p. 17 | Good Experiences in Canvassing in Argentina

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 30, 1911

Good Experiences in Canvassing in Argentina

By Maximo Trummer

A short time ago I spent two weeks in the school in Diamante, Entre Rios, which was my first visit there since the school began last March. Our colleges and sanitariums are to us what the recruiting-stations are to the army. From them we expect workers for the message. Last summer we had twenty canvassers in the field, and I was beginning to ask myself, Whence will our workers come for this campaign? But when I stood before the students, I received the desired answer. Owing to the success that five of the young men had last summer, and to the missionary spirit which prevails in the school, fourteen gave me their names, thus signifying that they were ready for the fields. With these we expect to bring our number up to more than twenty for the coming summer.

Aside from the studies in the school, I held an institute in the sanitarium. Every morning at 5:45, the nurses assembled to study ways of selling our literature successfully. It was arranged that every nurse spend one month of the course in canvassing; so four of them began at once. Their experiences have been very satisfactory. They have received 125 subscriptions in two weeks. Later on, two or four more will take their turn to go out into the surrounding cities.

Canvassing with two of the brethren in Victoria, Entre Rios, we received orders, as usual, in the city hall, in the courthouse, in the banks, from teachers, merchants, and private families, until we had forty-nine at the close of the third day. Although it was Brother J. D. Lorenz’s first experience, he took eleven orders for “Salud y Hogar,” in one day. In short, there are no difficulties which by divine help we may not overcome.

A brother who works in the city of Tucuman, one of the fertile gardens of Argentina, sent in the excellent report of having taken forty-four orders for “Patriarchs and Prophets” in one week. This is another experience which confirms our plan of canvassing, especially for that book this year. A brother in the province of Buenos Aires sent in the report of sixty-six orders for “Salud y Hogar,” taken in one week. With a strong confidence in our message and a firm trust in God, the message will advance.

It is indeed a pleasure to send the cheering word that we have already passed the record of 1910. We have been able to sell as many books during the first seven months of 1911 as we did during the entire twelve of last year. How abundantly the dear Master has blessed us! To him be all the praise and honor. With the remaining five months added we will, no doubt, have a splendid record for 1911.

MAXIMO TRUMMER.