Year: January, 1921
Amy Carmichael: 54 years old
From Amy's Journal
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| Photo Courtesy |
New buildings have been built to house rescued boys, God has blessed our crops, and now I am bringing to God our need for a hospital here at the mission.
I had a special place in the woods nearby where I frequently went to pray. We had a small building made to use as a retreat. Often I brought the older children and missionaries with me.
One day, shile feeding the children, a worker started up a conversation about an Indian man who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor.
"So he is a Robin Hood?"
"I guess you could say that. The poor people love him," she answered.
This news surprised me. The other workers joined in the conversation saying this man could leap over wells that were twenty feet across and escape from any prison. He takes what he needs.
"What is his name?" I asked
"Hi name is Jambulingam."
An inspiration to pray for Jambulingam took over my thoughts. "Would you pray with me that I could meet Jambulingam and tell him about Jesus?"
They agreed and stopped their work to pray.
What I didn't know was Jambulingam and the men traveling with him had been watching me travel to the forest to pray and back to the mission for several days. I usually traveled with other workers and children, but one time I went alone to pray.
On my walk back to the mission, several men leaped out from some bushes. They frightened me. Their hair was scruffy and their clothes dirty. I stopped, afraid for my life. But the men kept their distance.
"We have been waiting for you."
"Why?"
"I am known as the Red Tiger."
That must be the name used instead of Robin Hood by the Indians. "I've heard about you, and have wanted to meet you. The police are looking for you."
He nodded. "Yes, I know." He waved his arms like he was erasing the words. "The police are corrupt. They live for bribery money. If they aren't paid, they throw even innocent people in jail. Can I tell you my story?"
I didn't even have to think. He deserved to be heard. "Of course you can."
"A man accused me of a crime I did not do. The police saw this as an opportunity to get money from me. If I had paid what they asked, I would have been set free. But I didn't have the money. I ran away. Soon others began to tell lies about me, saying I had done this and that crime--when I wasn't even in the area! I ran to the mountains to hide. In truth, I don't think I could ever have a fair trial."
He looked at the ground and shuffled his feat in the dirt. "I had a wife and three children. I just received word my wife died." He looked up at my eyes. "There is no one to care for my children. I can't bring them to the mountains where we would have to hide. That is no life for them."
I agreed. The children needed a loving, stable home. He didn't have to say the next words. I knew what he was asking. "You want me to take the children to the mission, don't you?"
He nodded and lowered his head. Maybe afraid of my answer.
I wanted to help the children, but I also wanted to help this Robin Hood. "If you will agree to my condition, I will."
He tipped his head. "All right. If I can do what you ask, I will."
"Good. I want you to never use your gun."
The men with him laughed. The Robin Hood held his hand up to silence them. "I will promise to never use my gun except when I need to protect my own life."
This seemed a reasonable request. "All right. You may bring your children to the mission."
He smiled. "You are good, missionary lady."
"So, Robin Hood, will you surrender to the police and end this chase?"
Come back next week to read more about our Robin Hood.
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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