In company with Elder A. R. Ogden, I left Valparaiso, February 28, for a trip through the south of Chile. The following day we spent with the church at Santiago. This church has a membership of about thirty. The Lord is blessing them, and adding some to their numbers. Two desired baptism. A church school was planned for, and has since been begun.
ON THE SANTIAGO AND VALPARAISO RAILWAY
The next day we went to Rancagua, where three were awaiting baptism. No sooner had we reached the place than the provincial judge sent word that we might have the use of his hall, if our place of meeting was not large enough. Those who were baptized were the fruits of the labors of lay brethren. There are ten in this city keeping the Sabbath.
Our next visit was to Rengo, where one family is endeavoring to hold up the light. The husband and father is secretary of the Register of Deeds, and also publishes a small paper. At Chillan, our next stopping place, there is one lone sister endeavoring to walk in the light. Her sister is the church-school teacher in Santiago.
Our next stop was at Los Angeles, where Brother F. W. Bishop, one of the pioneer canvassers to Chile, lives. Our visit with him was much enjoyed. His relation of early experiences was refreshing. He desires to be in the work again, but circumstances have hitherto hindered. We expect that he will be able to get out soon.
We had a general meeting appointed at Perquenco for the following Sabbath. There are German, French, and native brethren living in the vicinity, one family having received present truth through Elder D. T. Bourdeau’s labors in France many years ago. One day was spent on horseback, riding about forty miles, to visit some brethren. Four days sufficed to get over its effects. The rain on Sabbath affected the attendance some. The Lord was with us, and blessed us. The German brethren especially were thankful to hear the truth in their own tongue. These have taken only the first steps in the truth, and greatly need more instruction. There ought to be a German minister there for a while, as well as in other German settlements near there. A little labor would result in the organization of a church.
Near this place a brother offers us the gift of about fifty acres of land, providing we will use it for the location of a school.
On Sunday one brother was baptized. Owing to a misunderstanding, his wife and daughter were not present to be baptized also. We learned of others farther south desiring baptism. Elder Ketring had baptized five in that part of Chile just before, and he will baptize these soon.
This trip was down the fertile central valley. Its width varies from one to fifteen or twenty miles, and its length is four or five hundred miles. The snow-capped Andes are always in sight in the east, and the Coast Cordilleras on the west. Santiago, with its 250,000 inhabitants, is situated near the northern end, and along the line of railroad there are many cities of from five thousand to forty thousand inhabitants. This valley is a large field, and bids fair to be a fruitful one.
Owing to poor boat connections, our next Sabbath, March 15, was spent at Valparaiso. It was the last day of the week of prayer, and the Lord blessed us in seeking him. The annual offering for the company was about eighty-five dollars in United States gold.
On the evening after the Sabbath we started by boat to the north of Chile. While in the harbor at Coquimbo the next day, a brother came on board to see us. He had kept the Sabbath for a few months, as the result of Brother Davis’s canvassing work. On our return his son met us, and gave us his subscription for Señales.
The next day we reached Caldera, whence we went inland to Copiapo. Here we found ten brethren and sisters walking in the light as far as they had learned it. These, too, are the result of Brother Davis’s work while canvassing. We enjoyed some good meetings with them. They greatly need further help and instruction. Others seemed to be interested. The enemy sees his craft in danger here, and is working hard to pull up the good seed. On our return to Caldera we found our boat belated, and we had to wait four days. Brother E. Thomann, who was with us on both our trips, and was our interpreter with the Spanish-speaking people, sold over one hundred and sixty Señales, and secured over forty paid subscriptions, while waiting.
We desired to stop a few days at Chañaral; but, owing to a delay in boats, we could not do so. There are several at that place also keeping the Sabbath, and they are much in need of further help. Both there and at Copiapo prolonged help should be given at once. But the question which confronts us is, Where are the laborers to do it?
Iquique ended our voyage northward. I would have been glad to go farther, and I believe that it would have been profitable, but the meeting appointed in Brazil for May would not permit it. At Iquique there is a church of about fifty members. Five were baptized during our stay. They are an intelligent company, and have a very suitable meeting place, the best I have seen in South America. Others are interested. Here we learned of some keeping the Sabbath in Bolivia, and of others in Peru. As far as we know, this is the first fruit in Bolivia, and the second in Peru. Thus the work is going on into the regions beyond.
The outlook for the work in this field is indeed bright. There is every indication that the Lord is working with great power here, and that this is the time to step into the troubled waters.
