On the Way to Bolivia by OTTO H. SHULZ

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 23, 1909

On the Way to Bolivia

By OTTO H. SHULZ

OTTO H. SHULZ

At the last General Conference I received an appointment to Bolivia. A few days after the close of the General Conference, I left Washington, where I had been attending the Foreign Mission Seminary, to sail from New York.

On boarding the steamer “Voltaire,” I prayed to God to help me in presenting the truth to the passengers. The greater number were Spaniards, Germans, and Russians. As the ocean was quiet, with the exception of a few days of high seas, I had many opportunities for short talks and Bible readings. Several promised me to start a better life, to give up their bad habits, and to accept Christ. Indeed, the old, old story of the love of Jesus never grows old. One young man, about twenty-four years of age, a preacher of the Baptist denomination, listened very attentively to the Sabbath theme. I gave him many texts to show that the Sabbath is the seal of God, and has been kept during all the ages. Several times I spoke on temperance, religious liberty, and the second coming of Christ. God only knows the seed sown, and what the result will be.

After a few days’ journey, we noticed that the days were shortening, and the heat increasing, as we came nearer to the equator. After we passed the northern hemisphere, hot winds came from the north, and cool breezes and storms arose from the south.

On the eighteenth day we sighted Brazil, with its mountainous country. Bahia was our first stopping-place. It has good parks, full of beautiful royal palms and flowers. The streets are irregular, narrow, dirty, steep, and very crooked. Many of the children are naked, playing with the numerous lazy dogs in the streets. Ninety per cent of the population are Negroes and Indians, and the remainder are white. The people are poor. There are many monks, nuns, and priests. The city has three hundred sixty-five churches.

Three days later, we anchored in the wonderful natural harbor of Rio de Janeiro, with its celebrated Sugar Loaf Mountain. This is a pretty city. It was the seat of the emperor of Brazil in the days before the republic. There are many marble buildings, large and lofty, and parks. The streets are clean, broad, and beautiful, with shade trees. All nationalities are represented in the population. War vessels, sailboats, and steamers of all nations were coming and going.

Santos is a nice little city about two days’ sail south of Rio de Janeiro. Several times it has been depopulated by yellow fever. But the German steamship companies have spent millions of dollars in filling up the swamps, and the city is now flourishing.

Coming to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, we noticed signs of greater thrift. Here is order. The city is built in modern style. Had it not been for the palms, I might have thought myself in Berlin.

Crossing the La Plata River one day later, we came to Buenos Aires, which has a population of one hundred twenty thousand. We reached that place just four weeks from the day we left New York City. As Brazil, and Uruguay, and Argentina now have a compulsory military law, many soldiers and officers are seen in the streets. After visiting our printing plant at Florida, near Buenos Aires, I took another boat, going up the Parana River to our school at Diamante. Reaching the school on Sabbath, I received a hearty welcome from Prof. Walton John, Brother C. D. Lude, and others. I am studying the Spanish, in order that I may later engage with other workers in spreading the third angel’s message in Bolivia. I ask your prayers for success and faithfulness in my work in this needy field.

Camerero, Diamante.