Amy Carmichael-What? Boys in the Mission?

By Mary Vee

Year: January, 1918 

Amy Carmichael: 50 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Amy Carmichael. I am a missionary in India.

Many of the little girls have grown up into young women here at the mission in southern India. Several of these young women have chosen to stay and help care for the children, tell them Bible stories, and teach them to read.

I liked going into the woods for quiet time when it was available. I sat by this one waterfall. The sweet sound helps me think, praise God, and meditate on His word.

Of late the little Indian boys have been on my mind. Baby boys are often sold to the temple for serving the Hindu gods. They have no way to escape these places. Only some of the children receive reasonable care. Punishments are severe. The boys are beaten.

Older boys are sold to theater groups. This may sound like something fun, but these boys are also not treated well. They rarely receive a good meal and are taught to mistreat others by those who are cruel to them.

I prayed, asking God to let me help the boys. This would be a big project. The boys couldn't live in the same building as the girls. We would need workers to take care of the boys. This would take a lot of money. So I prayed and asked God what He thought. If He supplied what we needed, the mission could help the little boys.

I really really wanted to rescue the little boys from the temples and theater groups.

One day someone dropped off a baby at the gate. They walked away leaving the child in our care. We took the baby inside to care for the needs. We unfolded layers of bundling and saw, to our surprise, that the baby was a boy! He must have been about one-years-old. The little one reached his hands out to us and smiled.

I hadn't told anyone that I wanted to expand the mission in order to help baby boys--here God had sent the first one to receive care.

Soon one building was added to care for the new boys, then a second. God provided a way of escape--a way for abandoned boys to hear about Jesus and to grow up in a loving home.

A time of great trouble came to our country. The Muslims and the Hindus fought terribly. This also became a time when God answered some amazing prayers for us. 

Come back next week to read what God did.



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.

Don't forget to comment! 
Let Amy hear from you!

Esther-The Edict That Cheered a Sad King

By Mary Vee
Esther 2

From Esther's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Hadassah. I live with my uncle Mordecai in a place called Susa and have ever since my parents died. We are Jews and slaves in a land not our home.

King Xerxes has a palace here in Susa. Queen Vashti also has one. 

Vashti had embarrassed the king at a banquet. His advisors suggest he not allow her in the palace anymore. She was banished from the land.

After a while, the king's anger had calmed and the wine had left his system. He thought about his beautiful Vashti and what she had done. Then he remembered sending out the decree, telling everyone in his huge empire what she had done. He felt bad. He missed her terribly and longed to undo the whole evening.

"Your Majesty," his personal servant said as he handed the king a cloth to wipe his tears, "I have an idea."

The king didn't say anything, but he stayed and listened.

"You could order a search for all the beautiful young women in the kingdom. Commissioners in every province of your realm will be ordered to bring these beautiful girls here at the citadel of Susa. They would be placed under the care of Hegai, your trusted servant who is in charge of the women. These women will be given beauty treatments, dresses, and jewels. When the women are prepared they will be presented to you one at a time. Then, Oh King, you will choose the girl who pleases you most to be queen in place of Vashti."

Xerxes sat quiet for a while. A smile began to form on his face and his spirit brightened. "This is an excellent idea. Prepare the order for my signet ring. Let the edict proclaim everything you said."

The attendant did as he was told, and the edict was brought to the king. 

Xerxes looked out the window toward Vashti's palace and sighed. He walked back to the table where the edict lay and squared his shoulders before sealing the edict with his signet ring. 

Copies were given to every herald. The men left to proclaim the message in every province of Xerxes empire. 

The heralds stood in the town squares and announced: "Every young girl is to report for service to the king. A new queen is to be chosen for his majesty, Xerxes."


...come back next time to read what happened next.

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sources: New International Version  

1. Days after the banquet, King Xerxes was sad, why?
2. What did his personal attendant suggest to make the king feel better?
3. What did the king think of the idea?
4. Who was invited to come to the palace, and why?

Esther-The Queen's Choice

By Mary Vee
Esther 1

From Esther's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Hadassah. I live with my uncle Mordecai in a place called Susa and have ever since my parents died. We are Jews and slaves.

King Xerxes has a palace here in Susa. Queen Vashti also has one. 

