Why Do We Tell Bible and Missionary Stories?

By Mary Vee

Happy New Year!!






We celebrate the start of a fifth year of this blog.

Sharing Bible stories on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 

Missionary stories on Mondays

These stories are told in the first person to help take you back in time to the event.

See the sites

Smell the scents

Taste the food

Touch the objects

Hear the sounds

The purpose of this blog is:

to help you experience these very real events 

to help you understand in maybe a small measure why God included this important event in His word.

to help you want to learn more and grow closer to God

For this reason you will not see advertisement on this page. 

This blog is all about God, His word, and how its importance in our lives.

In five years we have:

Walked from creation to Elisha's life events 
Walked with Gladys Aylward through her missionary journey in China
Walked a portion of J. Hudson Taylor's journey
Played Bible games (see tab at the top to find the games)
Discussed ways to keep safe (see tab at the top)



This year we will:

Continue Elisha's story
Continue and probably finish J. Hudson Taylor's journey.

May God bless you and your family in this new year. 

We look forward to your visits.

Gladys Aylward, Missionary to China

By Mary Vee


Conclusions


One of the greatest bitter-sweet moments for me is turning the last page of a good book. I usually sigh and wish I had another page. 


What will I read next, I say to myself? Could the next book possibly touch me the way this last book has?


Ten books and more than thirty on-line sites provided research material for the past one year of posts dedicated to the missionary struggles, hopes, dreams, successes failures, provision and grace of God in the life of Gladys Aylward. She has been a good example of a life dedicated wholly to Christ and the spread of the Gospel to the Chinese. 

Gladys Aylward

Inspirational. Holding fast. Never wavering in faith.

Wounded, beaten, starved, gravely ill, homeless.

Always stepping forward.

For Christ.

And now her story has ended.

But her inspiration has not. 

Time to investigate another missionary's life.

I have considered several missionaries for the next series, reading books about each one before knowing which missionary's life I should share next. Which one will be it be?


Let's play a guessing game: 


The next missionary grew up in England.
His parents prayed that God would give them a child who would serve in China.
He went to medical school.
He lived from1832 to 1905
He started a mission that years later, helped Gladys Aylward.
He hurt his back and couldn't walk for nearly a year.
One of his children died on the mission field.


Give up?


Okay. Okay, I'll tell you. :)


The next missionary will be J. Hudson Taylor.  Come back next Monday for the start of our series about J.Hudson Taylor.




May my life, dear Lord be wholly dedicated to you, always willing to serve, willing to go where you send, willing to endure life's trials, and willing to tell whoever comes my way about Your abiding and faithful Love given through the life of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Gladys Aylward 1902-1970

The End of My Journey-Gladys Aylward

By Mary Vee

From Gladys Aylward's Journal

If I had a library worth of pages, I could easily fill them with the blessings of God. 

I'd tell about the Christmas in my little home where the celebration planned for the three turned into a gathering of over twenty seven in need. How we laughed and praised God and how he turned food for a few people into enough for all who came.

I could tell you about the Buddist priest who asked Jesus into his heart after receiving a suit. Oh, the stories I could still tell--I'm am so happy remembering what God did that I am laughing even as I write these words.

I could tell you about the Chinese woman trapped in an Irish asylum and how God led me to help free her. She too accepted Christ and eventually returned to China as a missionary.

I traveled throughout my homeland, preaching Christ and telling the people about the plight of the Chinese people under Communism. I had received word that even one of my adopted sons, Less, had been shot and killed at the University because of his faith.

In time, the letters I received from Hong Kong grabbed my heart. Many Chinese fled the communists there with no food or shelter. 

One day, I gathered my things and said good bye to my homeland. I journeyed to Hong Kong and found a horrible sight. Men, women, and children roamed the streets starving with no place to live. How could a few people do all the work?

Together with a few Christian friends, we immediately set up a mission and an orphanage. We tried to gather funds to pay for food and clothing, but were unsuccessful. In the meantime, missions from America called, asking me to come speak. I didn't want to leave my beloved Chinese people again.

Calls from America came daily and the needs for supplies increased. I realized God wanted me to go to a new land to share the needs of the Chinese people. 

