Evening star., 1944-10-15
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

In Biblical fashion L. B. Halli-1
well and his wife, Seventh Day
Adventist medical missionaries toI
Brazil, have trayersed over 10000
miles OF the Amazon and its vast
network Of tributaries to bring
health and healing to the sick and
underprivileged
The Halliwells have gone where
few have gone before, In their
travels Of mercy aboard the launch
Luzeiro II, The Light Bearer
This they make their living and
medical headquarters while on their
field trips. These start from Belem-
Para, Brazil, every five or six
months, and 1t is usually similar
length of time before the circuit
Of health clinics has been made. ]
Where they cannot penetrate the
shallow waters of the Amazon's
tributaries in the launch they travel
In native boats.
For their outstanding work in
treating the remote rubber cutters
and jute workers, whose efforts are
materially aiding the Allied cause,
they have been commended by the
Brazilian government. This serv-
ice was begun IA years ago, so the
Halliwells had built up confidence
and understanding in advance of
today's crucial needs.
On Brief Leave Here.
They are now in Washington on
a brief leave, which they are spend
ing with their only daughter, Mar
ian, who is in training as nurse
at the Adventist Takoma Park
Sanitarium and Nursing School.
Their son, 1t. Comdr. c. R. Halli-
well, U. S. N. r., is on duty with
the South Atlantic patrol.
In the course of one of their
annual ministrations. these prac-I
tical apostles Of mercy treat from
six to eight thousand persons for
malaria, yaws and other tropical
diseases. They set broken legs and
arms by the score, and last year
delivered more than 500 babies.
Incidentally, grateful parents have
named babies for both of them
almost the length of the Amazon.
Often in the areas where for Ave
consecutive years the Halliwells
have held their health clinics it is
not unusual for as many as 300 to
gather. The lame, the halt and the
blind beseech their help far into
the night, for the days are not long
enough to enable them to minister
unto those who hope for some al
deviation of their plight.
Treated Indian Chief.
On one of their last health expe-
ditions before they left for the
United States the headman in an
Indian community, who was the
victim Of smallpox, had himself
brought to them by six litter
bearers, all Of whom had been vac
cinated and were thus imune to
their cfieftain's scourge.
The Halliwells are justly proud of
the fact that In many of the little
communities where they have con-
Quoted wholesale vaccinations and
administrations of ouinine in addi-
ton to health demonstrations in
household cleanliness and infant
care there have been no epidemics
for the past five years.
Where the recipient is unable to
pay for service rendered it is given
without charge. but almost invari- !
ably attempt is made to convey
gratitude and appreciation by the
gift OF single cherished egg or of
vegetables Among the wretehedly
poor there have been so many |
squash rendered in gratitude that
squash is the one item of food
these missionaries turn away from
IN our North American markets.
Gifts Help in Work.
American gifts of medicine and
4uinine have greatly augmented
their work among the natives in
these distant South American out
posts, nearly all of whom are intelli. |
gent and avidly responsive to what |
ever is done for the betterment of
their living and health conditions.
Due to the war, the alligator, once
Inelr ancient enemy, is now prov
Ing a source of profitable income
through the commercialization of |
untanned skins at as high as 50 a |
skin. One merchant alone handled
10000 skins from one district near
the Adira River, which is 1000
miles above the mouth of the ANA
zon, they said.
AS result of war needs, TOO, jute
Is being planted on a large scale all |
throughout the Amazon plantation
country.
Wild Rubber Workers.