Gladys Aylward

Mary Ann Aldersey was a petite woman born into an affluent London family in 1797. She was the youngest of 4 children. From an early age, she was determined to help the plight of uneducated Chinese women. She studied Chinese and looked for any opportunity to go to China. After prolonged delays, Mary Ann Aldersey was finally able to enter Ningpo, China, becoming the first female missionary to China. Mary Ann dealt with delays, setbacks, opposition, frustration, and persecution. Mary Ann Aldersey opened the first school for Chinese girls in Ningpo. She also made a Chinese embossed copy of the Gospel of Luke for the blind. Her story is not only remarkable because of all she overcame, but also because of her own failures, imperfections, and authenticity.The Witch of Ningpo by J. Reason (Edinburgh House Press)

Mary Ann Aldersey was a petite woman born into an affluent London family in 1797. She was the youngest of 4 children. From an early age, she was determined to help the plight of uneducated Chinese women. She studied Chinese and looked for any opportunity to go to China. After prolonged delays, Mary Ann Aldersey was finally able to enter Ningpo, China, becoming the first female missionary to China. Mary Ann dealt with delays, setbacks, opposition, frustration, and persecution. Mary Ann Aldersey opened the first school for Chinese girls in Ningpo. She also made a Chinese embossed copy of the Gospel of Luke for the blind. Her story is not only remarkable because of all she overcame, but also because of her own failures, imperfections, and authenticity.The Witch of Ningpo by J. Reason (Edinburgh House Press)

In the next two episodes, Robin introduces us to a lovely woman who is the Development Director for Tirzah International. Tirzah is a faith-based, global, non-profit ministry that provides opportunities for marginalized women through small business training, leadership development, and local sustainability initiatives. Dianne shared with us how this work is being carried out in difficult places in the world. Several years ago, Dianne founded another company called Travel on Purpose, where she provides unique travel experiences that combine cultural immersion, community-based tourism, and the opportunity to see how God is at work in fascinating global locations.Dianne shared about her journey with the Lord and how, as a homeschooling mom, wife and women's ministry leader, she began serving with these two influential ministries.Dianne and her husband have two sons and live in San Diego. They have traveled to more than fifty countries with the goal of integrating education and philanthropy. Their experiences are recorded on an award-winning blog called OurEDventures.https://tirzah.orghttps://www.travelonpurpose.com

In the next two episodes, Robin introduces us to a lovely woman who is the Development Director for Tirzah International. Tirzah is a faith-based, global, non-profit ministry that provides opportunities for marginalized women through small business training, leadership development, and local sustainability initiatives. Dianne shared with us how this work is being carried out in difficult places in the world. Several years ago, Dianne founded another company called Travel on Purpose, where she provides unique travel experiences that combine cultural immersion, community-based tourism, and the opportunity to see how God is at work in fascinating global locations.Dianne shared about her journey with the Lord and how, as a homeschooling mom, wife and women's ministry leader, she began serving with these two influential ministries.Dianne and her husband have two sons and live in San Diego. They have traveled to more than fifty countries with the goal of integrating education and philanthropy. Their experiences are recorded on an award-winning blog called OurEDventures.https://tirzah.orghttps://www.travelonpurpose.com

In the next two episodes, Robin introduces us to a lovely woman who is the Development Director for Tirzah International. Tirzah is a faith-based, global, non-profit ministry that provides opportunities for marginalized women through small business training, leadership development, and local sustainability initiatives. Dianne shared with us how this work is being carried out in difficult places in the world. Several years ago, Dianne founded another company called Travel on Purpose, where she provides unique travel experiences that combine cultural immersion, community-based tourism, and the opportunity to see how God is at work in fascinating global locations.Dianne shared about her journey with the Lord and how, as a homeschooling mom, wife and women's ministry leader, she began serving with these two influential ministries.Dianne and her husband have two sons and live in San Diego. They have traveled to more than fifty countries with the goal of integrating education and philanthropy. Their experiences are recorded on an award-winning blog called OurEDventures.https://tirzah.orghttps://www.travelonpurpose.com

