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.
