John G. Paton South Sea Island Rescue by Kay Walsh

 Trailblazers series

Scottish man John G. Paton traverses the world to another set of islands, New Hebrides, to share Christ and His salvation to fierce, cannbalistic tribes. Readers will be astounded at his tenacity and his dedication to live like Christ and to face death many times so that islanders would understand and allow Christ to rule their lives. I could not believe how many obstacles and difficult situations he endured.

The writing-sentence structure, grammar, & punctuation-seemed a bit off at times. I know the British follow different punctuation "rules". 

*Highly recommend so that readers can be aware how regular people pursue uncertain situations because of their love for God.

-Borrowed from the library.

Lady on a Donkey by Beth Prim Howell*

 As a young lady, Lillian traveled to Atlanta to pursue a job utilizing her ability to draw. When a miscommunication occurs and the job is given to someone else, she follows God's leading to assist a woman at an orphange in North Carolina. Months later she is about to marry a wonderful, godly man. But hearing a presentation about missions, she believes she is being called to be a missionary in Africa. She breaks the engagement and eventually travels to Egypt, with no support from her family (except her sister) or a church. Through complete dependence on the Lord, she starts and runs an orphange (she actually purchases land & builds numerous buildings on it through God's miraculous provision) in Assouit, Egypt. She saves thousands of children!  The church that eventually supports her is Assemblies of God.

I was not always impressed with the author's writing & her ogranization. BUT Lillian's incredible story allowed me to adjust and overlook the writing.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL.

End of the Spear DVD*

Based on the book End of the Spear 

Rated: PG-13 (violence-spearing-graphic, a Waodani woman looks down young Steve Saint's shorts to confirm he is a boy, see a preteen girl's developing breast-split second, Waodani men wear g-strings)

Viewers will witness the violent, hateful worldview the Waodani tribe in Ecuador and how it affects their reactions to the five missionary men who try to reach them for Christ. The narrator, Steve Saint, Nate Saint's son, shares how it impacted him and also how the tribe (especially his father's killer) is transformed.

The book focuses mostly on Steve and his return to the tribe as an adult to help them in the technology advancing world. The movie spends a few minutes on this aspect of the book. How Steve discovers that Mincaye had killed his father and his reaction to this knowledge is not accurate and dramatized. 

*Highly recommend (It is worth watching, but reading the book provides a much richer experience.)

-Borrowed from the library.

End of the Spear by Steve Saint**

 I read aloud this book to my son over our lunch for the past few months. We laughed numerous times. I cried one time. Mr. Saint is an excellent story teller and writer. His story was a delight to read aloud.

He explains the backstory of his dad, Nate, and fellow missionary men being speared to death by the Waodani and the aftermath. He then takes the reader to the time when he and his family lived again with the Waodani and the impact the time had on him and the Waodani. 

A movie was created based on this book. We will be watching it soon.

**Highly, highly recommend.

I own this book.

The Sword -Magnus and the Mystery of Romans by Marty Machowski illustrated by Flavia Sorrentino**

 Through three different stories, parents and their children can study the book of Romans together. The story opens with a brother & sister discovering a sword and an ancient book in an off-limit trunk in the family home. With their father, they read the story of Magnus and his encounter with Paul, the writer of Romans. Each chapter begins with the fictional story about Magnus & his eventual conversion to Christ. Then Mr. Machowski provides specific passages (chronological) from Romans to read and pages with further explanations and analogies. Each chapter also includes a section connectiong the Old Testament with the New Testament.

Currently, the pastor at my church his preaching through Romans. If I had younger children, this book would be a perfect choice to study Romans as a family.

World magazine selected as their Children's Book of the Year (2025).

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from my church's library. 😊

Give Me This Mountain by Dr. Helen Roseveare*

 Dr. Helen Roseveare shares her surrender to Christ and then her experiences in the Congo in the 1950s & 1960s as a doctor and missionary. 

Although she divulges many tales about her time in Africa, she does not elaborate on details. Her writing style is mostly telling, not showing. Surprisingly, I liked her style and pacing. It seems to me that the purpose of this book was to reinforce and/or reveal how missionaries are not perfect nor are they the Christians "who have arrived". She is candid about her sin nature and spiritual struggles. As a result, God receives more glory. Also, because of her vulnerability, I could connect to her. I found it interesting how the African Christians and European Christians struggle with unity after a time. . .but, they resolve their differences and reconcile. 

