Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)

“Perhaps not many people thought that Amy Carmichael had much of a chance at being a missionary. Suffering from neuralgia, Amy was often weak and in pain so great that she was confined to her bed for weeks at a time. But Amy knew that God had called her to mission work. And with the encouragement of a few, she did go. Landing in India in 1895, she found her life calling, and spent her remaining 55 years there without ever going home. Her life was dedicated to ending child prostitution and giving a home and a future to India’s many orphans. Amy was also a prolific author, and her many books have encouraged and inspired many throughout the years.” From Kindred Grace magazine

There are so many stories out there of little known people who did great things for God, even under much suffering and sacrifice. Amy Carmichael is one of those. She never married, although there were proposals, because she thought marriage would hinder her work for the Lord. AI: “For most of her life, she suffered from a nerve condition called neuralgia, which caused chronic pain, fatigue, and migraines. Then, due to a spine injury, she was bedridden and in severe pain for the last twenty years of her life. In 1931 while touring a medical clinic that was being built, Amy had fallen into a hole and was severely injured. She never recovered full physical mobility, but from her bed she wrote 35 books that are still widely read today, such as If, A Rose from Brier, and Candles in the Dark.”

An interesting story about Amy dying her skin. “The truth of what went on behind the temple scenes (i.e. forcing young girls to be temple prostitutes) was so hard to get people to understand, that Amy found she must pretend to be an Indian and visit the temples herself. She would dye and stain her light skin brown with coffee or tea bags, and her brown eyes helped her fit right in as a Hindu.” From Wikipedia: “Carmichael founded the Dohnavur Fellowship  in 1901 to continue her work in India. Carmichael’s fellowship transformed Dohnavur into a sanctuary for over one thousand children. Carmichael often said that her ministry of rescuing temple children (from temple prostitution)started with a girl named Preena. Having become a temple servant against her wishes, Preena managed to escape. Amy Carmichael provided her shelter, thus beginning her new ministry (that helped hundreds of girls). Temple prostitution was outlawed in India in 1948.

Her famous quotes from https://www.azquotes.com/author/17654-Amy_Carmichael:

“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”

“Let us not be surprised when we have to face difficulties. When the wind blows hard on a tree, the roots stretch and grow the stronger, Let it be so with us. Let us not be weaklings, yielding to every wind that blows, but strong in spirit to resist.”

“When I consider the cross of Christ, how can anything that I do be called sacrifice?“

“We have all eternity to celebrate the victories but only a few hours before sunset to win them.”

Sometimes when we read the words of those who have been more than conquerors, we feel almost despondent. I feel that I shall never be like that. But they won through step by step, by little bits of wills, little denials of self, little inward victories, by faithfulness in very little things. They became what they are. No one sees these little hidden steps. They only see the accomplishment, but even so, those small steps were taken. There is no sudden triumph, no spiritual maturity. That is the work of the moment.“

“Our loving Lord is not just present, but nearer than the thought can imagine – so near that a whisper can reach Him.“

“If the praise of others elates me and their blame depresses me; if I cannot rest under misunderstandin g without defending myself; if I love to be loved more than to love, to be served more than to serve, then I know nothing of Calvary love.“

“Thank God, He doesn’t measure out grace in teaspoons.“

“Joy is not gush. Joy is not mere jolliness. Joy is perfect acquiescence ~ acceptance, rest ~ in God’s will, whatever comes.“

“Prayer is the core of the day. Take prayer out, and the day would collapse.“

“It is not the place where we are, or the work that we do or cannot do that matters, it is something else. It is the fire within that burns and shines, whatever be our circumstances.“

“Now you are deep in what seems to me a peculiarly selfless service. The spiritual training of children must be that. You work for the years you will not see. You work for the Invisible all the time, but you work for the Eternal. So it is all worthwhile.“

“A cup brimful of sweetness cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, no matter how suddenly jarred.“

“Give me the Love that leads the way The Faith that nothing can dismay The Hope no disappointments tire The Passion that’ll burn like fire Let me not sink to be a clod Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.”

“I would rather burn out than rust out.“

“God bless you and utterly satisfy your heart…with Himself.“

I really can’t imagine such a positive attitude from someone who suffered so much in life and wrote 35 books while suffering and bedridden the last 20 years of her life. I suggest that we meditate on these great quotes from this great servant of God. Think of all the hundreds of girls that she rescued from temple prostitution.

I hope you are enjoying these blog articles about missionaries. I have enjoyed researching them. Usually I just copy AI b/c it does such a good job!