Less that two years ago the publishing of the “Messages of Love” in Spanish was begun again, after it had been discontinued, as those having it in hand were unable to go on with it. At that time one thousand copies were being sent out weekly, to forty receivers, twenty in this country, and twenty in Mexico and South America. When the work was taken up again, it was decided to send the paper out monthly, and during the first eight months, two thousand per month were sent out, and the next eight months, four thousand per month. The demand for the little paper kept on increasing, so that the third issue amounted to six thousand copies per month for eight months. The next issue, which it is hoped, D. V. will be ready by May, will be ten thousand copies per month.
The cost of publishing and distributing the papers has been met by money sent in by different gatherings, and individuals in fellowship, and hitherto has always been sufficient to cover the entire cost and a little over.
The paper is now being sent to 47 persons in the United States, and to 70 persons in foreign lands—mostly missionaries. Mexico, Central and South America, West Indies, Hawaii, Canary Islands, Spain and Morocco are among the countries now receiving them. These missionaries are too poor to pay for the paper, and give it as freely as they receive it.
Letters are constantly being received from those to whom the paper is sent, expressing much appreciation and gratitude, and in most cases asking for more, so that we can see that hands are being stretched out in these lands of comparative darkness, ignorance and superstition, for the little paper, and there is thus an ever-widening field for the sowing of the, precious seed in this way. Very many earnest Christian laborers are only too anxious to get all they can, for use in their different fields of labor, and it is surely a privilege to be able to furnish it to them.
The advisability of issuing the paper weekly instead of monthly, has been under consideration, and of course, if this should be decided upon, the cost would be considerably more than at present. The harvest is great, and the laborers few. The effort may be small, as viewed in the light of the vastness of the field, but the hearty welcome accorded the little paper wherever it has fallen into the hands of lovers of the truth, may well stimulate in the hearts of those who have the Lord’s interest at all at heart, an interest in its publication.
Guatemala City, Guatemala, C. A.
Dear Miss Ulrich:
We have recently received two packages of fifty each, of “Mensajes de Amor,” for the months of March and April. Many thanks for them. We appreciate them very much. Except for the “Manzanas de Oro” (Apples of Gold), we have no literature for the children in the Spanish language, and to my mind your paper fills a very real need. It is so good also for personal work in evangelizing, and I would be most pleased if you can continue the grant you make us, and increase it if possible.
We have started recently the “Liga Uno Por Día” (One a Day League), which consists in giving at least one tract a day, trying to lead people to Christ; and we need many good evangelistic tracts. The distributors are much encouraged, and we hope to do a great work that way.
Praying God’s richest blessing upon your great work, I am
Very sincerely yours, E. D. H.
Arequipa—Peru, South America.
Dear Madam:
I was most delighted the other day to receive a roll of “Mensajes de Amor,” and I should be very grateful for any quantity however small or however great, you could make me a grant of. I am using vast quantities of sound tracts.
Gratefully yours, J. W. S.
Puerto Cabello, Venezuela,
South America.
My dear Sister in Christ:
When I was in Caracas last week, a brother gave me a copy of “Mensajes de Amor,” but he could not tell me how you sent it, so that I take the liberty of writing to ask if you could send us a hundred monthly?
We are here in connection with work done in the Lord’s name, and we have all the States of Carabobo and Yaracuy to ourselves, and have nine missionaries, who give all their time to the Lord’s work, and one colporteur. We have also four missionaries working in the Federal district.
The Lord is blessing the work wonderfully here, and we have never seen the fields so bright. There are open doors on every hand, and a thirst for good gospel literature.
With Christian love and greeting, I remain
Yours in His love and service, W. W.
Translated from Spanish.
Rosario, Argentine, S. A.
Dear Sister in Christ:
I acknowledge with deep gratitude the fifty “Messages of Love,” which you have so kindly sent me. I have confidence in God, our Heavenly Father, that He will greatly bless this precious seed, which in the name of the Lord shall be sown, accompanied by our prayers, and watered by our tears.
As to the work about here in this vast country, we preach in the open air during the whole year. The ground is hard, but thanks to God, He enables us to raise our weak voice to announce the good news of His grace, and from time to time, He concedes to us the great privilege of seeing some souls at His feet, to receive pardon and peace, with the precious gift of God, life eternal in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This year God has been working. In November we visited a small town, an hour and a half’s journey from here. We met there a soul who had been blessed of the Lord, who received us into his house. The same day we had a meeting in the midst of this vast country of farmers, followed by visits nearly every Sunday. Now there are eight families, large and small, rejoicing in the Lord.
Your brother in Christ.
P. G. S.
Barquisimeto, Venezuela,
South America.
