p. 14 | Experiences in Syria by ELIAS ZARUB

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Feb 2, 1905

Experiences in Syria

By ELIAS ZARUB

ELIAS ZARUB

The third angel's message is strange to the people of the East. The difficulties stand out as strong walls, but the Lord will remove every one that would stay the progress of present truth. We are of good courage; for the Lord is doing his work in Syria.

When I settled in Beirut, we went out among the people, distributing tracts and pamphlets in the Arabic language, visiting the people in their houses, and speaking freely in many meetings. The Protestant missionaries were irritated, and the native Christians were stirred up, with many other people, to examine this new doctrine; but it is hard for them to take their stand. However, the seed is sown, and the harvest-time will come. There is one person here keeping the Sabbath.

I heard that a lady, the president of a native school on Mount Lebanon, was keeping the Sabbath, so we went to see her in her village, called Shwaifat, about seven miles east of Beirut. We found that she had been keeping the Sabbath for three years, since she left the United States the last time. Miss Courie was very glad to see us. The Lord has helped her to understand a number of the points of present truth.

Now and then we called on the school of our new sister. We held a number of meetings there, in which the students and some of her friends heard the message. Some are about to decide. I hope that this school will be a good foundation for our educational work in the future, if the school can only be continued. This sister had a brother who was helping her, but he has recently died, and she finds it very hard to carry the burden alone. She has no building for her school, but is expecting the Lord to help her in every way.

A Trip

After our general meeting in Jaffa we made a trip to spy out the country as far as Tiberia, on the Sea of Galilee. This trip brought to mind the wonderful works of our blessed Redeemer. I visited two friends, and left them satisfied in mind about the Sabbath question. We left some tracts with them. We next visited Safad, a large town, most of the inhabitants being Jews. We preached the message there to my acquaintances and many others. They were interested, and the native preacher offered to work with us, but I told him kindly that the work must first be done fully in him.

A Danish missionary invited us to his house, and he and his wife accepted the message which has been sent to them. Mr. Bower and a converted Jew followed us to Beirut, and stayed with us many days, studying the truth, while at tending to some business. They went back to Safad to walk and work according to the third angel's message.

From Safad we went to Dermeemas, and held meetings. We have many friends in this town who have heard the message fully, and some who have confessed it, and are trying to walk in harmony with it. Among them is a prominent physician, who is very much interested in the truth, and desires to become acquainted with our medical work. He speaks openly of the truth as his faith, but he has not yet put it into practise fully.

While in Dermeemas, we learned that there was an old man in Elkherbe (a village near Dermeemas) who was keeping the Sabbath. We visited him, and found that he had been keeping the Sabbath for three months and a half, having heard it from us before. We were glad to see each other, and we held some meetings with him and some others. He is known as a good Christian man. We heard also that another man in a village near by was keeping the Sabbath, but we could not visit him at that time.

Soon after our return to Beirut the Presbyterians held a general conference in their university. A great many attended, especially the workers. I had opportunity to see my friends and acquaintances among them, and improved the opportunity to speak to them. The Lord even gave me a chance to speak to the whole conference, and the power of God was manifested, testifying to the spoken word, by which eyes were opened and hearts moved. After the meeting, which was the last one of the conference, many in the audience came and greeted the strange speaker, and asked

him to go and visit them in their homes.

Thus the way is open for many visits, and the Lord is helping us. He has opened a native church for me to preach in regularly on Sundays; at first some opposed it, but they are now our friends, and are interested in the truth. I visit them regularly, and I am welcome to speak to them freely. We need your prayers, brethren and sisters, that the Lord may pour out his Spirit abundantly, that the seed may grow up for his glory.