For this school assignment (November 2008), I had to write a letter of encouragement to an adult, telling her about the life of Eric Liddell. I wrote to my friend in Milwaukee, Miss Doris.

Dear Miss Doris,

For my school, I have been reading about Eric Liddell. You may have heard of him. He was an Olympic runner. He broke all the world records for running in his time and was very famous. In fact, people admired Eric so much that they started an Eric Liddell Fan Club! But Eric gave up all his fame and running to be a missionary in China.

“Eric Liddell has done it again! A new world record!” All the newspapers were saying the same thing. This Scottish college student had won the gold medal in the 440 meter dash he didn’t even train for. Just a couple days ago Eric was looked down on for not running in the 100 meter dash that he trained for because the race was on a Sunday. Eric thought that nothing was more important than God and keeping his sabbath.

After the Olympics, Eric announced in a public dinner in Scotland to honor him, he was going to retire from running and become a missionary in China. While in China, he married a Canadian nurse named Flo and had three girls. His mission board asked him to go to an interior city to help the people there, who were in desperate need because of the Sino-Japanese War, which soon escalated into World War II. Eric had to leave Flo and his daughters because the interior city was too dangerous for them. Eric was almost killed many times, sometimes by Japanese soldiers, sometimes by Chinese Communist soldiers.

In 1943, China became too dangerous for Flo and the girls. So while Eric stayed in China, he sent Flo and his daughters back to Canada. He intended to follow them to Canada soon. However, the Japanese captured many cities, including the city Eric lived in, and sent all foreigners to an internment camp. No one knew how long they would be there.

Eric organized many classes, such as running and Bible studies, while in the internment camp, and he helped out in the hospital run by the internees. A year later, the Japanese were doing poorly in the war and didn’t have enough supplies, such as food and blankets, to give to the internees. After almost two years in the camp, Eric died from malnutrition and a brain tumor. His was the most grieved death in the internment camp and in Scotland.

Everyone in the internment camp respected Eric for all he had done. He had given his life for God and for people. I admire him, too. I hope my life can be of use to God and others.

Your friend,
Sammi