Gladys Aylward

Life in China: Courage in Wartime

Gladys quickly learned the Chinese language and grew to love the people. The locals called her “Ai-weh-de,” meaning “Virtuous One.”

She became known in the region and was even appointed by local officials as a foot-binding inspector. At the time, China had outlawed the painful practice of binding young girls’ feet. Gladys traveled from village to village enforcing the law and sharing hope.

Then war came.

In 1937, Japan invaded China. Bombs fell. Soldiers marched. Families fled.

In 1940, with fighting closing in, Gladys led nearly 100 orphaned children on a dangerous journey across mountains to safety. She was sick and injured but refused to leave the children behind.

The journey took weeks. Food was scarce. The terrain was brutal.

But they survived.

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