Bolivia by E. W. THOMANN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 20, 1908

Bolivia

By E. W. THOMANN

COCHABAMBA.—Since writing to you last, I have been to Chile, to Argentina, and to Uruguay, attending the conferences in these three countries. During my absence, as there was no other worker here, the work stood still in Bolivia, except what the Señales may have done among the subscribers.

Returning to Cochabamba, we found that the few who showed an interest before, still retained it. We began meetings, and they are gathering again.

At the union conference I succeeded in obtaining another worker to help in Bolivia. I did not expect to get one, after hearing the strong and urgent pleas from the superintendents of other fields; but the Lord let me have the promise of one, in the person of my brother Walter. He wrote me a few weeks ago that he expected to attend the workers' course in the Pua (Chile) School this year, from June to September, but that after that he will be ready to come. I would like to see more done for Bolivia. But when I read about the many other fields, I hardly dare to ask for anything, for I know the Mission Board has more on hand than it is able to provide for.

Yesterday the lawyer from Quilocollo, who is a believer, came to visit us. He was very glad to know that another worker would come to help to spread the truth in Bolivia. This morning my wife told me that Friday she had a conversation with a native woman, who, when she knew that our baby, more than a year old, was not baptized, asked if we were “heretics.” She very likely did not know any other word for non-Catholics, because she was friendly, and did not mean to insult. My wife explained to her that Jesus was baptized when he was grown up, and that the Scriptures did not teach the baptism of children, or even of adults, before they believed. The woman said that was “admirable.”

A seminarist who is studying for the priesthood, who last year took a subscription to the Señales, met me the other day on the street. I loaned him a copy of “Steps to Christ” in Spanish. Last night I met him again, and he said he had read it nearly through. He asked the price of the book, and said he would buy it. Loaning this book to our neighbors will help to give them an elevated idea of Christ and the truth.

We had the week of prayer a month later than our other brethren in South America—from May 16 to 23. The offering in cash and promises reached the amount of seventeen dollars gold. One person sold a violin, and gave the product for the mission collection. If our brethren everywhere would sell what they do not absolutely need, and give the product to the Lord's treasury, the Mission Board would have more means to send missionaries to all lands and support them. E. W. THOMANN.