River Plate Conference
By N. Z. Town
My next trip was with Brother Hillmann, who is canvassing in the Province of Santa Fé. This brother began canvassing about three years ago, and has worked faithfully summer and winter, but not until my recent visit had he received any instructions or help as to the best way of conducting the work. We labored together several days among Italian colonists, he canvassing one house and I the next, and between the houses we conducted a canvassers' institute. The Lord blessed us with success while together, and this brother has been doing much better since my visit. From there I crossed over to our mission school in Entre Rios. The school has been prospered in a special manner this year. The home is full to overflowing, and quite a number attend from outside. The total attendance has reached fifty. Among the students are six heads of families, the eldest being forty-nine years old. The students have added a three-room brick building to the school during work hours this year. Commendable efforts have also been made to improve the school farm with fruit trees, shade trees, plants, etc., but as we have been having a severe drought again, it has been difficult work. Although the medical work is comparatively new to the brethren in this field, they show a deep interest in it. To make a start in raising funds with which to begin a building where the sick can be cared for, we presented to the brethren the missionary-acre plan. Many of them were pleased with the idea, and over one hundred and sixty acres of wheat and flax are already promised. If the Lord gives a harvest, this will make a good start toward the medical building fund. One aged sister gave a fat ox, a servant girl gave a month's wages, and one brother gave a good piano and three fine large paintings. Some months ago we presented to the Buenos Ayres church the importance of doing more in circulating our Spanish paper El Faro in the city. As a result, several of the church members began selling the paper from house to house. Among them was an Italian sister who can neither read nor write. In her work she came to the house of an Austrian lady. As our sister talked to her of the coming of the Lord, and of the end of the world, she became interested, and arrangements were made for Sister Oppegard to give her Bible readings. Last month we had the joy of seeing this lady baptized and received into the church. She, in turn, has interested others, whom we hope to see fully accept the truth. Brother Ernst and I have recently begun taking subscriptions for El Faro in the town where we live. We have met with encouraging results. At our general meeting, we hope to arrange for one or more to give their whole time to canvassing for this paper. Until quite recently, Brother Snyder has worked principally among the foreign15population in Paraguay. As papers can be posted free in that republic, Brother and Sister Snyder have given special attention to sending our papers into the different colonies. Some of this seed has fallen on good ground, and already fruit is beginning to appear. Of late, Brethren Snyder and Mangold have begun canvassing for our books among the Spanish-speaking people of Paraguay. A large per cent of the natives are unable to read, but among those who can read these laborers have met with a good degree of success. Brethren, pray for the work in these dark lands of South America.