Gladys Aylward was a missionary in China. She was also a foot inspector, making sure no girls had bound feet.

    One terrifying day the Japanese invaded where she lived, (a part of China,) a war.

    During all of this, Gladys stood brave, even when she had to leave her home and live in a cave. Many children lost their parents due to the war and heard that Gladys would care for them. Because of this, more then 150 children were brought to her.

    One day, a reporter came because he had heard what was going on. He asked Gladys questions, and she gladly answered them, hoping he would publish the article and people would read what was happening in China. He did publish it- in the Time magazine. However, when the Japanese heard about the newspaper, and read the article, they knew Gladys made them look bad. They told everyone that they would give a $100 dollar reward-about 3,000 dollars now- to anyone who delivers Gladys to them, alive or dead.

Before this, a friend of Gladys took 100 of the children to an orphanage in Sian so they would be safe. He promised to get the other 100 when he came back- but he didn't come back. Japanese soldiers captured Glady's friend when he was coming back for the other 100.

    Now, since her friend didn't come back, Gladys needed to flee for her life- with 100 children!

    So, gathering her strength, she dressed all of the children, telling them to bring extra shoes-cloth shoes barely last a day- food -lasting only two days- and they left.

    The first night was supposed to be easy, but still challenging.

    They spent that night in a Buddhist temple.

    The next night, they crowded in a house, and the two nights after that, they slept in the open.

    On the fifth day, they began to trek over the mountains. Gladys didn't feel so good; she hit her head a few weeks ago, and she still felt dizzy... and strangely tired.

    That evening, Chinese soldiers found them and invited them to share supper in the open night. The children were very happy, especially when the soldiers gave them candies.

    That was the last supper they had for days. Their

only meal was tea, water with leaves in it. Everyone was very hungry.

    On the twelfth day, the journey was unbearable. Everyone was complaining and tired. Gladys tried to encourage them, but it wasn't too helpful. Midday, they saw...

    The Yellowstone River!

    They were halfway!

    Gladys hoped to be welcomed by the villagers in the village next to the Yellowstone, but none was there... except an old man, who told Gladys everyone fled because the Japanese was coming!

    Theree were no boats to cross the river and they couldn't go back to the mountains. They were stuck;

and they stood on the shoreline for days.

    Gladys encouraged the children to sing, and singing was the answer to their prayers. A Chinese soldier heard them and he helped them across the river. Meanwhile, Gladys was feeling very poorly, but all she thought about was getting the children to Sian's orphanage.

    On the other side of the river, they thanked God for protecting them. Then, they spent the night at a village on the other side.

The next morning, Gladys and the children went to the train station. They were going on a train for the rest of the trip! None of the kids had ever seen a train before and fled in fear, but Gladys convinced them it was safe.

    Sadly, after three days the trains topped and couldn't go any further. The bridge was bombed, leaving Gladys and the children to walk the rest of the way... four more days! Everyone was cut and bruised and tired.

    Four days later, they made it to the next train station. It was only for coal trains, but the coal stoker convinced the engineer to let them ride on the coal.

    Three days later, they made it to Sian with more bad news: no one was allowed in, but you could enter Fufeng, a city three more days away. At least they still had a train to ride, but Gladys was getting sicker and sicker and felt delusional.

    Three days passed, and they made it to Fufeng.  Gladys managed to find an orphanage for the children, though she hardly knew who or where she was. Once she did, she collapsed into a coma and was taken to a hospital.