Central American Camp Meeting
By Isaac Baker
OUR little camp meeting was held at West End, Ruatan, June 26 to July 5, in a coconut grove by the side of a beautiful little bay called Half Moon Bay. The channel into this bay is so shallow and narrow that steamers cannot enter it, and sailing boats can get in only when the wind is from the right direction. This bay is a good harbor when the wind is from the east, and it is also a fine place for sea bathing, which is much enjoyed in this part of the world. The Lord blessed us with some good rains during the meeting. It had been very dry up to that time, and if the rain had not come we should have had to drink the well water, which is very liable to cause illness. But the rains came and filled the barrels, tubs, and buckets, so we had fresh soft water from the skies to quench our thirst. It was a blessing not only to the campers at the meeting, but to all throughout the islands. Elder J. B. Stuyvesant, his wife and daughter, and Brother Corwin and family were present as helpers from other fields. Elder A. J. Haysmer was to have been here, but, owing to the time and expense required to reach the place, he did not come. He wrote that it would take him two months and would cost two hundred dollars to reach the meeting. The first Sabbath of the meeting there were one hundred present, and the second, one hundred and eleven. The Sabbath school donations for the two Sabbaths amounted to about fifty dollars. Elder Stuyvesant gave us a good talk concerning the Sabbath school and its mission, which was appreciated by all. Sister Stuyvesant had charge of the young people's meetings, and she did a good work. A good sum was given in pledges and cash with which to build a mission home in this conference. All are anxious to see the work completed soon, so we may have permanent headquarters for our work. The three o'clock hour each afternoon in the week until Thursday was devoted to convention work. The first Sunday and Monday were given to the temperance cause. The next two three-o'clock periods were devoted to the Sabbath school work. Papers were read and addresses and recitations given, covering the different phases of the Sabbath school work. We are much pleased to see the progress being made in this work. The offerings for the past year amounted to over $680, while the membership is only a little more than one hundred and fifty. There has not been so much accomplished the past year as we should have liked to see in the young people's work, but there has been a little done in the way of writing letters, providing meals and clothing, and selling and giving away papers and tracts. Some have been taking the Junior Reading Course and have received their certificates for the same. Five precious believers were buried with their Lord in the watery grave the last day of the meeting. Several persons came from Coxen Hole to attend the baptismal services, but reached the place a few minutes too late. They stayed to the services during the day, returning to their homes, a distance of about eight miles, over a bad road late in the day. There were present with us several Spanish-speaking people who have accepted the Sabbath since the camp meeting. We have decided to make a trial of the Harvest Ingathering campaign this fall, for the first time in the history of this conference, I think. We have placed an order for five hundred copies of the Review, and hope we shall need more. We believe that the meetings resulted in a blessing to all, and we trust the Lord will keep us faithful until he shall come to gather his loved ones home.