Perspective

This is an autobiographical account of the travails of a missionary woman with an unquestioning belief in God and Jesus Christ. The purpose of the text, beyond relating a lifetime of extraordinary events, is to convince the reader of God's benevolence, love, and power. The very act of writing the autobiography is simply another part of Gladys' missionary work. That God is a real and active presence in Gladys' life is exemplified by His direct communication with her, communication unblemished by even the hint of skepticism or uncertainty on the part of the author. Due to Gladys' fervent faith, life events are always presented vis-a-vis the author's relationship with God, coloring most everything in the text. With any major decision, from Gladys' initial trip to China to her journey into northwest China to her decision to take her children through the mountains during the Chinese-Japanese war, Gladys make...