to Dohnavur Journal Thoughts
featuring information about Amma

Amy Carmichael
1867-1951



Several years ago I was graciously given some prayer-newsletters from
Dohnavur Fellowship. 
These letters were sent to the Fellowship's prayer partners and financial supporters. 
 Some of these letters covered the years while Amma was living.
I want to share some of her thoughts from these letters with you in the form
of a journal covering some of the years of her life at Dohnavur Fellowship.  

The following comes from a "Special Letter" about her death.  

From a special letter sent in January, 1951
Detailed report about Amma's death

"One thing have I desired, my God, of Thee,
That will I seek--Thine house be home to me."

Early on the morning of January the eighteenth the chimes in the House of Prayer range out to tell us that our beloved Amma had gone Home to the Lord.  It was her wish that the bells should play the music of the Lord.  it was her wish that the bells should play the music of the words printed above, and that we should share in her heavenly joy.

Some time ago she asked Evu (one of the first Lotus Buds) to promise her something.  When Evu asked what that was, she said, "When I go, you may cry for five minutes, and then you must sing.  Can you do it?  Evu promised to do her best, and truly God upheld her and all the family, garrisoning their hearts with His peace. 

For many months Amma's suffering had been increasing daily, but about a week before the end, she began to sleep much more; the pain seemed to slip away, and it became apparent that the goal was in sight.  For a long time she had been too ill to see her dearly-loved family, but while she lay in this deep sleep they were able to come in and out, as they pleased, and look upon her face again. 

Gradually she became unconscious and, although many times we thought the Gates were opening, she remained with us still for some days, unaware of all that was going on around her, but absolutely in peace.  Many of the older ones sat in her room, keeping watch beside her.  John Risk went there one evening with some of our older men.  "The room," he said, "was full of people, but there was no sound among them.  (Even the birds in the aviary seemed to fall silent through those days."  One or two would occasionally slip out and others would come in; there was no disturbance, no organizing, but a sense of peace that went below the heartache and held us all fast as we waited patiently for Him."

God gave us a shining token of His care over us one cloudy evening.  For several days heavy rain-showers had fallen, and it seemed, then, as if there was to be another down-pour.  Suddenly some of us looked up and saw part of a rainbow which gradually spread over the sky, growing brighter and brighter until it formed a brilliant double arch that encircled the Compound.  Some of the little children looked at it with delight and remembered God's promise to Noah.  To us older ones, who are only little children to Him, it brought a message straight from Himself.

The days of waiting meant that some members of the family in other places could be called in.  It gave time, too, to arrange that everything should be done just as Amma would have desired.  The day before she went Home, the elders of the Dohnavur church (the Pastor was away) met John Risk and others, to plan details of a service to be held there, as well as in the House of Prayer.  They were most helpful and co-operative, even  being ready to give up their idea of the "Sorrow Bell," which they thought they would ring for a very long time, as a mark of respect.  They understood how contrary that would be to all that Amma had taught them of the joy of the one who is with Christ.  In ways that cannot be told, God was with us, guiding and undertaking for us in His love.

Very early on the 18th it became apparent that Amma would not be with us much longer,  About an hour later, with the elder members of the family gathered at her side she passed into the Lord's presence in absolute peace.

"Eye hath not seen, no ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them that love Him."  This, one of Amma's best-loved verses, is in Daily Light on the evening of the day that she went to be with Him.  We found there, too, the promises of I Thessalonians 4:13-17--words given, for our strengthening, on the day that Godfrey Webb Peploe entered into rest, nearly two years ago.

Beauty and peace and order were the key-notes of the day that followed.  There could not but be tears, but all knew of Amma's longing that we should not weep, but share her joy.  Watching the carrying-out of all that had to be done, the fragment of a verse came to mind.  When read in full it had a still deeper significance:--"For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ."  Surely Amma knew and rejoiced.

She lay for a time in her room, and sweetness and peace shone from her face.  By the time everyone had been in, and passed out, her bed was completely covered with the flowers her children had brought.

Later, at mid-day, she was carried to the Dohnavur Church as that the people whom she loved, and who loved her, should see her face once more.  Our boys and men lined up to make a bodyguard, and our older servants, with Per (of the book, Raj, Brigand Chief) were her bearers (that had been her own request).  As the procession moved slowly away the boys sang a Tamil hymn chosen by one of the elders.  ("Let us sing that hymn about reaching Heaven," he said to John, "for that was the song she taught us to sing, raising her hand and pointing--so!"--and up went his hand in a gesture that vividly recalled her."

In the church the boys continued to sing, as, for about an hour and a half, the people streamed in and out.  Just as it was time for the service to begin, Bishop Selwyn (one of Amma's oldest friends in India) arrived with the pastor, and he led the service, with others taking part.

Two men, one a resident in Dohnavur village, the other the catechist from Village of Loving Kindness, spoke of Amma, giving glory to God for her and for the work He gave her to do.  Each older person in the congregation received a text-card on which were printed verses telling of eternal life, and of the way of salvation.  These had been prepared several years ago by Godfrey Webb-Peploe, when it seemed that Amma might not be with us much longer.  (How little he thought that he would go ahead of her!)  It was estimated that about twelve to fifteen hundred of these cards were distributed.  Pray for that seed sown.

As the chimes in the tower rang out the tune of "Ten thousand times ten thousand," Amma was carried to the House of Prayer, and our own service was held there an hour later.  The House of Prayer was filled with our own men and women, school-boys and girls, together with representatives from the servants and work-people, and friends from the village.  The "Widow of the Jewels" was there, finding it hard not to weep aloud.  Neela (Blue Flower) who has been with Amma all through these long years was standing erect as we joined in singing, "Alleluia!  The strife is o'er, the battle won."

John read some verses--Matthew 25:21; II Timothy 4:6-8; and Philippians 1:19-21--then after thanksgiving and prayer we moved slowly to God's Garden, singing all the time.  It was a very long stream of people, mostly clad in white, with children among them, waving ferns instead of palms, as a sign of victory.

By the grave-side Devabakti read I Corinthians 15:50-58 in a gloriously clear and steady voice, though his eyes were full of tears.  When Amma had been laid to rest, the boys led the way round the Garden, which we encircled, coming back to the huge old tamarind tree at the entrance, and pausing there for the end of the service.

It was Tara who led the unaccompanied singing, helped by a younger sister.  Neither of them faltered.  God's grace was seen in all those who are women now (some of them gray-haired) but who were the babies and children of the pages of Lotus Buds--Chellalu, Lola and Leela, Preena (the Elf), Suseela, Rukma, and too many more to mention.

At seven o'clock in the evening we gathered once more in the House of Prayer to sing of the Heavenly Country, where many of our family are now, safe at Home forever.  The little children were divided up, so that the greater part of them sat amongst the men and big boys, and their innocent happiness was a very real comfort at that time.

God, hold me on with a steady pace."  That word, often quoted by Amma, came back to memory as we turned to the everyday things of life again.  Next morning the pattern we as Christ's servants are pledged to follow--the pattern that Amma lived before us--was presented to us afresh in Daily Light: "Whosoever will be great among you let him by your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.
We count on you to pray for us that we may be true to our calling.

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