South America by J. W. Westphal

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 20, 1903

South America

By J. W. Westphal

The work is onward in South America. There are encouraging reports from every field. In a letter from Elder Ketring, of Chile, he states that Sabbath keepers seem to spring up spontaneously, and adds that when the people there keep the Sabbath, they are not ashamed to make it known to others. A goodly number of canvassers have gone out in Argentina, and at present are devoting their time mostly to selling and taking subscriptions for El Faro. They are meeting with quite good success. Several have begun keeping the Sabbath as the result of the recent camp meeting and the work following. Since the meeting seven have been baptized, and several more are awaiting baptism. The last reports from Brazil were encouraging.

As evidence of the Lord's working, I would especially mention the following cases: A young school-teacher from Germany heard the truth several years ago, and was favorably impressed with it, but did not obey. Shortly before our camp meeting a brother visited him, watering the seed sown. The school-teacher and his wife promised to attend the meeting. But owing to a misunderstanding of the time of the meeting, they did not come; so several of the brethren visited them to induce them to attend. Before the last Sabbath the woman came, and at once began to keep the Sabbath. Her husband succeeded in getting a half-day's vacation on Sabbath, and came at once to the meeting. During the services Sunday afternoon he was the picture of despair. As soon as the meeting closed, he left the ground. A brother followed him to the train, and tried to dissuade him from leaving, but could not. He went to the next city; and, since he was addicted to the use of intoxicants, it was feared that he would drown his conscience in drink. Instead, he sought a room, and there wrestled with the Lord that night in prayer. I met him at the train the next morning, a changed and happy man. Ere this reaches the readers, he will, with his wife, no doubt have been baptized. Although there is bitter feeling among his constituents against the truth, they have retained him as teacher another year. Since his conversion, he has discarded intoxicants, meat, and other unwholesome foods.

Several months ago a man in Brazil who drank freely and was a terror to his family, on the death of his son became very despondent, and left his home, desiring to go where no one knew him. Thinking that he would find Rio de Janeiro such a place, he went there. One day a brother who had known him years before, and probably the only man in that city who knew him, met him and invited him to his home. The man soon made this his home, and a little later he was converted, and began to keep the Sabbath. He was baptized while we were in that city. He has since returned to his family, and there is now a happy home. His wife, although unconverted, but now favorable to the truth, declares that he is completely changed, and rejoices in the fact.

A sister who had kept the Sabbath for some time, but could see no light in baptism, finally became discouraged, and because she could go no further with this people, thought she might as well remain away from our

meetings. This was her conclusion at the close of a Sabbath service. She rejoiced in her decision, and thanked the Lord for it. But when she was about to retire at night and to bring to the Lord her accustomed devotions, she found that she could not pray. Every burden of prayer, as well as thoughts for prayer, was gone. This greatly alarmed her. Not until she decided to continue to go with this people did she find relief, and with it came light on baptism. On our return to Rio de Janeiro, she was baptized, a happy woman.

To this we might add other equally interesting experiences. Truly, the Lord is in this work, and he is watching and caring for his own.

J. W. Westphal.