First published 2008
A young elder serves in Indonesia when the 2004 tsunami strikes without warning. Halfway around the world, another missionary receives word that his mother has died while he labors in a distant mission field. In South Africa, a third witness watches AIDS devastate an entire village. These missionaries and others write letters home describing their trials across every continent. Their accounts reveal moments when faith collides with tragedy, when conversion emerges from suffering, and when ordinary people encounter what they believe to be divine intervention. Each story captures a different corner of the worldwide missionary effort, from natural disasters to personal loss to epidemic disease. The collection shows how young people far from home navigate overwhelming challenges while trying to share their beliefs. Through their letters and personal narratives, these missionaries document both their struggles with doubt and their experiences of what they interpret as miraculous events that strengthen their resolve.
Genres: christian-fiction, religion, non-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: faith-in-crisis, found-family
Setting: Africa, Indonesia, South Africa
Period: 2004
160 pages · Paperback · Deseret Book
Content warnings: death