Bolivia by E. W. Thomann

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 12, 1907

Bolivia

By E. W. Thomann

COCHABAMBA.—We entered Bolivia the last of May. On the fourteenth of June we reached Cochabamba, the place we selected as a station or center of our work here. We have a house of three rooms and kitchen, and a garden, in the most healthful suburb of the city. We have enjoyed good health until now, and trust in the Lord for further protection from disease. We are glad to be a little out of the city, because that is a very unhealthful place. Last year there occurred more deaths than births.

Considerable of my time is spent on our Spanish paper in Valparaiso, but I can devote a little more than half to aggressive work here in the field. I have canvassed the commercial part of the city with Señales, and have taken about eighty yearly subscriptions and sold about two hundred single copies. As I have not received any books, I have sold only two Bibles, two copies of “Steps to Christ,” one of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and a few tracts, besides the papers.

Several persons come Sunday afternoon to study the Bible with us, and some are already beginning to keep the Sabbath. But as people here are very slow, it takes them some time to decide. The Baptist minister is doing what he can to hold them away from the light of present truth, but it is evident that the truth is gaining ground. Three of those who come to study marvel that their pastor never explained to them any of the prophecies, which are of so much importance. They are eagerly feeding on the Bible evidences presented to them in favor of the third angel’s message. I pray and hope that some of them will take their stand wholly for the truth. Others of these are Catholics. Some of them have never had, and possibly have never seen, a Bible before, but they testify that they like our way of obeying the commandments of the Lord.

A lawyer who came with us in the same coach from Ormo, said to us: “The Catholic priests say, and do not; but you do what you say.” He bought a copy of “Steps to Christ,” and is very much delighted with it.

At Quillacollo, a town about eight miles from Cochabamba, are two families who for about eight years have had an interest in the truth. We visited them, and found them anxious to receive more light. In one talk I presented to them the joy and happiness of having faith and full confidence in the Lord. After it, the father of the family asked me if I would not speak to them about the Sabbath. The next day I did so, and afterward he told me that they would thereafter prepare their food on Friday for the Sabbath. This shows that their hearts are susceptible to the influence of the truth. Yet before they can be baptized, they must overcome the tobacco habit and wrong habits of eating. The father spoke about baptism, but I prefer to wait until he has left all things that

a Christian should leave. This brother, with his wife and oldest daughter, translated for us the manuscript for the first Quecha paper we intend to publish.

I have bought a cyclostyle writing and copying apparatus, with which I expect to be able to produce literature in the Indian languages of Bolivia. The Indians who do not understand Spanish can not read. But as many of the people who speak Spanish know the Indian languages, they can read to them. And if there is something to read in these languages, it will attract much attention.

We are learning the Quecha language, but it will be some time still before we can speak it well enough to preach the gospel in it. So our work is meanwhile mostly among those who speak Spanish.

E. W. THOMANN.