Lindsey Shelburne Mrs.

Golden English Honors II 23 March 2011 Amy Carmichael Amy Carmichael was born on December 16, 1887 on Millisle, Northern Ireland to David and Catherine Carmichael (Amy Carmichael). She grew up in a Christian home and learned physical endurance and diligence qualities. Her dad taught her to swim tied to a rope and how to ride a pony (White 11). She accepted Gods invitation of salvation at Wesleyan Methodist boarding school and never doubted about her future in heaven. Tragically, financial pressure worsened her fathers pneumonia and he died on April 12, 1885. Since she was the oldest in the family, she helped her mother burden the responsibilities of the family (White 11-21). Moreover, Carmichael fulfilled Gods plan for her life by helping the less fortunate everywhere she went. The one thing Carmichael desired over anything was blue eyes like her mother (White 7). In Ireland, every little girl desired to have blue eyes and white skin, the typical image of Irish beauty and Carmichael was no exception (January 18-Amy). She prayed to God before bed one night, asking Him to make her eyes blue. When she woke up, they were still brown, but she knew God said no for a reason and trusted Him. Little did she know that one day God would use her brown eyes. Later, Carmichael would spread the gospel by dying her skin brown to relate to the Indian people (Davis 3). Carmichael always helped the needy and poor as a child. Her mother sent her and her siblings to the village with nourishing soup for the sick and destitute. State social care was nonexistent in Carmichaels day and charity was left to the rich, doctors, and industrialists

(White 11). Another time, when Carmichael went to a restaurant with her mother, she saw a poor girl without food. This deeply moved Carmichaels heart and she wrote a poem: When I grow up and money have I know what I will do, Ill build a great big lovely place For little girls like you. It was at that time that she promised to give money to the needy and poor when she grew up (Amy Carmichael Part 1.). When Carmichael was young, a significant event transformed the way Carmichael viewed her salvation. Carmichael and her siblings helped an elderly lady covered in rags carry a package on the Sabbath day, despite the strange looks they were given. Nonetheless, Carmichael still felt embarrassed to face respectable, well-dressed people. Suddenly, as Carmichael passed a city fountain, she seemed to hear the words of 1 Corinthians 3: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay stubble; everymans work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it isIf any mans work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss Carmichael realized she had not done this deed for the right reason and decided to please God in every possible way. After this incident, she found a new purpose and urgency in spreading the gospel message among the deprived and neglected members of society (Davis 29). Carmichael served Jesus by starting a boys bible studies. She began the class by teaching them skills such as reading and writing and ended it with Bible reading and prayer. Carmichael even started a class for the mill girls, also known as Shawlies. These girls could not afford hats and instead wore shawls over their heads. She knew Jesus had called her to minister amongst the

lowest in society (Davis 30). Carmichael began her missionary life in the country of Japan in her twenties. The missionary couple she was staying with attempted to get her to wear the traditional Japanese kimono in order to connect with the people better, but Carmichael declined. Much to Carmichaels shame and disappointment, her English clothing distracted the Japanese people from the gospel message. She never again allowed her own selfish desires come in the way of preaching the good news of Christ (Davis 52). Unfortunately, Carmichael was unable to learn the Japanese language and hired a translator named Misaki. Even with the numerous difficulties Carmichael faced, she knew God would use her in the heathen nation of Japan. In fact, a man possessed with demons tested her determination. After remembering the words in Mark 16:17, These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, Carmichael had Misaki translate her words, In the name of the Lord Jesus we will cast out the fox spirits. As the man began shouting, his wife made them leave, but Amy told her, We are returning to our house to pray to our Lord Jesus, the Living God. Our God will conquer. Please let us know when the fox spirits are gone. One hour later, the man who was close to death was at Carmichaels door with a smile on his face because the demons had gone ("Haruah-Amy"). Finally, in the spring of 1894, Amy became too sick to stay in Japan and eventually traveled home to England (Davis 61). When Carmichael was older, she received a letter from a woman who spoke well of Indias climate that would be beneficial for Carmichaels disease of neuralgia. Carmichael felt called by God to go to Bangalore, South India and never returned to England again. In India, much of Carmichaels work was with young ladies, some who were saved from prostitution. She also founded the Dohnavur Fellowship as a sanctuary for many young orphaned or temple

children. The Dohnavur Fellowship began as a haven for girls, but a boys home was also built later. This fellowship became a sanctuary for over one thousand children. In January 18, 1951, Carmichael died and was buried in Dohnavur. She asked for no stone on her grave (Amy Carmichael). Instead, the children placed a birdbath over her grave with the inscription Amma, which means mother in Tamil (Biography of Amy). Carmichael served the Lord by helping the needy everywhere she went. Her work with the less fortunate demonstrated her faith and love for God. James 1:27 says, Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Carmichaels testimony continues to inspire many missionaries around the world today.

Works Cited

"Amy Carmichael - Part 1." Crossroad. Web. 21 Mar. 2011. <http://www.crossroad.to/Books/children/stories/amy-1.htm>. "Amy Carmichael: Facts and Extensive Reading List." Historical Heroes Billy Graham, Columbus, Mother Teresa, C. S. Lewis, Wesley, Carver, Bunyan, Nightingale, Livingstone, Solzhenitsyn, Black Elk, Lincoln, Luther, Carmichael, Aylward, Slessor, Ten Boom, Carey, Flannery, Jakes & Others. Web. 28 Mar. 2011. <http://www.heroesofhistory.com/page49.html>. "Biography of Amy Wilson Carmichael." Index Page for Tlogical.net. Web. 28 Mar. 2011. <http://www.tlogical.net/biocarmichael.htm>. Davis, Rebecca Henry. With Daring Faith: a Biography of Amy Carmichael. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones UP, 1987. Print. "January 18 - Amy Carmichael, Missionary, Intricately Designed by God." Telling The Stories That Matter. Web. 21 Mar. 2011. <http://www.ttstm.com/2009/01/january-18-amy-carmichaelmissionary.html>. Wellman, Sam. "Haruah-Amy Carmichael in Japan." Untitled Document. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://www.haruah.com/item.php?sub_id=1614>. White, Kathleen. Amy Carmichael. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1986. Print.