Many American churches allowed me to speak from their pulpit and share the good news of Christ and the story of the terrors in China. The people listened with open hearts. I felt welcomed in their homes and in their churches. 

God sent needed dollars from the Americans to the Chinese in Hong Kong. During my time in America, World Vision Incorporated agreed to send money for the needs of the mission and the orphanage I had set up in Taiwan. 

And now my journey has ended. My love for Christ and all He has done for me has filled my life and guided my steps.

Some day I hope to meet you in Heaven.

May you see, hear, feel, and taste the goodness of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Gladys Aylward

England, My First Home, My Return

By Mary Vee

From Gladys Aylward's Journal

The University would not be the first place taken over by the Communists. I loved my work, but I also knew--sad to say--one day the communists would force me and all other missionaries to leave.


The focus of every missionary: establish a firm church and give the Chinese people a strong foundation to continue the work themselves. Someday we would return to help them, when the Communists left or at least allowed us in the country.


A large group of American missionaries had come in recent days. I truly appreciated their help. As I walked with the American missionary assigned to take over my work at the prison and church, he asked, "Have you met a great missionary known as, Ai-weh-dah?"


I laughed. "Yes. I am her!"


The American missionary had heard Ai-weh-dah had been shot, beaten, and quite ill while doing missionary work. He asked, "Wouldn't you like to go back to England?"


I thought for a moment and remembered doctors had advised me to return home for medical treatment. 


And, oddly enough, only a day before, a Chinese student prayed out loud for the people of England who had learned to worship actors, sports, money, entertainment. He asked God to send missionaries to England. Why did he feel led to pray that prayer?


I turned to the American missionary and answered, "Yes. I would like to return to England. But I don't have any money."


After that conversation the American and I became quite busy. As we worked, he said, "My wife and I have been sent to help stranded German missionaries. Due to WWII, many German missionaries received little or no help from anywhere. Many have starved or died from diseases because they had no money for food or medical care. Our job is to search for German missionaries in need and give them money to return home." 


After the last German missionary left, the American missionaries discovered surplus money in their fund. The man apparently thought of me. He and his wife discussed whether the remaining funds could be used for a non German missionary to return home. They decided yes.


The next day a messenger told me the good news. "Gladys, the money has been sent for you to go home!"


I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what to do. So I cried.


I had worked seventeen years in China, it had been my home. I could speak several dialects of Chinese and, in truth, I had learned to look and act Chinese. 


In truth, I did want to go home, to heal. Not forever, just to heal. Three years later I finally set sail for England.



Next week: return to my second home: my people--where my heart lives.


Gladys Aylward


*****************************
The last story about Gladys Aylward will be next week. 
The next featured missionary will be J. Hudson Taylor 


picture courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

I Will Not Give Up My Faith

By Mary Vee

From Glady's Aylward's Journal

What seemed like a wonderful start to the spread of the Gospel of Christ ended up in bravery and tragedy.


The communist took over the University in our city. They handed out surveys to all the students and forced them to complete the questions. I asked for one of the forms to see what the students had to do. 


At first, the questions seemed like other questionnaires: Who is your mother, how much money do your relatives have, and so on. 


But at the bottom of the form, in smaller print, the question which would soon cause great trials appeared. If the person sided with the government, he or she had to write a "O" in the box. If they didn't, he or she had to write an "X".


Five hundred of the university students had asked Christ into their heart in recent days. Some of the five hundred students answered "O" in their box, and others answered "X".


The students who answered "O" were taken to a special room and told to bully the students who answered "X". "Make them feel bad. Scare them into answering 'O' the next time."


The students did what they were told. The bullying hurt many students in more ways then just beatings. The students who marked "X" on their survey met each day for prayer and Bible readings to have the strength to face the day of torture. The communists found the group and placed a guard with each student to prevent them from meeting. The students grew hungry, tired, and beaten. 


After some time, the communists handed out the surveys to the university students again. The results: More students showed their faith by checking X! The officials became very angry. 


The next day the students who marked X in the box were lined up in a public square. An announcer called a your female student forward from the group. She pressed her thin shoulders back and walked to the microphone as she was ordered. The announcer barked, "I will give you one last chance to speak."


I didn't know if she would surrender or not. Her life was at stake. What would she say?