If I owned this book, I would have been highlighting often and jotting comments in the margin.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from my church library.

Radar and the Raft by Jeff Lantos*

 World magazine listed this book as an honorable mention in children's nonfiction for their "books of the year". 

What an incredible book. Mr. Lantos must be very intelligent man and a tenacious researcher and writer.

In alternating chapters, Mr. Lantos gives the history of radar, starting with Luigi Galvani in the 1700s, and then the story of missionary Mrs. Bell and her two children surviving on a raft after their ship had been torpedoed in 1942. Children who are fascinated by how things work will be enthralled as they read the "scientific" chapters. I was a bit out of my element reading them!! 

An inspiring story how people's ingenuity and hard work affects generations to come. 

Mr. Lantos treats Mrs. Bell's faith with respect. As a Christian, I felt like he presented her in a favorable manner.

Considerations/Discuss: some swearing (sailors), evolution given credit to shark's built-in signal detector, peril at sea/on the raft/selfishness

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot*

 Mrs. Elliot utilizes journal entries and letters to relay the story of the five gentlemen who surrendered their "all" to minister to the Acuans in Ecuador. In the first section she informs the readers of their back stories and how they concluded that God wanted them to minister in Ecuador.  A lot of photographs enhance the biography. I wanted to know more how the women reacted and endured the murder of their husbands. Mrs. Elliot does share how they handled it (which was incredible-what faith and love for God they have/had!), but I wanted more details! 😉

An easy and quick read

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from my church library.

Peace Child by Don Richardson*

 I read this biography aloud during lunch to my two tween/teenage sons....not always a great choice when I read about the Sawi's cannibalistic ventures!

Don Richardson relates how he and his wife minister to the Sawi people of New Guinea, building off the the tribe's age-old customs with Christ as the redemptive answer. How God has prepared all people groups for His redemption amazed us. His Word relates to ALL cultures. He has set eternity in all men's hearts.  We enjoyed learning about different culture's customs and beliefs.

*Highly recommend for teenagers and older (some graphic violence and graphic cannibalism).

-I own this book.

A Passion for the Impossible -The Life of Lilias Trotter by Miriam Huffman Rockness*

 I borrowed Honey for a Woman's Heart by Gladys Hunt from a friend.  As I browsed its pages, God focused my attention on a review about this book, A Passion for the Impossible. I knew He wanted me to read it.

I had never heard of Lilias Trotter. Her story proclaims what a life surrendered to God can accomplish through Him and for Him. Growing up in London, England, Lilias experienced a privileged life of comfort and education. She willingly left the "easy" life and the opportunity to develop her artistic gifts to minister to the Muslims in Algeria. Having a heart condition, no missionary board would accept her. She and two other ladies leave England and begin to serve African Muslims even though they do not know the language. Mrs. Rockness relates the impact Lilias's ministry had on the Arab world through careful research plus inclusions from her writings and journal entries.

Side-note: phrases from her writings inspired the hymn, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, a hymn I often hum and use as a prayer for certain young people.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via inter-library loan since my county does not own the book.  In 2015 a movie was produced about her life. I also requested the movie via inter-lib loan.

Hudson Taylor-An Adventure Begins by Catherine Mackenzie

 Trail Blazers series
The life of Hudson Taylor is shared, beginning when he was a young boy through his later years with his second wife.  His heart for the Chinese and his desire to share Christ and His salvation was inspiring.

Most of the story is told through letters Hudson exchanged with his mother and one sister. This format irritated me.  I felt distant from Hudson Taylor.  The story was more from the perspective of his mother and his sister.  It would have been more effective if it was told from Hudson Taylor's point of view. 

-Borrowed from my church's library.

Made to Move Mountains by Kristen Welch

How God Uses Our Dreams and Disasters to Accomplish the Impossible
With vulnerability and genuineness, Kristen Welch shares about a difficult year as she obeys God in her ministry Mercy House Global and with a scary health diagnosis of her child.  Her writing parallels David's Psalms-asking God "why" or crying out desperately for Him  and then also remembering that He is good and can be trusted amidst the injustices and uncertainties.
I marked lots of pages with book darts as I read.  Mrs. Welch incorporates many insights from wise individuals and plus her own profound conclusions as she travels up her mountains.
Initially I was not overly impressed because I had not expected so much of the writing focused on herself and her journey.  As I continued to read, I settled into the book and appreciated her stories.

