While traveling around India, my friend Matt was told this story about this orphan girl. She lived in an orphanage run by a new-age Westerner who moved to India to take care of orphans and live near a river she considered a god. The story so moved Amanda Story that she wrote this, her first poem. It also moved her to the point of action and is now moving with her family to Asia to minister among the unreached.
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She was a young girl of 12
Who woke up one day
Her father came in only to say
Today is the day, we shall go on a trip
She gleaned with excitement and didnt hesitate, not one bit.
They walked hand in hand, right out of the town
They walked for miles and on to the next town
It was there at the train station
Stood a very tall man, He was dressed rather strangely with a lot of money in one hand
I saw Him greet my father and then to my surprise
He gave him the dough and then turned and greeted my eyes.
My father just left without saying a word.
I yelled and tried to run after him, but he never heard.
That tall man just grabbed me and pushed me on the train
I was surrounded by men with only thing on their brain.
One at a time they each had their way
Each giving the tall man, money for pay.
From one stop til the next a dozen came through.
Each satisfying his lust and beating me too.
With each blow I received my mind began to haze
I dont remember much until the next day.
They say they found me lying in blood.
My mind started running and the memories began to flood.
My father whom I trusted proclaimed to me that day.
Your life is only worth a small amount of pay.
So they brought me to this orphanage because theres nowhere else to go.
So I sit beside beside this window, longing to know.
Who is God and where does he dwell?
Does He know who I am, does he know me well?
Does he care for my needs, does he hear my prayers?
I guess I will never know because theres no one who cares.
The girl in the story is still waiting to hear about a redeeming Savior whose presence is near.
Thats not the end of the story. There is a part two.
And this part of the story, it involves you.
Will you go?
Will you tell?
Will you proclaim the good news?
Or will you hide behind fears and do only what others will do?
-Amanda Storey, Misisonary to Southeast Asia.
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As Amanda was writing down this story to share with others, she said it just came out in a rhyme. This is not just a story about one little girl, but the story of countless millions who are orphaned every year and know nothing about the love of Jesus. They are not just numbers and statistics, but individuals just like you who have likes and hopes and dreams and feel pain. What will you do?
Thanks to Nick at Shaking the Gates for typing this up.
