This is the memoir of the experiences of Western missionaries. The book opens with the heartrending tragedy that will define much of this book's narrative. Ray Norman tells his story, and his family's story, in 11 chapters. He ends in a postscript that updates the reader about what is going on with him and his family. Norman ends it all with with ackknwledgments about those who made this book posdible. The very end of this book ends with his bio. This author was raised in rural West Africa. His own parents had been medical missionaries. After he finished schooling, he worked in Africa and the Middle East for over 15 years. In 1999, he jined World Vision International as the national Director for Mauritania, an Islamic nation. At one point, he returned to the U.S. so his children could finish their educations. He retuned to World Vision in various administrative roles. Currently, he and his wifeserve in villages and areas in the West. The rest of the time they travel. The author has two grown children.
This book is an education. It educates us on the unique challenges faced by missionary families. It educates us on the major challenges that Muslims face in their countries. The beginning re-enactment of the defining event of this entire book, drew me in right away. This book is fairly easy to read. But because this is set in a fifferent culture, I got lost in the narrative sometimes. As I read the recounting of the attack on the author and his daughter, I wondered, "Where was the wife/mother during all of this?" I didn't grasp until later in the text, that she had been traveling during this time. I was unclear as to why she went on that trip. I could not understand her cold response to her husband when she came back. She even seemed angry at him for "letting himself and our daughter" get attacked." I took a dislike to her ever since, though the author, her husband stressed that she had warned him to be careful of such attacks and had been traumatized herself. From the portrayal of the daughter, she seemed to be wise beyond her years. I found myself feeling a pang of envy for this family. This author testifies to how God moved unmistakably in his family and in the lives of many Muslims he and his family served. This family and Christians outside the West, are often richer than us in the West. They are richer in the ways that count. They have spiritual weath and are richer relationally. I liked the author's openness about his emotional struggles. He denies that he is a hero. I thought he was overly generous in taking more than his share of responsibility for situations he faced, including the attack on him and his daughter. This book made me yearn for a different Christianity than what is usually seen in the West.
I recommend this book for every person interested in overseas missionary work. This book will give you an accurate picture of what overseas missionary work is like, especially in hostile areas. This book will give you an honest view of the unique challenges and rewards of such involvement. You will see that while it is hard, it is worth it. I recommend this book for every pastor. It will not only bless them but also give them a realistic picture of what being an overseas missionary is like. They may appreciate betterthe unique challenges and rewards of their members who may be or want to be overseas missionaries. I recommend this book for another group who may be uncomfortable with its message. This is the many in Western Christendom who have come to confuse cultural Christianity with Biblical Christianity. This book will show you that the two are very different. THe author and his family had been outside the West for a long time. So their walks with Jesus were not influences by Western compromise. This book can be a wake-up call for many Christians.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booklook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give this book a favorable review.
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