Inspired by her dream to be a missionary, an English parlour maid journeys to China and opens an inn for tired, hungry mule drivers crossing desolate mountain trails. Gradually overcoming the natives hostility, she wins the heart of an Eurasian colonel and converts a powerful Mandarin to Christianity. But her greatest feat is achieved during the Japanese invasion of China when she leads one hundred homeless children to safety across enemy-held terrain.

Based on the life story of Gladys Aylward, a modern day saint whose unquenchable passion to do good took her half way around the world. Adapted from Alan Burgess' bestseller 'The Small Woman'.