Nearly 60 years after leaving the war-torn land of her birth, Elsie Hayes Landstrom returned to China to revisit her childhood and the culture and people that had left an indelible impression on her. What she found was considerably more important than the awakening of childhood memories. Her visits helped her better appreciate the two civilizations that in the past have been friends and adversaries and may yet determine the fate of the planet.

This is the story of the daughter of devoted missionaries whose childhood and education in rural China shaped her life. Through her father's journal and treasured family photographs, Elsie Landstrom brings us insights into the Middle Kingdom and the missionaries who played a significant part in China's efforts to gain a place in the modern world. Her book is a tribute to the vision and courage of those who lived, worked, and in many cases lost their lives in China.