Creation Artist

“Gladys’ Prayer, Gods Provision”

watercolor on watercolor paper

 

This is a painting of Gladys Aylward as she prays to God to help her because she has over a hundred orphan children in he custody which she is trying to get to an orphanage miles away on foot during a war. The journey goes on for days with completely exhausted Gladys and children, meanwhile the enemy seems to be every where. This painting depicts the scene of her praying ernestly that God would help them as the reach an uncrossable body of water and seem to be trapped by the enemy. Just like with Moses God shows himself faithful t Gladys with his miriculous provision, He provided just what they needed just in time to escape their enemy….

Gladys Aylward was born in London around 1904. At the age of 26, she had a great desire to become a missionary to China. She went to the China Inland Mission Center in London, but failed to pass the examinations. She worked at other jobs and saved her money. Then she heard of a 73-year-old missionary, Mrs. Jeannie Lawson, whome she wanted to help reach the Chinese people with.After much struggle she reached the elderly woman in Yangchen. There were mule caravans that carried coal, raw cotton, pots, and iron goods up and down the mountain they lived on. They decided to set up an inn in order to reach the muleteers with the gospel. They were given good food and warm beds and their mules were well cared for, meanwhile the inkeepers told stories about Jesus-the only one who could save their souls.

After Mrs. Lawson had a severe fall, and died. Gladys Aylward was left to run the inn alone, with the help of Yang, the cook.

After a miraculous provision of the Lord Miss Aylward met the Mandarin of Yangchen. He came to see her to her surprise and told her that the government had decreed an end to the practice of footbinding. Because so many of the women had their feet bound and they were unable to perform this task, only fit for women. He told Gladys they needed her help! She was to go to the villiages and unbind the feet of all the women with gaurds and full permission to share the gospel with any one. She had an amazing opportunity to spread the Gospel.

The Mandarin and Gladys had many meetings and discussions during her stay there. Once a riot had broken out in the men’s prison and he needed her help. She went in to the prison with bodies laying around and men fighting and screamed at them to clean up the mess! They listened to her and obeyed quickly. She then told the Mandrain that the living conditions were outrageous and gave instruction on activity’s the men should be able to do.

She ended up adopting five orphans and things were going good, there was revival in the villages.Then the war came. In the spring of 1938, Japanese planes bombed the city of Yangcheng, killing many and causing the survivors to run into the mountains.  She ended up aiding over 200 children in a cave. She discovered there was open orphanages so she set out on a journey and successfully delivered all the children after many battles. She became a teacher in Chinia and had a large group of students beheaded because of their professed belief in Jesus Christ. One of them said before she died “I used to believe Jesus was God, now I know by the way your treating me that He is God!” She continued her missionary work and reached thousands. then Miss Gladys Aylward, also known as Ai-weh-deh, died 3 January 1970. what a full life it’s amazing what the Lord can do with our lives if we are dedicated to serving him!

http://www.creationartist.com/2011/06/will-i-go-to-heaven/

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