Visiting the Frontier by H. F. KETRING

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Aug 31, 1905

Visiting the Frontier

By H. F. KETRING

H. F. KETRING

On Wednesday, Dec. 28, 1904, I left home to go farther south on the frontier of Chile to a town called Pitrufquien. The only believer there is a young girl fifteen years old, whom I had baptized a year before. Although her parents were Roman Catholics, I found her faithful to her baptismal vows, and living out the truth fearlessly before her acquaintances. Her parents had become favorable to the truth, and attended the meetings I held in the town. Her mother accompanied us to the river where we had baptism.

On Friday we went to Nueva Imperial, where we had organized a small church two years ago. They are very much scattered, yet all were of good courage. During the two years since the organization of the church ten members had been added by baptism, all of whom were faithful, thus nearly doubling their number. We held quarterly meeting, celebrating the ordinances with this church. As Mrs. Ketring accompanied me with our little girl, it was a help in teaching some of the sisters.

The next Wednesday we went twelve miles by ox cart, to Carahue, several young sisters accompanying us, where we took the small river steamer “Chol Chol,” for Bajo Imperial. The steamer ride was much pleasanter than the cart ride. The accompanying illustration will give a better idea of the mode of travel on the frontier of Chile than I can. This is the cart in which we made the trip.

We reached Bajo Imperial about half-past five in the afternoon. At this place there are a few Sabbath-keepers scattered around the town, the only Protestants for many miles. Here I celebrated, nearly three years ago, the first Protestant baptism ever witnessed.

While there this time, I baptized four more, making ten in all I have buried in baptism there. We also celebrated the ordinance of humility and the Lord’s supper. All seemed much encouraged.

On Monday I went on horseback about twenty miles south along the seashore, to visit the Indian chief who nearly two years ago asked me to start a school on his land. He was getting tired of waiting on us, and had begun to build a house for a school, intending to ask a Catholic priest to start a school. But I arrived in time, and we made arrangements to furnish him a teacher. The devil seemed determined that we should not start the school, for while I was on my way, a police officer told me that the people were all drinking and carousing, and that the life of a foreigner was of little worth among them at such a time. He, with an American, urged me not to go; but feeling that it would be cowardly to turn back, I went on alone, trusting in Him who was my Companion, to protect me. The old chief received me kindly, and assured me of his anxiety to have the school.

The next day we returned to Nueva Imperial by steamer and cart, and the following Friday reached our home in Pua, having had a profitable trip. The work is moving forward as rapidly as possible in that field, and the laborers there need to be remembered at the throne of grace.