Bolivia

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 23, 1908

BROTHER E. W. THOMANN is now the only laborer in Bolivia. While engaged in his work there, he at the same time edits the Señales de los Tiempos, a monthly Spanish paper published in Valparaiso, Chile. This paper is widely circulated in all the Spanish-speaking fields in South America, and is even used by the workers in the West Indies and other places. Of his work he writes:—

“I have been laboring here now half a year, and little fruit can be seen yet; but I am anxious to sow the precious gospel seed in all this country. Brother Pereira is not here. He is back in Chile, and I am not sure if he will come again, so I am the only laborer in this country. But I am not discouraged. I am having good success in the canvassing work. During one month here in Oruro I took two hundred seventy-six subscriptions for the Señales, and sold over eight hundred copies besides, also twenty-five dollars’ worth of books and tracts. I have had no meetings, and have done very little writing, because after canvassing during the day the mind as well as the body is weary. But now I am again devoting a little more time to writing. I go every morning early to the station, to sell books and tracts and papers, and after returning I go to my writing.

“I am desiring that at the union meeting in Argentina I may get a good colporteur to work with books here. I can hardly count myself for more than half a worker for Bolivia, because much of my time has gone to the Señales. Many times I desire to be three men, because I see that many things I can do only partially. Yet I am thankful to the Lord that he uses me in his work. I console myself with the thought that if I do my best, the Lord will do the rest, and so I see the paper prospering, despite my unfitness. I do my best to fill the paper with present truth, so that every number may be a light-bearer. I know that by so doing, the work in Bolivia will suffer a little in other lines; but I hope and pray that the Lord will send some good help, so that all things may be done right. I desire that the prayers of our people everywhere may ascend for Bolivia, that the Lord may protect his work and bless it.

“My health is generally good, and I am of good courage in the work. My wife and baby came last week from Cochabamba, because there was danger in waiting longer, as the heavy rains make the rivers deep and dangerous to pass, and this condition will continue for several months. Both arrived well, but weary. They had to ride seventy-eight miles on muleback, and in a coach fifty-four miles. But after a day’s rest, they felt all right again.

“A few days ago there passed through here three young men, who, in the interests of the New York Herald, are walking from Buenos Ayres to New York. They suffered considerably here in Bolivia, on account of the people thinking they were Protestant missionaries. In one place the people assaulted them, and would very likely have killed the leader, if the other two could not have brought the police to the place quickly. In another village the priest, drunk as he was, told them, by signs and words, that he would cause their throats to be cut that night. When one hears of such things, he can do no less than thank the Lord for his protection. Really, I sometimes think that if it were not for the prayers of our people, I would not be living. The Lord hears prayers, and protects his children. During the six months that I have been in this country, I have not seen danger. The other time I was here, in one single day three times the people wanted to kill me.

“I see that the last days are at hand, and that Satan is trying to hinder the work; but I see also that the Lord is with his people, and that his message must go to all the world, before our Saviour can return.”

Cochabamba, Bolivia.