LITTLE AN-LIN was just four years old when she was found. She was a little Chinese girl but nobody knew anything about her. No one ever heard of her father or mother, or where her home was, and she was too young to remember herself.
It was a time of great famine in the province of Shantung, China. There was nothing to eat; no rain had fallen for months and months and there was no rice and grain. Parents were selling their little children as slaves to buy bread, and little girls from six to seven years of age were sold for two dollars each. The missionaries were very busy during those famine days and used all their money to help save the people from starving.
Dr. Nevius, an American missionary in Shantung, in a few months spent $10,000.00 sent to him by friends to help the starving people around his mission. While he gave them bread to satisfy their hunger, he also sought to give them the Bread of Life. The Lord Jesus in John’s Gospel, chapter 6:35, has said: “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.” I wonder if you, dear young reader, have come to Him to eat of that living bread and to drink those living streams of life? If you have not as yet, we urge you to come to the Saviour now, for He also has said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37).
Some of Dr. Nevius’s workers were coming home one night when they heard a little child’s voice crying. It came from far up among the hills. They followed the sound and at last discovered a little girl almost naked, nearly starved and all alone. Apparently her parents had left her there to die. She was carried gently home and given something to eat. She told her new friends her name and soon she loved them. She grew well and happy, and she ate and ate until Dr. Nevius thought she would die of overeating.
Everybody loved little An-lin for her gentle ways. She had a happy heart and pretty face. She believed the gospel message her friends taught her and before long An-lin trusted in Jesus as her Saviour. All who put their trust in Him find indeed that “He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” Psa. 107:99For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. (Psalm 107:9).
At the same mission there were five or six little boys who had been saved from starvation. As the days went by they all became healthy and happy in their new home. Soon the rain fell; the dry hot days were gone; and there was grain and bread for all. One of the famine boys grew up and became very fond of An-Lin. His name was Wang-Chong-ku. He and An-Lin went to school together and later he got a literary degree in a Chinese university. He also had come to know and love the Lord Jesus. By and by he and An-Lin were married and became Christian workers among their own people. How happy they were and both were loved by all who knew them.
How wonderful it is when children come to know the Saviour when they are young and then set out to live for Him, to serve Him in whatever sphere He might call them to. We urge you too, dear young reader, to put your trust in the Saviour; He’ll take away all that load of sin, and give you peace and joy instead.
Come to Jesus, come today!
There is nothing more to pay.
He will wash your sins away,
He’s a glorious Saviour.
Trust in Jesus, trust today!
“It is finished!” hear Him say.
Jesus is the only way,
He’s a mighty Saviour.
ML-10/20/1963