Today is day 2 in my 10 Books a Day for a Week challenge. Day 2 is memoir day! I have a weakness for memoirs; I like to read about people's lives from their perspective. It's also why I like to read blogs so much. I especially like memoirs of faith, so you'll see a bunch of those on this list. So lets get started.
Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall. This story is about a homeless man and a wealthy art dealer in Ft. Worth and how their lives intersect and change. I very much enjoyed this one.
Growing Up Yanomamo by Michael Dawson. The Dawsons were missionaries to the Yanomamo tribe in the Amazon rainforest in South America. This tribe had never had any outside influences until the Dawsons arrived. Michael was a child when his family moved there and so he grew up as part of the tribe. His stories are great!
God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew. Brother Andrew tells his story of growing up in the Netherlands, converting to Christianity, and eventually smuggling Bibles behind the iron curtain during the cold war. Once again, God uses a regular guy to do great things. I love his stories of stepping out in faith for God to provide.
Kisses from Katie by Katie J. Davis. Katie is a girl, about my age, who at 18 years old left her safe and comfortable American life and family, and moved to a very poor village in Uganda to help with the orphan crisis. She started off giving food and medical care, and over time adopted 13 little girls. Katie's faith is amazing and inspiring.
End of the Spear by Steve Saint. In 1956, five missionaries (including Jim Elliot and Nate Saint) set out to evangelize the Huaorani tribe in Ecuador. All five were speared to death while trying to make contact with the tribe. However, Nate's son Steve eventually went back to the tribe and now most have accepted Christ.
The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp. I love the Sound of Music, so of course I love this real story of their lives written by Maria herself. It's full of anecdotes and stories about their lives in America after they leave Austria, and it is hilarious.
Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan. Conor sets off on a year-long trip around the world, but starts with a 3-month service project in an orphanage in Nepal so as not to seem completely self indulgent by his family and friends. While there, he discovers that many of the children are not actually orphans but were victims of child trafficking, and he decides to help them reunite with their families, despite the danger of doing so. Conor does not appear to be a Christian but he has a heart for these kids, and his stories are both funny and exciting, and keep you reading.
Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman. If you've been in the Christian music world at all, you know who Steven Curtis Chapman is. What you might not know is that his youngest daughter was killed in a tragic car accident at only 5 years old. This is his wife's story of that awful day and God's hand in giving her hope and healing.
Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye-Opening Journey Across the Life Line by Abby Johnson. Abby was the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas, who quit her job and joined the Coalition for Life after participating in an actual abortion procedure for the first time. This book shows Planned Parenthood from the inside and is a good read for anyone who cares about the abortion debate.
Have you read any good memoirs lately? I'd love to add some new ideas to my list!
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