A FEW SHORT HOURS
Throughout this season, we’ve been reflecting on the idea of legacy. We’ve thought a lot about what we want to accomplish and change, and on this journey, we’ve been reminded of something that has both humbled and empowered us.
We are standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before us.
In fighting the war against slavery, we have joined in with an army of people who have given their lives to help others throughout history. We could never be where we are without them. That knowledge deserves to be carried with honor and gratitude. And we pray that as we’ve joined the coalition of warriors against slavery, generations upon generations will stand on our shoulders to fight as well.
Over 150 years ago, a baby girl named Amy was born in what is now Northern Ireland.
She grew up surrounded by a deep-rooted faith in God, and as she matured, she chose to carry it as a mantle for her own life. While Amy loved God, she was tormented by her self-image. When she looked in the mirror she saw a plain girl with simple brown eyes. She longed to be beautiful and begged God to give her the blue eyes that she believed would make her stunning.
But, every morning when she woke up, her eyes were still brown.
As a young adult, Amy traveled on a boat from her home in Ireland to Asia. She jumped into missionary work and eventually found herself working in Southern India, not too far from where we now have our base of operations at the Children’s Home. When Amy learned of the “temple girls” dedicated to the gods by poor parents, she was horribly burdened. These young girls became little more than temple prostitutes, sex slaves.
Heartbroken, Amy began planning how to rescue these girls from temples. She dyed her skin brown using coffee grounds and clothed herself in traditional Indian dress to conceal her identity.
As Amy inspected her disguise, she looked into her brown eyes and began to weep.
The blue eyes she had prayed for would never allow her to save these girls.
Her brown eyes were a gift from God.
Amy is responsible for rescuing hundreds of children from slavery in India. She became a mother to children who had no hope of escape apart from God’s work through her. Today, the slow, steady spread of Christianity in India is due in part to Amy’s response to God’s calling.
She started a wave of change in the children she rescued.
Those children formed churches, and communities of believers began to spread as the children grew into adults and raised their families to know Jesus.
Our work in India benefits from the foundation laid by the work of Amy Carmichael, a woman who’s legacy of sacrifice and love remain solid over 125 years after she arrived in India.
The fight against slavery is bigger than any of us.
It’s a battle so large that it can only be accomplished through God and it’s an honor and privilege to co-labor with him. We believe that there will be a day where slavery in all forms is ended because of the legacy we leave for the coming generations. And the more strength we can bring to the fight in this generation, the more power future generations hold to end slavery for good.