Page 6 - Good News April 2011 paper

Continued from p. 1
Continued from p. 1 shouted. “Then we will search,” the unkind to them, but they knew what ted. I learned that she needed a
horribly of animals. The innkeeper soldiers said firmly. would happen if she were left cook, and here I am. I cannot cook,
looked at me suspiciously when “Very well, I will bring them,” the behind. “Mrs. Ching will go with us but that does not matter. I do my
told that I was Ai-weh-deh, and why woman said sulkily, and brought too,” I replied. best. I love these children, to whom
I had come. out four others. The children rushed around Ai-weh-deh is now more than father
“I will see the women tonight,” I I unbound all their tiny feet, and excitedly on their unbound feet, full and mother. Oh yes, sometimes
said. bathed each one, singing to them of happy expectation. Already they they are naughty, but Ai-weh-deh
“Wait until tomorrow,” the inn- and loving them. At first they were looked very different from the says God loves even naughty,
keeper suggested. intimidated and terrified, but frightened, dirty little waifs I had wicked people, so we must do the
“If I do, word will get around the gradually their fear disappeared, first seen. same.”
village, and the women will have and before long all five little girls My two soldiers seemed quite glad At that moment the children
time to hide the little girls. We will were peacefully asleep. to take such a large group under swarmed in from the other door-
begin at once,” I replied firmly. Feeling that I dared not leave these their protection and all of us, with way, holding up their little bowls to
So my two soldiers and I started children, for I did not trust the the exception of Mrs. Ching, set off be filled. Then standing around we
out, the innkeeper muttering woman who had charge of them, I gladly for home. She, poor woman, sang: Come and eat,
curses after us. told the soldiers to fetch our believed she was being taken to for Jesus invites you;
I told my soldiers to hurry, for I felt belongings from the inn. They prison. To her the city was an awful He loves and feeds you.
sure that the innkeeper was already made themselves as comfortable place. There would be no one to Just trust Him. Amen.
sending messengers around the as possible in the outer room while I speak for her. Her master would Just as they had finished eating,
village. We saw several women and shared the kang with the five follow her because he had paid there was a commotion outside the
inspected the children, and ordered children and the frightened, grum- money for her, and he would either inn, and in came a crowd of
that there must be no more bound py woman. leave her in prison or drag her back muleteers with their dirty, tired
feet. Then we came to a house A little lamp containing peanut oil to the village and beat her conti- mules. Mrs. Ching stared in
where there was no glimmer of was left burning, so the room was nually. bewilderment as these rough men
light. I felt that here there was going not in complete darkness. In the On reaching the city, it seemed as if settled down with their bowls of
to be a struggle. middle of the night I awakened to hundreds of children rushed out to food.
I knocked and called. There was see the woman sitting up, weeping greet us. Actually there were only It was almost dark when I went into
absolute silence. Then one of my bitterly. Creeping over to her, I twenty-four, but they jumped and the crowded courtyard and began
soldiers banged on the door, asked her what was the matter. shouted and knocked each other to talk to the children and men who
shouting, “Open up, this is Ai-weh- “I am frightened of my master,” she over in their efforts to be the first to were gathered there. We sang a
deh who has been sent by the sobbed. “He will kill me when he reach me. The old man who acted chorus, I said a short prayer, then I
Mandarin.” Still silence. returns.” as cook calmly looked on. He was told the old, old story of God's great
“Call and tell them that I am coming “I will deal with him,” I said boldly. “I just as glad to see us as the love for man. They sat there in the
in through the window if the door is have been sent by the Government, children, but he was too old to twilight, listening intently, only the
not opened,” I ordered. and my two soldiers will see to it shout and run. stamp of the mules disturbing the
The door opened a crack, and a tiny, that he does you no harm.” Bao Bao (Precious Bundle), the peace of the evening.
frightened face peered round it. “You cannot understand,” she youngest, somehow reached me Then the children hurried off to bed,
Immediately I pushed the door moaned. “He is wicked and cruel. first, and I took him in my arms. I and one by one, the men also fell
wide, and stepped inside. He bought me, and now he has was as delighted to see my dear asleep. Gradually the inn settled for
“Now, woman,” I said boldly, “I bought these children. As soon as children as they were to see me. the night. Only Mrs. Ching and I, in
know what you are hiding, because their feet are ready, he will sell them Gradually they quieted down, and our little room, were awake. Sud-
the God I worship has told me all to whoever will pay the most money politely, one by one, I introduced denly she burst into tears.
