1888 Bem aventurados os que semeiam em todas as águas

7/31/2019 1888 Bem aventurados os que semeiam em todas as guas

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Bem aventurados os que semeiam em todas as guas. Isaias 32:20

International Tract Society

There are at present urgent calls for publications, In the Russian, Spanish, Portuguese,

Armenian, Greek, Chinese, Indian, Polish, Bohemian, Finnish, Hawaiian languages, and in thenative tongues of the Pacific Islanders. In most of the above,there are persons coming to thelight who feel a deep interest for their countryman, and are anxious to engage as soon uspossible In the work of circulating the publications among them. In several cases their anxietyis so great that they have begun, upon their own responsibility, the translation if some of oursmaller books into their native literatures. There is already quite a stir among some of ourpeople, because we are so slow in the matter of printing In these tongues. ARSH p. 727 20 denovembro de 1888. NOTICE! As the Foreign Mission Board has arranged for me to make atour through Mexico, Central America, West Indies, South America, and Africa, I shall be veryglad to have any of our brethren who have relatives, friends, acquaintances, or correspondentsin any of these fields, whom they would be glad to have me visit, send me their names andaddresses, with definite formation in regard to each case ; and if it is at all consistent, I shalltake pleasure in visiting any such persons. This information shonld be sent to me mmediately,as I shall start soon on this trip. L. C. CHADWICK. 303 W. Main St., Battle Creek, Mich. SEPT. 1,1891 p.13 ARSH p. 557 We have for a long time been considering the importance of something being done for South America, but have not been able till now to decide n someone to go. At a meeting of the Foreign [issiion Board some weeks ago, it was voted to and thePresident of the International Tract Soety; Bro. L. C. Chadwick. He will be absent for a year ormore, and will visit Mexico, Central America, West Indies, South America, and Africa. This will

be a very extensive and important missionary tour, and our brethren will agree with us this wecould hardly have selected a man so well for this tour, as Bro. Chadwick is.P569 15 setembrode 1891 P592 22 de setembro 1891 J3T" As Bro. L. C. Chadwick is about to leave on anextended missionary tour among the islands of the West ladies, to South America, the WestCoast of Africa, etc., it was thought best that he be set apart to the work of the gospel ministrybefore his departure. This was attended to in the Taber- nacle, at the close of the forenoonservice, Sabbath, the 19th. After a sermon by Elder Loughborough, clearly portraying theobligations, the labors, and the privileges of :the minister of Jesus Christ, Bro. 0. was set apartto the work by player and the lay- ing on of hands. Prayer by Elder 0. A. Olsen ; charge andright hand. of fellowship by the writer. The blessing of the Lord was present through the

services, and the occasion was one which took deep hold of the feelings of many iu thecongregation. After the afternoon meetiug, fifteen were baptized by Bro. Corliss. 13 deoutubro de 1891 p640 Brother L. 0. Chadwick left Battle Creek, Thursday, the 8th inst. , on hismissionary tour to Mexico, the West Indies, South America, and Africa. -His address for thepresent is Nueva Laredo, Mexico, care of Hon. W. R. Sutton. THE GERMAN WORK IN SOUTHAMERICA. THE Scriptures tell us that all the Lord has spoken through his servants theprophets, must be fulfilled; yea, this is the very fact by which we may know that theScriptures are the word of God. Every time we see prophecy fulfilling, we have a proof of theDivine Inspiration, so that the Bible student should not have a shadow of doubt, that everyword contained in this record is the word of the great God given for the salvation of mankind.When God therefore says that he forgives our sins, or gives the believer power to become a


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son of God, or that the old, old story of the cross, the everlasting gospel, in its purity shall beproclaimed '' to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people," we may know that this istruly so. While from our standpoint it may be thought " remarkable," it simply could not beotherwise. We should expect nothing else. So we should not be surprised to find thiseverlasting gospel going the rounds to all the world, although we may leap for joy at thethought. It has caused us great joy to receive letters from Argentine Republic and Brazil,which show again how this work is fast approaching its cul- mination, when all the world shallbe enlightened by its glory. The brethren from Brazil plead for German papers and for aGerman minister. There are many interested persons longing for help. Lately, so the brotherwrites, multitudes of Ger man-Russians have settled in their neighborhood, to whom theydesire to give German reading-matter. These people are God-fearing men and women, whogo to that country for conscience' sake; and undoubtedly the Lord has sent them there to doa work. Besides this, there are also papers in other languages wanted, among which are thePolish and Spanish. From Argentine also come encouraging reports. About a year ago ten of

our German brethren went from Kansas to that country, having in view the twofold purpose;to support themselves and do missionary work among the people. They write that even withtheir limited means (they have but a few papers), they have been richly re warded. The Lordhas blessed their efforts to such extent that there are now twenty Sabbath- keepers in theirtown. They are happy in the thought that German canvassers are going to work in theirneighborhood, they ask that they come to them, so that they may help. When we see theseand the many other indications, we cannot only believe, but see, that the word and work of the true and faithful witness will soon be fulfilled. And then the Son of man will come in theclouds, and the harvest of the earth will be reaped. The word of God will then be fulfilled; andalso the promise that if we labor and suffer with our Sav iour, we shall be with him in glory.

May that be our lot. TEDSODOKE VALBNTINEE. Battle Creek, Mich.

FROM SOUTHERN CLIMES. I LEFT Barbadoes June 14,(1891) and after a very pleasantvoyage, arrived at Rio Janeiro the morning of June 30. We touched at Par, Maranho, Cear ,Pernambuco, and Bahia on the way down. I had my first real idea of the magnitude of theAmazon River, when we came to sail up one of its mouths, which was so wide that we could

just distinguish large objects on one of its banks with the aid of strong glasses, while the otherbank was totally in visible on account of its distance from us. I made short visit at all these

ports, while our steamer was discharging cargo, collecting much valuable information. Wehad about forty passengers on board, mostly Americans and Spaniards. We were only out atsea one ,Sunday, when I spoke in the social hall by invitation of the captain, and later in theday spoke to the sailors on the main deck. I have now spent three days in Rio Janeiro, andam to leave today (July 3), for Buenos Ayres. When my work is finished in the ArgentineRepublic, l expect to return here for a short stay on my way to Africa. This is said to be thelargest harbor in the world, and it is certainly a very fine one. Measuring all its inlets and bays,it is 128 miles around it. Its entrance is narrow, and well protected. The yellow fever is almostentirely abated here, though it is still raging at Santos. We met a north-bound steamer atPernambuco, which had lost its captain, purser, and chief engineer, by this disease, and sev

eral more of its crew were at the point of death. I am getting used to seeing the sun in thenorth, and the southern cross is quite a familiar object. The weather is quite cool, and


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overcoats are in good demand. I received the sad intelligence here, of the death of mymother, who had been buried just a month before I knew that she was even sick. Such are theuncertainties of life, and one feels them more keenly, when so far from home that the grassmay be grow ing over the graves of his loved ones before he knows of their death. I expect to

join our canvassers in Buenos Ayres in about a week, and will report from there later. L. C.CHADWICK.

ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. SINCE my last report, which was written from Rio Janeiro, I have notonly crossed the Atlantic, but made quite a long journey northward. I left Rio Janeiro, Sept, 14,and after a pleasant voyage of twenty days, landed at Plymouth, Eng. On Oct. 8 our steamertouched at the Cape Verde Islands for coal, but there was "na rigid quarantine enforcedagainst all vessels coming from Brazilian ports, so no one was able to land or come on boardthe shjp, We only made three other stops, at Lisbon, Vigo, and Pauillac. I have now been inEngland about a week, and have enjoyed the association with brethren Robinson, Waggoner,Morrison, and others very much. After having been separated for a year from our brethren of experience, it seemed good to meet with these laborers, arid, have;the benefit of theircounsel. We have tried to make some plans for the book business in South America, and theLondon branch of the Pacific Press will do all in its power to assist and encourage the brethrenin that field. I sail from Liverpool on the 15th for West Africa, from which place I will reportlater. L. C. CHADWICK. London, Oct. 12. 1 de novembro 1892. P 683 The delegation from theState of Washington to the general Conference has arrived, also brethren C. L. Boyd fromTennessee, D. A. Robinson from London, and L. C. Chadwick from his trip to South America andAfrica. 31 de janeiro 1893.p.79 HERITAGE

Still Nurturing the Spirit of the Pioneers If the past 100 years are any indication, Adventists inArgentina have a lot to look forward to.

BY ROBERT G. WEARNER

Descendants of Adventist pioneers and friends gathered last September to celebrate the100th anniversary of the first organized Seventh-day Adventist church in Argentina, in thepresent territory of the South American Division. It was in 1894 that Frank Westphalpresided at a ceremony that formed 36 believers into an Adventist church body at Crespo,Entre Ribs province. Over the past 100 years these pioneer families, and others who joinedthem, have produced more than 180 workers for God's cause. These young people have

carried the message of God's love to various countries in South America and beyond. Thislarge number becomes all the more remarkable when one considers that the presentmembership of the Crespo church is about 65. and has never ascended much above the 100mark. Thus Argentina's Adventists had t\vo reasons for praising God for the cen- tennial of the Crespo church and for the young people they have groomed for God's work. Andfascinating is the story of the founding of this small, rural church located on the rolling hills of the Argentine pampa. Long Ago and Far Away In the mid-1870s in southern Russia threeyoung married couples, all born in German settlements, began a pilgrimage that took them tospiritual and geo- graphical places they could never have imagined. Invited by Catherine theGreat, German farmers had settled in Russia in the eighteenth century. Two of the three menwere brothers, Frederick and George (Jorge in Spanish) Riffel. The third. Reinhardt Hetze. was


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a friend. The Riffel brothers decided to emigrateto the New World, while Hetze remained inRussia. Frederick (the older), his wife, Christina, and their four small children struck out forKansas on the plains of North America. They took up farming in Marion County andprospered. By August 1883 Frederick had enough money to buy a farm of his own nearHillsboro. George chose southern Brazil as a home for himself, his wife, Maria, and their 3-year-old son, David. After four years in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the family moved tothe Entre Rios province in Argentina. Here they found many fellow Germans from Russia. Butmisfortune seemed to accompany them. A few years of crop failure and a grasshopper plagueled George to move again. Hearing from Frederick about the prosperity of the wheat countryof Middle America, George joined him there. Thus after a decade of separation the Riffelbrothers found themselves farming in the same county of Kansas. Then came an event thatcompletely changed the course of their lives. Challenged by the Truth L. R. Conradi, a 29-year-old German Adventist evangelist from Michigan, assisted by S. S. Shrock, resident Ad-ventist pastor, held tent meetings in Hillsboro and Lehigh. Both Riffel families attended the

meetings regularly, thrilled with the messages on Bible prophecy. When the evangelist madehis appeal to accept Christ and obey His commandments, they gladly responded. Apparentlythey had already read Adventist books, since one account mentions a German colporteur.In a report in the Review and Herald Conradi praised God for the excellent response. Heorganized two churches with a total of 251 members. Now as George cultivated the fertileKansas soil he thought about his friends in Argentina. He wrote enthusiastic letters about hisnewfound faith, and sent tracts and books. In time he received letters from Entre Rfosindicating that the gospel seed was falling on fertile ground. One friend wrote that he wouldkeep the Sabbath if he had someone to accompany him in its observance. This news movedGeorge to action. After earnest prayer the family decided to return to Argentina as lay

evangelists. Son David, now a husky 15-year-old, willingly cooperated in the missionaryventure, having been baptized by H. H. Shultz. Frederick, a father of 10 children by thistime, decided to remain in Kansas. But George found three other German families willing toaccompany him. The Oswald Pricks, the Adam Zimmermans, and the August Yankes sold outand packed their trunks. The first self-supporting Adventist missionaries embarked forArgentina in late 1889. Providential Openings On arriving in Buenos Aires, the three newfamilies found themselves delayed in the red tape of the immigration process. The Riffelscould not wait. Embarking on a Parana riverboat, they headed north toward Entre Rfos. Theyarrived at the little port of Diamante on a Friday afternoon in early 1890. As the Riffelsstepped onto the wharf, there to greet them with a big smile was Reinhardt Hetze. He wasthe friend they had left behind in Russia. He had arrived in Argentina after they'd left forKansas. Hetze loaded them onto his farm wagon and started for his home at BarrancaBlanca, some 10 miles away. As they bumped along on that warm summer afternoon, Riffelpulled out his Bible and gave his friend a study on the Sabbath doctrine. Hetze had heardabout the Sabbath some time before, but had not yet taken a firm position on the matter.Now he took his stand. (He faithfully and conscien- tiously observed the Sabbath until hisdeath 50 years later.) On arriving home, Maria, Hetze's wife, welcomed the three travelers.The next day George led out in a home Sabbath school. One of the youngest members of thegroup was 4-year-old Hannah, Hetze's daughter, who remembered years later that the

subject was "Adam and Eve." Perhaps lacking quar- terlies, George decided to start at thebeginning of the Bible. (Although the humble home has long since disap- peared, its location


