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The North Brazil Mission

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Oct 25, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 43.

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The North Brazil Mission

By F. W. Spies

F. W. SPIES
AFTER the various conferences and mission fields of the South American Union Conference had been organized and manned, naturally the laborers in each field studied the situation with a view to carrying on the work with greater rapidity and success within their own borders. So after the organization of the Santa Cathrina and Parana Conference, the last conference to be organized in Brazil, Elders W. A. Spicer and J. W. Westphal and the writer left Gaspar, for Rio de Janeiro. We made great haste to get to the port of Itajahy, setting out in a drenching rain, in an open farm wagon; for we felt we could not afford to lose the first north-bound boat.
When we arrived at Itajahy (although only about thirty-five miles from the port, we had no means of ascertaining anything definite as to the sailing of steamers), we could console ourselves with the idea that we had at least made an effort to be on time, even if we now had to wait five days before the first steamer would leave the port.
Reaching Rio de Janeiro, May 24, Elders Spicer and Westphal spent Sabbath, the twenty-sixth, there, and started that same night for the province of Sao Paulo, to visit Brethren A. B. Stauffer and Wilhelm Stein, who had been laboring in that State, and to get a view of the field and the work there. I remained in Rio, having my hands more than full in looking after matters there, as I had been away almost three months.
On May 30 the brethren returned from Sao Paulo, and the next day Elder Spicer embarked for Southampton, England. Elder Westphal and I spent Sabbath, June 2, in Rio, and on the following day we embarked for the province of Espirito Santo, where the last of Brazil's general meetings was to be held for this year. We arrived at Victoria, the capital of Espirito Santo, on Monday forenoon, and then had opportunity to exercise ourselves in obeying Luke 21: 19, with the dilly-dally methods of the crew that was to take us by canoe to Porto do Cachoeira. But we finally came to the latter place; and, being greeted by the familiar faces of our brethren, we, like Paul, thanked the Lord, and took courage.
From Porto do Cachoeira a seven-hours' ride on muleback brought us to the first of our brethren along this route. The following morning we continued our journey to Serro Palado, the place where our general meeting was to be held. As we approached the schoolhouse, where Brother Fred Berger, who teaches the church-school, lives, we were pleased to see that our brethren had made and pitched a good-sized tent for the occasion. All things were ready for the meeting.
On Friday evening, at sunset, our meeting began. The greatest attendance during the session was about one hundred. This was very good, considering the roads. This meeting was a blessing to our people. Yet we were made sad, also, to realize that while men sleep, the enemy sows tares, and some of the Lord's professed people are often found asleep, and Satan takes advantage of them. But the work offers much to encourage us in Espirito Santo. At this meeting we baptized thirteen souls who had decided to walk in the Lord's commandments.
WORKERS AT THE BRAZILIAN MEETING AT TAQUARY
WORKERS AT THE BRAZILIAN MEETING AT TAQUARY
I had hoped to be able to return to Rio immediately after the close of the Espirito Santo meeting. But we found so much interest in different parts of that field, that this was out of the question. I found it necessary to visit all the other churches and companies. Eighteen other persons were baptized, making thirty-one in all on this trip. Others were for various reasons hindered from receiving baptism at this time, to whom it will be administered at the first opportunity.
Among the Brazilians (Portuguese-speaking people) I held several meetings, and a Sabbath meeting especially for them. Some of these decided henceforth to walk in God's commandments. I could have found work in that State for an indefinite length of time. A worker should be there; for in all the different places we visited, we found interested persons, or those who were willing to listen to the presentation of the truth. Especially is this the case among the Brazilians.
On the twentieth of July I reached Rio, after an absence of about seven weeks, instead of about three, as I had at first planned. Espirito Santo is also calling for several church-school teachers. Our brethren are feeling more and more the need of having instructors for their children who will not only teach them to read and write, but who will also teach them the Word of God, and prepare them for the stern duties that are before the Lord's people in these last days. May more be prepared to take up this work, and help hasten the glad day of Jesus' return.