H. F. KETRING by H. F. Ketring

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 18, 1902

H. F. KETRING

By H. F. Ketring

Chile

THERE are a few Sabbath keepers at the mines in the interior, and I have recently visited them, more thoroughly to instruct them in the truth. They work in the copper mines, and I had a new experience in Chilean life. They are very poor, and their houses are made of sticks, with gunny sacks nailed over them. Everything is very expensive. A miner earns three dollars a day, Chilean money; but water, which is distilled from sea water, and transported into the interior, costs twenty-five cents a bucketful, eggs are twenty-five cents apiece, wood for cooking is twenty cents for a piece thirty inches long and as thick as one's wrist, and other things are in proportion. The hills and mountains are absolutely bare, without even a shrub. Notwithstanding, they treated me the best they possibly could, and I enjoyed my stay among them very much indeed.

While waiting at the port for my boat on returning home, I held Bible readings with a native family. The mother knew something about the truth, and she and a young native lady have decided to obey the Lord. These people are quick to decide one way or the other, and many of them are very firm when they decide for the truth. While the minds of these poor people, as in all the rest of the priest-ridden countries, are dwarfed and blunted, God, by his Spirit, can illuminate them; and they seem to shine the brighter for having been so darkened.

Later: I am now in the vicinity of the school land in southern Chile, where we will locate. On my way here I stopped a day to visit a brother. A native Catholic lady came in to study the Bible. She was thoroughly instructed in Catholicism, but seemed to be seeking the truth. I permitted her to suggest the points that she wished to study. One after another the doctrines of Catholicism were dwelt upon. At first she was very firm in their favor. But as the Word of God proved each one to be false, she expressed herself as thoroughly convinced. She then desired to know the most important thing to do, and as I showed these things to her, she rejoiced in the light. We studied until after eleven o'clock, and had prayers, and retired. The next day she desired to know if it would be in harmony with God's will for her to pray for the conversion of her brother. Of course I answered. Yes, and explained to her the nature of prayer. She desired baptism, but as I had to leave that morning, I promised to baptize her upon my return. The Spirit of the Lord was indeed present to impress truth upon this heart. To God be all the praise. He is greatly blessing me in acquiring the language, so that in a simple way it is almost as easy to teach in Spanish as in English. Pray that our God may direct us in fishing for men, as the Saviour directed the disciples.