The big news, which I started to explain last time, was the kings party that lasted 180 days. At the end, he held a banquet which lasted another seven days. At the end of the seven days he wanted to show off his queen to his guest. But when the servants returned with her message that she refused to go to this banquet, the king was very angry.

The king called his wisemen and advisors to meet privately in his chambers. They sat at a table and waited for him to speak.

"According to the law, what must be done to Queen Vashti for refusing to obey my command?" he asked. 

Memucan, who was a trusted noble answered, "Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces belonging to King Xerxes. All the women will hear about her refusal to obey the king and will think they, too, can despise their husbands and say, 'King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.'

"This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen's conduct will respond to their husbands in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect.

"If it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be changed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also, let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she. Then when the news is told throughout the vast land, all the women will respect their husbands, from the poorest to the richest."

Well, the king and the wisemen in the room were very happy with this advice. "So ordered," said the king. He sent men to all parts of the kingdom to each province, to every people and in every language, reporting that every man should be ruler over his own household.

But this was not the end of the story


...come back next time to read what happened next.

*********************************************************************************************
sources: New International Version  

1. What did Vashti do wrong?
2. What was the big reason that mostly everyone was upset?
3. What suggestion did Memucan offer?
4. Did the king agree?

Amy Carmichael-The Children Who Taught the Men How to Build

By Mary Vee

Year: January, 1917 

Amy Carmichael: 49 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Amy Carmichael. I am a missionary in India.

India has a lot of humidity (water in the air). In the summertime, the strong humidity along with temperatures reaching 117 degrees. Yes. That is very hot.

Most missionaries took a vacation in the mountains during the hottest days. Our leader, Mr. Walker, took most of the staff each year.

Since he died, we haven't had the funds.

The other workers and some of the children helped me find a place not to far away from the mission. We used the small building as a place to pray, relax, and rest for two years before deciding it was too small. One day, I took some of the children with me to hunt for land. We found the perfect place and God provided the money to buy the land.

Native construction workers were hired. I knew in advance that the Indian workers would purposely take longer than needed to get the building done. They did this because they were paid by the day. The longer they took, the more money they earned.

I know. They were only building a retreat place. I shouldn't want to rush them. After all, we wouldn't use the building until next summer any way. The problem was the coming monsoons. These powerful rainstorms would destroy an unfinished building. 

Somehow we needed to find a way to get these men to do their work. The children heard me talking about the problem. They saw the workers sleeping each time we visited the property. We gathered together and prayed for God to give us wisdom. 

The children talked together then ran into the room and said, "We have an idea!" On their own, they came up with a very smart plan. One of the girls said, "We will do the work the workmen aren't willing to do."

I thought this was so sweet, but they didn't know how to build a roof or walls. "How do you plan to do this?"

"We will carry bricks and tiles." Another said, "We can carry buckets of mud." The children jumped up and down clapping their hands and cheering. "Please let us help!"

I said, "Okay." The next morning we marched in a line to our unfinished building. The workers were sleeping. We didn't do anything to wake them, other than make typical noises. 

The children were so excited they didn't need any instructions. Like a beehive of workers they carried the bricks, tiles, and buckets of mud. Their excitement bubbled in their little bodies and they began to sing a song I had taught them, "Hate not laborious work! Joy, joy in it."

One of the workers laughed and called me over. "What are they singing?"

I may not have had my best manners on at the moment. I said, "It's a song you should learn."

The men continued to watch the children and me for a while. Slowly, guilt poured into them. They got up and started working. Slowly. But they were working.

Photo Courtesy

The children and I came to the building each day and helped with the work. The house walls collapsed two times forcing us to start over. The monsoons came before the building was finished, but thankfully the men kept working until the building was finally done.

While working, the children and I never gave up telling the men about Jesus. The little girls from the mission seemed so happy while they work. They told the men Bible stories. They shared Bible verses and sang songs. 

God used their sweet hearts. Two of the men asked Jesus to be their Savior. They were the first ones to be baptized in the pool on the new property. What a day. The children cheered for the men as they sprang from the water.

We named the retreat building "The Forest" This became a very special place that gave me time to rest, write stories, poems, and tell others about God's work here in India.

God has blessed us so much--and the children are what made this blessing so special.

Come back next week!



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.

Don't forget to comment! 
Let Amy hear from you!

