Gladys Aylward

Renowned around the world today as a stalwart, never-say-die woman, Gladys Aylward, a tiny, tenacious parlor maid, desperately wanted to go to China. While in her late twenties, Gladys, a new believer, devoured a Christian magazine article about China and its spiritual plight. Instantly a burning desire from God sprang up in her heart — she felt that she must reach China with the glorious gospel message! So on October 15, 1932, Gladys boarded a train that would transport her across Asia, and in spite of the language difficulties, wartime train blocks, and merciless cold, the persevering English woman finally arrived in China. After days of jolting in dilapidated trains and donkey litters across the mountains of China, Gladys Aylward reached her destination: an old, littered house inhabited by the feisty, elderly missionary, Jeannie Lawson. Gladys had arrived to assist Jeannie in establishing a missionary inn for mule trains. The “Inn of Eight Happinesses” became a great success, and when Jeannie Lawson passed away, Gladys took her place as owner of the inn.

(http://bereanbibleheritage.org/extraordinary/aylward_gladys.php)

Gladys became so well known for her kindness and generosity that she was requested by the mandarin to accept the position of a foot inspector, someone who makes sure that the village women do not continue the dreadful custom of binding their daughters’ feet. She traveled around the province, inspecting feet and adopting ailing, neglected orphans, who she would then bring back with her to recover at the Inn of Eight Happinesses. For her kindness to orphans and mandarins alike, she was given the Chinese name of “Ai-Weh-Deh,” which meant “virtuous woman.” However, life would soon change for Gladys, and in 1938, fighting broke out between the Chinese and Japanese. When the war threatened to harm Gladys and her “children,” she decided to lead her one hundred orphans across the high mountains, over the Yellow River, and into Sian, a Chinese occupied city. With very little food, Gladys and her children trudged every day from sunrise to sunset, camping for the night at small villages in the mountains. Finally, however, through the grace of God, the tired, stumbling group made it to Sian and to safety.

My hero, Gladys Aylward, challenges me through her life of perseverance, strength, and faith in God. Instead of desiring to become successful in England, she responded to God’s calling, even though it meant that she would thrust herself out of her comfort zone. In China, she managed to operate a mule inn, inspect Chinese women’s feet, and collect penniless orphans to take back with her. She never quit or demanded a vacation when it seemed as though she could not keep going. However, her heroic journey across the mountains of China commands most of my admiration. Risking her own life for the lives of her precious children, she kept up their morale for nearly the entire duration of the exodus. Gladys Aylward is an inspiration to me because she threw herself whole-heartedly into the work God called her to do, never holding back or shying away from discomfort. Most of all, her faith in God brought the “virtuous woman” safely through trials and tribulations into peace and safety to God’s glory.