Death of a City/Birth of a Soul

by Mary Vee

Gladys Aylward's Thoughts

photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

The heartbeat stopped.


Japanese soldiers bombed, stole, and ruined our hopes to save our Yang Cheng. 


Still, we walked back to piles of broken wall and roof and stared at what use to be our homes. We searched for anything worth saving, a pot, a picture, clothes. I helped tired men and women pick up heavy boards to rescue buried family treasures. Mandarin, the leader of Yang Cheng, also returned from his hiding place to help our people. Everyone needed help, yet no one thought only of themselves.


As the sun set that night, Mandarin came to the home where I worked. "Ai-weh-deh, I am giving a dinner tomorrow and want you to attend."


I bowed. "Mandarin, you are kind, but I need to help the people. Who knows when soldiers will return."


He shook his head then waved his arm from side to side. "There's plenty to be done to give a life time of work. One dinner will not make a difference."


What could I say? I bowed again. "Thank you, Mandarin. I am honored to attend."


The next night I cleaned as much dirt off my clothes as possible. Most of the water had been saved for drinking or cooking; no one dared waste a drop to clean clothes. I walked to the meeting place and immediately smelled delicious food. My stomach growled, demanding to be fed.


The elders stood together, waiting for Mandarin's signal to be seated. He showed each one to their seat then he directed me to the empty chair near the front. I looked at the place of honor and stood frozen. Why would he give me the highest ranking guest seat?


During the meal he gave no clues. 


After we finished eating, Mandarin clapped his hands once. Every eye looked at him. "I have a few things to say. First, I will be leaving Yang Cheng soon. I see our city can no longer be saved. The villagers will build new homes and plant new fields away from here.  We must do the same." He scooped up his cup with both hands and sipped tea.


The elders nodded and waited for him to speak again.


Mandarin looked at each one of us. "I have seen Ai-weh-dah's work since the first day she came to Yang Cheng. She left her English family and home to come live with us--learn our language and customs--and become one of us."


He pointed to me. "This woman told stories of her God, gave a home to our lost children, nursed our wounded, and calmed the angry hearts of our prisoners."


I didn't understand why he honored me this way. He'd never spoken without a reason.


He turned to me and smiled. "Ai-weh dah, you have shown faithfulness to your God and to the people of Yang Cheng. I would like to know and worship your God as you do. Will you help me?"


The elders of the village looked at me, waiting for an answer. 


I tried to speak but couldn't. He surprised me. He truly wanted to worship God, the true God. And he showed his faith by telling the village elders at this dinner. That was the first and only time in my life when my happiness couldn't find words to say.


Mandarin smiled. "Rest tonight, Ai-weh-dah. You can teach me how to believe in God tomorrow."


The next day, I told Mandarin about God's love and how He sent His one and only Son to take the punishment for ours sins by dying on the cross. I showed Mandarin Bible verses and taught him about God for hours. He listened and asked questions.


I had always hoped Mandarin would ask Jesus into His heart. That day, my prayers were answered.


Come back to read what happened next.


Gladys Ayward

The Powerful Mandarin

By Mary Vee

Glady's Thoughts

photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

The Mandarin of Yangcheng was a powerful man. Servants carried him in a liter whenever he travelled. It wasn't an easy job because the mountain roads were steep. Still, the servants considered the work a great honor.

Visitors needed special permission and had to follow rules in order to see the Mandarin. Government officials bowed this many times, business men bowed that many times, and so on. Everyone knew what to do. They also knew the Mandarin had the power to say who lived or died. I had never met him. I also didn't know Yang thought I should be afraid the Mandarin.

I was glad Yang decided to work at the Inn after Jeannie Lawson died. Each day he taught me new things about the Chinese people and their culture. One day he said, "Gladys, you must go before Mandarin."

I didn't want to. I had no idea what a foreign woman should do. "Why?"

"You must. Mrs. Lawson went before Mandarin. He gave permission for her to live here. Since she is dead you must get permission to stay."

I couldn't wear the clothes I had. I didn't know the rules for bowing before him.  Should I bow twice then wait, would he speak first, do I walk backwards when I leave? Yang didn't know what a foreign woman should do in the presence of the Mandarin. He hung his head. "Then you must wait for new law with rules for how foreign woman should go before Mandarin."

That was a relief. I had too much work to do, anyway. A few days later Yang ran into the court screaming, "Mandarin coming!" He slipped into the kitchen and refused to greet our important guest.

"He came here? But why? Yang, come out and help me. I have to meet him myself?" Yang shook his head and pushed himself further into the corner.

The Mandarin's long curved sword clanked against his liter as he stepped down. He stared at me, without a word.  I didn't know what to do! Would you? Did he come to kill me?  I bowed once. He still didn't speak. I bowed a second time. Then he spoke!

"Gladys, Central Government demands foot-inspector to go to every village. All female's feet must be checked. If feet are bound, they must have bindings removed.  Only female with big feet can do this job. Write your friends and find a woman to do this job." Then he left.

A smile leaped across Yang's face when he heard the news."You now important. Mardarin not speak to many people, especially foreign women. You his honored servant, now."

I may have been honored that day, but not for long. I wrote letters to all the missions in China. No one agreed to serve as foot-inspector. Two months later the Mandarin returned, with his sword. "Have you found a foot-inspector?"

"No. I wrote to all the missions I knew in China. No one would come."

His face turned red. "Central Government demands foot-inspector. You have big feet that are not bound, you will be the foot-inspector. Do you agree?"

Did I have a choice? I bowed. "I agree--if I have your permision to tell villagers about Jesus."

The servants eyes went wide as if saying, No one speaks that way. The Mandarin folded his arms and squinted.  "I don't care about you're religion. You will be foot-inspector."

I bowed. "I am happy to serve, Mandarin." How exciting! I ran back to my room, kneeled and thanked God for providing a job AND making a way for me to tell villagers about Jesus. 

I'll tell you about my travels to the villages next week.

Gladys

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