CHILE by T. H. DAVIS

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 28, 1902

CHILE

By T. H. DAVIS

I AM still at work, although at times it has not been all smooth sailing, but I keep on selling books. Perhaps it will be interesting to the readers of the SUPPLEMENT for me to give some of my many experiences in this Spanish-speaking country. We are coming to be known here by the reading matter that is being distributed. If it were not for the literature that we have in such abundance, and our excellent facilities for distributing it, Adventists would be but little known in the world.

The last three months have been of special blessing and interest to me in the canvassing work. Last August, I was impressed to make the trip that I am making now, but as there were no subscription books on hand in the Spanish language, I was in doubt as to how to make it pay on small books. I started by steamer south from Iquique, taking in small coast towns, selling small books and tracts. If I could not sell a book, I would try to sell a tract. Then I would go over the ground the second time with the Senales, our Spanish paper. I have been surprised to observe how I could sell papers. I went at it just as the newsboys sell papers in the large cities, crying out, “Senales! Senales!” Well, some of the business men would laugh to see a foreigner selling in that way. I would also laugh to see them so astonished.

I used to think it would not do to talk about the special points of truth while canvassing, but during this trip I have made it a special point, when any one was interested, to talk on some special truth, and it has worked well. By so doing I have had my hands full day and night, as there were always some who wanted further instructions. While writing this report, I could be giving a reading to a nice young Chileno who bought “Steps to Christ” and several tracts. How easy it is to draw the people out when we know we are right with the Lord, and his Spirit moves us.

I have had some trying times since coming here. Sometimes books would run out, and I would have to wait from four to six months for more. For this reason, it has not been a paying trip financially, but souls are what we place our estimate upon in our work.

Once I sold a small book in Spanish to a lady, on Sunday. She read it, and saw that the Sabbath had been changed, and she visited some of her friends, and they saw the point. On Monday I saw her again, and as she began telling me of what she saw

and how the others thought the same, I concluded it would be a good thing to have a meeting there with all who wanted to come. So I told them that on Tuesday night we would have a meeting at eight o’clock. I did not expect to see many there, but to my surprise the house was full. After talking about an hour I closed the meeting; but the people would not go, but began asking questions. I stayed with them until quite late. If one small tract can get up such an interest, what might a larger book do?

I have taken twenty orders in one day for “Patriarchs and Prophets” in Spanish, besides a few other books. This demonstrates that subscription books can be sold here. The only subscription book we have in Spanish is “Patriarchs and Prophets.” There is, therefore, no such thing as canvassing the second time for another book. I hope the day will soon come when all our leading books will be published in Spanish.

One might wonder how I get along with the food here, as the Chileno likes his Chile pepper in his food, and they eat very little fruit, and that little is raw fruit. They make a pie here, but only put in a very few raisins, the principal ingredients being eggs, meat, onions, and pepper. They call them “empanadas.” Not a very desirable dish. I ate one once and was convinced that it was “a stayer.” One thing favorable, they do not use much lard. They prefer tallow for the food. I do not suppose there is much advantage in their preference, only in the fact that tallow will stick longer on the wall of the stomach.

I have been here seven years. I have been reading health food ads. ever since. Sometimes my mouth waters for these good foods, and I have wished that I could spend a short time in some of these factories, or have some of the foods to sample.

Let us keep on working, and soon with all the saved we will eat of the fruit of the Tree of Life with the ones we have been the means of saving. May God give us courage to keep on in the work. I have been much encouraged to see a revival in the canvassing work.

T. H. DAVIS.