Along the Burma Road, the back door into China, as in other parts of that vast land, there were multitudes of children who were orphaned, homeless, blind, deformed, leper children, and some who through the poverty of their pants were sold as slaves.
At one place where we visited, missionaries had established an orphanage, and today was Sports Day. The ninety-six children were very excited. There were races, jumping and ever so many games going on. Bigger boys took it seriously and little boys had fun. The girls looked charming in their flowered dresses and pretty aprons with ribbons to match. There was one little girl so small she could not keep up with the rest. Besides, she was too busy looking at all the visitors who were smiling at her.
Later we all saw where they slept and worked. The classrooms and dormitories were so home-like, and the bathrooms spotless and perfectly tidy. Beside each basin was a mug and with it a toothbrush, toothpaste, and even talcum powder.
We had been asked to speak to the children on Sunday. The boys and girls all loved Sunday school, especially the singing, and it was thrilling when they all marched to the song, “Soldiers of Christ, onward go!” They liked the Bible stories, too, and listened intently.
Sumay
One of the older girls wore a very serious look on her face, but when she smiled, she was charming. Her father had been a wealthy merchant, but when his wife, Sumay’s mother died, he became sad and worried about his problems. He knew not God as his father nor the Lord Jesus as Saviour, and while Sumay was still very small he died.
Sumay was cared for by her aunt until the Japanese came, and then they fled up the Burma Road back into China. Thousands of others were fleeing also and the road was jammed. The car in which Sumay traveled overturned; the driver saved Sumay, but the others were dead.
Sumay was taken to a relief center and temporarily cared for. From time to time men would come and look over the girls, choose one for his bride, and after paying a fee take her home. But no one claimed Sumay. The wounds on her head had become infected, and no one wanted her. Would she finally be taken as a slave?
No, God had His eye of love upon Sumay. Though she did not know about Him, He led a Christian lady to the center. When she saw the little girl, she arranged for her to come to the orphanage. For the first time in her life she learned of the One who loved her and died for her. Though she had never known a mother’s love nor a father’s care, yet she became a very charming child when she remembered a heavenly Father’s love to her. Perhaps we shall see Sumay in heaven.
En-Tien
Then there was En-tien. Her mother was dead and her father was an opium addict, which means “he can move, but he is really dead.” He ate little, got up seldom, cared for no one, and instead of earning money he would spend what he had or could get on opium.
En-tien’s mother died and Grana took the little girl to live with her. They were great friends, and En-tien did not like to be out of Grandma’s sight even for an hour.
She helped to sweep and cook, and on Sunday she went with Grandma to sing and pray to Jesus. Grandma told her Jesus loved them and heard their prayers. Though En-tien couldn’t understand much about it, still her little heart was comforted because she knew that Grandma understood. Grandma was so sure she had a Father in heaven. Why, she talked to Him often.
Once En-tien was very sick with smallpox. But somehow she recovered. Grandma said it was her Father in heaven who had made her better. Grandma had always prayed for her when she was sick.
Then Grandma died and En-tien cried for a long time-she missed her so. We hope little En-tien, too, came to know the Lord Jesus as her Saviour and became one of His own little lambs. The Bible tells us, “He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.” (Isa. 40:11.) Let us pray for the little orphan children of China and other lands.
“Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14.)
ML-03/18/1979