p. 15 | Brazil by J. W. Westphal

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 7, 1903

Brazil

By J. W. Westphal

Joinville, Santa Catharina.—We have just closed the third of the series of general meetings, or conferences, for Brazil, and so far we can pronounce them a decided success. They were not all as largely attended as we had hoped, but it was the first real effort to get our brethren to attend such meetings. We think that it will result in a better attendance in future meetings.

Spiritually our brethren have been helped much. At one place the whole church, a large one, seemed nearly gone. A minister had been among them and had worked so shrewdly that they were captivated, and were on the verge of leaving us. During the first few days the enemy raged, and it sometimes seemed as if our meetings would be broken up. But the Lord gave victory to his cause. The confidence of the brethren in the message was fully restored, and it will receive their hearty financial support. This victory alone will bring means enough to cover the expense of all these meetings in a short time.

At each of these meetings resolutions were adopted covering the First-day offering, general missionary work on a systematic plan, and work for the Brazilian paper to make it self-supporting. An effort was made to interest our brethren in all these phases of the work, encouraging them to take part in the discussion and to share in the plans. This we believe has done good.

The brethren in Rio Grande have secured a property at Taquary. The buildings are suitable and sufficiently large for a school. They traded a colony of land (about one hundred and sixty acres) for it, which was given toward the school enterprise. It is expected that more land will be donated near the buildings for the purpose of cultivation. Very little debt has been incurred, and this will soon be met from the pledges already made, and from the sale of "Christ's Object Lessons."

More land is sadly needed at the Brusque school, to give it proper support; and since a good piece is offered close to the school for less than five hundred dollars, it was decided to purchase it as soon as the money can be secured. In this work "Christ's Object Lessons" will have an important part. We think this can easily be done.

We have ridden between five hundred and fifty and six hundred miles on muleback, and by the time we reach the railway for Rio de Janeiro, we shall have gone about one thousand miles. I am standing the trip well. These meetings have done the laborers good, and have brought them closer together, and will give a new impetus to their work. We shall soon start for the next meeting. J. W. Westphal.