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Book Review–A Faith Untamed

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After I read A Light Undimmed last year, I could hardly wait for the sequel to arrive. April Gardner did a good job of ending the book on a cliff-hanger! What happened next in the saga of Liora and Nebuzaradan? How could they break the dead-lock they found themselves in?

Publisher’s description:

Jerusalem 587 BC

Liora, once a noblewoman of Jerusalem, is now bound to General Nebuzaradan, the Butcher of Babylon, who captured her city and now strips the Temple bare of wealth and dignity. Though her future seems sealed, a rash vow he made to Yahweh keeps him at a distance.

Just when she believes the worst is past, a rebel from the hills seeks her out and an ambitious Babylonian prince arrives with designs for the Ark. While the rebel wants her aid and the prince wants her knowledge, Nebuzaradan simply wants her. As Jerusalem burns, Liora is thrust into the dangerous political games between prince and general, rebel and the people of her heart.

In a world of destruction and intrigue, Liora is once again a tool in the hands of power-hungry men—only her untamable faith in Yahweh will guide her through.

My thoughts:

I found myself a little bit disappointed with A Faith Untamed when compared with A Light Undimmed. It was a lot heavier on the romance than the first book in the series; I prefer lighter romance with more emphasis on the history or what is happening in the characters’ hearts and minds. It felt like a lot of this book was focused around the interactions of Nebuzaradan and Liora, and how they wanted to be together, but couldn’t because of his rash vow.

I did appreciate the glimpse into the fall of Jerusalem. As I said in my review of the first book, I haven’t before read much about Jerusalem’s conquest by the Babylonians. I love how much research April Gardner does, and how she can describe the setting so clearly. Parts of this story are pure conjecture, but just as likely as not to have happened. The results of a people turning away from God are shown here in stark reality—something that should sober all of us.

The bottom line? I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I hoped, but I did like it enough to want to read the final book in the trilogy when it comes out.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, helping to support Esther’s website.

WARNING: There is a lot of violence and murder (the Babylonians are conquering a city!). There is a vague reference to a rape, followed by a suicide.

New in the Library! May 2025

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We have added a lot of books to the library this month. The first shipment was these two books from The Penderwicks series. We already had book 1, The Penderwicks, and had borrowed all of them from a friend to read together. When I saw them offered for sale, I knew we wanted them! They are on the Junior Fiction shelf.

I managed to read a few more books from my stack in the bedroom that are waiting for a judgment about their worthiness. Esther gave me Climb Every Mountain for my birthday last year. I have been wanting to read it for over 30 years, so I was delighted that she found me a copy! It is an inspiring biography of Paul Brand’s mother. We finished reading Blood on the River last week. It’s not a fun, easy read; the settling of Jamestown was a violent time. However, it’s a good way to learn history. The My Story book about Pompeii is one that I read aloud to my family in one day many years ago, while we shelled four or five bushels of peas one day. It’s another one that is not fun and easy, but true to history. Meet Grace falls into that category, too. It is the story of an orphan girl living in London in the early 1800s who ended up on a convict ship. This book ends with her going on board the ship; there are several more books in the series. It reminded me of the American Girls books, but set in Australia. This is a series I’ll be watching for. All three of these books are going on the Junior Fiction shelf.

Several of us went to town last week. One of the children had a dentist appointment midmorning, so we canceled school for the day and went secondhand shopping after the appointment. Along with some clothing and household items, we found a number of books–of course! These first few pictures are books that the children picked out. Three of the children each chose one book–the Roald Dahl and Encyclopedia Brown books. Miss Joy found five books that she wanted! She loves books, and do you see the common theme in these five books? There are animals on every cover!

Esther found some books she was delighted with. This edition of The Pilgrim’s Progress is easier to read than the other one she has–and it contains both Part 1 and Part 2–and it has illustrations! It joins The Tenant of Wildfell Hall on the Classics shelf. Rosette and the Muddy River is a delightful picture book of a girl and her father. Gospel Patrons is a book that she listened to at some stage, and when she found it in the free box at the Op Shop she grabbed it. I’m not sure yet which shelf it will go on, since I haven’t looked at it. I noticed And the Shofar Blew by Francine Rivers among the books in the shop, and she was delighted to get it for only a couple of dollars to add to her collection by that author, on the Adult Fiction shelf.

And here are the books I found! Pawprints in the Butter is a delightful collection of poetry about cats by a New Zealand author. Drawing books are rarely used here, but occasionally someone gets in the mood to use them and then I’m glad to have a selection on the shelf. Same with the Build it With Boxes book–once in awhile someone finds that kind of book laying around and is inspired. And then there is The Velveteen Rabbit. I got that just because it is a classic. The original publication date is 1922!

