Closing Labors in Jamaica
By W. W. Eastman
After seven and one-half years of labor in Jamaica and one of its tributaries, Grand Cayman, my family and I sailed on the twentieth of April for our native shores. Mrs. Eastman was so weak that she had to be carried to the boat, and it was feared that she would not live to cross the sea, but to our surprise she gained strength all the way, and at this writing seems much better than when we left Jamaica. Our April quarterly meeting in the Kingston church was a blessed occasion. The church was well filled with earnest and devoted worshipers. The rich blessing of the Lord was present, and all hearts were made to rejoice in God their Saviour. Eleven—all adults but one—went forward in the ordinance of baptism, and twenty-one were received into church fellowship. The Sabbath before we left, two others were baptized and received into the church, making, in all, twenty-three accessions to the church during the first three and one-half months of 1903. We are thankful to God for the years he has permitted us to labor in Jamaica, and for the abundance of fruit he has given us for our labor. It was hard to part with those with whom and for whom we had labored, and whom we had learned to love most dearly as brethren and sisters in Christ. As our boat sailed down the south side of the island, and we viewed perhaps for the last time the place where we had labored, we could not but think of the grand gathering day, and wonder how many of these souls we shall meet in the kingdom. We shall watch with keen interest the progress of the cause in Jamaica, and our prayers shall continually ascend for its progress, and for the Lord’s blessing on the believers. We were glad to leave the Kingston church so full of courage and faith. The church really seemed to be moving forward. A church school had been started with a good native sister as teacher, and we believe that the church will rally and support the school, and that under the blessing of God it will prove a success. The outside interest in the city was never better. Each Sunday evening our spacious building was well filled with interested listeners, and the liberal collections made it possible for the brethren to make the necessary improvements and repairs, and not lessen the funds already in the treasury. As we viewed the large congregation assembled at our last meeting, we could not but contrast it with the small number on our arrival nearly eight years ago. Truly the progress of the work in Jamaica has been marvelous. We felt to say, Behold what God hath wrought. May the Lord bless his people everywhere with the spirit of consecration, that the work may be quickly finished, and all be gathered home.