The girl stepped closer to the mic. Her clothes were torn, her body beaten, and she had lost a lot of weight. She said, "Before the last two weeks of training from the government...I thought I knew the Bible was God's Word and that Jesus died for me. And now...


"Now...I know the Bible is God's Word and that Jesus died for my sins." She stepped away from the microphone. Two soldiers grabbed her arms and dragged her a few feet away where she was beheaded...in front of all the others. Each of the remaining students who marked their box "X" did the same. They chose to stand for their faith in Christ.


There is a verse that comes to my mind, "Only one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." While only Christians for a short time, these students showed the communists and the people of their city a resolve not to surrender their faith. 


I have two more stories to share with you before I end my work. See you next week.


Gladys Aylward

"How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, 
 is laid for your faith in his excellent word! 
 What more can he say than to you he hath said, 
 to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled? 

 "Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, 
 for I am thy God and will still give thee aid; 
 I'll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand 
 upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand. 

 "When through deep waters I call thee to go, 
 the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow; 
 for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, 
 and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress. 

 "When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie, 
 my grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply; 
 the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design 
 thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine

Words by Keen 1787

Gladys Aylward's Resolution

By Mary Vee

From Glady's Journal

The war in China had finally ended. 


Homes had been destroyed; separated family members searched for each other. I'd say their biggest problem was not knowing what to do next.


Survivors roamed from place to place searching for a home, food, and a new beginning.


I, too, needed a home. My health did not require me to stay with the doctor's family any longer. I needed my own place to live.


One of the big churches in the city posted an ad for help. They wanted someone to tell the refugees about Christ. So many people flooded into the city from the north seeking help. So many needed Christ.


I applied for the job with the condition that I could continue my work with the prison and the leper colony. The church agreed and gave me a small room in the back of the church to live.


I moved into my room and began my ministry, all of which took place outside of the building. One day I decided to explore the church building. Upstairs, in the place where people should gather to hear God's Word, furniture had been overturned and dirt covered everything. How could God's house be treated this way?


The war had destroyed people's houses, people's lives, and now I saw it had also ruined God's house. As I stood in the dark and dingy room, a ray of sun peeked through the gobs of dirt on the stain glass windows. It shined down in the room at the moment. I shook my head, discouraged.


God spoke to my heart. He wanted His light to shine in this room. I made a resolution that day to clean one portion of the church and pray for that place each day. I worked for several days but grew tired due to my health. 


I didn't want to give up my resolution to God. I told the pastor of the church what I did. He smiled and agreed to help. The two of us worked to clean and pray. Another day, one of my adopted sons came to visit me. He too stayed to help clean and pray. Then a man from the church came, and another. After forty days the church had been cleaned, sparkling, and radiant!


Now we needed people to fill the church. The pastor and I went out to the city streets and held Gospel meetings. After each meeting we invited people to services at the church. I prayed that God would send more help. Two people couldn't possibly reach all the refugees.

A few days later a request came in the mail from the Youth for Christ organization. They offered to hold Gospel meetings if we provided the volunteers. They also agreed to pay all the expenses. 




God is good. He had the church cleaned up, prayed for, and then invitations sent to the people to come.


Gladys Aylward

The Prisoners and Mr. Shan

By Mary Vee

From Gladys Aylward's Journal

The governor gave me permission to go into the prison and tell the men about Jesus. He didn't believe that my words would make a difference.


The prison guards lined all the prisoners in rows and ordered them to sit in the court. I walked to the front of the group and told a few Bible stories. It took a while because the men interrupted me constantly with insults, rude noises, and cruel jokes. 


I must admit, at times like these the missionary life can be discouraging--but this did not give me any right to give up. I stood bold and told the Bible stories but when the men left without one person to show an interest in Christ, tears came to my eyes. 


A group of lepers lived outside the city. Several had accepted Christ as their personal savior. Visits to the camp became a highlight to my day. I shared my sadness about the cruel prisoners with several of the lepers who had become my close friends. Each day I went to their camp to pray, share, and tell Bible stories. I told the Christian lepers about the prisoners and how they laughed at the Bible stories.  Several spent hours with me praying for the prisoners.