Dear Sister in Christ:
We are in receipt of two packages of the precious little paper, “Mensajes de Amor,” and we do truly thank you so very much for them. We like their simple message so much for this simple people, and shall always welcome them.
Our work here in Barquisimeto is only a little over a year old, we felt the call of God on us for six years before we obeyed His call to us, and in answer to this disobedience we have to hear the words many times: “Why did you not come sooner?” They cannot understand why we did not come sooner, as long as we knew that they were in idolatry, but we are suffering this cry, because of our disobedience.
God has already called out a very goodly company from idolatry and image worship, to serve a living God. In fact the quarters in which we are, are beginning to be too crowded, and we are looking to Him for further direction.
We do thank you so much for your prayer for this needy, neglected field, and may He continue to put real prayer of the Spirit on you for this needy field.
With Christian love to you, from both my wife and myself, I am
Your brother in Christ’s service,
G. F. B.
Algeciras, (Cadiz) Spain. Dear Sister:
‘Ere the year closes we desire to send on a note of thanks for the packet of “Mensajes de Amor,” which have been received by us month by month. They make a fine, interesting paper for young people, and are appreciated by those who receive them; we also post a few copies to isolated believers’ families, and others interested in the gospel; today I am sending several copies to a Spanish family living in Morocco—parents are believers, also the eldest daughter, but there are several young ones in the family. We believe in sending round the printed work for young and old. It is still the power of God unto salvation to all who believe.
Perhaps an indication of how the above came to a knowledge of the truth might be an encouragement to you in your work for the Master. Through the testimony of a believer here, her neighbor (wife of a Carabinero) became interested in the gospel, and finally through hearing the word explained in little informal meetings held in the sister’s house, and visits made to her in her own, she professed faith in the Lord Jesus. Sometime afterward her husband was moved to a district, some six or eight leagues distant, where there were several other families of Carabineros. Well, the good woman did not seek to hide her light, but spoke freely to the others of the Lord Jesus Christ, being able also to introduce one or two Bibles amongst them. The Sergeant’s wife, especially, seemed interested. Then there was a visit from a colporteur, who sold to the Sergeant a Bible, and had quite a little meeting in his house, telling out the glad tidings of full and free salvation. Later the Sergeant was moved from one place to another, until they arrvied at Cartagena, where gospel work is carried on. By this time he was a Lieutenant. Whether they had made profession of faith in the Lord Jesus before, or after reaching Cartagena, I at present do not definitely know, but I understand their testimony there was good. In these days of “small things” in gospel work in Spain, we thank God for encouragement such as the foregoing offers; it should be a stimulus to believers to “let their light so shine.”
Accept of our hearty greetings for 1921; may you be abundantly blessed and encouraged in your service for the Master, and “Mensajes de Amor” be the means of carrying blessing and salvation to many hearts. If you could spare a few more copies, we can find a useful channel for the same.
Yours Gratefully in the gospel,
J. R.
San Francisco, Javierr 34, Santa Cruz, Tenerife,
Canary Islands.
Dear Sister in the Lord:
Having seen a copy of your “Mensajes de Amor,” I was very much impressed with it, and would like some more copies. In fact I have been hunting a paper similar to it for free distribution among the people here, especially at our regular services. The attendance at these services is from 100 to 150, and we need literature for them.
Our work just having been founded this spring, is meeting with more than expected success, and we are having to turn away pupils from our day school for lack of teachers.
One thing we are short of is tracts, gospels, Testaments, and Bibles. If you can spare any, please send them along. It would be a pity to let this most important part of the work suffer for lack of literature. We can use all that you can send. The people are very eager to get something to read, as they have very little literature, so if we can give them the gospel story, so much the better.
Hoping to hear from you as quickly as possible, and praying God’s richest blessing upon your labors for Him, I am,
Yours in the Lord’s Island service,
F. C. M.
San Francisco, Javier 34,
Santa Cruz, Tenerife,
Canary Islands.
Dear Miss Ulrich:
Your letter and also the “Mensajes de Amor,” later, were received and we thank you very much for them. It is indeed encouraging to know that those in the homeland are willing to stand behind us, who are trying to fight the Lord’s battles on the frontier. O, how anxious we are to push forward, and it does seem so slow sometimes. We realize, however, the greatness and difficulty of the task, and try to be patient and submissive to His will.
The “Mensajes” are just what we have been needing to distribute at our Sunday night meetings. I am sure God will bless the reading of them. The people accept readily all the printed pages we give them, and read them eagerly. You see there is very little good literature in Spanish, and besides the people are too poor to buy what there is, so they have been going without. It is a joy to us to be able to help them in this way.
May God bless you in the publishing of the paper and all your work for Him.
Yours in His happy service,
F. C. M.