Esther went to town with someone. They had car trouble, so decided to go shopping while they waited. She made the mistake of going into the local used book shop, and came out with quite a stack. She was delighted to find hardcover copies of Emma and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. She bought Propeller Island because she wants to read Jules Verne. She’s actually reading a digital copy of The Whisper of Glocken aloud right now, so was surprised and delighted to find a paper copy. She’s also collecting books by the Brontes for our Classics shelf, and we all love Astrid Lindgren. This hardcover of Eric and Karlsson On-the-Roof is a actually a first edition!

Another book she found at the book shop was Jungle Doctor’s Fables. I was tickled that she found a hardcover with the dustcover in such good shape–I wish I had mylar covers to protect it! These books are delightful. I added it to the Junior Fiction shelf.

On the Facebook page from which I buy a lot of books, I found The Animals of Doctor Schweitzer. I remember reading a book about Albert Schweitzer when I was fairly young, and being fascinated by him, but hadn’t read anything else since then. However, when I saw this book, and that it was written by Jean Fritz, I knew it was one I wanted on our shelf! I read it to several of the children while we were traveling, and they all thoroughly enjoyed the antics of some of the animals that Doctor Schweitzer adopted. The illustration, ink drawings, are beautiful. I have placed this one on the Junior Biography shelf.

I also found Lynn Austin’s A Proper Pursuit. Esther has an extensive collection of her books (which she plans to read, someday!), and she didn’t have this one yet, so she was delighted to get it. It will be on the Adult Fiction shelf. Starting Strong was also listed that day. We used to have this one, but I hadn’t kept it during one of our moves. However, I was considering buying it again from Sonlight Curriculum to go along with the next level I plan to go through with one of my girls, so decided to get it while it was being offered for a fraction of the new price. It goes on the Junior Theology shelf with the other devotional books for children.

Another book I found on the Facebook page was All Through the Ages. I have a weakness for book lists. This one has some very interesting articles about historical trivia sprinkled throughout, along with lists of books for each time period or geographical region. It goes on the School Shelf.

I also purchased a few books for the New Zealand shelves. All About New Zealand Machines and Inventions is nearly a history of New Zealand in itself. At Home in the Bush is basically a field guide of plants and trees. A Children’s Guide to the Common Insects & Garden Animals of New Zealand is just what it sounds like–a field guide! It’s good to have these on hand for those times when someone needs to identify something–right now!

Book Review–Unexpected Hope

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About the Book:

Book: Unexpected Hope (Sully Parkway Comfort Dogs Book One)

Author: Pam Green

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Release date: October 15, 2024

When Jack Shelton hightails it out of Lexington, Virginia, for the suburbs of Washington, DC, he just wants out. Now. First on the agenda: put mountains and miles between him and his hometown memories. Second: find a job as a reporter. Fast.

Those two things—no other expectations. If he gets that far, maybe he’ll make room for God in his life again.

Then Jack wanders into the Church on the Parkway, and a case of mistaken identity entangles him in ministry with a team of broken people and a golden retriever puppy.

Can Jack get back on track with his new career plans, or will he find something unexpected as he travels Sully Parkway with Team Hope?

Guest Review From My Mom:

The cover of this book shows a photo of a Golden Retriever, a lovely, long-legged critter, with an attractive backdrop of grounds and a building that could be a church or other institution, and it is labeled as Number 1 of the Sully Parkway Comfort Dogs series. Though I have nothing against dogs, I am not a dog lover; nevertheless the write-up on the back of this book looked intriguing. How bad can a book be that talks about working/service dogs?

Well, the author did an excellent job on the plot and characterization. The change in the heart of the main character was very plausible and glorified Christ.  The copy editing was also excellent: poor editing is one of my pet peeves, and definitely makes a difference in how I respond to a book, no matter how good it is in other aspects. The technique of beginning each chapter with a “notification” from the comfort team’s IT person kept me reading so I could find out how the chapter would work out.

While I am acquainted with the use of dogs in service to the blind, deaf, and other applications, this book introduced me to the use of dogs as comforters. I also had never heard of “comfort” teams as an outreach for a church! What a great idea! And I was impressed that the congregation portrayed in the book seemed to truly be working as a Christian fellowship ought to.

