dying in Callao a few blocks from our house, also an epidemic of smallpox. How we would like a good nurse here in Lima and Callao! F. L. PERRY.