South America

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 14, 1902

Editors Review and Herald.

DEAR BRETHREN: Inclosed please find a letter to me from Brother Thomann, of Iquique, Chile. He sent it to me in German, and asked me to translate it for an English paper. Brother Thomann is editor of the Señales. He has done the work reported, in addition to his editorial and other work. When writing to me, he was soon going to take a trip into Bolivia, in the interest of the paper, and to visit some who are reported as keeping the Sabbath. Thus the good work goes on. We have many reasons for thanksgiving in our South American field. The Lord is blessing.

As soon as I conclude my visit to Brazil, I will send a report of the work here.

Your brother in the blessed hope, J. W. WESTPHAL.

DEAR BROTHER WESTPHAL: Very likely Elder Ogden has already written to you of my trip through the Pampas and to Tacna and Arica; but if not, then this is designed for that purpose.

I reached Tacna at ten o'clock on the evening after the Sabbath. On the following morning, I began to sell the paper Los Señales de los Tiempos in the business portion of the city. This day I sold sixteen copies. During the week the Lord gave me eighty-three annual subscriptions, besides the single copies I sold. Although I could not get as many subscriptions in the residence portion of the city, nevertheless, the following was a good week. Tacna has about seven thousand inhabitants, and I succeeded in securing one hundred and ten subscriptions. Brother Escobar secured twenty-six subscriptions. In Arica, Brother Escobar and I labored together. The city has about three thousand inhabitants, and we secured fifty-eight subscriptions. The Lord also blessed in other places. I thank him for his goodness.

As you know, here in Iquique I at first was kept busy with the placing of the press, and the arrangement of our office; but as soon as I could, I went out. The first afternoon I took twenty-one subscriptions, and so I continued with good success. The least was four subscriptions one Friday afternoon. On an average, I took eight. One day I had seventeen, two days fourteen, etc. Thus far I have labored ten days, three and one-half hours each day, and have taken one hundred and fourteen subscriptions, and sold the same number of single copies. Thus in thirty-five hours I have taken in $124.40. I have good hopes of further success. With the Lord's help I expect to raise the subscription list here in Iquique to four hundred.

I would advise every one wishing to follow this work never to neglect prayer. And one should begin work in the business portion of the city. When people say “No,” it is necessary to be persistent; for many times they will take it if the importance of the paper is placed before them, and they become interested. If there are branches on the vine, they must bear fruit, if not in one way, then in another. The Lord has shown that this work pleases him, and if we do our part, he will continue to bless.

E. W. THOMANN.