![]() In fact, she has many admirable attributes that make her my hero. Perhaps he wasn’t willing…and God looked down…and saw Gladys Aylward…and God said, ‘Well, she’s willing.Gladys Aylward’s life was one of faith, courage, and determination. Later in her life, Gladys Aylward said: “I wasn’t God’s first choice for what I’ve done in China…I don’t know who it was…it must have been a man…a well-educated man. Finally, she made her way to Taiwan, where she opened the Gladys Aylward Orphanage, and worked until her death in 1970. She traveled here to serve in British administered Hong Kong instead. In 1957, Aylward tried to return to Mainland China, but she was denied. By 1953, nearly all “public” Christians were driven from the land, and the church went totally underground. Aylward was forced to return to Britain, since Communist forces were ordered to seek out and kill all Christian missionaries. The Communist Revolution was violent and oppressive. In 1949, Communism rose to power in China. Despite being wounded, Gladys led more than 100 orphans to safety over a series of treacherous mountains. In 1938, Japanese forces invaded her village. She was highly respected among the people - taking-in orphans, fighting for prison reform, and risking her life on many occasions to help those in need. In 1936, Gladys Aylward became a Chinese citizen herself. But Gladys was very successful in relating to these traditional families, sharing stories of Jesus whenever she could. Rural Chinese were prone to resist foot inspectors, even to the point of violence. ![]() It was a painful practice that often caused lifelong disabilities. In later centuries, it was more of a control thing - making women less mobile, and thus, less independent. According to most historians, the custom dates back to 10 th century, when bound feet were considered a status symbol and sign of beauty in China. Footbinding was the ancient custom of putting tight wrappings on the feet to change their size and shape over a number of years. Together, they established “The Inn of the Eight Happinesses.” The women not only operated a hotel for travelers, but they shared stories about Jesus based on the “Eight Happinesses” - Love, Truth, Beauty, Gentleness, Tolerance, Loyalty, Devotion, and Virtue.įor a time, Aylward also served the Chinese government as a “foot inspector” by touring the countryside to help enforce new laws against the “footbinding” of young girls. In China, Aylward was taken-in by an older missionary named Jeannie Lawson. Along the way, she was arrested by Russians, escaped with the help of local Siberians, hitched a ride on a Japanese ship, and ended up in a remote area of China. Use me, God.”Īylward spent her life savings to travel east on the Trans-Siberian Railway. She said, “Oh God, here’s my Bible, Here’s my money. After years of prayer, she felt her unique appearance was a call to go to Asia as a missionary. ![]() She always wondered why she was short, with black hair and black eyes, while everyone she worked for seemed to have blonde hair and blue eyes. A few decades after Hudson Taylor, another Christian missionary was inspired to go to China, Gladys May Aylward.ĭuring her teens, Gladys worked as a maid in England.
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