Year: January, 1913
Amy Carmichael: 46 years old
From Amy's Journal
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| Photo Courtesy |
Many years had passed before I realized what the main work of my life would be. I was sent to save little girls from being sold into Hindu temple worship and teach them about the living God.
Seventy girls of various ages now live here on the mission compound. Many never even knew their birthdate.
In December of 1913, a new girl came to the mission wanting to be rescued. Her name was Kohila. When I asked her how old she was she said she didn't know. I asked, "Okay, when is your birthday?" She said she didn't know.
That is when a God gave me a brilliant idea. To help show the girls God's love and to teach them to love each other, we decided to celebrate each girl's Coming Day. Kohila was the first girl to receive this celebration since this was the day she came to live at the mission.
On a girl's Coming Day, she was treated like a princess. She wore a special dress, pretty ribbons in her hair, beautiful flowers decorated her room, and she was given a gift--a scented bar of soap.
Tears of happiness tumbled down Kohila face, she was so touched by the celebration and love shown to her.
I made a calendar recording the day each girl should have her Coming Day Celebration. The girls were so excite!
At night I visited with each girl, one by one, and tucked them into bed, listened to whatever they wanted to tell me, kissed them good night, and gave each a hug. These little girls needed to see and feel God's love for them.
Even with all the love we shared, this didn't mean we didn't have problems, sickness, and death. Some of the babies came for help too late. Their injuries had simply overtaken their lives.
Arulai, the little girl I've shared so much about was now a young woman. She returned from work in one of the villages with a terrible disease called "Bright." I suffered this long ago and had to return to England for medical care. The tropical weather makes the disease worse.
Arulai couldn't leave. She had no where to go. She grew sicker and sicker. One night as sweat dampened her face she said she saw bright lights and some of the dear missionaries who had gone to heaven standing beside her.
I prayed. All night and day I prayed. God, must she be taken, too? I knew most men and women who had Bright disease die, but that didn't mean I couldn't ask God to spare her life.
A friend from another village rushed to visit her after hearing of Arulai's illness. On December 7 he arrived. God chose that night to be the turning point in her illness. From that moment on she became healthier and continued her work here at the mission.
Thank you God for healing Arulai.
Sometimes God takes his child home to be with Him, sometimes, God allows the child to stay longer. After seeing my mother, a few friends, and the director of this mission leave to go to heaven, I am extra grateful to have Arulai stay with me longer. Thank you, thank you, God.
Resources used for this series:.
Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 1998. Print.
Davis, Rebecca Henry. With Daring Faith: A Biography of Amy Carmichael. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones UP, 1987. Print.
Dick, Lois Hoadley. Amy Carmichael: Let the Children Come. Chicago: Moody, 1984. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 2002. Print.
Wellman, Sam. Amy Carmichael: A Life Abandoned to God. Uhrichville, OH: Barbour Pub., 1998. Print.
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