A few weeks later one prisoner asked Jesus into his heart. Then another and another, soon five men had accepted Christ and willingly stood by me to give their testimony. Still, most of the men laughed and mocked the Bible stories. Oh the mean things they said made me cry when I left.


One day the guards pulled four new prisoners through the prison gate and shoved them to the ground. Chains bound their arms and legs. I didn't know they had murdered several people. God spoke to me as the guards jammed their feet on the prisoner's backs. As I watched God spoke to me, "Go speak with them, Gladys." 


Even with chains to hold these men captive they looked scary. I didn't want to talk to them.God spoke to me again."Tell them I love them just like I love you." Why did God ask me to do difficult jobs? I walked to the guard and asked, "May I speak with these men?"


He growled at me. "No!" I walked to the other side of the court and prayed for a few minutes then returned to the guard and asked again. "May I speak with these men?" Oooooo he became very angry and had me escorted out of the prison. The next time I went to the prison I learned three of the men had been killed. 


The one who still lived in the prison had an angry face. Mr. Shan became the meanest prisoner. He spit in my face and shouted terrible things. The others watched him and copied his horrible ways. I didn't want to be around him, but God asked me to go to the prison EVERY day. I asked all my friends to pray with me for Mr. Shan. Without the prayers of my friends I don't think I could have gone back to the prison each day. Soon others from the city joined me in the prison work.


Months had passed and only a few men accepted Christ. One day the men stood to leave the court for their cells. The guards force them to jog as they left and absolutely no one was allowed to speak. It was then, of course, it had to be at an awkward time, that God told me to speak to Mr. Shan. I didn't want to. No one was allowed to speak as the men jogged out of the court.


God repeated his instructions to me. "Speak to him." My muscles tightened and I couldn't think of words to say. Mr. Shan would soon pass by me. I would break the rules if I spoke to him, but God asked me to. Confused and quite nervous I leaned forward to speak to him as he jogged by and mistakenly touched his shoulder. "Mr. Shan, aren't you tired of feeling angry?"


He whipped his body in my direction. I thought he might hit me. "What do you care?"


I took a deep breath and said, "Because, my heart is content."


He growled and squinted. "Sure. Anyone who can leave this prison at any time would be content." 


His eyes pierced my heart. I didn't want him to hurt me, but I needed to finish no matter what happened. "I am content for quite a different reason, Mr. Shan. I know Jesus loves me and to prove His love He died for my sins."


When he left the court I realized I had done a terrible thing. In China: no woman is allowed to touch a man in public. Had I ruined an opportunity to tell this man about Christ? 


The next day, one of the Christian prisoners came to me and told me what happened after Mr. Shan left the court. The prisoner said Mr. Shan sat down in the inner court and refused to look at anyone. He asked Mr. Shan if he needed help. Mr. Shan raised his head. Tears filled his eyes as he spoke, "She touched my shoulder as one who cares, truly cares. No one has ever cared about me."


The prisoner stayed with Mr. Shan and listened. Then he told him about God's love. Mr. Shan asked Jesus to be his Savior that day. In the days that followed Mr. Shan showed the prisoners his new love for God. Because of the great change in Mr.Shan many other prisoners came to know Christ. 


Not by the words of one person do people come to know Christ, but the prayers and actions and words of many. Including you.


God's blessings on you
Gladys Aylward

Opening the Prison Doors

By Mary Vee

From Gladys Aylward's Journal

The good doctor needed to return to his wife and family after our Lamasery visit. He promised to only be gone five days. We left seventeen days ago.


I wanted to go back to the college students to report how God answered their prayers. Their prayers for the lonely villages in the mountains led me to go and tell the people about Jesus.. After hearing their prayers I visited every village on their list and shared the news of God's love. Many villagers trusted Jesus as their Savior.


After my report, God led me to a new city with many people and buildings to do His work. A doctor and his wife allowed me to stay at their home. During my stay I walked through the streets and found many churches and organizations teaching the Gospel. I didn't understand why God sent me to that city when He had set up a good ministry already.


One morning at the doctor's home, a visitor spoke with the doctor about a place in the city where people had not heard about Jesus and His love. Of course I thought the man was crazy. "I beg your pardon. There is no place in this city that does not have opportunity to hear about Christ." I mentioned the churches and organizations.