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was near the present site of River Plate Sanitarium and University.) The Patience of the SaintsCheered by this initial success, the Riffels set about to evangelize the German community inthe area of Crespo. Soon the Pricks, the Yankes, and the Zimmermans arrived. The fourfamilies took up farming, raising com and wheat for a living. But they consid- ered their mainbusiness the proclama- tion of the gospel. The group of Sabbathkeepers organized anAdventist village called La Isla (the island), an area between two creeks. Years later HannahHetze remembered two rows of houses separated by a path. It was here that L. C. Chadwick,a repre- sentative from the General Conference, found them and made a brief visit in July1892. Religious services were generally held in the Hetze home. They had moved to be nearfellow believers. George found a good baptismal site in the creek near the Schimpf home. Hehad been authorized to baptize before the ordained minister arrived. But they continuedpraying earnestly for a pastor to lead them. George Riffel wrote letters to the GeneralConference leaders in Battle Creek, Michigan. L. C. Chadwick returned from his trip andrecommended that a German-speaking minister be sent to work in Argentina. But the group

waited two more years. Now, It's Official Finally, in 1894, Frank Westphal sailed from NewYork on July 18, in company with his wife, Mary, and small son and daughter. They wereresponding to an invitation made by the General Conference. Arriving at La Plata, Argentina,on a cold wet day, the family rejoiced to find R. B. Craig, a colporteur leader, await- ing themon the wharf. After a short train ride to Buenos Aires, the Westphal family found a warmwelcome in the Craig home. Within a week the young pastor left his family in the care of Craig and his wife and headed north. In search of the Adventist group, Westphal embarked ona Parana riverboat on August 26. Coming from summertime Illinois, the young minister didnot anticipate the chill of wintertime Argentina. Without warm clothing or blankets, he soonfell victim to a severe cold. On arriving in Entre Ri'os, he found a German farmer who helped

him find the Adventist settlement at Crespo. Riffel and the other believers gave themissionary a warm welcome as enthusiastic as if he had been the apostle Paul. They hadprayed and longed for this day for years. Young people ran to theneighbors and invited themto a meeting that very night. Not feeling well and tired from his trip, Westphal hoped todismiss the people early. Squeezed like sardines into the humble home, the crowd listenedeagerly to the message. After an hour Westphal concluded his sermon and invited the peopleto return the following night. They sang, prayed, and just sat there. Later he wrote that they"gazed at me with truth-hungry eyes" and asked for another sermon. So he preached anotherhour. Again they showed no interest in leaving. "I felt constrained to preach a third sermon,to which they listened with unabated interest," the patient pastor reported. About 1:00 inthe morning the exhausted preacher finally persuaded the people to go home. Many decidedfor Christ that first night, and more did so in the following nights. In less than two weeks of nightly meetings and daytime visits the missionary evangelist had a group of 36 ready toorganize into a church. This memorable event took place on September 9. 1894. Since FrankWestphal had many other calls to answer, the new church organi- zation depended on layleaders such as George Riffel and Reinhardt Hetze. With volunteer labor the members con-structed a chapel of adobe bricks and thatched roof. After a decade this humble structuregave way to a larger masonry building that served the congregation until 1944, when thepresent church building was constructed. Only a few years after organizing, members of the

Crespo church assisted in the founding of a college and sanitarium. The influence of thatsmall group can hardly be overemphasized. Not only has it been instrumental in founding


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River Plate Adventist University and River Plate Sanitarium and Hospital, but perhaps itsgreatest contribution to God's cause lies in the dedication of more than 180 young men andwomen members of this congregation to lives of service. May God continue blessing theCrespo congregation! Robert G. Weamer is a retired missionary who spent many yearsworking in South America. He writes from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 23 de maro de 1995p.13-15.

The Riffels: planting Adventism in Argentina By ROBERT G. WEARNER The new immigrantfamily had barely settled onto their farm when an event occurred that changed their livescompletely. Goodbye, George. I hope you have a good trip to Brazil,'' said Frederick Riffel tohis brother. ' 'Goodbye, Fred. I wish you success as you start a new life in America," Georgeresponded. George and Frederick Riffel were Germans who lived in the Volgograd (formerlyStalingrad or earlier Tsaritsyn) area of southern Russia.1 In the mid-1870s these two youngmarried men had decided to emigrate to the New World. George purposed to take his wife,Maria, and 3-year-old son, David, to Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Frederick made up his mindto try farming in the United States, so took his wife, Christina, and their four small children toKansas.2 The two families separated with little hope of ever seeing each other again. They didnot know that a kind Providence would bring them back together within a decade, and thatthey would accept a religious faith about which they had known nothing in the land of theirbirth. Neither could they have imagined that several of their children and grandchil- drenwould become leaders in the preaching of the gospel on several continents, that they wouldhelp to establish the first Seventh-day Adventist church in Argentina. Robert G. Wearner, nowretired, is volunteer chaplain at the Moberly Regional Medical Center, Moberly, Missouri.George and his family did not seem to adjust to life in the gaucho state in south Brazil. Within

four years they were ready to move on to the province of Entre Rios in Argentina In theCrespo area near the Parana River they found a large colony of German farmers with whomthey soon felt at home. The rolling farmland was fertile, and life seemed good in a placewhere their neighbors spoke German and practiced their customs. However, a lovingheavenly Father had something else in mind. Crop failures caused by a grasshopper plaguemade them want to move again.3 His brother, Frederick, prosper- ing in the wheat country of mid-America, sent letters inviting George to join him. Promise of abundant harvests Duringthe decade of their separation, Fred and his family had grown wheat and corn in MarionCounty in east-central Kansas. By August, 1883, Fred had been able to buy a farm of his ownnear the village of Hillsboro.4 The rich soil, until recently covered with prairie grass, gave

promise of abundant harvests, with a rainfall of more than 30 inches annually. Fred felt quiteat home with his German-speaking Mennonite, Lutheran, and Baptist neighbors, many of whom also had immigrated from Russia.5 George and his family embarked for North Americain 1885, and found land to farm near Tampa, a short distance north of Hillsboro, in theSunflower State. The new immigrant family had barely settled onto their farm when an eventoccurred that changed their lives completely, L. R. Conradi, a 29-year-old German evangelistfrom Michigan, assisted by S. S. Shrock, the resident Adventist pastor, held tent meetings inHillsboro and Lehigh. In a report in the REVIEW, Conradi praised God for the excellentresponse. Two churches were organized with a total of 252 members.6 Both Riffel familiesattended the meetings regularly, thrilled with the messages on Bible prophecy. When theevangelist made his appeal to accept Christ and obey all His commandments, they gladly


