p. 16 | Bolivia by Ed. W. Thomann

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 21, 1909

Bolivia

By Ed. W. Thomann

COCHABAMBA.—I have just returned from a six-weeks' trip to La Paz, the capital of the republic, and to Puno, on the southern border of Peru. During this time I received many blessings from the Lord, and in the little time I could devote to colporteur work I had good success. In La Paz in eight days I obtained one hundred fifteen subscriptions to the Señales de los Tiempos, all yearly but one. I also sold many single copies, and some books and tracts. Among the subscribers are many prominent persons, including several high military officers, the governor of La Paz, government employees, congressmen, etc., and many prominent business men. A gentleman paid me also for a yearly subscription for the president of Bolivia, Mr. Ismael Montes. All this shows that the Lord is working.

In Puno is a little band of new believers. I was invited there by Brother F. L. Perry, superintendent of the Peru Mission, and stayed a little more than two weeks, holding a meeting every night, and three each Sabbath. The Lord began the work there, and I hope a church may soon be organized. A Sabbath-school of more than twenty is already organized. One sister, a widow, fitted up a good hall, and gave it for our meetings. The hall was dedicated Sabbath, September 26, forty-two persons being present.

Near Puno is an Indian school-teacher,

who has accepted the truth, and is teaching what he understands of the gospel to his sixty students. These Indian boys who received the gospel through him seem as earnest and truth-loving as any people I ever saw. Some of them come twelve miles to attend the Sabbath-school in Puno. This is a good lesson for some in other countries who live only a few miles from the church and yet think it too far to go in order to meet with other believers.

On my way from La Paz to Puno I spent half a day in Guaqui, a new port on Lake Titicaca. I used the time as well as I could, and before the boat started, I had nineteen subscribers to the Señales, and had also sold a great many single copies, some books, and a few tracts—altogether amounting to about thirteen dollars in United States money. One can see by this and the experience in La Paz that colporteurs could easily be self-supporting missionaries here. In Puno I canvassed twenty-five hours, and sold about thirty-seven dollars' worth of literature. I would be very glad if two or three consecrated, faithful, persevering colporteurs would come here to help. The time I can devote to this work is so limited that it does not amount to much; but whenever I can get to it, the Lord blesses so that I think colporteurs should take courage by it to come. Ed. W. Thomann.