p. 12 | NOTES FROM BRAZIL by F. W. Spies

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 18, 1900

NOTES FROM BRAZIL.

By F. W. Spies

Leaving Joinville, Sunday, March 11, a three-days’ ride brought me to Brusque, the trip being for the most part a very pleasant one. I was overtaken, however, by a thunderstorm on Monday afternoon, and, because of this, spent the night in a shed, having for a bed a pile of corn on the ear, which had just been carried home. Of course this was not very comfortable, and when the pressure became too great at any one place, I would pick away a few ears from that spot, chase away a host of mosquitoes, and then try to sleep.

Arriving at Brusque, I found the church in a prosperous condition. Brother and Sister John Lipke were devoting their energies to the instruction of the students; while Brother Stauffer had charge of the agricultural department, and Brother Hesserich was working on the new dormitory. The committee of the Brazil Mission has since decided that this school, which up to this time had been only a church school, be henceforth a mission school for the educating of workers. When I arrived at Brusque, Brother Lipke had a mission class of seven students.

From Brusque I went to Benedicto Noro and Rio Cunha, and at each of these places baptism was administered, seven persons following their Lord in this ordinance. I next visited the colony, Russia, where we also had baptism. Returning to Brusque, I baptized one sister, and spent several weeks laboring at that place. I then set out for Taguaras, the home of Brother Brack, one of our canvassers, accompanied by Brother Francisco Mattes, a Brazilian. When a little more than half way to Taguaras, while crossing a bridge, his horse broke through, and in the effort to extricate himself, fell into the stream, taking his rider with him. Fortunately, both got out, with only an untimely bath in rather muddy water.

We resumed our journey, arriving at Taguaras in due time without any further mishaps. Through Brother Brack’s faithful labors quite an interest had been awakened in his neighborhood, and I held meetings there for a week. They were well attended, some persons riding on horseback for three or four hours in order to be present at our services. I was sorry that our time was so limited at this place, but as Brother Deucher, an aged man who lives at Bom Retiro, about fifty miles farther north, had recently accepted the truth, and was anxious for us to come to his home and hold services, we went on.

Brother Deucher is a stock-raiser, and has a piece of land about four miles square. Brother Brack and I had agreed that when we should reach Brother Deucher’s land, before going to his house we would have a season of prayer together. As we halted in a pleasant place by the roadside, Brother Deucher asked, “What are you going to do?” I replied, “We are going to ask the Lord to prepare the hearts of the dear ones at your home to receive the Saviour.” As I said this, the tears coursed down his cheeks; for he had a great burden that his family should accept the truth. So we—Brother Deucher, Brother Brack, the Brazilian brother previously mentioned, Brother Preusse (who, with his wife, were the first fruits of our labors at Taguaras), and the writer—knelt on the greensward, and had a season of prayer, which brought us each a blessing, and also the assurance that we should have the Lord’s presence with us in our labor for souls.

We rode on for another half-hour, passing the houses where Brother Deucher’s children live, and arriving at his house in the evening. In our first meeting I called the attention of this dear people to the Lord’s soon coming and the preparation needed for this event. At the next meeting I spoke from Prov. 28:13 and 1 John 1:9, and as the truths in these two texts were brought home to the hearts of all, there prevailed a spirit of humble forsaking of sin. Brother Deucher confessed that he had not set a proper example before his children. Other confessions followed, and it was indeed refreshing to see how the Lord worked to unite this family. The good work continued Friday and Sabbath, and before leaving, I baptized Grandmother Deucher, her daughter, the daughter-in-law, two granddaughters, and Brother Preusse, who had come with me from Taguaras.

There being a general meeting appointed at Brusque for May 9, our time was limited. Leaving Bom Retiro, May 1, we came to Desterro to meet Brother Thurston, and go with him to the general meeting. But rain fell four days in succession, and May 2 the streams were impassable. In order to travel at all we must take the mountain road, and go through a part of the country infested by bands of roving Indians, who often attack travelers. But we felt that we must move on, trusting the Lord, and he brought us safely through. The high waters had carried away many bridges, and often the entire road, making it necessary to ford streams, hunt a passage, and, at times, when it was impossible to get through, retrace our steps, and make a great detour to reach our destination.

