Experiences in Valparaiso, Chile
By H. F. Ketring
“Looking Wistfully to Heaven”
[READERS of “Testimony,” Vol. VI, will remember this statement: “All over the world, men and women are looking wistfully to heaven. Prayers and tears and inquiries go up from souls longing for light, for grace, for the Holy Spirit. Many are on the very verge of the kingdom, waiting only to be gathered in.” This is what all heaven sees, looking down upon the earth. No wonder the call of God comes to go out quickly into all the highways and byways of the world to gather in these longing souls. Here is a report from far South America, illustrating the truth of the statement quoted.—W. A. S.] Valparaiso is a city of about one hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants of all nationalities, the larger portion being Chileans. In common with all South American cities, it is deeply steeped in sin and crime, but being the largest seaport on the west coast, it is especially wicked. Our work has seemed to make very little impression here, notwithstanding that during the last six or eight years many papers have been distributed in all languages, especially in English and Spanish. One brother who accepted the truth in the south, is living here, and a few weeks ago went to listen to a man who was preaching in one of the plazas. After the sermon a number were gathered together in groups, discussing what they had heard. One company was composed of Catholics and Protestants. The brother drew near, and then walked away. In a few minutes he drew near again, and then retired, repeating this several times. As the crowd dispersed, he noticed one man who had taken part in the discussion standing alone. Approaching him, he asked him, “How do you know that that man preaches the truth?” The man replied, “I don’t know.” The brother said, “We have to prove all things by the Bible, and he said that Sunday is the day of rest, or the Lord’s day, and the Bible says that the rest day is the seventh day. Also, he said that man is immortal, while the Bible says that ‘God only hath immortality,’” reading one or two texts to prove what he said. They then parted, without saying anything more. But the Word was accomplishing that for which God had sent it. The next day the brother said to himself, “I wish I knew where that man lives, for he seemed like an honest man. He surely was a working man, from his appearance, and it is possible that he works down at the mole. I think I will go down and look for him.” He went, and looked at the men working there, but was unable to find him. At last he stood looking out over the harbor at the boats. In the meantime, the other man said to himself, “I wish I knew where to find that man who showed me those texts yesterday. I believe I will go down to the mole to see if I can find him.” He went, and looked all around for the brother. At last he espied him looking out over the bay. He went up to him, and laid his hand on his shoulder, and it is needless to say that they both thanked God for having led them. The man then said, “Is that true that you showed me yesterday? Is Saturday really the Sabbath of the Lord? I have been praying for three years for the Lord to show me the truth on this question. I couldn’t see why the church kept the first day of the week, when the Bible says that the seventh day is the Sabbath.” They appointed a time to study the Bible, and he, with his wife, is rejoicing in the truth. He kept the very next Sabbath. Shortly after, his minister (Methodist) came to see him, but he was away at work. The minister told his wife that he had come to get him out of the error into which he had fallen. The next Sunday he went to church, and the minister directed his whole sermon at him, giving him sharp thrusts. After the service was over, he went to the minister, and asked him to show him from the Bible where he was in error. The minister told him that he would come to his house and show him. But he said: “No; you cut at me all the evening in your sermon, and now I demand that you show me my error before the congregation.” To be sure he would not do that, and turned away from him. After a few weeks I returned from the north, and have held readings in his house about a week; and another native, a man of about thirty, and very intelligent, has decided to obey the truth. There are many of these people waiting and longing for some one to help them to find the light. Are there not those who feel a burden to come to these needy fields and help us find them? None can find them so well as the missionary canvasser. We need many canvassers to scatter the silent messengers of truth in these darkened lands. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” But if the Lord should answer your prayer by sending you, do not be afraid to come. True, there are lions, and great ones, too, but thus far I have found them chained.