Monday, January 21, 2013

Call of a Coward- by Marcia Moston


Marcia Moston was a housewife from New Jersey. She had a husband and a daughter and was satisfied and in control of her life. Or so she thought. In this book, Marcia relates how her life suddenly changed as she, her husband and daughter embarked on a mission trip to Guatemala to run a shelter for women and orphans for a time. She writes of the work required to get there, the struggles faced while serving there and the mixed emotions about returning to the states. Then, in an unexpected twist, the story shifts to Vermont, where Marcia’s husband speaks at a small church without a pastor. Again, Marcia shares how she and her husband sought God’s direction in yet another, very different ministry endeavor. Amazing events and evidence of God’s leading ensue. While in Vermont, Marcia’s concern for those in Guatemala continues to re-surface.  She is able to use this yearning to return to the mission field to introduce the church people in Vermont to foreign mission opportunities. And eventually, Marcia is even able to take some of her new church family on a mission trip and return to the people in Guatemala.

I recently read this book as part of the Booksneeze blogger program and I hesitate to tell too much of the story, as it is so incredible to read how God led and blessed in the lives of the author and her family. It was possible to imagine myself in the author’s shoes because of the way she described the surroundings and the people, both in Guatemala and in Vermont (and a few other places, too.)  It was successful at describing life on the foreign mission field, as well as relating culture and life in a small New England town. I enjoyed reading this book, mainly because it seemed very real and honest. It was a woman sharing not only her experiences, but also her thoughts, hopes, fears, and doubts as she went through a myriad of adventures while endeavoring to follow the Lord’s will. And whereas I have not been to the foreign mission field myself, I could relate to having some of the same concerns faced by the author while attempting to determine the Lord’s will for my own life. It was an encouraging book, as God’s faithfulness was revealed time and time again. It was awesome to see the author’s deep reluctance turn to intense yearning. Very inspiring read to anyone who has had thoughts of being a missionary, or who has struggled with following the Lord’s will when it doesn’t seem like the ‘wise’ thing to do because of the sacrifice involved. 

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