He shook his head. "You're new in town, right?"


"Well, yes," I said. "I have only been here three days."


He said, "I spoke of our prison, not any free part of the city. We have the second largest prison in China. No one is willing to go in the prison to tell the men about Jesus."


Aha. I understood. 


But, I also knew God asked me to tell people in the villages about Jesus, not the prisoners. There must be someone else called to go to that prison. 


I waited in the city for a couple of days, walking around the streets and resting at the doctor's house. God would show me what He wanted me to do. After the days passed God spoke to my heart. "Go to the prisons, Gladys. I died for them too."


I rolled my eyes and sigh. "Very well, God." After all this time serving God in China, one would think He couldn't surprise me anymore.  Hah!


Because of the Chinese customs I needed special permission to enter the prison. I asked to meet with the governor. He allowed me to speak with him the same day. Once in his office I bowed. "Governor, may I go to the prisoners and tell them about Jesus?"


He shook his head. "Absolutely, not. The men are murderers and thieves. I have tried for five years to change those prisoners into good citizens and have failed. You would too. The answer is no."


I decided not to tell him about the prison riot God helped me stop many years ago.He might have thought I wanted to be better than him. I bowed. "Governor, if you let me go into the prison and speak with the men, the prisoners will change."


He raised his eyebrows and shook his head. The look said, she is crazy and maybe needs a chance to see for herself how those prisoners will not change. He sighed and gave me permission.


The next morning I went to the prison with my pass from the governor. 


The visit didn't go quite as I planned. Come back next week to ready what happened.


Gladys Aylward

Lamasery Part IV-the Messenger is You!

By Mary Vee

Gladys Aylward's Journal

Last week I ran out of time to finish this story


Click here for part 1, part 2, part 3  to read why the head lama invited me, a woman, into the lamasery.


The head lama instructed his helper to pour more tea; we warmed our hands on our cups and drank. "Tell me, what happened to the two lamas who went on the quest?" I asked.


He sat back in his chair and continued his story. "They walked for many miles. The search took a long time, but such a quest is worth every moment invested, wouldn't you say?"


"Yes, I do."


"I am amazed they had to travel all the way to Len Chow," he said, "before finding the answer burning in their hearts. But there in Len Chow, they met a man walking down the street. 'Do you know where we can learn about the God who loves?' they asked him. 


"The man pointed further up the road. "There. Walk until you see a gate with three signs: Faith, Hope, and Charity. Inside those gates you will find someone who can answer your questions.'


The two lamas followed his directions to a place called China Inland Missions. A kind man sat down with the lamas and answered their questions. When he could tell them no more he handed them a copy of the Gospels. They hurried back to the lamasery to share their adventure and all they had learned.


"The young men came before me and presented the Gospel booklets they had received and told me about their journey, the questions they had asked and the answers they received. We read the Gospels that evening. The next day I called special meetings and read the words from this book to all the other lamas. Although we believed the words in the book, there was much we couldn't understand.


"The more we learned, the more questions we had. One day we read a verse: 'Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel.' This verse brought great comfort because we then knew someone would come to us to teach and explain this book and answer our questions. All we had to do was wait. 


"For three years we waited, knowing someone would come. Each day we were ready to receive the person God would send.


"One day two lamas went out to the mountainside to gather sticks. They heard singing flowing up from the mountain below. They turned to each other and shouted, 'The messengers we have been waiting for have come!'


"They dropped their sticks and agreed one would run to the Lamasery to tell everyone to prepare for the messengers, the other would go to guide the messengers to us. You and Dr. Huang were the messengers."


He bowed slightly to me and smiled.


After our meeting I packed to leave.


Although I don't know how many of the lamas put their trust in the God who loves I feel in my heart that many of them did choose to follow Him. What I do know is God told me to tell the lamas about Him, and I did. 


Sometime later, communist destroyed the lamasery. Where the lamas went, I don't know.


When I get to heaven, though, I plan to ask God what happened after we left. 


Hah! It sure was a the strangest week I ever had in China.


Gladys Aylward


photos from OMF International FB page.


In 1964 The China Inland Mission changed it's name to Oversees Missionary Fellowship International. To learn more about this mission click : OMF International

Lamasery Part III-Who is the God of Love?

