Ida Scudder: Reluctant Missionary
This is an electronic version of our Glimpses for Kids children's worship bulletin inserts.
These are designed to present Christian biographies for Children's church, educational or worship ministries. Just One Chunk of Bread
Nebraska farm life was like a dream to seven-year
old Ida Scudder. There were the wide-open fields to run through, the sweet
smelling hay to play in, and a beautiful horse to take care of. These
happy days on the farm almost made her forget what had happened a year
ago in India. Almost. But not quite.
 Ida
Scudder, who once vowed never to return to India, served there as a missionary
for nearly 60 years.
It was the children's eyes that would be forever etched in her memory.
Those rows and rows of pain-filled eyes all looking to her for relief.
Eyes so weak they could scarcely be held open. Eyes full of hunger longing
to be satisfied.
Even though her basket was full of bread, she couldn't give them enough
to really satisfy their hunger. Her mother had been clear about that.
"Only one chunk of bread, Ida. Just one chunk for each child. Otherwise
those at the back of the line will get nothing."
It was hard, but Ida obeyed her mother. One chunk of bread wouldn't satisfy
these poor children suffering from India's famine, but at least their
tummies wouldn't rumble quite so much. That evening as Ida looked at her
own dinner, she felt guilty for having enough when so many had too little.
But all that was behind Ida now that her missionary family had returned
to America because of her father's poor health. She loved the comforts
of America, where there always seemed to be plenty of food to go around.
Ida decided to never return to India. She wanted to live an easy life
in the land of plenty.
College Dreams
The girls giggled as they crowded into their secret meeting place. The
furnace room was the perfect spot for "the bunch" to examine their loot.
Florence had "borrowed" the headmistress' pen and Annie had a pot from
the school kitchen. "I've got you all beat!" exclaimed Ida, as her hand
slipped into her pocket. "These screws are right from the front gate of
the seminary! Just wait till the headmistress comes through the gate!"
With that, the entire group dissolved into laughter. Borrowing and later
returning items was just one of the many pranks "the bunch" had pulled
during their four years at Dwight L. Moody's Seminary for girls. But now
that graduation was nearing, the girls' thoughts turned toward marriage
and settling down.
Ida too had dreams of a secure life with her own "Prince Charming" in
America. Her dreams were interrupted by bad news from her parents, who
had returned to their work in India. Ida's father needed her to come and
care for her mother, who was quite ill.
"You're going to become a missionary just like the rest of your family,"
teased Florence.
Ida's anger flared. "Oh, no I won't! I will never be a missionary. You'll
see. I'll be back in one year."
A Change of Plans
Once back in India, 21-year-old Ida helped her parents in their mission
work, but secretly she planned her escape. One evening, Ida had settled
into her room to enjoy a book. As she turned the pages, her mind drifted
to her plans to return to America, marry "Mr. Right," and live out her
days in the land of opportunity. The quick footsteps and knock at the
door brought Ida back to the present. She looked up to see a young Hindu
man trying to get her attention. "My wife is having our first baby and
something is wrong," he blurted out. "I was told you could help."
"I'm no doctor, but my father is. He'll help your wife."
The young man's face fell in sadness. "Our religion does not permit a
man to even look at my wife's face."
Ida implored him, "But without my father's help, she may die!"
In disbelief, Ida watched the man's sad eyes drop to the floor as he
turned to leave whispering, "All is lost."
 That
night, another Hindu man came to Ida with the same request. He refused
her father's help for the same reason. A Muslim also came, seeking help
for his pregnant wife. When Ida gave him the same explanation, he replied,
"If you cannot help me, then it is better that my wife die, rather than
be seen by a strange man." With that, he bowed and left.
Ida spent a sleepless night praying for guidance. She felt she met God
that night, and He was calling her to abandon her plans and follow Him.
The next morning, Ida learned that all three women died during the night.
These senseless deaths occurred all because there was no female doctor.
As a little girl, Ida hadn't had enough bread to feed the starving children,
but now she knew there was a way to help the hurting women.
She prayed aloud, "God, if You want me to stay in India, I will spend
the rest of my life trying to help these women." Once she chose to follow
God's call, Ida never looked back. She returned to America to attend Cornell
Medical College. In 1899, Dr. Ida Scudder was ready to begin her work
in India.
Find out how Ida Scudder started a hospital and
trained women doctors in part 2 of this "Glimpses for Kids"
children's worship bulletin insert.
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