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Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman

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This book is about true Christianity. If you are tired of hearing about doctrine and interpretation, if you are weary of discussions about social issues that divide and polarize people, if you are suspicious of the Christianity you see around you, if you find religion reprehensible, read this book. You will see a picture of true Christianity.

This is a story that is not so much about Gladys Aylward as it is about God working through a willing and humble servant. This book is not about a great woman; this book is about a small, powerless and vulnerable human who was strengthened and loved by a great God. As she could not keep God's love, mercy, power and grace all to herself, she proceeded to share it with everyone and anyone around her, whatever the cost.

Repeatedly she risked her life to share God's love with those around her. The story is remarkable and miraculous because Gladys Aylward was so willing to get out of the way and let God work through her. She submitted her life, body and soul completely to her maker and let Him use her in any way he needed. This is a beautiful picture of servitude and an inspiration to those of us who try to live as Christians today in an opulent, spoiled and dark society. We cannot help but be humbled by this beautiful servant of God who repeatedly came near death in order to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around her.

This book is in my opinion the best one of the biographies of Gladys Aylward. I've read the others, but they were seen through another author and seemed more like adventure stories. This autobiography, however, puts you in Gladys' shoes so you can see and feel her prayerful reliance on God. You'll see God work through this humble parlourmaid, calling her to China and her obedience through the most harrowing circumstances. Gladys did what God told her to do and trusted in God to provide the means, even when it did not seem obvious and the hardships were many.

Every time Gladys got into a dangerous predicament, God would move His Hand and send deliverance, a woman speaking English in Siberia, a Japanese sea captain taking her prisoner, or a Nationalist patrol boat that just happened upon a prayer meeting held at the banks of the Hwang Ho where 100 children asked God to part the river for them to cross.

God worked through Gladys to change the lives of slaves, murderers, children, Mandarin officials, bandit generals, lepers, students and many many ordinary villagers, throughout the remote mountainous area Gladys was called to. And He furnished the way, whether it was as a foot-inspector, or in a prison riot, or while warplanes droned overhead in caves and tents, even to a Tibetan Lamaist monastery and finally to an Irish asylum. Everywhere God called Gladys, He used her to touch and transform thousands of ordinary lives. Gladys arrived in China penniless, and she left China almost 20 years later penniless. Every step of the way she trusted God for His provision and His leading. This is truly a story that will inspire you and teach you what great things God can do through a humble person who trusts and obeys Him.

Gladys Aylward was a housemaid in England when she felt God calling her to China. The mission she applied to turned her down because of lack of education, fearing that she'd never be able to learn the language. The belief in her call, however, caused her to persevere, raise the money, and head out to China by train by herself, with only a letter of recommendation to an elderly missionary in a secluded station in north China.

Not only did she learn the language, but she became the local foot-inspecter, preventing parents from binding the feet of their daughters, and used the opportunity to share the gospel in many of the surrounding villages.

She also began taking care of orphans and children that had been sold. During WW2, she led a hundred children on a few days march to the safety of another city. This episode was the highlight of the movie made about her, "Inn of the Sixth Happiness" (which is pretty much the fictitious telling of her amazing life).

The book doesn't go into any detail of her life after she left mainland China and began work in Taiwan and Hong Kong among the refugees and orphans, but it's an exciting, quick-moving story, that one could easily read in a day or two.

The movie made from this woman's life, The Inn of the 5th Happiness, was great. This book is even better. There are more miracles told of, and of course it is free of any Hollywood add-ons. This is the story of a parlor maid who feels a call, of all things, to go to China. She meets only discouragement and is told by a local missionary board that she is not qualified. But Gladys audibly hears from YHWH that she is to go. She saves her pennies and takes a train, alone, from England to China!

On the trip Gladys just barely escapes being abducted by greedy and lascivious (to put it mildly) Communists who think she could be useful as they think a missionary is a machinist. When she gets to China - where she speaks not one word of the language - all she has to greet her is a 73 year old missionary living in virtual poverty who had prayed for a young woman to come and replace her. Good thing. The elderly lady died in about a year. Gladys became an inn keeper for mulemen, and a government foot inspector (the Chinese law was saying women could no longer bind their feet.)

Wherever she went she preached the Gospel fearlessly and won many converts, including the local Mandarin who became a great friend of hers. Along the way she gave up her dream of one day marrying and having her own children. But she had plenty of children - I think about 20 officially, some abandoned, orphaned, or bought from those who were going to sell them for evil purposes. She also managed to get 100 children - 3 to 16 years old - over "impassable" mountains, mostly alone and mostly with only the meager food they could beg in their war ravaged area. They needed to reach a Christian missionary orphanage and did so - though at the cost of Glady's health in many ways. As always, people who give up all to follow Abba's call are very humbling, and when they triumph against all odds, we are inspired. What was also encouraging to me was that Gladys was not a bulwark of faith every minute. She sometimes questioned our Heavenly Father, and called out to Him in desperation like all the rest of us. And just as with us, He often answered her prayers at the very last minute!

Though this little missionary had many hardships and trials, I'm sure she would not trade with those of us who sit reading her story in luxury in our climate controlled homes, with full bellies. I guess only those who live so fully dedicated to Yahusha ever really know what true adventure is, or what the truest fulfillment really is.

"When the saints go marching in" I would guess this humble little lady will be among those placed at the head of the line.

This book encouraged me to give my life completely to God. I saw what He can do with one life! It also reminded me that our battle is not against flesh and blood. There are some stories in this book that will give you chills because they show how God works in the most incredible ways! Enjoy!

Somehow, in our time, the adjective 'unique' has come to be misused and heavily overused. Properly it means hardly more than "only" or "the only one (of of its kind)." There is nothing like this story and surely nobody like Gladys Aylward.

In several pages is told the story of a warlord who converted, was then held prisoner by his own men, escaped, found his way back to Aylward's inn, and knew that "I belong to Jesus" fully explained his life. I cannot adequately summarize this particular story; you have to read the version in the book, which itself obviously condenses a long story.

One of the better mission biographies around. The real story behind the classic movie "The Inn of Sixth Happiness". Gladys shares firsthand some great stories of God's direction and faithfulness. Her simple faith in God and His call will inspire any reader.

Although it is written in simplistic language, the contents is incredible. So much truth in such a small book. It is a true story which clearly shows how God has chosen the foolish of this world to confound the wisdom of the wise! A must read for any true believer.

Intriguing, informative and insightful of the ways of China in the late 1900's.
Well written and easy to read and held your attention. Shows a very courageous
woman.

Gladys Aylward was a maid from Britian whom was deemed not educated enought to become a missionary. With the call of God on her life she saved enought money to buy a one way ticket to China in the early part of the 20th century.

He story is incredible, the amazing feat, working in a Christian inn (travellors lodge), not long after her arrival, evangelisation, her trials and tribulations, encounters with foot binding (old Chinese tradition for females) and the Japanese invasion and the 'impossible feat' of leading 100+ orphans to safty through Japanese lines.She loved her life not to death and lived for the glory of God and the salvation of the Chinese; that they might know Christ.

Her life is living testiment to the power of God through those who are weak and lowly. Amazing read, moving and challenging. God bless