Upper Parana Mission by Arturo Fulton

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 22, 1908

Upper Parana Mission

By Arturo Fulton

The Upper Parana Mission consists of the republic of Paraguay and the territory of Missiones, Argentina. The superintendent of this mission, Elder Luis Ernst, reports as follows for the REVIEW, which I translate from the Spanish:—

“I arrived with my family the third of May at Villa Encarnacion, Paraguay. From the time we left Uruguay, we had a pleasant trip. As soon as I could settle my family in this town, I set out to visit the church in Posadas, Missiones. I found the brethren encouraged in the Lord. Although it is four months since I visited them, they have let the light of the third angel’s message shine in Posadas, with the result that there were several new observers of the Sabbath, with whom I have had some very blessed meetings, which were well attended. Yesterday we had an excellent meeting, and had the privilege of adding five precious souls to the church by baptism. They were ready to give up all their vices, including the taking of maté, for the sake of the Lord Jesus. The church at Posadas now has forty-one members. Truly we see that the last message advances with rapid step. Praise the Lord for this.”

“I also visited the brethren in San Carlos, who live a distance of thirty-six miles from Posadas, and found them alive in the Lord. In this group we have five who have been baptized, and ten others are keeping the Sabbath; some of these are awaiting my return to receive baptism. Brethren, pray for the work in the Upper Parana.”

At present Brother Ernst is the only worker in this field. He finds more to do than he can well attend to. New interests are springing up, with no one to respond. In many ways it is the most difficult field in our union conference. Here vice and ignorance go hand in hand. The first of this month a revolution overturned the government. Yet there are honest hearts to be gathered out, and the last message must reach not only the more enlightened races of this country, but also the Indian tribes of Paraguay who understand only the Guarani.

The country itself is beautiful, with its tropical fruits and flowers. Here the orange grows wild, the banana and the pine produce in abundance. Men and means are needed to publish the good tidings of the Saviour’s return. Are there not young men and women who hear the call to come and help in this work? We repeat the words of Elder Ernst, “Brethren, pray for the work in Upper Parana.”

ARTURO FULTON.