p. 17 | British West Indies by W. A. Sweany

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 29, 1905

British West Indies

By W. A. Sweany

ST. GEORGE, GRENADA.— We are in the midst of a most discouraging situation, but we were never of better courage. Grenada is, for various reasons, a difficult field, and therefore, is very interesting; for victory must come; and the harder the field, the more thrilling and interesting the achievement for the victory.

We have exhausted every means to find a suitable place for meetings, so we hold Sabbath-school and Bible readings in our home, until something better can be done. Only a few attend. We have increased our club of Watchman from two hundred to four hundred, and take fifty Good Health. My wife and I visit and canvass every day, holding readings and getting acquainted with the people. We hope to increase the Watchman order to at least five hundred. We find many kind, courteous, interested people among the scoffing multitude, and we are of good courage to keep on, for this message is bound to win. Most of my time I spend in the country, leaving the town for my wife to canvass.

Every Sunday afternoon we have an interesting outdoor meeting, two miles out. Several are apparently coming into the message there. My wife goes alone and conducts the meeting when I am away.

Several times lately I have walked twenty or twenty-five miles in a day, over the mountains, in the broiling sun, with a load of books and papers. And from ten to fifteen miles is my daily distance. Sometimes I make as many as two hundred calls, and sell from twenty to fifty papers or tracts. The vast majority of the people here do not have any money. Nearly all would buy if they had the means. My endurance is a marvel to the people, and, indeed, to myself. I do not know what weariness is, and often go all day with nothing to eat. The people take “tea” early in the morning, work all day, and have dinner late at night. So it is difficult to get anything during the day. In fact, I have more than once gone twenty-four hours with nothing to eat. It is even difficult to get fruit just now in most parts of the island. I used to think that one could pluck fruit anywhere by the way in the tropics, but there is not a place in the West Indies where you dare pluck a thing, even if you could find it. In fact, wherever we have been, they do not wait for things to get ripe before stripping the trees. Cocoa is twenty thousand bags short this year, and times are harder than ever before in the history of the island.

I spent last Sabbath with some new believers at the other end of the island. A good interest is manifested; I expect to hold a fortnight’s meetings there next month. I believe a company can be raised up, and a church built. Ground is offered free, by wealthy East Indians. They plead for a school, but we have no teacher and no means. They would support a teacher, however. If a force of efficient teachers could be sent into these fields, the work could be better and more quickly done, at far less expense than it is being done at present.

My wife and I go to Gongave to-morrow, to examine a house, with a view to moving there for a few months. There is a good interest in that place, and two Sabbath-keepers. So if the way opens, we shall leave the city and move into some country village for a few months, and then return here and storm the enemy’s earthworks again. We believe the Lord has a people in this island, and by his help we mean to find them.

The last week in March, I made a flying trip to Trinidad. Brother Enoch was there for a few days, and I wished to see him. It was a joy to meet our people again at Arima and El Mamo. The little church on which I worked so hard looked nice. They hope to dedicate it soon. The church was crowded on Sunday night. The work in Trinidad seems to be prospering. There is a good interest in spite of Satan’s efforts to scatter the work. The Indian Walk church is also nearly ready for dedication. The San Fernando church is going up, and I hope will be completed without delay.

We hope, by God’s help, to plant the truth so firmly in this island this year that Satan can never root it up. Then we shall be ready to go to Venezuela, or to any other place where the Lord may call us.

I am anxious to get to our eternal home. It seems to me that many of our people are content to stay in this world, wicked and dangerous as it is. If necessary, I can face death without fear; but I want to escape it, if I can. I hope the coming General Conference may be the last, and that it will bring such an outpouring of the Spirit that the whole denomination may report for service anywhere—not for a year or two, or till they feel sick or meet opposition, but till victory is achieved, or they fall at the post of duty—that is victory.

We follow the work in Washington with the most intense interest, and remember it daily in our family devotions. We rejoice in the advancement of the cause in all the earth. But if our people do not send help to Korea, China, Burma, and other fields where the Lord has so wonderfully opened the door for us, I fear for the results. And Spain, Portugal, Italy, Africa, and South America! When will our people awake, and give all of time, strength, and means? O the blessedness of giving all back to Him who died for us! We assure you that by God’s help we will hold this part of the advance line till victory is complete all along the line.

W. A. SWEANY.