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The Fleece
written by: Helen Dowd
The Fleece
This is the story of a modern-day missionary. She is not famous and she has no earthly wealth. But her reward in heaven will be great.
Usually, when a person reaches his or her sixties, it is time to think of retirement. But not this person. She will be seventy-one in September, and you will find her in Chilakaluipet, Andra Pradesh, India. Never married, Evelyn Splane is the founder and director of the *India for Christ mission. Because of the laws of that land, she is able to stay in India on a visitor's permit, for only six months at a time. She travels back and forth from India to Canada bi-yearly. But while she is in her home land, she does not sit around relaxing in comfort. She travels about from place to place to create and renew an interest in the Lord's work in her adopted land.
Evelyn has many stories to tell of the wonderful work God is doing there. Her mission sponsors and supports fifty orphan boys; trains young men for the ministry; goes to outlying villages to preach and teach; and has recently built a church which seats a congregation of 2000. Since 95% of the congregation sits on the floor, pews and chairs do not take up space, allowing that many more people to hear the gospel. The church is filled to capacity every Sunday, and many more people congregate outside the building to listen.
Evelyn knew that India was God's place for her, from far back in her childhood. She cannot remember a time when "missions" was not in her mind. Every day at family devotions missionaries from all over the world were prayed for in detail. Missionaries were often guests in the humble home Evelyn shared with her parents, an older sister and four younger siblings, during her growing up years. Two of the most influential people in Evelyn's life were two great aunts, who were a missionary doctor and nurse in the hills of Northern India. So it wasn't any wonder that Evelyn became a missionary.
But her first "calling" has an interesting story around it. I created the following poem from an authentic essay, written in prose by Evelyn's oldest sister, **Clara (now in glory).
Two little girls were playing in their playhouse of leaves and sticks.
They struggled with their dollies' clothes; their bows they tried to fix.
The older girl was Clara. Her mind was far away.
'Twas on the Bible story Dad had read to them that day.
God called a man named Gideon to lead His army out. (Judges 6)
But Gideon was fearful, his heart was filled with doubt.
He asked that God would give him a special sort of sign.
With fleece, he would determine if the leading was divine.
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