Gladys Aylward's Long Road to China

This is an electronic version of our Glimpses for Kids children's worship bulletin inserts. These are designed to present Christian biographies for Children's church, educational or worship ministries.

"Get off the train!" the Russian conductor shouted in words 30-year-old Gladys did not understand. But she could tell from his angry face that he wanted her to get up. However, Gladys did not move. She did not know everyone else was getting off the train because there was a fierce war going on up ahead. The train soon would be filled with only loud mouthed, bad-tempered soldiers. It was not a safe place for a woman traveling alone.

The Long Walk Back
When the train reached the next stop, the conductor forced Gladys to get off. She was the only non-military person left on the train. She now had to walk alone 30 miles back to the nearest city, through the woods in the cold, snowy night. This was only the beginning of her troubles, though. In the many hours to come, she would have almost no food to eat, nearly freeze to death, and barely escape being forced to become a Soviet military machine operator.

Gladys knew God wanted her to go tell the Chinese about Jesus, but why was it so hard for her to get there? Could it be God was getting her ready for even harder times?

Not Good Enough
Gladys grew up in London, England, in the early 1900s. As a teenager, she read a story about the Chinese that changed her life. She knew she must go tell them about God’s love.

Gladys failed missionary training school. The director told her she wasn’t smart enough to learn Chinese, and they would not accept her. But Gladys was determined. If the mission board would not send her to China, she would find her own way there.

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To save money for her trip, Gladys went back to the only job she knew, being a maid. One day Gladys heard about an elderly missionary woman who was looking for someone to take over her work in China.

China at last!
When Gladys finally did arrive in China, she could not find the elderly missionary woman. Gladys was told she had moved to another village, a two-day mule ride into the mountains. So, Gladys hired a mule driver to take her there.

The missionary, 73-year-old Mrs. Jeannie Lawson, was surprised to see Gladys when she arrived at the village. She quickly put her to work repairing the big, old, rundown house that she lived in. The villagers thought the house was haunted. Mrs. Lawson wanted to turn the house into a hotel for the Chinese mule drivers. She would offer two things other hotels did not, dinner time Bible stories and beds without fleas. At first the mule drivers were afraid of the two white women they called “foreign devils.” However, once inside, they loved the Bible stories and news of the hotel spread quickly.

One day Mrs. Lawson slipped and fell from a second floor balcony. A few weeks later, she died. After Mrs. Lawson’s death, Gladys could not pay the hotel taxes. She was alone, without any money and was the only English-speaking person within a two-day mule ride. She did not know what to do. But guess what? God answered Gladys’ prayer in a way she did not expect.

Why didn't Gladys Aylward's parents recognize her when they saw her again? Find out in part 2 of this "Glimpses for Kids" children's worship bulletin insert.

Kids' Contest. (This contest has expired. Results here.)
Choose one of the ideas below and send your finished project by Oct. 31, 2003, to “Kids’ Contest” c/o CHI, PO Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490. Include your name, address and age . We’ll post some of the best ones on our website, and the top ten will receive a FREE video!