My parents were stationed in the interior of China. In order to get supplies, the missionaries had to walk many miles, through robber territory, to a larger city.My Dad and a fellow missionary, Frank, took this trip to buy their monthly supplies and to get their mail. In the mail would be welcome letters from family back in the USA and Canada and money mailed to them from mission headquarters.
After a long and tiring day, their mission accomplished, they bedded down in a Chinese Inn for the night. They had employed some Chinese coolies (men who carried baskets by poles on their shoulders) to help them transport their load the next day. The coolies had instructions to be ready to leave before daybreak, as they had to go through a deep, dark valley that was a known place for robbers to attack unsuspecting travelers.
Early the next morning, while it was still dark, Dad and Frank were up and ready to leave, but there was no sign of the coolies. The sun was coming up, and Dad and Frank were anxious to leave, but the coolies were not there. When they finally arrived, saying they had "overslept", the sun was high in the sky. Knowing the situation was not to their liking, Dad and Frank prayed for the Lord's protection and started out.
They went through the valley without any trouble and soon were home, rejoicing in the Lord's protection for them.
A week later, two Chinese gentlemen came to their mission station with news for my Dad. They said, "Di Mussah, (Dad's Chinese name) when you went through that valley last week, there were robbers waiting at dawn, to shoot and rob you. But, because you delayed, a band of military police happened to go through first and had a shootout with the robbers. One robber was killed, one was wounded and the others ran off."
In telling us this story, Dad said, "We had a plan, but God had a better plan for us!"
When I am delayed, or when my plans don't go as I expected, I remember this incident, and realize that God's plans are always best for me.
18 comments:
That story literally gave me chill-bumps. Whom do we have to fear when the Lord is in control? Is that a real photograph of the area?
It's a real photograph of China, but not actually where Dad had this experience. When we had to evacuate China, during WW II, my parents always thought they'd go back to China, so left most of their photos there. Then Communism took over China and they were not able to go back.
Hi Ruthie, you are so right, many times when I was working outside the home and anxious to get to work on time, there would be situations were I couldn't find my keys or a shoe or something. Many times I would come upon an accident on my route, and I would think that if I had left at the time intended I would have been in that spot and perhaps I would have been in that accident. Then I would praise God and thank Him for the delay and his protection from troubles seen and unseen. Thanks Ruthie for a beautiful story about our Lord's protection. Deb
Awesome! God is so good!!
That is soooo true! I agree 100%!!
Awesome post!☺
PS...don't forget to come by my place as I'm having a Mother's Day giveaway and I would hate for you to miss out!
Oh wow, that story gave me chills! What a great reminder to trust God's timing.
Thanks Ruthie!!! What a great reminder that Our God is an AWESOME GOD!!
God's timing is perfect...if we only wait on Him, He will take care of us...you had such an interesting childhood...Where did your parents go after they left China?
I just love your stories of their missionary experiences...
Ruthie, I am so.. busy working outside. I loved your story!! Have a great night!! Hugs, Terrie
Mimi,
We lived in lived in Minnesota after coming back from China. Years later, after I moved out to CO, my parents moved to Nebraska.:)
What an incredible story! Something we all need to think about when things don't go as we have planned.
Just think what would have happened if the robbers got to him and killed him. We wouldn't be here today. :)
What a GREAT story, and what a great reminder of Who is in control.
I have a question; do you know why all the hillsides are terraced like that? We saw that all around the Great Wall, and I had forgotten to ask!
Blessings ~
Kristi, I think it's because the hillsides are so steep that there would be too much erosion. So they terrace them, and then can grow crops even on steep hillsides.
Thanks for visiting. I'd love to see the pix you took while you were in china. :)
Smiles
Thats great! You already know I want you to make all of these into a book, but a devotional would also be wonderful. Isn't it nice of me to plan out your time? :)
I second that Julie!
Wow, Ruthie. We truly do have an awesome God. This is such an inspiring story. Thank you for sharing. We tend to want God to be on our timetable instead of the other way around. We need to remember who is in charge, and who knows best.
Blessings.
What a great story! God is so amazing isn't He! I often wonder when things go wrong and I am running late if perhaps God is behind it and protecting me from something. Thank you for sharing the great story!
Hugs, Sharon
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