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responded. Apparently Frederick and Christina had already read Adventist books beforeConradi arrived, since one account mentions a German colporteur.7 As George cultivated therich Kansas soil he thought of his friends back in Argentina. He wrote them enthusiasticletters, not only about his life in a new land but also about his newfound faith, sending tractsand books about Bible prophecy, the coming of Jesus, and the Sabbath. In time he receivedletters from Entre Ri'os revealing that the gospel seed had fallen on fertile ground. But therewas no one to teach them and to show them how to keep the Sabbath.8 George Riffel was aman of prayer. He, Maria, and David earnestly petitioned their heavenly Father for guidance.The answer came back, "Go back to Argentina. Return to South America as a lay evangelist."Young David, now a husky 15-year-old, was baptized in 1888 and willingly cooperated in themissionary adventure. George began to share his convictions with fellow church members.Fred had ten children by that time, so chose to remain in Kansas, but George and his familyand three other German families the Oswald Pricks, the Adam Zimmer- manns, and theAugust Yankes sold out and organized a missionary band dedicated to carrying the Advent

message to Argentina.9 After harvesting the crops in the fall of 1889, the four intrepidfamilies packed their trunks. To transport such a company of self-supporting missionariesfrom the prairies of Mid-America to Entre Rios, Argentina, was no easy task. After a longocean voyage the weary travelers disembarked in Buenos Aires. When the three new familieswere delayed by a long immigration process, the Riff els traveled north to Entre Rios withoutthem, ascending the Parana River to the little port of Diamante.10 As they disembarked on aFriday afternoon in 1890, Reinhardt Hetze a German friend from Russia who arrived afterthe Riffels left for Kansas stepped up to greet them.11 Hetze loaded the three laymissionaries into his farm wagon and started out for his home at Barranca Blanca, some tenmiles away. As they bumped along the rough road George pulled out his Bible and gave his

friend a Bible study on the Sabbath A year after George Riffe! arrived in Argentina, 20 peoplewere keeping the Sab- bath, The first church for Argentinians was organized on September9,1894, with 36 members. doctrine.12 Reinhardt had heard about the Sabbath previously buthad delayed obedience. Now he took his stand, and continued to keep the Sabbath until hisdeath 50 years later.13 How interesting it would have been to look in on that first Sabbathschool in the South American Division! The members of the Hetze family willingly cooperated.One of the youngest was their 4-year-old daughter, Hannah, who many years laterremembered that the subject of the Bible lesson was "Adam and Eve." w Perhaps, lackingquarter- lies, Riffel decided to start with Genesis. Cheered with this initial success, the Riffelsset about to evangelize the community in the area of Crespo. Soon the other three Kansasfarmers arrived and found land to plant in wheat and com. They organized an Adventist villagethat they called La Isla ("The Island"), an area between two creeks. Here eight other families

joined the four from Kansas.15 Within a year, 20 people now keeping the Sabbath felt theneed of a pastor.16 Elder L. C. Chadwick, from the General Conference, paid them a brief visitin July, 1892, and carried back to Battle Creek their earnest appeal for a German- speakingminister. As a result Frank H. Westphal and his family were sent in 1894." Winter arrivalArriving in the dead of winter (August) in Buenos Aires, the new pastor embarked on ariverboat for Diamante, leaving his family in the care of colporteur leader R. B. Craig. Cold andhalf sick, Westphal finally arrived at the Adventist village. The company of believers received

their new pastor with open arms. Immediately they sent an invitation to all their neighbors tocome to a meeting that very night. After an hour Westphal closed the service, inviting the


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large group to return the following night. No one moved. "The congregation . . . gazed at mewith truth-hungry eyes, desiring to hear more," he later wrote. The young evangelist preachedanother sermon and again dismissed the people. Once more no one moved. They insisted on athird sermon! Finally, at one o'clock in the morning, the exhausted preacher persuaded thepeople to go home. But he was happy, because "quite a number were converted that firstnight." ls After two weeks Frank Westphal organized in Crespo a church of 36 members. Thus,on September 9, 1894, was born the first Seventh-day Adventist church in Argentina and thefirst in the South American Division. The new converts were baptized in a little creek that ranclose by their homes. With a rapidly growing membership the group soon felt the need for achurch building. Reinhardt Hetze donated land near the town of Jacobi for the new chapel,which was built of adobe brick made by the members. During the seasons when work wasslack on their farms, everyone turned out to help, including some non-Adventist neighborswho donated their time. Soon the walls were up and a grass roof in place. The hardenedearth served as a floor in the new chapel, which provided room for 100 worshipers, on

backless benches made from planks. The children had no separate room. All met together,the adults sitting quietly while the little ones had their lesson, then taking their turn. In warmweather the children had their class outside under the trees. In place of a platform or pulpit,this first chapel had a table and chairs at the front of the room. All services were in German.Since their minister seldom was present, Riffel or some other layman usually preached thesermon. That pioneer church group used this adobe building for about a decade until theyconstructed a brick church in another location.19 In 1896 David Riffel, George and Maria'sonly son, now 23, married Julia Weiss, daughter of one of the charter families. The marriageproduced 16 children 13 sons and three daughters, all but two of whom have been faithfulAdventists. Five sons became ordained ministers. Some 22 of their grandchildren became

workers in God's cause.20

Several other charter families also produced missionaries, including a dozen or more of Hetze's descendants. The oldest son of Frederick, the brother who remained in NorthAmerica, became a minister, and his two sons worked in the Far East. Other North AmericanRiffels also have made contributions to the work of the church. The Lord of the harvest hasblessed His work in South America. After nine decades the membership of the pioneer Crespochurch has been multiplied by 17,000 throughout the division territory. Instead of 36members, more than half a million Adventists await the coming of Jesus. "This is the Lord'sdoing; it is marvellous in our eyes" (Ps. 118:23).D

REFERENCES 1 Catherine II ruled Russia from 1762 to 1796. The daughter of a Germanprinceling, she came to Russia at the age of 15 to marry the heir presumptive. She seizedpower at 33 and promoted large-scale foreign colonization. Germans set up colonies in thesouth at that time. Because of labor surpluses, many of their descendants emigrated to theAmericas a century later. See The New Encyclopaedia Britannica Macropaedia, vol. 16, pp. 53,54, 63.

