We found this church in a very low condition. With a large portion of its members the seeds of disunion and dissatisfaction with one another were taking deep root, and a worldly spirit was taking possession of them. And notwithstanding their low state they had enjoyed the labors of our preachers so seldom that they were hungry for spiritual food. Here commenced our first effective labors since the sickness of my husband. Here he commenced to labor as in former years, though in much weakness. He would speak thirty or forty minutes in the forenoon of both Sabbath and first day, and I would fill up the rest of the time, and then speak about an hour and a half in the afternoon of each day. We were listened to with the greatest attention. I saw that my husband was growing stronger, clearer, and more connected in his subjects. And when on one occasion he spoke one hour with clearness and power, with the burden of the work upon him as when he used to speak, my feelings of gratitude were beyond expression. I arose in the congregation and for nearly half an hour tried with weeping to give utterance to them. The congregation felt deeply. I felt assured that this was the dawn of better days for us. {1T 570.4}

Vi erfarede at denne menighed var i en ringe tilstand. Hos en stor del af medlemmerne havde uenigheden og utilfredsheden (571) mod hinanden slået dybe rødder og en verdslig ånd havde taget besiddelse hos dem. Og til trods for deres ringe tilstand nød de så sjældent vore forkynderes arbejde, at de sultede efter åndelig føde. Der begyndte vores første egentlige arbejde, siden min mands sygdom. Her begyndte han at arbejde som i de første år, trods han var svag. Han ville tale tredive eller fyrre minutter og formiddagen både om sabbaten og den første dag og jeg udfyldte resten af tiden og talte så halvanden time om eftermiddagen hver dag. Vi lyttede på med den største opmærksomhed. Jeg så at min mand blev stærkere, klarere og hans emner havde mere sammenhæng. Og ved en lejlighed talte han en time med klarhed og kraft, med arbejdets byrde på sig som han plejede at tale, min taknemmelighed var ud over hvad jeg kan udtrykke. Jeg rejste mig i forsamlingen og i henved en halv time prøvede i gråd at holde en tale for ham. Forsamlingen var dybt rørt. Jeg følte mig sikker på at dette var begyndelsen på en bedre tid, for os.