BRAZIL by F. W. Spies

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 23, 1900

BRAZIL

By F. W. Spies

IN company with Brother A. B. Stauffer I visited the province of Espírito Santo, assisting the churches there, and encouraging scattered believers. During this trip we had the pleasure of seeing some persons yield themselves to the requirements of the truth of God. Returning home the beginning of April, on the 20th of the same month I started south, joining Brother Graf at Brusque, from which place we traveled together through the provinces of Santa Catharina and Parana. This trip was a pleasant one. Since coming to Brazil it had been my desire to labor, for a time at least, in company with another brother. During our trip through the last-named provinces thirty-eight persons received baptism, and we had several special evidences of the Lord’s goodness in working for us.

Upon returning to Rio de Janeiro, and after having a short season of counsel, Elder Graf, accompanied by Brethren Berger and their families, visited the province of Minas Geraes, while Brother Thurston and I visited the province of São Paulo, to look after the work there, and especially to see what prospect that province offered for new openings. But finding that what seemed to be an opening for work did not prove to be such, Brother Wm. Stein, a native brother, who is proficient in the language of the country, came from São Paulo, to Rio de Janeiro; and since then he and the writer have been making an effort to present the gospel to the natives. To be thus for a time associated in labor among the natives with a brother who could speak the Portuguese language fluently, had long been my wish.

It was not without encountering many difficulties that we secured a small hall in which we could hold meetings; the Lord also opened ways of which we had no idea. Blessed be his name! Our first meetings were well attended, with scarcely any effort to invite people, and many manifested an interest to know what the word of God says. May the good work go on, and souls be gathered for the heavenly garner.

The daily increasing heat reminds us that the hot season is approaching, with its sicknesses, yet our trust is in Israel’s God; and we thank him for all the truth he has revealed to us, and know that his power can keep us secure from “the pestilence that walketh in darkness,” and from “the destruction that wasteth at noonday;” and that even though “a thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand,” “it shall not come nigh thee.” Praise the Lord! F. W. SPIES.