Aylward had little formal education, and her idea of a good time was "smoking, dancing, and gambling with one of her several boyfriends." 

After accepting Christ at an evangelistic meeting, she read a magazine calling for 200 missionaries and felt a burden from the Lord to go. She enrolled with the China Inland Mission, but did so poorly during training that she was dismissed.

Feeling rejected, she procured a job in Bristol as a housekeeper with a faithful retired missionary doctor and his wife from China. After hearing many stories, she was once again determined to go to China. She took many additional jobs to earn her passage on the Trans-Siberian railway and went to help Mrs. Lawson, a veteran missionary with her Inn.

Aylward was appointed by the local Mandarin as the foot-inspector and gained his respect as she stopped a prison riot and was deemed "the virtuous one" by the people. The Mandarin later converted after the Japanese invasion destroyed their city. She leads 100 children to safety. 

Because of her great love for the Chinese people, she became a Chinese citizen and continued her work among orphans, refugees, prisons and Buddhists in China until her death in 1970.

A Brief Timeline of Gladys Aylward
	1902-1928	Born and raised in London, little formal education, chamber maid
	1928-1931	Makes a commitment to Christ, missions, & rejected by CIM
	1931-1932	Works for passage to China and leaves via the Trans Siberia RR
	1932-1933	Arrives in China to work with Mrs. Lawson, who dies
	1933-1936	Mandarin appoints her as foot-inspector, becomes Chinese citizen
	1937-1938	Japanese invade her area, she leads 100 children to safety
	1938-1970	Works with orphans, prisons, Buddhists, until her death in 1970
To learn more about Gladys Aylward visit...      http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/73.html To visit our next missionary Irma Jean (Wessels) follow the footprints!