Progress in Chile by H. F. Ketring

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 30, 1904

Progress in Chile

By H. F. Ketring

THURSDAY I reached Los Angeles, and was immediately taken sick with tonsillitis. On Sabbath the few there assembled, and I sat up in bed and talked to them. I think it was the greatest effort I ever made to speak. My throat was so swollen that I could not swallow any food for four days, and each word was not only an effort, but a severe pain. But I was rewarded in seeing the interest manifested in the few scattered remarks that I was able to make.

One German brother was present who began to obey last August. He has a carriage factory and planing mill, and his fifteen or twenty men stop work every Friday evening at sundown. I was so glad to see him firm and steadfast, notwithstanding the persecution that he has had to suffer from every quarter.

From there I went to Santiago. I was rejoiced to hear how the Spirit of God has been working for our people there. During the week of prayer they had a good time, and their offering was $74.63, or about twenty-five dollars gold, and it was not all in yet. Two weeks ago they had no Sabbath-school lesson to study, the paper not having reached them in time. In the absence of the regular lesson, the elder, who is a native, gave them a lesson on the way Israel offered to build the tabernacle. He told them that some of them had jewelry that they were keeping, and that the cause of God needed it. One by one they began to tell how much they had at home, and some in the congregation who still wore jewelry took it off and gave it as an offering to the Lord. It was all gathered together, and a committee appointed to sell it, and put the money in the treasury. Is this not evidence of the working of the Spirit of God? My heart rejoiced as the elder told me of it. The little handful of believers in Valparaiso gave nearly forty dollars during the week of prayer, or more than thirteen dollars gold. Although we are very few and feeble, yet we have a mighty God, and he is strengthening us. To him be all the glory. H. F. KETRING.