CHINESE WHISPERS - GLADYS AYLWARD by
Carol Purves, Day One, price: £5.99, 128 pages
                                                                                          

Gladys Aylward (1902-1970) was known as ‘a London sparrow’ or ‘the Little Woman’ because of her petite stature and birthplace. However, Gladys Aylward’s story is larger than life! It has become immortalised through the film, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, starring Ingrid Bergman. This film (actually using a Welsh location) tends to over romanticise her story and does not reflect the true missionary zeal of this ‘tough little cookie’.

This is a new biography with original material and, by digging deep beneath the surface, the author Carol Purves reveals new light on the controversies that surrounded her life and work. The end result is a challenging record of human bravery and God’s sustaining grace against all the odds. God spoke to this woman, Gladys, about China, and then He simply transplanted her whole life! Gladys Aylward, a Londoner, who had lived an average church-going life, became a Christian after attending a special meeting. That event changed her entire life. She then read an article about the millions of Chinese that needed to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and God made known His call for her. She wanted to go to China and she couldn't stop thinking about it. She tried man's resources for missionary support, but God provided another way; she just didn't measure up to their standards for a missionary!

When Gladys finally arrived in China she joined a seasoned missionary widow to run an inn for mule drivers, in a remote area. They used each evening to tell Bible stories to all who stayed in the inn. Their audiences were quite attentive, as the Chinese loved stories. After time passed, Ai-weh-deh's (Gladys' new Chinese name) situation changed. She was approached by the local mandarin who wanted her to be responsible for ending the practise of binding the feet of baby girls. This was a great opportunity for Ai-weh-deh. She would then be able to visit many remote villages and preach the gospel to all who would listen. She was given soldiers to protect her and to help her enforce the new law, and she was very successful at doing so, and in the process, became well known among the people.

As Miss Aylward never married, she had no children; no one close to her. She began to long for these things and God began to provide her lonely heart with many orphan children. At some points, she had up to one hundred in her charge and God always provided for their needs. God also directed her to take the children to an orphanage in a large city far away. Eventually, Gladys, her two soldiers and the one hundred children made the journey on foot over the mountains and through the battlegrounds of China, although a Japanese bullet wounded her. They all made it alive, but Ai-weh-deh suffered physically and later, had no recollection of those difficult months of recovery.

Many years after Gladys arrived in China, she felt that she must return to Britain. In doing so, she faced ‘culture shock’. She said: "Even in the churches themselves, the Christians appeared lukewarm. The women were dressed in the height of fashion, and social events were of much greater importance than the prayer meeting or the spread of the gospel message. It was far harder to reach the hearts of an English congregation than those of the ignorant, heathen Chinese.”  This book by freelance writer, Carol Purves, is one that tells of a story of a woman dedicated to God. It has an exciting storyline and is easy to follow. May we all have a similar desire to serve and pursue God as fervently. Read and enjoy seeing how God uses the despised things of this world to confound the wise and mighty.

 Edgar C. Powell    The Grapevine