Progress in Chile by Millie E. Steele

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 4, 1907

Progress in Chile

By Millie E. Steele

VALPARAISO.—It may seem late at this time to write any thing of the great earthquake of August 16, and yet to us here it has not grown very old. In fact the temblores continue frequently enough to keep us from forgetting. Only the night after the Sabbath, or rather Sunday morning at about two o'clock, we had a quite heavy shock which made the house crack, and after that it continued to rock for some seconds. It is reported that in Santiago some buildings were thrown down by the force of it. Again on Sunday evening about eight o'clock came another one, much more modified. Neither does the condition of the house in which we live permit us to forget. It has not yet been repaired, and therefore has many cracks in the walls. It seems that one wall will have to be partly pulled down in order to repair it, for it is very badly cracked. Although the house has not yet been repaired, the landlord has not forgotten to raise the rent, but he has been more reasonable than many others. Rents have raised in all parts from twenty to fifty per cent, and all other things accordingly. We have been greatly favored in many ways since the earthquake, and are truly convinced that the Lord cares for those who put their trust in him.

We thought we might be obliged to leave here because of the lack of houses, but without any search or inquiry a house containing as many things as we had need of was offered to us, so that as yet many of the things we lost have not needed to be replaced. Some friends of ours decided to take a trip to Scotland for a year or more after the terremoto, and desired to leave in our care the best of their furniture with the privilege of using it as we desired. It looks like what some would call a piece of good fortune, but we know that the Lord was instrumental in having it so.

Among the ruins of the great earthquake zinc houses are growing up like mushrooms, and walls that remain standing are roofed, doors and windows are placed, and we behold a store. Repairing of houses is being rapidly carried on. Labor is very much in demand, and is very high. For the first three nights after the terremoto we slept in the street, in fact lived in the street without shelter of any kind, our food was blown full of dirt before we could eat it, but we were glad to have it even in that condition. At the end of that time we lived in one small room for nearly a month. Now we have a fairly good house, and are comfortable. Thanks be to God “who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not.” We are not discouraged, for we know that all these fearful happenings foretell the soon coming of our Lord. The work is going forward, and in these four months since the terremoto more has been done for the truth than could have been done in two years under ordinary circumstances, and so we go on our way, rejoicing; for we know that soon the truth will gloriously triumph. To God be all the praise, for he is worthy.

MILLIE E. STEELE.