2 La Revista Adventista, June 21, 1937; U.S. census, Marion County, Kansas, 1880.

3 South America Today, November-December, 1974.


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4 Property title records, Marion County, Kansas. 3 An excellent description of the area wherethe Riffels settled is to be found in Sondra Van Meter's Marion County, Kansas, Past andPresent.

6 Review and Herald, Jan. 13 and Nov. 17, 1885; see also Aug. 12, 1920.

7 La Revista Adventista, April, 1966.

8 The Home Missionary, December, 1895.

9 South America Today, November-December, 1974.

10 Juan Riffel letter to the author, April 8,1984.

11 La Revista Adventista, April, 1917; April 1,1940. There exists another tradition that Hetzewas a total stranger to Riffel and that they met by chance. See Review and Herald, Aug. 12,

1920.12 Juan Riffel letter to the author, April 8, 1984. 13 La Revista Adventista, April 1, 1940.

14 Interview with Mrs. Hannah Hetze Bernhardt, Feb. 2, 1964. 15 Ibid.

16 See Review and Herald, Jan. 5, 1892.

17 SDA Encyclopedia, p. 69.

18 F. H. Westphal, Pioneering in the Neglected Continent, pp. 14, 15; Review and Herald, Oct.30, 1894; South America Today, November-December, 1974.

19 A description of the first chapel was given the author by Hetze's daughter, HannahBernhardt, February 2, 1964.

20 La Revista Adventista, June 21,1937; letter from Juan Riffel, Feb. 24, 1984. 13 de setembrode 1984 p.4-6

Crespo, Argentina, Church

Reviews 80-Year History

Santiago Riffel, left, oldest grandson of the pioneer missionary to

South America, listens as Godofredo Dali

questions asked by lose Rrffel, another


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, ,

South America, listens as Godofredo Dalinger, center, answers some

of the pioneer's grandsons.

By H. J. PEVERINI

MEMBERS of the Crespo

church, Entre Rios, Argen-

tina, oldest church in the

South American Division, re-

viewed their heritage during

their church's eightieth anni-

versary celebration, Septem-

ber 6 and 7. Among them was

Godofredo Dalinger, 93, last

person alive to remember the

church's beginnings in 1894.

In the audience were repre-

sentatives from the South

American Division, Austral

Union, Buenos Aires Pub-

lishing House, River Plate Col-


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lege, River Plate Sanitarium,

Centra] Argentine Confer-

ence, and several other

churches in the conference as

well as the local congrega-

tion.

Jorge Riffel was the first lay

preacher in the South Ameri-

can Division. In 1876 he emi-

grated from Russia to Brazil

with his wife and son, David.

In 1880 he moved to Entre

Rios, where two years before,

several Russian-born Ger-

mans had settled. Discouraged

by successive invasions of

locusts, he decided a few years

H. J. Peverini is field secretary

of the South American Divi-

sion.

later to move to the United

States.


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In Tampa, Kansas, he

prospered. There he accepted

the Adventist faith through

L. R. Conradi. He was bap-

tized in 1888. He then returned

to Entre Rios at great cost to

share his faith with his friends

and acquaintances there. But

before he left, he persuaded

three more Seventh-day Ad-

ventist families to join him

and move to Argentina with

the same purpose. They were

Oswaldo and Eva Frick, Au-

gusto Yanke and his wife, and

Adam and H. Eva Zimmer-

mann and their daughters,

Lidia and Maria.

Fruitful were the missionary

endeavors of Jorge Riffel and

his companions. Soon a com-

pany of Sabbathkeepers the

core of the historic Crespo

church was formed.

In response to letters


13/36


14/36

field of labor. He arrived at the

port of Diamante at midnight,

August 26. Nobody was there

to receive him.

Finally, after two days, he

arrived at the Jorge Riffel

home. The meeting was a

happy one. Brother Dalinger,

then 13, was a witness. The

news of his arrival spread

through the settlement and

that night he was asked to

preach three successive ser-

mons.

The next few days Elder

Westphal had but little rest.

He made visits to the farmers

in the daytime, then held meet-

ings every night. After bap-

tizing those who were pre-

pared, mainly by Mr. Riffel

and his helpers, on September

9 he organized the Crespo

church with 36 charter mem-

bers.


15/36

Three years later, in June,

1897, that first church was 116

members strong at a time when

the total membership of the

Seventh-day Adventist

Church in Argentina, Para-

guay, and Uruguay was only

235.

Elder Westphal wrote about

the Crespo church in the Sep-

tember 4, 1900, REVIEW AND

HERALD: "We hope that this

church will send very soon

many workers to the vast

field of harvest."

His hopes were fulfilled.

Seventy-nine missionaries

(15 of them ministers, includ-

ing five grandsons of the pio-

neer Jorge Riffel) and others

physicians, church workers,

and teachers have gone out


16/36

from the Crespo church.

The pioneers, almost all of

them laymen, expected the

second coming of Christ in

their day. This accounts for

their missionary zeal. When

they were through with their

sowing and harvesting duties,

they harnessed their horses to

their carts, loaded the carts

with Bibles, magazines, and

books, and spent weeks jour-

neying and preaching.

In memory of these pio-

neers, the Crespo church has

opened a museum of the his-

tory of the church. But they

think today of the future as

well as of the past.

As they listened to a mes-

sage based upon the first

verses of the book of Joshua

delivered by Jose Tabuenca,

Austral Union president,


17/36

they resolved to stand up, by

God's grace, and exert to the

utmost their capabilities to

hasten the entrance into the

Promised Land. D

R&H, JANUARY 2, 1975 (23) 23

REACHED Buenos Ayres Friday morning, July8, only stopping at Montevideo a few hours.Brethren Snyder and Nowlen happened to be in thecity after books, but brother Stauffer, whose work has been several hundred miles north, has not beenin the city since last January. I spent the Sabbathand two other days with the brethren, in consultation,then they left for the country to make somedeliveries, and I started for a journey of a monthor more in the:northern provinces. . My visit occupied nearly five weeks, during whichtime I visited our German brethren in the provinceof Entre Rios, and the French brethren inthe province of Santa Fa". I was with the Germanbrethren two Sabbaths, although the time during

the week was partly spent in another place.Owing to the poor mail facilities, brother Staufferdid not get my letters in time to join me there atmy first visit, so my work with them had to bedone in English and Spanish, some of them understandinga little of each language. Thesecond Sabbath brother Stauffer joined me, andinterpreted for me into German. During' mytwo visits to this German colony, 1 preachedeight times, besides holding four meetings for counseland general instruction. Some of these brethrencame here from Kansas, and have had no privilegesof this kind since, while others came directfrom Russia, and had,never heard any preachingby one of our ministers. I think I never enjoyedbetter freedom in trying to preach the word. Ourmeetings were held in the mud house of one of thebrethren, and were well attended by their neighbors.There are eight families of Sabbath-keepers inthe colony, and as their houses are all within callingdistance of each other, they are very convenientlysituated for meetings. The last Sunday wewere with them, two of the brethren were chosenas leaders of the company, and a third one fortreasurer. A superintendent was elected for theirSabbath-school, and as they had just received theirfirst copies of' a club of the Hausfreund, they will

have their Sabbath-school lessons from it.I did not think best, under the circumstances,to organize a ehurch,as they need more instruction