From Gladys Aylward's Journal

If you miss part one of this story, click here . If you missed part two click here .

photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

Late that night at the Lamasery, two men knocked on the door. They said, "Are you tired? Could you tell us more about the God who loves?" 


I didn't want to offend or break any rules. "Are you allowed to come in the room?" They nodded and I invited them to sit at the table.

All night long I answered their questions about the God who Loves. I told them Bible stories, and answered their questions. When they left other lamas came to my door wanting to know more about Jesus. They reminded me of a child who had been starved. I answered their questions about why Jesus died for our sins and why God truly loves them.


The next morning Dr. Huang told me many lamas also came to his room to ask questions about God's love and why God sent His son to die on the cross for their sins. How could we leave the next day? We chose to stay at the temple for one week to answer their questions and help these men understand God's love for them. I can hardly express how happy their questions made me feel. They truly wanted to know more about God.


The last night of our visit, the head lama summoned me to visit him. He didn't invite Dr. Huang. I was worried I wouldn't be able to understand him. There are so many Chinese dialects. As I entered the room he greeted me in a way I could understand. This would make the conversation much easier.

We talked a long time about China and the people. During the whole conversation, though, I couldn't help but wonder why he allowed me to enter the Lamasery. Women were strickly forbidden to enter. I bowed respectfully bowed and asked him.

He took a sip of his tea and sat back in his chair. "Well, it's a long story."

I smiled. "A long story I would love to hear."

"Very well," he said. "We grow licorice on the mountainsides then sell them in the villages below. One year several lamas took the licorice to the village to sell and met a man in the town square. He gave papers and shouted to anyone who passed by, "Free--Salvation for all! If you believe you will have salvation and live forever."

"The lamas took the paper and read these words--." He walked to a piece of paper stuck to the wall. It had yellowed and turned raggedy. The paper had one Bible verse: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

He walked back to his seat then continued the story. "The man invited all the passerbys to a meeting to learn more about the God who loves and a free gift to live forever. The lamas knew they had duties at the Lamasery and wouldn't be able to stay for the meeting. They brought the paper back to me."

"We had never known of a God who loves us. I placed the paper in a place for all the lamas to read. Everyone stopped by and read the paper again and again. We wanted to know more, but didn't know how.

"For five years lamas returned to the village in search of someone who could tell us more about the God who loves but found no one. Then one day, the first two young lamas who brought this paper to me requested a meeting. 'We ask to go on a quest to find someone who can tell us more about the God who loves. We must find the answers to our questions.'"

Come back next week to read about the quest.

Gladys Aylward

Lamasery Part II

By Mary Vee

From Gladys Journal

photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

If you missed last weeks part one explanation of how I managed to get myself inside a Lamasery, which is a type of Buddhist worship, you can click here


The young man who found us on the road and guided us to the temple grounds spoke with a kind voice. But a kind voice doesn't always mean the person is kind or he is taking us to a safe place. I felt very nervous about going inside the gate. 


He led Dr. Huang and me inside the grounds then signaled the gatekeeper to close the gate. I couldn't help but wonder if I would be a prisoner, trapped in this place far away from anything. No one would hear my cry for help. 


My heart raced with "what if this" and "what if that's"...until the young man stopped walking and turned to me. He said, "We have waited so very long--."


I didn't know what he meant. I bowed and waited for him to finish. He took a breath and  closed his eyes for a long moment. "I and all those in the Lamasery want to hear about the God who loves."


I didn't know what to say. These men devoted their lives to worship a god that was not real. They lived everyday with strict rules ordered by their religion. How did the men living behind these walls, far away from any village discover there is a real God who loves them?  I didn't know. But I sure wanted to find out the answer.

With his simple comment, all my pounding heart and shaky knees ran away. God showed me that I was to tell these men about Jesus!


A group of lamas (men who serve Buddah) met us at the door. They took me to my own room and offered to bring me much more than I ever needed or wanted. I had fresh water to wash myself, soft cushions to sit on, fancy dishes with the most delightful food; I felt like a princess. I ate my meal then laid down for a rest before any expected duties. 


