Gladys Aylward

Gladys May Aylward was born in Edmonton, London to a working class family. She worked as a maid and had very little education.

In her twenties she attended an evangelistic service and dedicated her life to God. Despite being "unqualified" according to a mission organization, Gladys was determined to be a missionary to China. She spent her life savings on a railroad ticket to Yuncheng in the Shanxi province (October 1930).

She worked with an older missionary, Jeannie Lawson, to found The Inn of the Eighth Happiness. She was involved in caring for orphans, prison reform and worked as a "foot inspector."

Gladys became a citizen of China in 1936. The Japanese invaded in 1938 and Gladys rescued over 100 orphans, leading them safely over the mountains, despite being injured herself.

Gladys returned to England in 1948, and was denied re-entry to China when she tried to go back. Instead she went to Taiwan and founded an orphanage.

She died in Taiwan in 1970.

A motion picture called "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" was based roughly on her life. Gladys was embarassed by the movie's portrayal of herself.