British West Indies by W. A. Sweany

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 1, 1906

British West Indies

By W. A. Sweany

ST. GEORGE, GRENADA.—We moved back to St. George on November 15. My health could not improve in Gonyave. After I rested, I began at once to make permanent recovery. I had three touches of fever at intervals of a few days, but have had no signs of it for nearly a month now, except that I am badly swollen at times; but that is always a result of fever here. I have a good appetite, and feel as well and strong as ever. But when it comes to walking and climbing hills, I have not so much energy and endurance as formerly.

I managed to keep comparatively quiet after coming back here; then I started out again, and have spent some time each week, for the last two or three weeks, in the north end of the island, where I had just begun to open up the work when I was taken sick. The Lord has wrought mightily there, and I found a company of over forty worshiping in a temporary but comfortable chapel, fitted up in the basement of a dwelling. All through my illness they grew in numbers and knowledge, faithfully sending in their tithes and offerings. I have held a meeting on Friday evenings, three on Sabbaths, and the same number on Sundays, for three weeks, instructing them more fully in the doctrinal points of the message, and the way they drink the truth in shows that they are hungering and thirsting after righteousness. There are now about twenty adults, besides an equal number of children, who profess the message, and I pray they may prove faithful, and fully accept the complete message as fast as they learn it. I shall go to them each week until our council meeting in Trinidad, which is appointed for January 19.

There are other localities in the two northern parishes that are definitely calling for us. There are at least three Sabbath-keepers whom I have not seen, but hope to visit soon. They have kept the Sabbath for years. Two of them are Indians.

There is but little interest in this end of the island. So, although we dread to move again, it looks as if the Lord is pointing toward the north end of the island. If so, we are ready to go; but we will first counsel with the brethren. It is much cooler and healthier there than here, but water is not so plentiful, only Grenville having water-works, and that is not a healthful place.

We must do something for Carnacon, a small island a few miles to the northwest. There are also a number of small inhabited islands that stretch away to St. Vincent, which have never heard the sound of this message. They are called the Grenadines, and are included in the Grenada government.

The evidence that God wanted us to come to the West Indies was as clear and satisfactory to us as if we had heard his audible command, and we will not leave here until he in some way as plainly orders us elsewhere. We were equally clear in going to Trinidad, and also in coming here to Grenada. We have trouble and difficulty everywhere, but our courage has never wavered, and our fondest hope is that we may live and stay at the front till the battle is over. Our minds never turn to more favored fields or pleasant places, but we do often think and plan and pray for the unconquered countries, with a willingness and longing to help answer our prayers.

Our hearts leap for joy as we note the advancement of the message in all the earth. We rejoice most of all in the rapidly increasing instances of the direct providence of God in fields we have not yet reached. It will henceforth keep us busy to follow the opening providence of God, as it sweeps through the waiting nations.

It touches our hearts to know that our brethren remember us personally in their prayers. We know that my recovery is the answer to the many prayers that have gone up in our behalf. We pray daily for the institutions, organizations, and individuals that are prosecuting this work.

W. A. SWEANY.