18/36

than I was able to give them, and they will waitpatiently for a German laborer to be sent to thatfield, who will find many open doors for laboramong the German colonies.In company with brother Stauffer, 1 made ashort visit to the French brethren. Not being ableto speak French, our work with them had to bedone in Spanish, which they understand well. Ipreached 'once at the house of brother FlorisMatto, and held two meetings for consultation.Brother Brooking, who has recently accepted thetruth in Buenos Ayres, and who is now canvassing,was with us here. He has been seven years in Argentine,and bids fair to be a useful man in the canvassingfield.I made a short visit to the borders of Paraguay,and picked up a good deal of useful informationconcerning these fields, which I hope to place beforethe next General Conference.After my return to Buenos Ayres, I spent several

days there in consultation with the brethren, visitinga family named Post, during the time, over theriver in Uruguay. Mr. Post is a brother of sisterLucy Post of Minnesota, and Mrs. Post is a cousinto sister Reeder of Washington. They have livedin this vicinityfor twenty-seven years. While there,I met an English family that had not heard a sermonfor twenty-six years. There are many openingshere for labor.I stopped at Montevideo long enough to makesatisfactory arrangements for a reduction of dutieson our books into Uruguay, then came back toRio, where I am now writing, and expect to takea steamer to-day (Sept. 13) for England, fromwhence I will sail for Africa.I have been in Brazil now two weeks, and havemade the best possible use of the time. I havebeen impressed with the immensity of these fields.Here in Brazil, Portuguese is the prevailing language,but it is so nearly like the Spanish that Iget along without difficulty.Although thousands of miles from home, I oftenmeet people in my travels who are well acquaintedwith those I know a.t home. A few months ago Imet a gentleman on a steamer, who had just comefrom Battle Creek, Mich., and several times havemet another gentleman from California, who knows

our work there, and who is acquainted with someof our people in Battle Creek. So, although theworld is large, the present facilities for travel enableone to find friends from home in almost anypart of it. L, C. CHADWICK,P. S. My address until Dec. 15 will be 451 HollowayRoad, London, N., Eng.

18 10 1892 p.651

BARBADOES.


19/36

RETURNED to BarbadoeB from British Guiana,

May 21, since which time I have been engaged in

labor here.

This is in some respects a remarkable little isl-

and. With an area of only one hundred and sixty-

Six square miles, it has a population of 178,000, or

to average of 1,059 to the square mile. I think

there are only one or two other islands or countries

jn the world, that have so dense a population. The

island is quite level, as compared with neighboring

ones, and is very thoroughly cultivated. Sugar is

the principal export, and is Shipped in large quan-

tities.

Barbadoes is the center or headquarters of the

'inter-colonial steamship lines, and the transatlantic

steamers nearly all stop here. Bridgetown is the

capital, and is an interesting city. Its streetB are

harrow, and very crooked. They wind about like

the trail of a serpent. It has a good street-car, or

"tramway" service, many fine buildings, and yet

much of poverty and want.

Elder Ball organized a small church here last


20/36

year, with which I have been holding some meet-

ings, as well as preaching a few times in other places

of worship. I have done a good deal of visiting

among the correspondents of the International

Tract Society, and have been trying to close up all

,my correspondence pertaining to this West Indian

field before leaving for another. In my report to

the Mission Board, I have asked for a minister and

his wife to be located at Barbadoes, to have charge

of the work in the Windward Islands, where there

are so many encouraging openings.

: I expect to leave here June 12, for Rio Janeiro,

Brazil.'-This will be a steamer voyage of twenty

days. We will touch at Para, Pernambuco, and

Bahia., on the way down. At Bio Janeiro I expect

to receive mail again, and shall then go on by first

opportunity to join our brethren in Argentine Re-

public. L. C. CHADWICK.

5 de julho de 1891 p 427

30 de junho de 1891 p. 405

RIO DE JANEIRO.

ALL who have traveled across the seas have

heard of the unsurpassed beauty of the Rio de

Janeiro Bay. For every sailor praises it as be-


21/36

ing the acme of perfection in land and water

scenery. It has but two rivals in the world,

Sydney in Australia, and Nagasaki in Japan.

Nitherohi, meaning "hidden water," was the

name given to the bay by the natives. The en-

trance is only a mile wide, while the bay itself is

100 miles in circumference. It is pear-shape,

the long and narrow entrance forming, as it were,

the neck of the fruit. It is surrounded on all

sides by hills of .varied contour, which enhance

its beauty a thousand-fold. On the left of the

entrance, looking landward, is a great, precipi-

tous rock, known as the Sugar Loaf. It is only

1,300 feet high, but so steep and smooth are its

sides that it has never been climbed, except by

two or three bold adventurers. The bay is be-

spangled with numerous islands, and the shores

are deeply-indented.

The streets of Rio run every way, up and down

little valleys, round the edge of the bay. True,

the streets of the old business part of the town

run at right angles. These are on a level piece

of ground jutting out into the bay. They are

very narrow, generally not more than ten feet

wide, paved with "Belgian blocks," with an


22/36

open drain running down the center, so that the

street, instead of being high in the center and

lower at the sides, is made vice versa.

Some of the streets are so narrow that carriages

are not allowed on them at all. The sidewalks

are on the same level with the street, so that vehi-

cles frequently drive on the pavements, almost

grazing the store fronts, and 'forcing pedestrians

to jump into the nearest doorway. "Thejiouses

which border these streets are very picturesque.

No two are alike. They range from two to four

stories in hight, and are in every style of archi-

tecture, though all have little projecting balconies,

and many have alcoves- on the upper flights.

Some of the larger and handsomer stores and

public buildings are built of cut stone, a sort of

granite; others have door and window frames of

stone, and the remainder is of brick and stucco."

