As it was thought best, and arrangements could be made, the writer, accompanied by one of his students, made a trip on horseback through the states of Santa Catharina and Parana, in order to visit Brother Kramer, who is conducting quite a large school in Curityba, Parana.
We started from Brusque, Santa Catharina, the seventh of October. The next day—Sabbath—we spent with Brother Bergold at Timbo, where the Spirit of God came very near to us in our afternoon meeting.
After a journey of about a day and a half, we reached the Hansa-Kolonic, a section of land which has been bought by a German company, to be colonized by German emigrants. The company lends land to them, for which, after a certain time, they have to pay. A great many Germans have emigrated and secured land, and after hard work and overcoming many difficulties, can supply the wants of their families. There we have a little company of believers, who were glad to see us. The Bible studies given were a blessing, and seemed like the much-looked-for rain on dry ground.
A MULE PACK TRAIN
This company of believers has received very little instruction, because we lack the laborers. After remaining with them about two days, we continued our journey, although they wanted us to stay longer.
It is indeed sad that we have so few laborers to give the bread of life to hungering souls. But we earnestly pray the Lord to send more laborers into the harvest. Here we found a very intelligent brother, who had owned a printing office in Germany, ready to come to our school and work and teach printing for his board and clothing.
After one day's journey, we reached another small company, near Sao Bento, where we stayed also about two days. On this journey we saw how the Lord takes care of his children. We had to ride until about eleven o'clock at night. Our guide was not quite sure of the way. It was dark and raining. Passing a house, where we inquired about the distance, we were asked: “Do you want a lantern?” This we gladly accepted, but I wondered that the person made such an offer to strangers. After half an hour's ride, our guide stopped suddenly, and lo, quite a steep bank and a broken bridge were before us.
I do not know what would have happened to us if we had not had the lantern. Now I knew that the Lord put that question, “Do you want a lantern?” into the mouth of that person.
Again this stay was a blessed one. The rolling tears, when we left, and the request that we stay longer, showed us the hunger of these dear people for the bread of life. Though there were interested people, those not of our faith, time did not permit us to stay longer. O, if we only had more workers!
Four and one-half days more brought us to Curityba, where we stayed about a week, holding meetings and interchanging thoughts with the teachers. Brother Kramer had in his school at that time about one hundred and sixty children. This school has been the means of bringing people to the truth.
Returning home, we had to overcome some difficulties, which we will state, to show how we have to travel in Brazil.
The first day we came to a river, which was so high that we could hardly get on the ferry. We led our horses over two boards to the ferry. We felt thankful when we had reached the other side.
The second day was the hardest of our whole journey. A very heavy shower wet our clothes. Then we came to another small river. The bridge was broken in the middle, and was carried away from the bank, and caught fast in the brush a little farther down. The river bank was so steep that we could not let the animals go through the river, and as the bridge was not connected with the land, we could not lead our horses onto it. The nearest house we had passed an hour before, and the rain was pouring down. But the Lord had provided a few boards, over which our horses had to go to get on the bridge. We thanked the Lord when we had passed this dangerous place. A rain in the afternoon again wet our clothing. We reached a mule pass, that is, a way that is not used by wagons, which led us over the so-called “ninety-nine hills.” For about seven hours we had to go up-hill and down-hill, over a very bad road. Our food consisted mainly of dry bread for some time.
Our fellow laborers here in Brazil have similar and even worse experiences. For three days one brother had nothing to eat but grass. We ask you, brethren in the States, to come over and help us. But when you come, expect to endure hardships.
After a little more than three days, we reached our home, the eighteenth of November, where we were glad to see the healthy, spiritual condition of our students, who had received instruction from Brethren Spies and Yankowski during our absence.
We see the great necessity of more laborers in Brazil. We are working with all our might to get more young people educated to fill the necessary openings.