Before my eyes closed, two young men knocked on my door and asked me to go with them to a meeting. I walked in the hall a little ways they found Dr. Huang. "Gladys, I'm glad I will be waling with you. Did you enjoy your meal? They certainly have treated us well, wouldn't you say?"


"Oh, yes. They have." We followed the men through several courts and halls, rooms and larger courts. We stopped at the largest court of all. Five hundred lama priests sat in a semi circle with their hands folded together.  I was surprised to see so many people.


The young men took us to the front of the group. Dr. Huang and I sat like the men before us and waited for instructions. I Ieaned over to Dr. Huang, "What are we suppose to do?"


He tipped his head and smiled. "A church service. First, you sing whatever you want."


I thought for a moment then sang a song. At the end, no one said or did anything. I looked at Dr. Huang and shrugged.


He waited another minute then looked back. "I guess its time to tell them about Jesus." He told then the story of Jesus' birth and then His death. When he finished, he looked at me again. "Sing another song."


I sang another song then told the men another Bible story. When I finished the story, I sang another song. 


Silence. No one moved.


Dr. Huang looked at me, shrugged and told another Bible story and I sang a song. I watched for anyone to say, "OK thanks for everything, now we can go." But no one moved. I smiled at Dr. Huang and told another Bible story. We had shared God's love more well over three hours.


No one moved or spoke. I couldn't understand. Were they sleeping? I leaned over to Dr. Huang. "I'm tired. I need to rest."


He nodded. "Then we will stop." We stood and walked out of the hall. No one said anything. No one stopped us. Had anyone listened to the stories?

Later I learned that the lamas had a rule. They must sit still and not speak until the speaker left the room first. Good that Dr. Huang said we should leave! We might have stayed in the great court all night!


Late that night, two men knocked on the door. Why would someone come to the door at a late hour? Did I do something wrong? Were they angry that a woman had come to the temple? Were they upset that we told them about Jesus? I didn't know if I should open the door or not.


Come back next week to find out why they came to my door.


Gladys Aylward

Lamasery

By Mary Vee

Gladys Aylward's Journal

photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

God has unusual ways of convincing us He is in charge...and His way is the best.  

I am reminded of a man who tried to run away from God. He bought a ticket to sail far away. During a storm the man was thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. After three days the man changed his mind and decided to obey God. At that point,God had the fish spit him out on the shore and the man went where God told Him to go.

Oh, I could tell hundreds of stories like that. God loves the world so much He will do the very thing we don't expect to get our attention. And I am no exception.

One day, a doctor who took care of my medical problems and I left a Chinese village located deep in the mountains to tell other people about God. Dr. Huang and I prayed, asking God to bring people to our path to tell them the Gospel. Villagers from the last village said we wouldn't see anyone. That no one live further up the mountain trail past theri village. But God showed us many people along the way. After nine days, though, we didn't see anyone else walking the path.

At the end of the day we had both grown hungry and really wanted to sleep in a bed. The problem: no people, no homes, no villages. I couldn't understand. Someone had to live there. The doctor and I sat at the side of the road to pray. I prayed for food and a place to sleep. The doctor prayed for someone to come our way who needed to hear about God's love. 

After praying we sat and waited, and waited, and waited. We sang praises to God that echoed wonderfully in the mountains and certainly made my voice sound much better than it was! To my surprise, as we finished a song the doctor looked behind us, stood, then ran toward the mountain path. He shouted, "Look, there is the man we prayed for!"

I didn't feel well enough to climb the rocks with the doctor, so I sat and waited for him to come back. Dr. Huang returned a few minutes later and said "Gladys, guess what? The man invited us to supper and will give us a place to sleep."

The food and bed sounded good, but I didn't look forward to the climb up the steep mountain path. The man seemed excited for us to visit. He and the doctor helped me climb to the top of the mountain. He led us to a temple where lamas (men who devote their lives to worshipping Buddah) lived.

When I figured out where we were going I whispered to the doctor, "You do realize he is taking us to a Lamasery."

"Yes, I do."

"And you did tell them I am a woman?"

"Yes, I did."

"But women aren't allowed here."

"Gladys, he and the others who lived in the temple wanted to hear the ones who sang the songs to God. That is us! We can't say no now that I've already said yes. Come, Gladys, I will help you."