Esther-News About the King and Queen

By Mary Vee
Esther 1

From Esther's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Hadassah. I live with my uncle Mordecai in a place called Susa and have ever since my parents died. We are Jews and are from the tribe of Benjamin.

My uncle had been among those taken as slaves from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. We still live in the Babylon area.

I call Mordecai my uncle, but he is also my cousin. Now that I am telling the whole story, some people also call me Esther.

We lived a simple life. One that I enjoyed. My uncle was a good dad to me and always loved me. He told me so many times what a lovely girl I was. I didn't feel that way, but I was happy he thought so.

News traveled rather quickly in our city, especially if something happened to the king or queen. When I fetched water this morning I heard the king and queen had a problem. A huge problem.

The king's name was Xerxes. He was not a king of Jerusalem, a Hebrew like us. He was the king in this Babylonian area. Xerxes ruled over 127 provinces that reached as far east as India and as far southwest as Cush in Egypt. The king lived here in Susa.

During the third year of his reign, Xerxes gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. Even the military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces came.

This banquet lasted 180 days! Really! Xerxes showed off his wealth and power to all who were there. Then when the 180 days ended he held another banquet in his private garden on the palace grounds. This one lasted seven days and everyone from the least to the greatest was invited.

The gardens had white and blue linen hanging and fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold an silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pear and other costly stones. Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine never ran out, which the king had ordered. They say it was a spectacular sight.

The king commanded each guest to be allowed to drink whatever he wanted.

At the same time, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

On the seventh day, Xerxes was in high spirits from the wine. He commanded the seven men who served him to bring Queen Vashti to his banquet. She was to wear her crown. He wanted everyone to see his beautiful wife. 

But when the servants delivered King Xerxes command, Queen Vashti refused to come.

...come back next time to read what happened next.

*********************************************************************************************
sources: New International Version  

1. Who was Hadassah?
2. Who was Esther?
3. Why did Hadassah live with her uncle?
4. Why did they live in Babylon?
5. Who was the king?
6. Who was the queen?
7. Why did the king have a party that lasted 180 days?

Zechariah-On That Day There Will be One Lord.

By Mary Vee
Zechariah 9-11

From Zechariah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Zechariah. I am a prophet, which means God trusts me to give His message to His people.

The last words I left with you told of the coming Messiah. In my time, we looked forward to His coming. But in your time, you will already know that the Messiah came. You can match the words of the One who came with the words the Almighty told me to write.

The Almighty gave me more to tell you. This is of a different time.

"Then the Lord will go out and fight against the nations who have attacked Jerusalem. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 

"Those who run away will go through my mountain valley, for it will take them to Azel. They will run as they ran away from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah. Then the Lord will come to them, and all the holy ones with him.

"On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime--a day known to the Lord. When evening comes, there will be light.

"On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter..

"The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.

"Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. Anyone who does not come will have no rain.

"On that day Holy to the Lord will be inscribed on the bells of the horses. Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the Lord Almighty."


From Mary Vee- This passage is telling us about the days to come. God recorded this information here in Zechariah, Revelation, and in other books. Many Bible scholars have studied these passages and have shared what they have learned. These days have not come yet. But like the people living during the Old Testament time who had to believe and trust that the Messiah would come (and he later did), so also we need to believe and trust that these days described by Zechariah will come--because they will. God said so.

*********************************************************************************************
sources: New International Version  
Wasn't this amazing?? In this prophet's books in the Old Testament we see news of the coming end times.

1. What news about the coming end times did you find?

Amy Carmichael-Monsoons, Forests, and Lazy Workers

By Mary Vee

Year: January, 1919 

Amy Carmichael: 49 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Amy Carmichael. I am a missionary in India.

With the long days and the care of the one hundred and fifty children who are protected and cared for at the mission, there are times when I need to rest. A two-week rest.

I'd never fully recovered from a reoccurring physical problem that started back when I served as a missionary in Japan. 

The heat and humidity here in India aggravate pain, fever, and weaken my system. Mr. Walker, the leader of our mission, used to take us to a retreat in the mountains during the hottest days of summer. The forests and altitude made for cool and dry temperatures. I used the two weeks every year to catch up on letters, write a book, and rest.

