Those of you that know me well are aware that I’m a big
reader. I was thinking that reading books would be quite a challenge on the
Race, seeing as every ounce in our packs counts, but I got a Kindle for a
birthday present this past year! So thankful for this amazing piece of
technology. There are also a lot of free books available on the Kindle, mostly
classics that I’ve always meant to read but never did. I decided to share with
y’all some of the stuff I’ve been reading, some of it being relevant to our
ministries and some just for fun.
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom : I’ve been
meaning to read this book for quite some time, but somehow always forgot about
it when it came time to pick a new book. I wish I would have read it sooner! If
you haven’t heard the gist of it, it takes place in The Netherlands during the
Holocaust. Corrie and her family have always brought people into their home,
the Beje, whenever they were in need. Once the Germans took over the country,
the ten Booms started housing Jews in hiding, giving them food ration cards and
other sorts of righteous mischief. The Gestapo captured the whole family and
they were brought to prisons then concentrations camps. Corrie survived and she
wrote this book. It is such a beautiful story of redemption and
grace…especially when the war ends and Corrie feels led to open a home for
those that worked with the Germans, the people and no one would love. Corrie
and her sister, Betsie, always had such a positive attitude about everything,
from the fleas to the cramped barracks…all coming from the Lord. Even in the
concentration camps, Betsie was so excited, just to share Jesus with all these
people! Such an inspiration to me, especially being away from all the comforts
of home. You should read this!
Biography of Mother Theresa: This was a book at
Theresa’s apartment in Ongole, where we stayed for two weeks. I started reading
it after my “Dehli Belly” experience, when we were stuck at home just waiting
for the next time I needed the toilet. I haven’t really thought much about her
since her death, but my teammate Justin is a big fan. Since we were in India, I thought this book
would be fitting. She lived such a simple life and didn’t want for anything,
just her blue & white sari each day and the chance to love the poor and
give dignity to the dying. She left home very young to become a nun and didn’t
get a chance to come home for THIRTY YEARS. Makes leaving for 11 months seem much
more bearable. Even though there were
some big critics of what she did (there’s always something…), she lived such a
selfless life and I admire her so much for all she accomplished. She got so
angry about injustice and actually did something about it. I don’t remember who
wrote the particular biography I read, but you should pick up a book about Mama
T if you have the chance.
Honeymoon with my Brother: A Memoir by Franz Wisner: I don’t
remember how I picked this book, but I’m glad I did! Franz is basically a
jilted groom who’s a workaholic politician and hasn’t taken the time to smell
the roses in his life. The time with the brother he barely knew starts with the
Mexican honeymoon he and his fiancée were meant to have, and it lengthens into
a global expedition. It’s an interesting journey of them getting to know one
another, learn other cultures, eat different foods, and get to know the native
peoples. They went to a lot of the same countries we are going to (India,
Nepal, Malaysia, Thailand, South Africa), so I got some handy tips on what to
expect. It was a fun book, but it really points out how purposeful this trip is
next to theirs. What is the point of traveling the world if you don’t change it
for the better?
The Nasty Bits: Collected
Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones by Anthony Bourdain: I
started reading this book on the plane to New York, and it’s the usual Bourdain
book: lots of cursing, big words I didn’t know before, and an exhilarating trip
next to him on his world travels. I’ve already read a couple of his books,
figured it would be another good book, and it did not disappoint. I especially
love his camaraderie for all the Mexican/Ecuadorian cooks who are really making
your food in the restaurants so much…it’s the truth and he’s not afraid to tell
you how great they are. I could do with a little less of a potty mouth, but it
was still a good read.
Culture of Honor by Danny Silk: This is one of the
books that they handed out to the team leaders at the beginning of launch. Even
though I’m not totally aware of the “Bethel Culture”, it was a neat little
glimpse in the way they run their ministries and how they deal with sin. It
gave a really interesting perspective about sin and its role in our lives, how
we are Children of the Light and therefore cannot live in darkness. It had some
great ideas and reminds us that once Christ has washed us of our sin, there
shouldn’t be any guilt that you hold on to. His ideas on dealing with
discipline for his students and kids is refreshing, basically putting the ball
in their court instead of doing lots of “controlling”.
The Room by Emma Donoghue: This book was recommended
by none other than Jackie Jo Womack and it was so good!! Even though very dark
subject matter, it was well written and showed an interesting perspective of
being a hostage. It is written from a 5 year old’s perspective; he has lived in
the same “Room” his whole life and has never interacted with anyone other than
his mother. I won’t give away the book but tell you that you will not regret
reading this book! It is a little disturbing at some parts, but there is
redemption in the end, don’t worry.
Sold by Patricia McCormick: I’ve heard of this book
before, but for some reason it didn’t merit reading… MISTAKE! Kristan picked it
up at a bookstore in Kathmandu and all of us are reading through it this month.
So far, 4 of us have read it, only KK & Justin are left. This book could
not be a more perfect fit for our ministry this month. It is a fictional story
that tells about the Nepali-Indian sex trade industry; an unsuspecting,
innocent girl is sold to a pimp by her stepfather-she thinks she is going to
work as a maid at a rich person’s house in the city, but she is taken across to
India to work in the brothels of Calcutta. It is such a sad, heart-wrenching
story but the good news is that we are helping those women this month! Those
women that were taken from their villages, thinking they would work in the city
to help their family, and found themselves trapped in a world they never knew
existed. YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett: This
was one of the freebies I got on my Kindle. I loved watching the movie growing
up, and I wish I would have read this when I was younger…the way she writes
uses so much imagination and she makes everything sound so magical. What I
didn’t know from the movie was that Mary grew up in India! It was so fun
because she had her own “Ayah” and kept mentioning things about it that I know
now. This book was so insightful into her journey of being a spoiled, bratty,
orphan that mostly wallowed in self-pity into a bright, happy little girl who
loved playing outside and found that she liked most people. The way the author
wrote about the garden makes me want to plant one so badly! If I was to plant a
garden now, it would probably be mostly vegetables but I would remember to
plant some irises, roses, and daffodils for beauty’s sake. Read this to your
kids if you’re looking for something new to read-it’s especially fun to speak
the Yorkshire accents out loud.
Bible- been camping out in James and 2 Thessalonians a lot,
as well as Isaiah 54 & 61. I’ve spent a bit of time in the beginning of
Psalms as well. Mostly just skipping around…I’m excited that our team is
starting to memorize scriptures now! Elaina has been doing voiceovers set to
music-genius!
That’s all so far! According to this list, you may think
that all I’ve done on this trip is read, but it has been a great way to escape
for a bit. Especially since there is no TV watching (except for 1 cricket match
at Badru Paul’s house) and minimal movie watching (on laptop & external
harddrives). Please leave some suggestions for what I should read next! My next
picks will probably be Kerouac’s On the Road, Francis Chan’s Crazy
Love, Tozer’s Pursuit of God, or Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
What are some good books you’ve read lately??