I had to admit, I had never shared the Gospel in a Lamasery before. I've never stepped inside of one either. I felt nervous and awkward about telling lamas about Christ.

Can you imagine? A person like me who had told rioting prisoners, soldiers, men, women, children, government officials and anyone else who came my way about Christ felt nervous about sharing the Gospel. Well, I'm sorry to say...I did.

The only way I could say and do what God wanted me to do at the Lamasery would be if God Himself helped me.

Come back next week to see what God did at the Lamasery.

Gladys Aylward 

The Missionary Doctor

By Mary Vee

From Gladys Aylward's Journal

photo courtesy visualbiblealive.com

I never knew how God would show me which direction to go in next. I have been surprised many times, like the one I will tell you about today. But this I know. I wouldn't have changed God's plan for any other adventure in the world..


I became ill with typhoid and pneumonia during the the journey across the mountains with the one hundred children. Yes, I became quite sick and never fully recovered. But now that I think about my missionary work after I became sick, I see God's plan. My illness played a great role.


I often found myself resting and healing in a hospital, mission, or someone's home in between my missionary work. While in each place, God allowed me to meet someone who had a need.


One day I was asked to teach a class to college students attending a week long conference. What a great idea! I could enjoy teaching. I gladly agreed but before my appointed time I became too sick to teach and ended up spending the week in bed in the conference housing. Seemed like a  confusing plan from God, right? Well yes until--


In the next room I heard a group of students mumbling. I put on my robe and walked to their door. Fifteen students were crowded around a map and praying. When one student finished praying the next student closed his eyes and put his finger on the map. The group of students prayed for the people in that city or village for about thirty minutes then a different student closed his eyes and pointed to the map.


After hearing these students do this each night I couldn't help but ask them, "Do you know missionaries in those places you've been praying for?"


"No," one answered. "We would go ourselves but we don't have the money or anything else we need to go. The best we can do is pray."


On the last day of the conference I finally felt better. Each day I had thought about the fifteen students and their dedication to the small villages. I had prayed for them and listened to their prayers each night. I packed my belongings and went to the room where the fifteen students prayed. "God has led me to go to those villages and tell them about Jesus." 


I don't believe I've seen a happier group of students in my life.


The next day I left for the first village. I told each person I met about God and His love for them. I went into the villages and told Bible stories and taught God's Word. I went from one village to the next, telling everyone I met about Jesus and what He did for them.


Many days later a Christian woman told me I could go no further on the road. There were no more villages beyond hers. How could that be? Surely someone lived in the mountain villages beyond that place. She said, "I'm sorry, there aren't"


I stayed in her house a few days. Each day I felt a tugging in my heart to go beyond that village and tell anyone I met about Jesus. When the Christian people of the village realized I would not change my mind, they appointed someone to go with me for safety and to help tell people about Christ.


Dr. Huang offered to go with me for five days but made me agree to return afterwards. I agreed.  We left the next morning. As we walked we talked about the Bible. I soon realized that although Dr. Huang loved Jesus, he didn't know the Bible stories and truths found in God's Word. 


Every moment that no one was on the road I taught the doctor Bible stories. He was a feisty fellow. As I told the stories he'd interrupt me and say I had the information wrong. He then said what he thought was right. I pulled out my Scriptures and showed him the page where he could read the story.


We walked. He read. He sighed and said I was right. Then we talked about the story. When we finished, I told a new story. He again said I was wrong. I showed him the page. He read the story. We talked. Over and over. I found this a wonderful game.


We met many people along the road who had never heard of Jesus. The more the doctor learned about the Bible stories, the more he shared with the people. Just imagine, we were the first ones to tell those precious souls about Christ. I wouldn't want to do anything else. 


The five days promised turned into nine days. Each day we met people who had never heard about Christ and His love for them. I am so glad we walked on this road.


Then the day came when we didn't meet any one. We found no place to sleep and no food. We set our bags down and prayed.


Come back next week to read the surprise God gave us.


Glady Aylward.


I don't usually write a PS. but this time I will. I really wanted to teach the college class at that conference and was sad at the time my illness wouldn't let me. If I had, I might not have noticed the fifteen students praying, and so on. Even when I think God is not letting me do something, He really is.