When Mr. Walker died, leaving me in charge, I didn't have the funds to go to the retreat anymore. Without the rest, I would end up bedridden. There simply was too much work to do to care for all the precious jewels God had put in our care. We needed to find a retreat that was closer and affordable.

One day I took one of the lady workers with me for a walk into the woods. We walked up the mountain a ways, searching for a place to rest. After several attempts, we found a small retreat which worked for us--a short time. I enjoyed taking some of the children with me.The littlest ones would stay at the mission, but the older ones were able to go.

We used that retreat for two years or so then decided we needed something bigger. I took the children for a walk to search for property where we could build a retreat of our own. 

We found the perfect land, raised the money to purchase it, and hired a construction crew to build our retreat.

This was an exciting time. Everyday children hiked with me to the new property wanting to see the progress. Everyday we found the workers napping or standing around talking. The rainy season was due to come soon.

Photo Courtesy

The rainy season brings strong rains that we call monsoons. These forceful rains come everyday from July to September. Yea, that long!! The land floods. 

We are use to this flooding, though. We've learned to plant the right crops that need this kind of rain.

But, if our retreat building isn't finished by the start of the monsoons, it will be destroyed by the rains, and the construction workers will have to start over.  That will cost money we don't have.

No matter what I said, the workers wouldn't work to get the job done.

I didn't know what to do.

Finally, I asked the other missionaries. They were Indian and understood the culture much better than I did.

How would you get the men to finish the work? 

I'll tell you the amazing idea that worked...next week. Come back to read the rest of this story.


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.

Don't forget to comment! 
Let Amy hear from you!

Zechariah-News of the Coming Messiah

By Mary Vee
Zechariah 9-11

From Zechariah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Zechariah. I am a prophet, which means God trusts me to give His message to His people.

The Almighty has given me this message to share with His people.

I'll share with you the portions that talk about the coming Messiah.

The Lord has promised a coming Messiah for a time. I am excited, but don't know that He will come in my lifetime or not. Although there are words from the Lord that tell of the coming Messiah, I'm not sure when.

The Almighty said, "See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

"He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.

"I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit....even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

"Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime. It is the Lord who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone. The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie. They tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. The people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

"From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every rule. Together they will be like mighty men trampling the muddy streets in battle. Because the Lord is with them, they will fight and overthrow.

"I will strengthen the house of Judah. I will restore them because I have compassion on them.

*********************************************************************************************
sources: New International Version  
Wasn't this amazing?? In this prophet's books in the Old Testament we see news of the coming Messiah.

1. What news about the coming Messiah did you find?

Even When We Don't Believe, God Gives and Loves

By Mary Vee
Psalm 78

From The Song Book
Selected Pieces

Photo Courtesy

They did not believe God

or trust him to care for them.

But he commanded the skies to open;

he opened the doors of heaven.

He rained down manna for them to eat;

he gave them bread from heaven.

They ate the food of angels!

God gave them all they could hold.

He released the east wind in the heavens

and guided the south wind by his mighty power.

He rained down meat as thick as dust—

birds as plentiful as the sand on the seashore!

He caused the birds to fall within their camp

and all around their tents.

The people ate till they had more than enough,

For he had given them what they craved.

Even while the food was in their mouths

God’s anger rose against them.

And He punished them.

In spite of all of this they kept sinning.

In spite of his wonders, they did not believe.

When He punished them they would seek him,

Eager to turn to him again.

But they flattered him with their mouths

Lying to him with their tongues.

Their hearts were not loyal to him

They were not faithful to his laws.

Yet he was merciful.

He forgave their sins

And did not destroy them

Time after time he restrained his anger

And did not stir up his full wrath.

He remembered that they wre but flesh

A passing breeze that does not return.

The Lord built his sanctuary lie the heights

Like the earth that he established forever.

He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens

To be the shepherd of his people, his inheritance.

And David shepherded them with integrity of heart
With skillful hands he led them.

*********************************************************************************************
sources:  New Living Bible translation and New International Version translation

1.  Why did the people complain?
2.  What did God do for them?
3.  Were the people grateful?
4.  What did God do?
5.  Why is God patient with us?

Amy Carmichael-The Special Day for Each Rescued Girl

By Mary Vee

Year: January, 1913 

Amy Carmichael: 46 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Amy Carmichael. I am a missionary in India.

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.

Don't forget to comment! 
Let Amy hear from you!