Travels in Behalf of Brazil
By John Lipke
The Lord is indeed gracious, merciful, and a helper in time of need. This I experienced in my journeys in Brazil and in the United States. As it was thought best for us to return to the latter country for a while, we started from Brusque, Brazil, May 6. After about ten days we arrived in Santos, a city of one hundred thousand inhabitants, in the State of Sao Paulo, where the truth had been preached a number of years ago. There we stayed ten days, visiting, preaching, canvassing, etc. We saw the great need of locating a laborer there, as the whole State has none. May God raise up workers for that field. Proceeding on our journey, we reached New York, June 19, after an absence of more than six years. We were glad to see that the truth gains the victory there. At three places where we spoke about our work in Brazil, an interest was shown by our people. After counseling with Elder Daniells, I went west to visit our parents, and to attend some of the camp-meetings. The first of these was at Columbia, Mo., where I was glad to find a goodly number of our people with whom I was associated about seven years ago. The talks about Brazil were received with interest. A quilt, made by a few children of one of their church-schools, and twenty-five dollars, besides other donations, amounting to fifty-eight dollars in all, were given to help purchase a printing outfit for Brazil. The next camp-meeting I visited was that at Guthrie, O. T. There was quite a large attendance, and a good spirit was manifested by those present. Though they had given already to other enterprises, they responded to the call for a printing outfit, giving $133.50 in cash and pledges. They also voted to send a laborer to Brazil, and to support him. Before the close of this meeting, I left for Wichita, Kan., where I stayed only one day. In the forenoon, and also in the afternoon, I spoke in regard to our field and its needs. In response, a donation in cash and pledges to the amount of $169.33 was made. September 2 I arrived in Omaha, Neb. Again I had the opportunity to speak to our people in camp about the Brazil work and its needs. I was surprised and thankful to see how nobly our people answered the call for means. Five hundred dollars was given here in cash and pledges. My attention was called to the Wisconsin meeting. And as I yet had time, I thought the Lord wanted me to go to Oshkosh. A good interest was manifested there in missionary work. Several times I had the privilege of addressing the people, and I found them ready to lift. The contributions amounted to nine hundred dollars. One brother gave forty acres of land, a sister two hundred dollars, others fifty dollars, ten dollars, etc. As other brethren have reported other features of the meetings already mentioned, I confine myself to the report in regard to the work in Brazil. I am thankful for the means received at these camp-meetings, and am also glad to know that those who helped have received blessings, and will receive more. Above all, I wish to praise the Lord for what he has done for us, in that he has touched the hearts of our people to give freely. His mercy and goodness endure forever. For some time it had been my desire to visit Emmanuel Missionary College at Berrien Springs. The Lord granted my desire, and it was arranged for me to go there. As the school was not in progress, I could not so fully observe the methods of its operations; but I wondered at what our brethren there have accomplished with student labor in such a short time. The Lord has surely been with them. Hard work in school, readiness to give up conveniences, and diligent study were some of the means of preparation for missionary work in foreign lands. Before I left Berrien Springs, my heart rejoiced when the college board decided to donate one of its printing-presses to one of our industrial schools in Brazil. Attending the council of the General Conference at College View was indeed a great blessing to me. I praise the Lord for all the blessings which I received while in the United States. Soon we shall, if God so wills, be in Brazil, to engage again in the work which is so dear to our hearts.
JOHN LIPKE.