Success from the Start

The first stop was at the camp meeting being held in Newton, Iowa. Word had been sent ahead, and she was met at the station and taken to the campground. On Monday afternoon, the day before the meeting closed, she was given a good hearing. Pledges for the publishing work in the West already had been made, in response to George Butler's presentation of the needs of the situation in California. But in response to Ellen White's recital of the circumstances, and her appeal, the total pledged was increased from $2,000 to $3,050.2BIO 420.6

From one camp meeting to another she went, telling her story and appealing for support for the struggling but promising work in California. Those attending the camp meetings had been disappointed to learn that James and Ellen White would not be with them, but they were overjoyed when Ellen arrived on the grounds, and of course she was pressed in for full service in the speaking schedules. She thrived on it. Writing to James from the Wisconsin camp meeting, where Willie joined her as her traveling companion, she mentioned how she and her message were received:2BIO 421.1

There is no hard spirit to resist my testimony, and all manifest so much thankfulness that God had sent me to them. I never felt a greater necessity of God's working with our efforts. We have no time to rest, no time to yield to temptation. We must work while the day lasts.—Letter 34, 1874.2BIO 421.2