(Continued from January 8)
One day the old priest saw Golden Lotus reading in the little book and questioned her about it. She told him all she knew about the Lord Jesus and he wanted to read the book for himself, for he said: “I want peace.” Golden Lotus lent him the book. He returned it after several days, having copied the most important parts. He said: “If this book is true, then Jesus is the One who gives peace forever. Our idols are not able to give us eternal peace.”
One day Golden Lotus was told that her mother wanted to see her. One of the first questions her mother asked was, “What do you think about the Lord Jesus?” The child answered, “He is my Saviour and Friend,” The mother was overwhelmed with joy, but she said, “If you are a disciple of Jesus, then you must not stay in this temple of demons worshiping idols any longer, I did not know any better when I brought you here, but now you must flee from this terrible place. In the night of the full moon you must go. You have to go alone through the thick forest by night. Let neither tiredness nor fear prevent you from going forward. Here is a basket with provisions and take Suko with you, for the little dog will be a help to you. At the other end of the forest the missionary friends are awaiting you to take you to the “Jesus Hall.” Are you going to undertake this journey?”
“Yes, Mother,” said Golden Lotus, “the Lord Jesus will help me. Better to die than to displease the Lord.”
“We shall pray for you, my child,” said her mother, and then she left with a trembling heart. Would she ever see her child again?
When the old priest met Golden Lotus, he said: “You are going away.” The child was astonished. But he continued: “I approve of it, you have to flee, you cannot live the guilty life of a dancing girl of the temple. I myself believe now in the Lord Jesus. He has pardoned my many sins, taken all my fears away and has given me peace. I cannot accompany you; I am too old. I shall pray for you the whole night of your journey.”
“Bless me,” said the child.
The old man placed his hands on the bowed head of the young girl and said; “The Lord Jesus who is your Saviour and mine keep you on your dangerous journey which you undertake out of love to Hien., Go in peace, any daughter.”
Toward evening Golden Lotus went into the temple and took off her beautiful apsaras garments embroidered with gold and decked with precious stones; also her jewelry, arm-rings and the glittering headdress, and put on a simple frock of a country girl. Then she knelt down and asked her heavenly Friend to bring her safe to the Jesus Hall.
She entered the dark forest by a small pathway which led to a village. The jungle which was silent during the day was now all awake. The trees cracked under the feet of the elephants, the harts brayed, there was the cry of the tiger and the grumbling of the wild buffaloes. Golden Lotus was used to these sounds, having lived so near the forest, but after venturing a few yards into the darkness, a great terror overcame her. She was tempted to return. Looking back she saw the feeble light of the temple.
ML 01/15/1950