Megan grew up in Denver, Colorado. She still carries an affection for everything outdoors from the years she spent growing up there. As a young girl, she was influenced by the godly example of the youth leaders at her church and challenged to consider serving the Lord in another country. This challenge quickly turned into a burning desire, which became the beginning of an adventure that would take Megan all over the world, introduce her to the man who would become her husband, and place them in Ethiopia where they served at an orphanage. Megan’s story is filled with the unexpected twists and turns of a life dedicated to serving Jesus wherever He leads.https://missions.cccm.comhttps://cccm.com/engage/view/missions/https://www.esmafrica.org/ministries/childrens-homes/

Megan grew up in Denver, Colorado. She still carries an affection for everything outdoors from the years she spent growing up there. As a young girl, she was influenced by the godly example of the youth leaders at her church and challenged to consider serving the Lord in another country. This challenge quickly turned into a burning desire, which became the beginning of an adventure that would take Megan all over the world, introduce her to the man who would become her husband, and place them in Ethiopia where they served at an orphanage. Megan’s story is filled with the unexpected twists and turns of a life dedicated to serving Jesus wherever He leads.https://missions.cccm.comhttps://cccm.com/engage/view/missions/https://www.esmafrica.org/ministries/childrens-homes/

Megan grew up in Denver, Colorado. She still carries an affection for everything outdoors from the years she spent growing up there. As a young girl, she was influenced by the godly example of the youth leaders at her church and challenged to consider serving the Lord in another country. This challenge quickly turned into a burning desire, which became the beginning of an adventure that would take Megan all over the world, introduce her to the man who would become her husband, and place them in Ethiopia where they served at an orphanage. Megan’s story is filled with the unexpected twists and turns of a life dedicated to serving Jesus wherever He leads.https://missions.cccm.comhttps://cccm.com/engage/view/missions/https://www.esmafrica.org/ministries/childrens-homes/

Betsey was born into slavery around fifteen years after the Revolutionary War ended. It’s believed that her father was a slave owner. She was given to a couple who settled in Princeton, New Jersey. Undaunted by her circumstances, Betsey taught herself to read and, as a teenager, made a lasting commitment to Christ and was baptized. In her early twenties, she became the first single woman to be sent as a missionary to the Hawaiian Islands. She was also the first former slave of mixed blood to start a school. She is credited for the education of 8,000 Hawaiian commoners during her few years on Maui. When she returned to the U.S. via London, she became the most globally traveled black woman at that time. During the remainder of her life, she had a profound impact in furthering the education and spiritual condition of the black community in Princeton, New Jersey. The Education of Betsey Stockton: An Odyssey of Slavery and Freedom, Gregory Nobles She Calls Herself Betsey Stockton: The Illustrated Odyssey of a Princeton Slave by Constance K. Escher The Honolulu Star Advertiser Hawai’i Once Had a Negro Missionary Profiles of African-American Missionaries By Robert J. Stevens and Brian Johnson Missionaries You Should Know, Leslie Hildreth African-American Religion, A Historical Interpretation with Representative Documents, Betsey Stockton’s Journal

Betsey was born into slavery around fifteen years after the Revolutionary War ended. It’s believed that her father was a slave owner. She was given to a couple who settled in Princeton, New Jersey. Undaunted by her circumstances, Betsey taught herself to read and, as a teenager, made a lasting commitment to Christ and was baptized. In her early twenties, she became the first single woman to be sent as a missionary to the Hawaiian Islands. She was also the first former slave of mixed blood to start a school. She is credited for the education of 8,000 Hawaiian commoners during her few years on Maui. When she returned to the U.S. via London, she became the most globally traveled black woman at that time. During the remainder of her life, she had a profound impact in furthering the education and spiritual condition of the black community in Princeton, New Jersey. The Education of Betsey Stockton: An Odyssey of Slavery and Freedom, Gregory Nobles She Calls Herself Betsey Stockton: The Illustrated Odyssey of a Princeton Slave by Constance K. Escher The Honolulu Star Advertiser Hawai’i Once Had a Negro Missionary Profiles of African-American Missionaries By Robert J. Stevens and Brian Johnson Missionaries You Should Know, Leslie Hildreth African-American Religion, A Historical Interpretation with Representative Documents, Betsey Stockton’s Journal