A Visit to Spain by S. JESPERSSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 8, 1908

A Visit to Spain

By S. JESPERSSON

S. JESPERSSON

On our way to America we improved the opportunity to visit some places we had not seen before, and where, so far as I know, the message had never before been introduced. As we could not have direct boat from Algiers to New York,

we had to go by way of Gibraltar. This last-named place is considered the strongest fortress in the world, and has long been said to be strong enough to resist the most determined attack of the strongest army in the world. Indeed, it seems to be fortified in every way possible. I was told that there are no less than 1908 cannons in its various batteries. One cannon is added every year, their number thus corresponding to the number of the year.

It is not my intention to describe the place, but I will say that Gibraltar is a good example of what can be done for an old, filthy, and uncivilized town. The streets, though extremely narrow, as in most ancient towns, are very clean and well kept in every respect. The English soldiers, who are seen everywhere, as well as the policemen, are polite and courteous, and we felt quite at home there during our seven-days' waiting for the steamer to take us across the ocean. We distributed a good many copies of the Watchman and other papers containing the message for this time, and our prayers went up to God that he may soon send workers there, and make it also a stronghold for his truth.

Morocco being just two hours distant, we also visited Tangier. What a contrast between this place and Gibraltar, in regard to cleanliness and civilization! But, on the other hand, this place, too, has no representative of the third angel's message.

Having been several years in the eastern countries, we were not surprised at the appearance of such an Arabic, or rather, Moor-and-Morocco town, as Tangier. It very strongly reminded us of Jerusalem and Jaffa and our experience in the Holy Land. The only thing we could do during our brief stay was to distribute a few French and Spanish papers. But we feel thankful to God for this privilege of sowing some seeds of truth in this country where our standard has not yet been planted.

Tangier is the most European town in Morocco, and will no doubt be the first place to be entered by a Seventh-day Adventist missionary. It is now quiet, and a worker could begin labor at any time without danger. A young worker who knows French and perhaps some of the other leading languages, could, I believe, be sent there at once, provided he be imbued with a real missionary spirit, and not with the desire simply to see the country.

I write to emphasize the Saviour's statement that the harvest is great. What a blessed thing it would be to have a mission station in Gibraltar! This is a subject for our English brethren to consider, and only workers who are English subjects should be sent there. And then not only Tangier, but the whole Moroccan empire—when is it to be entered and worked?

As a missionary to north Africa, I take the liberty to speak of and for that part of the world-wide field. In Egypt we have a few workers. Next comes Tripoli, where there is not a single representative of the message. The whole protectorate of Tunis has not one worker. Algeria has just a beginning; and the whole of Morocco, as stated before, has had only a visit by the way.

Let us not begin to think that the work is done as long as we have whole countries and empires unentered; but let us send more, give more, work more, and pray more, until we can truthfully say that the message has been preached to every nation and kindred and tongue and people.

As I walked up the streets of Algeciras, I thought, When will our dear brethren in Spain be able to come to this place to bring its inhabitants the message of true peace and joy?

The harvest is indeed great, and the laborers are few. Let us, therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers into his harvest. The work is overwhelming, and if we were to look only to ourselves, we would say that it is impossible for us to do the work that is to be done in the short time we have left; but in looking to God, we say, with Caleb: “Let us go up at once and possess it [the land]; for we are well able to overcome it.”