Year: August 1900
Jonathan Goforth-41 years old
Jonathan Goforth's Journal
I sat on the floor in the rented unfurnished small home exhausted. I looked at my blood-stained clothes and leaned against the wall so thankful to be alive. God had brought us here safely.
I didn't have the strength to praise God out loud, but I did in my heart.
Rosalind joined me a while later. She sat on the floor next to me. "The children are asleep. Their full stomachs helped them rest sooner. It was a good idea to take the children to a restaurant."
I put my arm around her. Noises from the crowds blared through the windows.
She closed her eyes slowly then opened them. "What are we going to do, Jonathan? We can't go to Canada looking like this." She pulled on her clothes. "We only have these blood-stained rags."
She was so tired and emotionally spent. Soon tears poured down her cheeks. "We don't have any clothes to change into for the journey." Her hands flopped down on the floor where she sat.
The poor dear. I hugged her. "God is going to work this out for us, Rosalind. He brought us here. You must have faith."
She tried the best she could. What she needed mostly was rest. She fell asleep in my arms.
I didn't know how the problem could be solved, either. We didn't have different clothes. Everything we owned was stolen. With the Boxer Rebellion in full force, there wouldn't be any stores selling clothes suitable for a westerner. The whole situation had become too big. I laughed to myself. Of course if we had a sewing machine, fabric, and enough time to make clothes for the six of us we could change into something more suitable.
At some point I fell asleep. Laughing at the ridiculous idea and thankful my family and I were alive.
The next morning, I heard a knock on the door. Rosalind looked at me. No one knew where we were. We didn't know if Chinese had come to attack again. She cower in the corner of the room with the children and whimpered.
I opened the door and saw two women. They bowed and I bowed. They said they had seen our names on the refugee list and learned we were missionaries. They also knew we were leaving for Canada in ten days.
"Excuse us. We were wondering if you needed sewing done. We are very good. Maybe you need us to make new clothes."
Rosalind ran to the door and took their hands in hers. "Bless you. Bless you dear ladies. Yes." She looked down at her clothes and wept. "We need new clothes for our journey. Can you make something for each of us?"
The ladies nodded. "Yes. We are fast and can make all your family clothes for your journey."
If she had stood in Canada right then, Rosalind surely would have hugged each lady. Instead she bowed. "Thank you."
Ten days later, we boarded the ship wearing new clothes. The only one without something new was baby Walter. Rosalind brought the fabric to make him something while we sailed. For now, she wrapped him in the old, dirty towel.
The ship set sail and we were aboard. I had honestly thought we would be in heaven at this point. God spared our lives and placed us on this ship bound for Canada.
We stood on the deck and watched our beloved China pull away from us and wept.
There is more to this story. Come back next time.
Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.
Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.
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