General Meeting in Argentina
By J. W. Westphal
In the northern part of Argentina, and not more than one hundred and fifty miles from the Paraguayan border, are three small churches with an aggregate membership of about fifty-five, among whom are representatives of the following nationalities: Italian, French, Swiss, German, Belgian, Brazilian, besides natives, both white and Indian. For these a general meeting was held at Las Toscas, November 14–17. Elder Town and his wife, Elder McCarthy, and the writer were the laborers present. Although the distance was only a few hundred miles, it took five days to make the trip each way. Seventy-five miles were made by team. On Sabbath and Sunday a good representation of our people was present. The services were held in a galpon (granary) or in a grove. The brethren greatly appreciated this meeting. A plain testimony was borne, and was generally well received. Sunday morning a call was made for those to arise who wished to begin to serve the Lord, or wished a closer walk with Him, and there was a general response. Two arose for the first time—a sister of seventy years, and her daughter. The former has since been baptized. Her son was ordained elder of the Las Toscas church. It is truly wonderful what the grace of God can do. It takes people from every station in life, from every nation, with varied habits, opinions, and prejudices, and makes them one. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” And this grace is manifested in the work of the three angels’ messages. Since the meeting at Las Toscas I have been in Uruguay for a few weeks, visiting the companies of Nueva Palmira and Montevideo, and the church of Nueva Helvecia. Elder Town was with me at the first-named place, and Dr. Habenicht at the other. The Lord blessed in the meetings we held with them.171At Nueva Helvecia it was the writer’s privilege to bury eight precious souls with their Lord in baptism. A spirit of unity and love prevailed in this church, and we hope to see some of its members become successful workers in the great harvest field. At Montevideo three sisters are trying to hold up the light of truth. It was the writer’s privilege to baptize one of these, a woman of seventy-six years. She is the first of our people ever baptized at that place, and her baptism was probably the first real baptism that ever occurred in the city. One of these sisters has not yet been baptized, but will be soon. The hearts of all these brethren and sisters are deeply attached to the work of God. Nearly four hundred dollars in tithe and offerings was received. Uruguay has been blessed with a good crop, so our brethren there are in a better condition to help the cause than are the brethren in Argentina. The drought that has so seriously affected the crops in Argentina is now making itself felt in Paraguay. But this must draw us nearer to God. Diamante, Entre Rios, Argentina, Jan. 15, 1902.