In the year 1870 four camp meetings were scheduled in the West in early summer, and 10 in the Eastern states in the late summer and fall. The first would be at Marion, Iowa, opening June 9. James and Ellen White had, at the turn of the year, purchased a modest home in Washington, Iowa, as a hideout where they could get away to relax and pursue their writing. They would spend a week there on their way to the Iowa camp meeting. WV 147.4
They spent eight weeks attending six Eastern camp meetings but then decided that this was too heavy a program. From this time on they would be in great demand to attend and speak at camp meetings. Their presence was a great attraction at these meetings, but as the years went by so much of their time and thought had to be given to solving personal problems and counseling that they had little time for rest. WV 147.5