about it. So bring those little girls for them.” the newcomers. Then I handed the “I have been a wicked woman, Ai-
out at once, or I will search and find “I know Someone who will take five awed little girls over to a “big weh-deh,” she sobbed, “but I want
them myself.” away all your fear,” I replied. “Jesus sister” who took them away to be to be different. “Teach me how to
The woman scuttled away and Christ has sent me to help you. I will washed and fed and put to bed. live for the Jesus you talk and sing
returned with a poor, thin, terrified tell you about Him, and He will Mrs. Ching watched all this in about. Ask Him to forgive my sins
little creature about four years old. comfort you.” silence. Then she came nearer and and to give me peace.” Together we
She could not stand for her little Lying beside this poor, frightened, said, “When are you going to send knelt down and prayed to the loving
feet were in the process of being lonely woman, who had been me to prison?” Saviour Who had seen this poor
bound and her eyes were full of bought like a mule and was now “Prison!” I exclaimed. “I am not woman’s misery, and soon she was
tears. She crouched pitifully on the kept like a slave, I told her the story going to send you to prison. This is radiant with joy!
floor. I picked up the child, the tears of God's great love for poor going to be your home. You will After a great struggle, we were able
now streaming down my face at the creatures like herself, of Jesus Who have to sleep with me, I am afraid, to buy Mrs. Ching from her horrible
sight of her misery. loved her and died for her; and I told as the inn will be full tonight.” master. Soon she was telling other
“Is all well?” shouted the soldiers her how happy she could be. Mrs. Ching stared in amazement. women like herself how Jesus
at the door. This wonderful news seemed too “You mean you want me to live here Christ had saved her and changed
“All is well,” I replied and sat on the good to be true. Never had she with you? You know how mean and her life from one of misery to one of
kang (brick bed), with the child on heard anything like this before. cruel I had been to those little girls. I joy.
my knee and quickly unbound her How much she longed for this refused your God, I was rude to “My heart was bound up tight with
tiny, hot, aching feet. Jesus to help her and to save her you, yet you still want me?” sin, like I bound up the feet of the
“Fetch some warm water in a bowl,” from the terrible beating her master “Yes, I want you because my God little girls,” she said. “Now I am free
I ordered. would give her when he heard that wants you,” I replied. and my heart can grow big with
“Oh, that is good,” the child she had let Ai-weh-deh into the Mrs. Ching turned away and happiness!”
murmured, her tears turning to house. stumbled into the kitchen, where [Gladys Aylward with Christine
smiles as I massaged and bathed For two more days I went from Chang, the old man, was stirring a Hunter, The Little Woman, Moody
her feet. I started singing softly and house to house with my soldiers, huge pot. I Followed and stood near Publishers, Chicago, 1974].
the child relaxed sleepily in my returning each night to the home of the door, wondering how Chang Gladys Aylward (1902–1970) was
arms. Suddenly she started up. the five little girls, where Mrs. Ching would treat the newcomer. born in London. She was a former
“What about Precious Pearl, and was living in dread of the moment “You can stir this,” he said without domestic worker who became a
Jade Lily, and Glorious Ruby and when her master would return. looking up. “I want to make a little missionary in China and is best
Crystal?” On the third morning, I roused them pot of nice thick porridge for my known for her work with children.
“They will come too,” I said gently all as soon as it was light. dear one.” Aylward became a Chinese citizen
and put her down. “I am going to take you all to live “Your ‘dear one’? An old man like in 1936. Four years later, despite
“Bring the other children,” I with me in the city in my mule inn you has a ‘dear one’?” Mrs. Ching being in ill health herself, she led
ordered the woman, who had stood where I have other little boys and exclaimed. “Yes, I am sixty-eight, more than 100 children over the
staring at me all this time. girls,” I told Tiger Lily, Precious and I love for the first time in my life, mountains to safety at the height
“There are no other children,” she Pearl, Jade Lily, Glorious Ruby and and not even one of my own race. of the Second Sino-Japanese War.
declared. “That child talks Crystal. “You will learn to read and But I am not ashamed. I love her She eventually settled in Taiwan
stupidly.” to sing and to love Tien Fu (your because she told me about Jesus.” and set up an orphanage where
Going to the door, I called to my heavenly Father), Who sent me to “Oh, you mean Ai-weh-deh?” she died in 1970. Her life story was
soldiers, “There are other little look after you.” “Who else? I was a lonely, bad- portrayed by Ingrid Bergman in
girls, but this woman will not bring “What about Mrs. Ching?” they tempered old man until she came to the 1958 American 20th Century
them out.” asked. They did not love this my village. I listened to her stories Fox film The Inn of the Sixth
“There are no more children!” she woman, for she had been cruel and and her songs, and I was interes- Happiness.