Lotus Buds

This is way off topic from Spain sights, but I just finished the book Lotus Buds by Amy Carmichael. I can't help but share! I have never read anything of hers before, and I have been so encouraged by her character and steady-as-she-goes faithfulness. It has been really interesting reading a missionary book while in a foreign country. 
Her ministry consisted in rescuing and raising girls who were about to become temple girls. Basically a young Indian girl would be married to a god. She then spent her whole life serving this statue. It was a position of respect, but she basically became the whore of the priest and was forced to memorize all the raunchy poetry. Even the most devout Hindus disapproved of the practice. 

Below are my favorite passages. All pictures except the ones above obviously, and the first one of Amy are originals from the book. 

"A moving story" is worth little if it only moves the feelings. How far outfits selfish track does it move the life into ways of sacrifice? That is the questions that matters. What if it cost? Did not Calvary cost? Away with the cold, calculating love that talks to itself about cost! God give us a our passion of love that knows nothing of hesitation and grudging, and measuring, nothing of compromise! What if it seem impossible to face all that surrender may mean? Is there not provision for the impossible? "In the Old Testament we find that in almost every case of people being clothed with the Spirit it was for things which were impossible to them. To be filled with the Spirit means readiness for Him to take us out of our present sphere and put us anywhere away from our own choice into His choice for us...

What of the girl by the fireside crushing down the sense of an Under-call that will not let her rest? The work to which that call would lead her will not be anything great; it will only mean little humble everyday doings wherever she is sent. But if the Call is a true Call from heaven, it will change to a song as she obeys; and through all the afterward of life, through all the loneliness that may come, through all the disillusions when her "dreams of fair romance which no day brings" slip away from her - and the usual and commonplace are all about her- then and for ever that song of the Lord will sing itself through the quiet places of her soul, and she will be sure - with the sureness that is just pure peace - that this is where her Master meant her to be... Not that we would write as if obedience must always mean service in the foreign field. We know it is not so: we know it may be quite the opposite; but shall we not be forgiven if we sometimes wonder how it is that with so much earnest Church life at home, with so many evangelistic campaigns, and conventions, there is so poor an output so far as these lands abroad are concerned? Can it be that so many are meant to stay at home? .... 

The Lord our God arouse us! We are sleeping,
    Dreaming we wake, while through the heavy night
Hardly perceived, the foe moves on unchallenged, 
    Glad of the dream that doth rely the fight.
O Christ our Captain, lead us out to battle! 
   Shame on the sloth of soldiers of the light!
Interested? The Kindle version of the book is free, or you can read it in it's entirety here. It's quick, easy, and fascinating.