Missionaries on Their Way to Brazil by Henry Haefft

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 26, 1914

Missionaries on Their Way to Brazil

By Henry Haefft

HENRY HAEFFT

THE readers of the REVIEW no doubt have been looking for a report from the new recruits who were sent to Brazil. Our little company of workers left New York on September 6 and arrived in Santos, Brazil, September 25. We were met by Brother Spies, Brother and Sister Boehm, Brother and Sister Brown, and Brother John Schmidt. These brethren gave us a hearty welcome, which made our hearts rejoice.

LANDING OF THE MISSIONARY RECRUITS AT SANTOS, BRAZIL

As soon as we left New York, we organized our company into a church, elected an elder, Sabbath school superintendent, and a secretary, and had our regular meetings as if we were on land. Besides our Sabbath services, we had public meetings. These consisted of preaching and Bible studies. Mornings and evenings we had song services, using our little organ. These services seemed to be much appreciated by the people, and we believe our singing made a good impression upon them. Through all our journey we felt the presence of God with us. The Spirit of the Lord worked mightily upon the hearts of the people on the ship. They all respected us as missionaries.

We were favored by the leading men on the steamer. For example, there was a doctor from New York on board. Although not a vegetarian, when he learned that we were vegetarians, he got up a petition and circulated it, getting all the signers he could, then presented it to the captain, asking him for a vegetarian diet. It seemed that the Holy Spirit had been working upon his heart. We thank God for his goodness. Others became much interested in the truth. They attended

our meetings, and as we separated from them, they took our addresses, promising to keep in touch with us. May the Holy Spirit abide with them and lead them on, that they may be saved in the kingdom of God. I am sure that these experiences will be long remembered by us and by those on the steamer.

Our little company was made up as

follows: Professor Hennig and wife, from Clinton, Mo.; Brother Carter and wife, with their two children, from Washington, D. C.; Brother Specht and wife, from Clinton, Mo.; Brother Peters and wife, from North Dakota; Brother Reidt and wife, from Brooklyn, N. Y.; Miss Louise Wurtz, from Pennsylvania; Miss Sarah Kinner, from New Jersey; Miss Corinne Hoy, from Pennsylvania; and the writer and his wife, from Portland, Oregon,—making a company of seventeen. Brother Specht and wife, also Brother Peters and wife, got off at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The rest of us are all at Santo Amaro, Brazil.

MISSIONARIES "AT HOME" PURSUING LANGUAGE STUDY, PREPARATORY TO ENTERING THE FIELD IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF BRAZIL

We have been here over two weeks. We have a beautiful home, which it seems to us was got especially for us. It is an ideal place. The house has a large dining room, reading room, six bedrooms, a kitchen, and a storeroom; besides, we have a large bake oven made of brick, and a well with plenty of water. We also have a good garden,—about an acre of ground,—and have planted many things already, the seed coming up very nicely. Soon we can eat that which we have raised ourselves.

Our teacher comes to our home and gives us two hours' instruction daily. He takes much interest in us. We all like him, and soon we shall understand the language well enough to have an interview with the Brazilians, for which our hearts are longing. Though we are not able to speak the Portuguese language, still we have access to the German-speaking people. So we began to labor for them, and our hearts rejoice as we see them drinking the water of life. We hope that a greater interest may be awakened among them, and that many may be saved in the kingdom of God through our efforts.

We are glad to hear from our home friends, and so give the address which applies to all of us: Estacao Sao Bernardo (S. P. R.), Sao Paulo, Brazil, care of F. W. Spies.