Heads up- When I first looked through this book soon after it arrived in the mail, I immediately opened to a page where she quotes Joel Osteen, whose preaching/teaching I do not agree with.  I, however, did not found the quote offensive or unbiblical.

-I own this book.

Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis Majors with Beth Clark*

When she was eighteen years old, Katie spent her Christmas vacation in Uganda helping out in an orphanage.  The three weeks transformed her life.  After she graduated, she returned to Uganda, promising her parents she would only stay a year and then attend college in the United States.  During that year as she taught kindergarten, she found herself adopting thirteen girls in Uganda.  She also began a ministry.  How can she ever return to the States?  Her life belongs in Uganda.

Katie shares her struggles and joys as she ministers to the people of Uganda.  Joy exudes from her words.  Her story and her testimony will cause the reader to think and evaluate how one utilizes blessings and resources. 
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Tales of Persia by William McElwee Miller illustrated by Bruce Van Patter*

Mr. Miller was a missionary to Islamic Iran in 1919 and for years thereafter.  In this book he explains the Islamic religion and also many stories how God allowed Muslims come to know Him as Lord and Savior.  He wrote these stories with children in mind as his audience so the stories are written in a manner that will appeal to them.
Inspiring and encouraging!
I read this aloud to my boys during our study of Ancient Persia (although these stories took place just recently).  A Bible scripture reading was suggested at the end of each story.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed via Inter-Library Loan (my local county does not own this book).

Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan*

Rachel Sheridan loves Africa and living there with her father who is a doctor missionary and her mother who is a teacher missionary.  But when they both die of the influenza, Rachel becomes a victim of an evil scheme.  She is whisked away from East Africa to England where is forced to pose as someone she is not.
Can she expose the evil scheme and return to Africa?
Very well written.  Ms. Whelan keeps the plot moving yet somehow weaves in the beauty of God's creation in both Africa and in the English countryside.  She also covers many years of Rachel's life in succinct yet interesting manner.
The library has this book categorized as "young adult".
Guided Reading Level: X (Grade 6)
-Borrowed from the library.
*Highly recommend.

God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew with John and Elizabeth Sherrill*

Expanded Edition 
"Brother Andrew" shares his childhood adventures and how he longs for adventure within his Holland town.  When he enlists to help the Holland military in colonies in Indonesia, he is soon horrified with the price of war.  So he numbs himself with alcohol and wild living.  While in the hospital after being shot, he reevaluates his life and eventually surrenders himself to Christ.  Little does he know the real adventure is only beginning with that commitment!  God takes this ordinary man (6th grade education) and leads him to smuggle Bibles behind the Iron Curtain.
Amazing story!  I enjoyed reading this immensely!!
Warning: I intended to read this aloud to my boys but may need to edit the beginning parts. His choices during his youth are "wild" plus when he works in a factory one woman is quite raunchy (sodomy).  
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.

Heroes for Young Readers-Nate Saint by Renee Taft Meloche illustrated by Bryan Pollard*

Nate longed for the Auca Indians in Ecuador to learn about Christ.  Any outsider who dared to  approach the tribe was killed.  Gradually he earned their trust.  Unfortunately, one of the natives lied about the Nate and his friends to cover up a wrong he had done.  As a result, Nate and his friends were killed.  Nate's sister returned to the tribe and led many to Christ.
Points to discuss/warning: death; one tribesman spends a night with an unmarried woman and then lies to cover up his wrong.

Amy Carmichael -Rescuing the Children by Renee Taft Meloche illustrated by Bryan Pollard*

Rhyming text shares how Amy Carmichael begins her journey for helping children.
*Highly recommend.
A great biography series.
Read aloud to preschoolers, K-1st.  Older children can read it independently.

The Imagination Station #8 Battle for Cannibal Island by Marianne Hering and Wayne Thomas Batson illustrated by David Hohn*

Cousins, Patrick and Beth, find themselves in Fiji among cannibals!
My second grader checked this book out of his school library and read this book to himself.  He said his favorite part was when the cannibal king accepted Christ.
*Highly recommend series.