natalie [jon's wonderful sister] gave me a letter before i left. written on gorgeous indian paper, she encouraged me with the words of amy carmichael, whose devotion to the Lord was [and is] used mightily in india and around the world.it strikes me how the words she wrote to encourage her fellow missionaries still encourages me today!
"
The fight to which we have been called is not an easy fight. We are touching the very center of the devil's power and kingdom and he hates us intently and fights hard against us. We have no chance at all of winning in this fight, unless we are disciplined soldiers, utterly out and out and uncompromising, and men and women of prayer. So first, give much time to quietness. We have to get our help, for the most part, direct from our God. We are here to help, not to be helped, and we must each one of us learn to walk with God alone and feed on His word so as to be nourished. Don't only read and pray, listen. And don't evade the slightest whisper of guidance that comes. God make you very sensitive and obedient.
Fill up the crevices of time with the things that matter most. This will cost something, but it is worth it. "Seek ye my face. My heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek." Keep close, keep close. If you are close you will be keen. Your heart will be set on things that abide. You will drink of His spirit and you will thirst for souls, even as He thirsts. You will not be attracted to the world that crucified Him, but you will love the people in that world who have never seen His beauty and are losing so much more than they know.
You will live to share your joy in Him. Nothing else will count for much. All of this will be, if you walk with Him as with a visible companion, from dawn through all the hours till you go to sleep at night. And your nights may be holy too, every waking moment a loving turning to Him who is watching over your steps even as your mother watched over it when you were a tiny child.
Your dear ones: Commit them to Him. 'It is the wounded hands that part you.' That was said to me when the stabbing pain of the parting was almost too much to bear...then take the Word that comforted me: it is the Wounded Hands that part you, one on them, the other on you, and He will not leave them comfortless. It is hard to say goodbyes, like being torn in pieces without chloroform. But it is for His sake; that carries one through.
"
