Long ago, we might say almost as soon as the first workers came to Brazil, the question was asked, Whence shall we get workers for this great field? And then it was readily seen that workers educated in the field could work to better advantage than those who came from abroad. Persons coming from other fields, for instance the United States, must, in the first place, accustom themselves to the climate; then they must acquaint themselves with the habits and customs of the people, and, in short, become familiar with the conditions as they obtain here. And some would, perhaps, never so fully adapt themselves to all these things that they could be a blessing to the people of Brazil. Hence the necessity of having an institution where gospel workers could be trained was early felt, but to provide for this need seemed a difficult thing. First, it required means; second, where was the person who could take charge of such a school?
But the Lord early begins to prepare his agencies, and so he was beginning a work, moving upon hearts to act, who themselves did not foresee the end of their plans, to lay the foundation for a training school where perhaps it would have been least expected, and at a place which probably would not have been chosen.
THE DORMITORY
The membership of the Brusque church embraces the earliest Sabbath keepers of Brazil. Though these brethren were visited in 1894 by Elder F. H. Westphal, then laboring in Argentina, and a number of them were baptized, they were not organized into a church until after the arrival of Elder Graf, I rather think about the beginning of 1896. But as soon as these brethren had accepted the truth, they felt the need of a school where their children might be educated. Accordingly, Brother William Stein, a native German, who had also been among the first to accept the truth, was sent to Brusque to take charge of their church school. Brother Stein was succeeded by Sister A. Bruck as teacher of the Brusque church school.
By this time (1898) the Brusque church had grown in membership. Many of the members who lived at quite a distance from the church became interested in the work of the school, and desired to have their children share its instruction, so plans were laid for the erection of a dormitory that might accommodate the children of those living at a distance from the school.
The new building being planned on rather a large scale under the circumstances, seemed to exhaust the church's ability, even though our good Brother John Hettrick, who was both bricklayer and carpenter, donated most of his labor on the building; and operations had come almost to a standstill when the mission committee in the spring of 1900, seeing that the Lord was blessing Brother Lipke, who had meanwhile succeeded Sister Bruck, and who had a class of promising young people in training for the Lord's work, accepted the invitation of the Brusque church to complete the dormitory, and use the whole as a training school for Christian workers. It seemed evident to all that Providence guided in the establishment of this school, the first training school for Brazil, which was opened with but little expense to the mission.
The school is conducted on the industrial plan, each student working twenty-six hours each week, and paying $2.50 a month. For this the student receives his tuition, board, and room. The furnishing of the home is very simple and inexpensive, nevertheless it is comfortable.
The accompanying pictures are of our school buildings. The two stand within a few rods of each other. The floor of the one-story building is divided into two parts—the front, where the church services are held, and the back for the school-room. Here in the morning a school is conducted for the children of our brethren who live in the vicinity. In the afternoon the mission school is held in the same place.13
The other building is the dormitory. The center of the first floor is the dining-room and sitting-room. At the sides and on the second and third floors are the sleeping-rooms. At the back is the kitchen, storeroom, and workshop. There are also a few beds on the second floor of the schoolhouse.
May the Lord continue to prosper and bless the school, so it may train many laborers whom he can use to his glory.
