Hudson Taylor-This Time I Stayed Home With the Children

By Mary Vee

Year: December 1877 and January 1878 

Hudson Taylor: age 45 and 46

From J. Hudson Taylor's Notes

Photo Courtesy

I had only a few cents left. 

A letter arrived from the office in England asking me to return home. There were some urgent matters that needed my attention. 

The missionaries had things under control here in China. I purchased a ticket and sailed on the next ship to England.

The time turned out to be a God-send. I arrived only a few days before Christmas. What a blessed time I had celebrating the birth of our Savior with my family.

In January, though, I read news reports of terrible flooding in northern China. The severe rain had washed away the top layer of soil. Farmers couldn't grow crops in the poor quality under soil for the new year. Thousands of people died from hunger. Thousands more died from diseases. There were many women and children in need of help.

As soon as I heard the news, I wrote to our missionaries giving them permission to take in as many orphans as they could and help the people in any other way possible.

I prayed, asking God to give us direction. There must be something we could do. No sooner had I said amen, then an idea came to me. My wife Jennie could go. The Chinese women would not accept help from foreign men, but they would listen to another woman. 

"Jennie," I called to her. "Would you consider going to China to help the women and children. We need orphanages set up and the women will need someone to listen to them. I am not the one to help this time. Would you pray?"

Her eyes lit up. Her mouth curved into a smile. But she didn't say yes, and for that I am very proud of her. Instead she said, "I'll pray about it and see what God wants me to do. I'd have to leave the children here and I must see that someone else takes over my other duties."

"I understand. Let me know."

She did pray. I saw her on her knees for many hours.

I didn't want to push her to give me an answer, but she didn't tell me any updates. A week later she told me the amazing story of what happened. I'll let her tell you in her own words  next week. 


Praise God for His blessings.

J. Hudson Taylor

Missionary to China--Inland China!

So Very Blessed by God 

Research resources: J. Hudson Taylor, An Autobiography by J. Hudson Taylor; It is Not Death to Die, a new biography of Hudson Taylor by Jim Cromarty; Hudson Taylor Founder, China Inland Mission by Vance Christie; J. Hudson Taylor, A Man in Christ, by Roger Steer, and Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret by Dr.and Mrs. Howard Taylor