J. W. WESTPHAL by J. W. Westphal

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Oct 22, 1903

J. W. WESTPHAL

By J. W. Westphal

Brazil

J. W. WESTPHAL

When closing my last report, we were holding a general meeting at Curityba, State of Parana. At this meeting the Lord was present with his blessing. Two were baptized. Some came eight days’ ride by wagon over rough roads to attend the meeting, and four of these were sisters. Although there was no minister with them to present and urge the needs of the Lord’s cause, this church has nobly sustained the various branches of the work during the last year. When they learned of the burning of the Review and Herald, where the Hausfreund was published, they at once raised fifty dollars for its relief. In similar ways they are supporting the work here, while they are doing not a little in active labor.

During the last regular evening service Elder Graf was taken sick with malaria. The previous conference was held in a very malarial district. On this and other accounts he was not well there, and was able to help in the meetings but little. On coming to Curityba he seemed to be rapidly regaining his former health, but was suddenly taken sick at the close of the meeting. On this account Elder Spies went with me to the next place of meeting, at Itarari.

Itarari is in the State of Sao Paulo, near the Parana border, a country town two days’ ride by mule from the railway on the one side and three days’ from the railway on the other. There were only five or six church members there, and none in all the surrounding territory. Hence the meeting was a small one. But in their loneliness they were the more anxious for the meeting. Seven were baptized, all but one of whom were natives, and five of whom came directly out of the Catholic Church. There are others keeping the Sabbath who could not yet take this step on account of the tobacco habit. A church will no doubt soon be organized there. Regular public services were held in a hall, and the attendance steadily grew more regular, quiet, and attentive, and there seemed to be some interest. Brother Emil Hoelgle, after accompanying me three days’ journey to the train, returned to follow up the work.

In the State of Parana, between Curityba and Itarari, there are not less than twelve places where there are genuine interests among the people. In some places there are those who are already keeping the Sabbath. In one place there are about twenty who have burned their images of saints and pictures that they

formerly worshiped, and are keeping the memorial of the true and living God, and desire baptism. Appeals, urgent appeals, come for help; and it is feared that with delay much will be lost. As we see these conditions, our hearts cry to God in anguish for money, and for men who can work for these people. We have put Brother Hoelgle to laboring for them, but the calls are many.

These interests are the result of the work of one of our brethren, a commercial traveler, in connection with his other regular work. During the last two years he has taken over five hundred annual subscriptions for our Portuguese paper, while he has also scattered thousands of single copies and tracts. The subscriptions were nearly all taken on time, and consequently many were never paid for; and thus his work was done at more or less of a loss. But he has the joy of seeing some fruit from his work, and a rich harvest is yet to be garnered, provided it is garnered before the seed falls out.

Our trip by mule has been concluded, unless, on our way south, we cross the State of Rio Grande do Sul. We have traveled about one thousand miles in this way. Our lodging place was under the open canopy of heaven, a tent fly, a farina mill, or some other place equally good. Our saddle goods were almost invariably our bed and bedding. Our food was such as we could get by the way, generally very simple, and not always the most hygienic. Several times we rode from 4:30 A. M. till 7 P. M., with scarcely an hour’s stop for dinner; and once nearly the whole of the time in the rain. Our rising hour was usually 3 A. M. Many times our animals had to swim the rivers while we were taken across in a canoe. (One of Elder Spies’s mules was drowned while crossing.) We crossed almost impassable swamps, heavy sand, and tiresome mountains. Of course we sometimes were tired and sore, and we were ready to lie down anywhere and enjoy a short night’s sleep if we could be comfortably warm. With the exception of Elder Graf, we were all preserved in good health; and the trip seemed to do us good physically.

I have not written the preceding to complain of our lot. We rejoice to be permitted to labor for the Saviour. With the consciousness of his presence, hardships become pleasure. As I write, there steals over me a feeling of tenderness because the Lord should honor one so unworthy, to work and endure a few seeming hardships for his sake.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.