ON the third of February of this year, the writer, accompanied by Brother Emil Hoelzle, two canvassers, and a teacher for the Itarare church-school, started out for the latter place. Having left Castro on Friday morning, we reached Pedras just before sunset, and spent the Sabbath with the few Sabbath-keepers who reside at that place. While at Pedras we were encouraged by seeing a man, who had for a long time been halting between two opinions, decide to step out fully on the Lord's side. Thus was added another witness for the truth to those who had already been holding up the light in this section.
On Sunday we rode two leagues (eight miles) farther on our way, and stopped at a little town called Pirahy, to visit several families who had recently begun the observance of the Sabbath. After encouraging these, we continued our journey the next day. But soon after we got started, a severe rain-storm set in, and at 2 P. M. we were glad to accept the hospitalities of a Brazilian who offered us a room in his shanty. We soon made a fire on the earth floor, and proceeded as best we could to dry our clothes. The next day was still rainy, though not so bad as Monday, and on Wednesday, the eighth, about noon we reached Itarare, thankful to be once more greeted by the familiar faces of our brethren, after the unpleasant ride across the campo in the driving rain.
At and in the vicinity of Itarare we remained two weeks, visiting the brethren who were scattered over a radius of four leagues. We were glad that we could note progress among those who had been keeping the Sabbath for some time, and that a number had overcome the tobacco habit, and were now ready for baptism. In this country the people seem to think that what is good for one is good for the other, so the women use tobacco as freely as do the men. And no doubt they are logical in this; for if tobacco is a benefit to the head of the family, why should it not be to all the other members? We were also glad to find here some who had recently begun to keep the Sabbath.
On the last Sabbath of our stay we had a general gathering of all the brethren and sisters in the vicinity, and after baptizing those who were prepared for this step,—eight in all,—we celebrated the ordinances of the Lord's house. This was a day of great blessing to all present.
A BRAZILIAN PICNIC PARTY
Having previously received an invitation to come to Taquary, to attend a council of the conference committee in the early part of March, my stay here was necessarily short, and accordingly, Tuesday, February 21, Brother Hoelzle and I started for Castro, where we arrived safely on the twenty-third.
These trips on the table-lands, across the campos, have always been a pleasure to me. But the country is so thinly populated that at times in a whole day's ride of forty miles one meets only a few families.
The people in this country are, as a rule, bound in the chains of many vices and bad habits. But we can also see here the power of an uttermost-saving gospel; for as low as some of these people are found at times, the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation, can save them as completely and as truly as it saves those who were more favored in life in their rearing and surroundings.
We are still of good courage, and thank the Lord for his grace that sustains us day by day.
