As time is flying swiftly and every day brings us a step nearer to the closing of God’s work in this earth, I do desire many times to see greater results of my labor; yet I smile to think God’s greatness flows around our incompleteness.
CHURCH-MEMBERS AND BUILDING AT MANTEIGA, BRAZIL
The church in Rio de Janeiro made considerable progress during the year 1912 in their tithes and offerings, besides adding a number of new members. Our hearts were gladdened when, on the twenty-sixth of April, three more precious souls went forth in baptism, which this time took place in the ocean, at the foot of the famous mountain Pao de Acucar.
The next day I went to the state of Espirito Santo, to visit the churches. With the small church on the Santa Juanna River, I had meetings for over a week, which were well attended, and appreciated by many. Later I visited the church at Manteiga, which I had the privilege of organizing a year ago. Though most of the members are new settlers, and therefore have but small incomes, they worked with zeal and earnestness to erect a neat chapel, with a seating capacity of at least one hundred. We had the dedication on the twenty-fourth of May, followed by the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The church was not only paid for, but there were still fifty-five milreys in the treasury. Most of the meetings were conducted in the German language, though we had some also in the Portuguese. There was an unusually large attendance. At the close of the meetings we had baptism.
Most of my time I spent with the church at Serro Pellado. The brethren testified to the union and harmony which had existed among them during the past year. The first of June was a day of special blessing and rejoicing. All were glad to see six precious souls buried with their Lord in baptism, and then we had a meeting in which the Lord came very near. At the close the members gave, in cash and pledges, 1,020 milreys for the church building in Rio de Janeiro, which we intend to procure as soon as possible. The brethren at Serro Pellado will also have a church-school as soon as the teacher arrives, who is already under appointment by the General Conference. In this vicinity there are no government schools, and we hope much good may be done by opening this school.
On the eighth of June I went, in company with several other brethren, to visit the church on the Santa Maria River, but most of the meetings were held with an isolated member of that church about fourteen miles distant. Many came night after night from a distance of six or eight miles, and we trust that the seed sown will bring forth fruit unto life eternal. Two members were added to the church by baptism.
On the twenty-seventh of June I reached home again, and was glad to note the good interest developed by our two Bible workers, so that in a short time we expect to add several others to the church here. We intend to start tent-meetings in this city before long, and unless some other denomination acts quickly, ours will be the first gospel tent-meeting ever held in the capital of Brazil. There is a great work to be done, and we trust that with the help of the Lord all obstacles may be overcome and many bright jewels won for his cause.
