p. 13 | THE WORK IN TRINIDAD by W. A. Sweany

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 16, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 11.

THE WORK IN TRINIDAD.

By W. A. Sweany

BY W. A. SWEANY.

THE work of circulating our literature is indeed a most interesting and important one. My wife and I succeeded, by the help of the Lord, in placing the Caribbean Watchman in the hands of very many of the most influential people in Barbadoes. This was the only way, perhaps, that they could be reached by the message. You will notice, of course, that we have moved, and are now in Trinidad. We left Barbadoes Monday evening, January 18, and reached Trinidad early the next morning, after a very pleasant passage, entirely free from seasickness. Mrs. Sweany and the children spent a week with Elder Haysmer's family in Port-of-Spain, while he and I visited various localities in search of a suitable place for us to locate.

After visiting all the churches and companies, and a number of new fields, it was plainly evident that the providence of God was pointing to Arima, so here we are. Houses are very scarce, and rent is very high. But God so willed it that a family moved out the day before we wished to move in; so we secured a very nice, suitable cottage at the exceedingly low rent of $8.00 per month. We are now comfortably settled and ready to begin operations. We plan to pitch a tent and hold a series of meetings.

This is a new field, and a Catholic stronghold. There are two Sabbath-keeping families in town, and a church on either side a few miles away. The population is perhaps three or four thousand. We are sixteen miles from Port-of-Spain. The roads, as in all English countries, are exceptionally good, so the "bike" is very useful. There is a good system of railroads and telegraph and telephone lines. We see an ocean of work on every side, and are of good courage to plunge into it.

It was hard for us to leave the dear ones in Barbadoes, for whom we have labored incessantly for two and one-half years, amid circumstances of hardship and suffering such as we never saw before, and hope never to see repeated. It was my blessed privilege to baptize fifty-nine precious souls there, and many more of the thousands, who in various ways heard the message, were fully convinced, and almost persuaded to yield obedience.

We were enabled, by the help of the Lord and the assistance of friends interested through reports and appeals in the SIGNS, to relieve an immense amount of suffering; feed and clothe many hungry and destitute; distribute a large amount of literature, and build and equip a neat, though small, schoolhouse in connection with the church. We could have interestedly labored on there till the close of the work, but the Lord as plainly called us to go forward as He had called us there, so we willingly responded. Brother and Sister Enoch are now located there, in the hope of being able to shake off the malaria that had laid hold of them here.

It was hard for the friends there to see us go. A great number, both members and non-members, of all colors and classes, accompanied us to the boat, and wept while they bade us Godspeed. And so we journey on, in full faith and confidence that God will keep that which we have committed to Him, and establish the work of our hands, so that it shall endure to eternity.

We feel very grateful to you and the SIGNS for the inestimable help rendered us. May the Lord cause you to abound yet more and more in every good word and work. Time will not permit us to write to all the dear friends who have shown so much interest in this field, so if you will publish sufficient of this letter to apprise them of the change of our address, and place of labor, we should greatly appreciate it. Already we have enterprises in sight, for which we are praying God to send us means, church buildings, etc., and we know that God will "supply all our need." We are enjoying good health, and our courage is good, in the Lord.

No. 9. St. Joseph St., Arima, Trinidad.