The walls of many of the houses are gaily col-

ored, reminding the traveler forcibly of some of

the towns in Oriental countries. They are red,

yellow, brown, and pink, with variegated trim-

mings.

The "street scenes" of Rio are many and


23/36

varied. Brazilians, like Orientals, spend much

of their time on the streets. At almost any hour

of the day the business streets are filled witl

men; they do not appear excited or busy, bu;

stand quietly talking to one another in littli

groups. Walk along the private streets, am

you will notice the heads, and most of the bodie,

also, of women hanging over the window-sills,

and minutely scrutinizing every passer-by. Curi.

osity is a wide-spread disease in Brazil. Mer

chants stand in the door-ways of their stores, am

gaze at every passer-by as if he or she were th> ,

very first human being they had ever seen. Franirj

Vincent, in his chapter on "Street Scenes," ex.;/

presses the condition of business customs quit ; ,;

graphically. Speaking of the merchants, h[ |

says: ' j

They treat a customer with a most nonchalant air, a'

if tliey cared nothing for his money in comparison to,

quiet, lazy life. Sometimes the shop-keepers reply ,a

once to your inquiry, that they have not the article whic.'

you wish, and if afterward you discover it, they meref

smile and arch their eyebrows. Frequently if you as; -

for a particular thing, they will direct you to a larj|S|


24/36

case or cabinet, and, opening it, motion you to s"'

out of the door, smoking a little paper cigar, or jokifl "-.

with a friend. No matter how much or how frequent!

you buy, they allow no discount. If you object to a

extortionate price, they repeat it, and simply shrug the;

shoulders ; whether you buy or not, it is quite the sam

to them. Another exasperation to a foreigner is- to fin

a shop closed on account of its being one of the man

feast-days, or perhaps the alleged business hours hav

not begun, or maybe they are over.

The citizens of Rio are not a reading people

To study and improve the mind, they care no!

So their minds become inactive, they have no ii

tense interest in anything special; hence this pn

miscuous street-gazing. But "some allowance .

must be made," says Frank Vincent, " especial!

for the women. Their servants relieve them c

all household work. There is not much marke;.'

ing to do ; the houses contain but a little f urnitui;;

to care for; they do not read ; and society prdaijvff

that generally, unless accompanied by h'usbarifH

or other male relative, they must remain quiet! ^

at home. Without tastes to gratify, without r>

sources in themselves, they arc literally driven t

pass quite one half of their lives hanging over .


25/36

window-sill, or lounging on a balcony." /^-~ w;J

Although Rio is one of the fairest cities


26/36

The botanical gardens have a world-wide fam

The most beautiful tropical foliage is there to 1

seen. The avenue of Royal Palms is lovely t.:

yond description. P. T. M.

I REACHED Buenos Ayres Friday morning, July

8, only stopping at Montevideo a few hours.

Brethren Snydei- and Nowlen happened to be in the

city after books, but brother Stauffer, whose work

has been several hundred miles north, has not been

in the city since last January. I spent the Sab-

bath and two other days with the brethren, in consul-

tation, then they left for the country to make some

deliveries, and I started for a journey of a month

or more in the northern provinces.

My visit occupied nearly five weeks, during which

time I visited our German brethren in the prov-

ince of Entre Bios, and the French brethren in

the province of Santa Fe". I was with the German

brethren two Sabbaths, although the time dur-

ing the week was partly spent in another place.

Owing to the poor mail facilities, brother Stauffer

did not get my letters in time to join me there at

my first visit, so my work with them had to be

done in English and Spanish, some of them un-


27/36

derstanding a little of each language. The

second Sabbath brother Stauffer joined me, and

interpreted for me into German. During' my

two visits to this German colony, 1 preached

eight times, besides holding four meetings for coun-

sel and general instruction. Some of these breth-

ren came here from Kansas, and have had no privi-

leges of this kind since, while others came direct

from Eussia, and had, never heard any preaching

by one of our ministers. I think I never enjoyed

better freedom in trying to preach the word. Our

meetings were held in the mud house of one of the

brethren, and were well attended by their neigh-

bors.

There are eight families of Sabbath-keepers in

the colony, and as their houses are all within call-

ing distance of each other, they are very conven-

iently situated for meetings. The last Sunday we

were with them, two of the brethren were chosen

as leaders of the company, and a third one for

treasurer. A superintendent was elected for their

Sabbath-school, and as they had just received their

first copies of a club of the Haufsfreund, they will

have their Sabbath-school lessons from it.

I did not think best, under the circumstances,


28/36

to organize a church, as they need more instruction

than I was able to give them, and they will wait

patiently for a German laborer to be sent to that

field, who will find many open doors for labor

among the German colonies.

In company with brother Stauffer, 1 made a

short visit to the French .brethren. Not being able

to speak French, our work with them had to be

done in Spanish, which they understand well. I

preached 'once at the house of brother Floris

Mate'0, and held two meetings for consultation.

Brother Brooking, who has recently accepted the

truth in Buenos Ayres, and who is now canvassing,

was with us here. He has been seven years in Ar-

gentine, and bids fair to be a useful man in the can-

vassing field.

I made a short visit to the borders of Paraguay,

and picked up a good deal of useful information

concerning these fields, which I hope to place before

the next General Conference.

After my return to Buenos Ayres, I spent several

days there in consultation with the brethren, visit-

ing a family named Post, during the time, over the


29/36

river in Uruguay. Mr. Post is a brother of sister

Lucy Post of Minnesota, and Mrs. Post is a cousin

to sister Ileeder of Washington. They have lived

in this vicinity for twenty-seven years. While there,

I met an English family that had not heard a ser-

mon for twenty-six years. There are many open-

ings here for labor.

I stopped at Montevideo long enough to make

satisfactory arrangements for a reduction of duties

on our books into Uruguay, then came back to

Rio, where I am now writing, and expect to take

a steamer to-day (Sept. 13) for England, from

whence I will sail for Africa.

I have been in Brazil now two weeks, and have

made the best possible use of the time. I have

been impressed with the immensity of these fields,

Here in Brazil, Portuguese is the prevailing lan-

guage, but it is so nearly like the Spanish that I

get along without difficulty.

Although thousands of miles from home, I often

meet people in my travels who are well acquainted

with those I know a.t home. A few months ago I

met a gentleman on a steamer, who had just come

from Battle Creek, Mich., and several times have


30/36

met another gentleman from Calif ornia, who knows

our work there, and who is acquainted with some

of our people in Battle Creek. So, although the

world is large, the present facilities for travel en-

able one to find friends from home in almost any

part of it. L. C, CHADWICK.

