R2g: Gladys Aylward {Faithful Women & Their Extraordinary God}

This is the third chapter in Noel Piper's book that we are reading together: Faithful Women & Their Extraordinary God.  This chapter looks into the life of Gladys Aylward, missionary to China.  She was a short, uneducated, poor English woman who God moved to the Shanxi Province in China (see map below) against many odds.  It seems that she was gifted with the ability to share the gospel, and her short stature and dark hair made her naturally at home with the Chinese.  She eventually became a full-fledged Chinese citizen and adopted the name "Ai-weh-deh" which means "the virtuous one."  And even though she dropped out of school at 14 and was not a good student, she was able to pick up the Chinese language quickly when given the incentive of hard work.

"The fact that I learned not only to speak, but also to read and write the Chinese language like a native in later years, is to me one of God's great miracles"  (p. 85)

As I read the story of Gladys' life, I was continually shocked by the many ways the Lord provided for her.  I thought I'd recount a few of my favorites for this chapter's review.

• After learning the language, Gladys had a desire to travel more and share the gospel in remote villages around her, but she had no money or means of safe transport.  At the same time, the government banned foot-binding {meant to keep women's feet small}, and the local mandarin {possibly similar to a mayor or governor in the US} appointed her to go from village to village inspecting children's feet to enforce the ban.  He not only gave her a donkey to ride and soldiers to protect her, but he also paid her a stipend to live on!  This was her response, "As I look back, I am amazed at the way God opened up the opportunities for service.  I had longed to go to China, but never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that God would overrule in such a way that I would be given entrance into every village home [not just every village]; have authority to banish a cruel, horrible custom; have government protection; and be paid to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ as I inspected feet!"  (p. 87-88)
• Later, after the local mandarin knew and respected Gladys and her God more, he called on her to stop a prison riot.  In those days, Chinese prisons were horrid and criminals were all housed together, no matter the level of their crime.  The riot that had broken out involved one man with an axe {how in the world he had an axe in prison, I'm not sure} who had killed and wounded several other prisoners.  When they arrived at the prison, the guard told her that the soldiers were too afraid to deal with the riot but that he knew she could because, "You {Gladys} preach the living God everywhere.  If you preach the truth -- if your God protects you from harm -- then you can stop this riot" (p. 89).  So even though Gladys knew nothing about prisons or stopping bloody riots, she entered the prison, took the axe away from the murder, and ordered the other prisoners around.  Shockingly, they obeyed her, the riot was stopped, and her God's reputation was given much credibility.

There are a handful of other amazing examples of God's provision for Gladys and her deep faith in Him... Like the time she led 100 children through the mountains seeking refuge for more than 2 weeks during the Japanese invasion... Or the intense conditions she faced when she traveled through Europe and Siberia in order to make it into China.  However, those stories are not well summarized here due to their length and detail.  So, I'll end with a quote from a letter Gladys sent to her mother in the hardest part of the Japanese invasion of China.  In my opinion, it clearly shows her devotion to God's calling no matter the cost:

Life is pitiful, death so familiar, suffering and pain so common, yet I would not be anywhere else.  Do not wish me out of this or in any way seek to get me out, for I will not be got out while this trial is on.  These are my people, God has given them to me, and I will live or die with them for him and his glory" (p. 94-95).  

I also appreciated Noel Piper's conclusion to this chapter so much, that I thought I'd include it here as well for those who are just following the blog posts but aren't able to be reading the actual chapters with us.  I think it is so challenging!

Gladys Aylward had every reason to say she couldn't go to China.  She could not have afforded it.  She could not have survived the trip through Russia.  She could not have led 100 children safely across the mountains and the Yellow River.  No, she couldn't.  But God could.  If we think we can't do what God is asking us to do, we're right.  But God can.  (p. 102)

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For those of you reading along, what parts of Gladys Aylward's life were most encouraging or inspiring for you?   How do you relate to her story?  How were you challenged by Noel's conclusion?