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Haiti

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 1, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 5.

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Haiti

By U. Bender

On Nov. 4, 1911, I took passage on the French steamer “Quebec” at St. Thomas, Danish West Indies, for Cape Haitien, Haiti. I had spent a week in St. Thomas and St. Croix with Elder H. C. J. Walleker and his family and the other laborers.
Elder Wm. Steele, of Porto Rico, had accompanied me to St. Thomas. He and Elder Walleker came with me on the “Quebec” as far as San Juan, Porto Rico. Elder Walleker was to spend a few days visiting the believers in Porto Rico.
On the morning of November 7 the ship arrived at Cape Haitien. Brother M. N. Isaac came out to meet me. Brother Henri Williams was quite sick, and though I did not leave Haiti until December 19, he was but little improved.
November 10 Brother Isaac and I went into the country to visit the brethren at Grande Riviere and Pignon. Grande Riviere is about eighteen miles from the Cape. Here we stayed over Sabbath and until Tuesday. I baptized thirteen candidates about midday Sabbath. That afternoon we had a good social meeting, and at night celebrated the ordinances. I have been a minister for some years, but here I performed my first marriage ceremony. All my work among these people was done through an interpreter. For the baptism I learned the French, “Mon frère, je vous baptise au nom du Père, du Fils, et du Saint Esprit;” changing to “Ma sœur” in case of a sister.
As this was the limit of my French, you can understand that I could do but little for the people through public labor.
In conversation I had little trouble, as the one who interpreted was familiar with both languages.
Several brethren from Grande Riviere went with us to Pignon about thirty miles farther on into the interior. Here two were baptized and three united with the church. The ordinances we celebrated on Wednesday night, and Thursday we returned to Grande Riviere. The following morning I returned to Cape Haitien. Traveling in Haiti must be done on horseback, but before long this trip may be made on the railroad.
Elder W. J. Tanner left Haiti last April. Since that time the field has been without a superintendent. I was much encouraged to find the brethren and sisters faithful to the truth and the work. We hope soon to have some one in the field who can take charge.
I spent one week in Port au Prince, the capital city of the republic. We have a good company in this city. Here I spoke several times, as I had a good interpreter.
December 17 I took ship for Jamaica, where I arrived the night of the twenty-ninth. Port au Prince is but thirty hours by steamer from Kingston, but the ship went via Port Limon, Costa Rica.
U. BENDER.