I never before made a trip in Brazil under such difficulties; yet I never enjoyed more of the blessing of God. When we finally assembled in general meeting in Brusque, these rich blessings increased until, as old Brother Deucher said (he with his wife had made the long, dangerous, and wearing journey on horseback), “Our joy is full.” And it was. The Brusque general meeting will be long remembered by all who were present.

When we left Brusque on the 16th of May, we still found the roads almost impassable in many places, but we reached Rio, May 22. My trip, which, when I left home, was to be of only four or five weeks’ duration, had lasted five months. During this time I baptized twenty-four persons.

After attending to my correspondence and other necessary work, I went to Santos in São Paulo, accompanied by Mrs. Spies and our little girl, to visit the brethren, also some persons who had recently become interested in the truth, and were already keeping the Sabbath. Santos is one of the most important as well as the most beautiful seaports of Brazil; but it is regarded as one of the worst places for yellow fever, and it is probably for this reason that all Protestant missionary societies have thus far passed it by. But the God of Israel has promised: “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” In a little while, when the whole world shall be full of pestilence, we who trust in the Lord will realize more than ever the precious, keeping power of the Word.

We labored in Santos three weeks, and then I baptized six persons in the crystal waves of the broad Atlantic. As we celebrated the Lord’s Supper together, he came very near and blessed us. Those who now stand for the truth in Santos are members of representative families, well known and respected by the entire city, and as they let their light shine, many others will have their attention called to the truth. The Lord grant that their number may greatly increase!

From Santos we came to the city of São Paulo. Here we spent a day visiting friends, then went to Rio Claro to visit the family of Brother Meyer, who gladly greeted us, and we had a blessed time together.

On this trip of about four weeks I received $275 in tithe, and about $18 in offerings for various enterprises, one person alone paying $175. Thus the Lord provided for our needs. Indeed, I can see more and more that the Lord is good, and if we are only where he can use us, he is not straitened for ways and means to carry on his work.

Upon our return to Rio de Janeiro, we found our brethren all busily engaged in the circulation of our new Portuguese journal, O Aranto da Verdade (Herald of Truth). I did what I could to secure subscriptions, and to encourage the newly organized tract and missionary society of Santos to order a club of the papers. I then accompanied two of our brethren who are working for the journal, on a short trip, assisting them with such help and suggestions as my previous experience in the canvassing work enabled me to give. My time was limited in this work, for the churches in the Province Espírito Santo had had no ministerial help for almost seventeen months, so it was deemed advisable to go there without further delay.

Not long ago a statement was made by the Spirit of Prophecy to the effect that the promulgation of the truth would soon be attended with greater difficulties. In the wars and rumors of wars of the last year these things certainly have had their fulfillment; but it is becoming more and more evident that, as time goes on, we shall have increased difficulties to contend with. For almost three months the city of Rio de Janeiro has been made a place of confinement on account of the bubonic plague. When once you are in the city, it is only with much trouble that you can get away. If you want to leave by rail, you and your baggage must be disinfected; if you wish to leave by boat, you must spend ten days in quarantine. I am just passing through this process of quarantine. We are lying in a small strait between Ilha Grande (Great Island) and the mainland, sixty miles southwest of Rio. The second day our fruit supply on the boat was exhausted, and none is allowed to be brought on board for fear of the pest. Bread is likewise prohibited, but meat and fish, non-germ-conductors(?), are allowable. To a person of vegetarian principles it is a little trying to go through this process; but, thank the Lord, to-day is the seventh day of our quarantine, and so we shall soon be released.

The Sabbath before I left Rio, we had the blessed privilege of participating in the ordinances of the Lord’s house, and on the following Sunday we buried two persons with their Saviour in baptism. May the dear Lord gather his own speedily, and hasten the great day of reunion.

As we are allowed to count the time of the voyage to our first port into our ten days of quarantine, we expect to weigh anchor to-morrow, and next Sunday I hope to reach my destination, and shall then soon be among those who, for so long a time, have been awaiting the visit of a minister. May the Lord give us richly of his Spirit. F. W. SPIES.