p. 18 | British Guiana by D. C. Babcock

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 24, 1904

British Guiana

By D. C. Babcock

SINCE our last report, nine have been baptized, and others are awaiting baptism.

In company with Elder Giddings, I visited the Canje Creek church. This church is seventy miles in the interior, and although it has not been visited often, yet the company is increasing in numbers and spirituality. It has become necessary on account of the growth of the company, to erect a new place of worship. Two were baptized and united with the church at the time of our visit.

For a long time this church has been calling for a school, and during our meeting with them, plans were laid for the opening of a school in the near future. A teacher has been secured, and I expect to return there this week with the teacher. The old church will be converted into a school building.

Just before the holidays, I went one hundred and twenty miles up the Demerara River, to see the few remaining there. For a long time this company has been passing through severe trials, and it seemed as if Satan was determined to overthrow them, but the Lord gave a mighty victory. Confessions were made, and when that is done, the inevitable result must be victory.

The house of worship was badly dilapidated, but arrangements were made to repair it, and yesterday I received a good letter from the elder, saying that “the church is finished, and the work was done by the two greatest sinners, myself and ——.” I must confess that I went to visit this church very reluctantly, but I praise the Lord for the rich experience. I learned a good lesson.

On my return home, I found a letter yesterday, calling me to Queenstown, Essequebo. The next morning my wife and I took the steamer to visit that company, and attend to baptism. Here we buried with the Lord a young man who has been teaching in the public schools. We began the week-of-prayer readings with this company, and the Lord came very near. Some of the brethren from Danielstown, six miles distant, attended the meeting, and all were greatly encouraged.

On our way returning, we stopped one night with the Leynan church, and our meeting of praise continued until late in the night. The next day we reached Georgetown in the midst of the week of prayer. Elder Giddings had been with this church during the first part of the readings, and when we arrived, he went to assist the church at New Amsterdam. Here two great victories in one were gained. A brother who has been separated from his companion for a long time, was made to praise the Lord, when his wife accepted the message of salvation, was buried with the Lord, and the father, mother, and children went to their own home once more, to battle, not among themselves, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world. What witnesses for the mighty power of God! Let us learn that one precious lesson, the Lord is sufficient for all these things.

Last Monday, February 1, our tent was pitched for the fourth series of meetings, in Plaisance, a large village six miles from Georgetown. Before the tent was fully pitched, one of the workers went out to borrow some tools, and we were compelled to wait a long time for his return. He was detained in holding a Bible reading on the Sabbath question.

Last night the meetings began, and although we secured a large lot for the tent, yet the people could not get standing room on the tent lot, but occupied adjoining lots. Several intelligent young men have recently accepted the truth, and I hope to see them soon prepared for the work. The last message is going with power, as a final witness, and they who expect to be saved had better get ready now. Decisions for life and for death are being forever settled in the church, and every-day experiences are now testing men’s lives.

D. C. BABCOCK.