Gladys Aylward (1902-1970) was a London parlor maid whose application to become a missionary to China was rejected by her local mission board. Despite this rejection, she saved her money and paid her own way in 1932. Along with another woman, Jeannie Lawson, she opened an inn where she taught the Bible and shared the Gospel. In 1940, during the Japanese invasion of China, she led 100 children to safety during a heroic journey through a mountain passage. She nearly died from the experience. In 1953 she opened an orphanage in Taiwan. She didn’t allow the barriers thrown up by others to keep her from the ministry she knew God had called her to.
London
Browning, Elizabeth Barrett
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1809-1861) was scarcely less famous as a poet than her illustrious husband, Robert Browning. She was born in London. In 1846 she and her husband moved to Italy where she lived until her death. In all literature, there is no parallel case where husband and wife have each attained such distinction as poets. Beginning at eight years of age to write, she produced during the forty years of her literary life countless poems of artistic beauty that reflected her Christian faith. Her literary stature greatly influenced other Christian writers, hymnists, and poets.