p. 17 | Porto Rico by LILLIAN S. CONNERLY.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 30, 1905

Porto Rico

By LILLIAN S. CONNERLY.

ARECIBO.—For some time we had been planning to visit Arecibo, and baptize some of the company there who have been waiting since our last visit the first of the year. Traveling is so expensive here, and our means are so limited, that we have been obliged to put off this visit from time to time. But on the eleventh of October we decided that we could wait no longer, so took the train to Aguadilla, where we stayed all night, and found a good interest in El Centinela de la Verdad, and a number of diligent inquirers concerning the message for this time.

Early the next morning, together with our native worker,—Victoriano Fernandez, who was working his own way with a little pamphlet he has written,—we took a coach, and had a delightful drive through the country, working as we went, where we found opportunity, for the paper. Taking train again at Camuy, we arrived in Arecibo late in the afternoon, finding Brother and Sister Moulton and the new little missionary baby of good courage in the work, and very glad to see us. We found a small company, very earnest in their service, keeping the Sabbath, paying tithe, and in all points of present truth well instructed. Deciding to wait until the next Sabbath for the baptism, Mr. Connerly and Brother Moulton went to Barceloneta, where two young men are preparing for baptism, who we greatly hope will develop into canvassers.

Brother Moulton remained in Barceloneta while Mr. Connerly visited some who are interested in the truth in Bayamon, Catano, and San Juan, returning to Arecibo in time to prepare for the baptismal service.

Although a seaport town, with three rivers emptying into the bay, we could find no suitable place for baptism on the rocky coast. We procured three large boats, and with the interested ones went about two miles up one of the rivers, and there, under the refreshing shade of some bamboo trees, we read to them of the baptism of Jesus, of what it means to us, and while we sang the songs of Zion, eight were buried in baptism in the quiet river, according to the Lord’s direction, on profession of their faith. We ourselves were the only ones of the company gathered who had ever witnessed this rite. Many were moved as they beheld it, and even one of the rude men who pushed the boat up the river was deeply impressed, and said he wished to be baptized, too.

How our hearts yearned over this little company, as we took our departure, leaving them to the care of Brother Moulton, who wept as he considered the responsibility. May God bless him and his wife as they work to uphold the standard in this trying field. We feel that their home is truly as a light in the midst of darkness, and that a good influence has gone out from it.

From Arecibo we took our journey by coach to Ponce, the second largest town in Porto Rico, where no work has as yet been done, aside from the distribution of our paper, but where our eyes have turned with longing to see a worker located.

We passed through the most beautiful scenery on this trip it was ever my lot to see, following a winding river the greater part of the way, through a beautiful valley, with mountains rising on either side in majestic grandeur against a tropical sky, and proclaiming in language too eloquent for words, “The hand that made us is divine.”

Our paper is doing a good work, going out before us and preparing the way, and our prayer is that through it, in whatever way the Lord opens before us, we may faithfully and acceptably to God give the message of truth to this island. We have had dark times, when it seemed our work was almost a failure, but our courage is good in the Lord.

LILLIAN S. CONNERLY.