P. S. My address until Dec. 15 will be 451 Hol-

loway Road, London, N., Eng.

18 de outubro de 1892 p651

MEXICO.

I SPENT the time from Oct. 16 to Nov. 5, in

Mexico. I stopped on the border at Nuevo Laredo,

till Tuesday morning, Oct. 19, and found my friend

Hon. Mr. Button, the Consul-general, very glad to

do anything in his power to make my stay pleasant

and profitable. His acquaintance in the country

during the past twelve years enables him to give

much valuable information concerning it. Nuevo

Laredo is a city of about 8,000 inhabitants, and

Mr. Button's family are the only English-speaking

residents. They are separated by the Bio Grande

Elver from Laredo, Tex., a larger city, in Which,

however, the Mexicans and Spanish are in the ma-


31/36

jority. While there, I preached to a good congre-

gation in the M. E. church at Laredo, Sunday

evening, by invitation of the pastor, Rev. Mr.

Oxley.

I took a mixed train from Laredo to Monterey,,

in order to see as much of the country as possible.,

The only through train goes over this part of the

route in the night. We saw some beautiful scenery,

and made good progress in climbing the mountains,1

although we were fourteen and 'one-half hours if

making the distance of 168 miles, with two, engines:

I stopped in Monterey two nights and one day,-

seeing much that was of interest and use. My prin,

cipal thought was to learn how we can best plan t


32/36

trip with two engines. This scenery surpassed ahj

thing that I had supposed was to be found in thi

part of America. I stopped here until the nej

morning, and then took the fast train for San Luj

Potosi. This is a distance of 250 miles, and --vi

were only nine and one-half hours in reaching th,.

city. The scenery was not as fine as that former|

seen, as the mountains were farther apart, and tK

valleys between were under a better state of cul|

vation. It seemed strange to see them plowing

with from ten to thirteen yoke of oxen in a singp

field, all with the old fashioned wooden plows, ail

only one handle. The priests tell them that tJ[

American plows will poison the ground, and mar'

of them believe it. Even the few American plo^

that I did see, had the beam- handle sawed off, ;

they consider it an unnecessary part of the imp,'

ment.

I found comfortable quarters before Sabbath,

the Hotel de San Fernando, and prepared to remft till Sunday eyening. During my stay here Iformed

the acquaintance of the Baptist and Methodist mis-

sionaries, and attended the closing exercises of the

M. E. College,, eyening after the Sabbath. The

Presbyterian^ also have a mission established here.

Each of these denominations maintain regular Sun-

day services in the Spanish language, and in the


33/36

afternoon have a service in English at the M. E.

College for such Americans as wish to attend. I

declined an urgent request to speak through an in-

terpreter to the native congregation in the morning,

and finally promised to speak in the afternoon to the

.Americans, which I did. There was a good attend-

ance, although it was somewhat embarrassing to

speak to strangers, with four ministers present,

among them one presiding elder and one college

president, but the Lord aided me, and I felt that some

.-.prejudice was removed. I left for the train at the

; close of service, with the hearty good wishes of many.

Here I met a young ma.n in whose case I was much in-

terested, and who with a little assistance from some of

our brethren Who have means that they want to use

in educating laborers, might be assisted to spend

some time in our College, where I am sure he would

develop into a useful man. This is an important

city in which we should soon be at work.

Leaving San Luis Potosi at 5 p. M. , Sunday, I

reached the City of Mexico Monday, at about the

same time. I went to the hotel San Carlos, and

then started in search of the Baptist Mission at

515 North 10th St., to which place my mail had

been sent for some days. Here I met Mr. and

Mrs. Steelmau; who are the special friends of Miss


34/36

Osborne, our Spanish teacher at Battle Creek.

They received me very cordially, and during my

eight days' stay in the city, did all that was in

their power to make it pleasant for me. My visit

here was fruitful of much good in the acquaintance

I made with the customs of the people and the

methods and experience of other denominations.

There are many good openings for starting our

work, as soon, as publications can be prepared in

the Spanish language. Especially is there need of

medical missionary work, and the circulation of

health and temperance literature in this language.

While here, I preached once in the Baptist church

to a native congregation, Mr. Steelman acting as

interpreter, and Sunday morning I spoke at the

union service for Americans, by invitation of Eev.

Mr. Brown, the Presbyterian minister, who was to

Lave preached on that day. I also attended their

Friday evening prayer meeting, and assisted in the

Y. M. C. A. meeting, Snnday evening. I was glad

5f the opportunities of becoming acquainted with

these laborers, and to Rev. Mr. Steelman [ feel

ftiat I am greatly indebted for many kindnesses

ftnd favors shown. As space will forbid a descrip-

tion of this great city, with its 325,000 or more of

JSpanish-spesiking people, I will not undertake it,

but will submit something more definite later for


35/36

the Home Missionary, and the Foreign Mission de-

partment of the REVIEW, and to the Mission Board.

One thing is emphatically fixed in my mind. Here

is a great Republic, joining the United States, with

more than 11,000,000 people, almost a sixth part

as many as are found in the United States, and we

have -not a laborer here.

I left the capital city the morning of Nov. 2,

and had a very pleasant trip down to the coast at

jjVera Cruz. One can hardly imagine such a change

pin the climate. Mexico is in a highr altitude, and

,fthe air is thin and cool. Vera Crnz is on the sea,

land is a genuine tropical place. Here 1 had to

jiwait till Thursday afternoon for a vessel to Havana.

H had hoped Jo find some reasonably direct passage

ffo Ruatan'or British or Spanish Honduras, but was

fjdisappointed. The only way was to go to Havana,

istnd from there to New Orleans, and from there di-

ect to Ruatan. I feel that it was providential

jhat this was so, otherwise I should -not have

risited Cuba at all, and Cuba is indeed an impor-

tant factor in the Spanish fields for missionary

. I was in Havana three days, and made the

best of my time there.

I am now on the Island of Ruatan, having spent


36/36

;,weive nights and eleven days on the water, ou

different steamers, and although the sea was

juite rough part of the time, and nearly all the

passengers were seasick, I am happy to report that

;hua far I have been entirely free from the first

jiymptoms of this unpleasant experience. This is a

beautiful island, and I find our work in a better

Condition thaii 1 expected. I will report in regard

"o it later. I feel to praise the Lord for the man-

ier in which he has opened the way thus far on my

bng journey. L. C. CHADWICK.

22 dezembro 1891 p.795-796

1888 Bem aventurados os que semeiam em todas as águas

Documents

Transcript of 1888 Bem aventurados os que semeiam em todas as águas