The dog involved is a pup in training, a Golden Retriever; I have met a couple of them and the author seems to catch the friendly, intelligent, and active personality. However, there are several references to “the little dog” and a couple of times a seated character reaches over and seemingly easily lifts the dog onto a lap, which implies a small animal. These I found hard to reconcile (and my mind sure tried!) when at the vet visit that is detailed we are told that Hope is 7 months old, and weighs 52 pounds.

The last word, then, is that I really enjoyed reading this book, and would be interested in looking for others by this author.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

Pam Green made her writing début in fifth grade when drafted to write the class play, Ghosts! Ghosts! Ghosts! At twelve, she fell in love with the French language. After a satisfying teaching career, she still peeks in the windows of empty schools while traveling and lingers in school supply aisles in August. Her stories show that God is always working in the lives of His children and seeking new members of His family.

More from Pam:

“Sully Parkway? Where’s that? I’ve never heard of the Church on the Parkway either. This area is changing so fast nobody can keep up!”

Life in the Virginia suburbs outside Washington, DC reflects the fast pace of our nation’s capital, and I know I’ve fooled some residents by sticking Sully Parkway and its non-denominational megachurch somewhere—and everywhere—in the area.

Welcome to my world! Sully Parkway is anywhere I want it to be!

You’ll have no difficulty recognizing the Church on the Parkway, or COP. Maybe it’s your church, with all its shortcomings, victories, quirky characters, inspiring leaders—and comfort dogs?!

Yes, COP takes its outreach responsibilities seriously, and they started a comfort dog ministry!

What Christian hasn’t struggled in situations where words fail to soothe a hurting soul? Real life comfort dogs, such as the 100-plus golden retrievers deployed by the Lutheran Church Charities, are ambassadors of Christ’s love in a range of challenging situations, from the minor anxiety of learning to read aloud to the unthinkable tragedy of a school shooting, and everything in between.

I fell in love with these sweet creatures of God who know intuitively how to reach out to hurting humans. Find out how Hope, COP’s golden retriever puppy, grows into her mission.

You’ll discover that some of the hope she brings is completely unexpected!

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In Memory

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Four years ago today I went to the local hospital for an ultrasound. Two weeks before, I had had one, to see what was causing the symptoms I was experiencing at 6 weeks with this pregnancy. As the technician moved the wand around, she didn’t say anything, and I couldn’t identify anything on the screen. Then, she pointed out a heartbeat, and I was delighted to know there was life. Then, she moved the wand and said, “There’s another, and another.” My immediate thought was, “How many more heartbeats will she pull out of the corners?” Then, I realized, “Oh. There are three babies! What?!”

The triplets all shared a placenta. That meant a very complicated pregnancy, with potential for major issues. My midwife would have to turn me over to the care of a specialist in Christchurch, which is a four-hour drive away. I went home in a daze, and hardly slept that night, thinking about how life would be changing if the babies lived. They didn’t. Two weeks later, we went for a follow-up scan, and all three heartbeats had stopped. The following picture is all that we have of them. The arrows point to the tiny circles that were babies.

While I am remembering the triplets and their brief lives (and wondering what life would have been like had they lived–imagine three 2-year-olds in our small house!), I also think about all the other babies we never got to meet. One of my sisters gave me a special gift a couple of years ago, a package of tiny baby booties. There was one for each of the babies that never took a breath. I won’t name my sister, but if you see this, you’ll know it was you. Thank you! I glued them to this card along with the note she wrote, and hung it in my bedroom where I can see it every day. I only named a few of them; we did not know the gender of any except Ruthie–the hospital did genetic testing and we learned from that that the baby was a girl. And yes, my last miscarriage was twins. They didn’t live long enough to ever have heartbeats, though.

Every baby that is conceived is a living soul. Every one is known and loved by God, and every one is precious to us

Book Review–The Bible Companion Book 1

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About the Book:

Book: The Bible Companion Book 1 Genesis–Exodus: Journey through Scripture One Day at a Time

Author: Karen Westbrook Moderow

Genre: Bible Study

Release date: April 16, 2024

The Bible Companion series is a simple, flexible, and compelling Bible Study guide. Short daily readings link God’s story to yours, help you through difficult passages, and highlight the treasures in each chapter of the Bible. In Genesis and Exodus, God reveals Himself as a loving Creator who longs to walk through life with you. Book 1 takes you deep into God’s plan to share His life and wisdom with those who love and follow Him. The storytelling approach of the series will keep you reading, even through the parts that are challenging and hard-to-understand. Find hope in the stories of ordinary men and women in the Bible whose encounters with God transformed them and reversed the direction of their lives. Discover that what God has done for them, He can do for you.

My Thoughts:

I don’t often use any kind of a devotional, but when I saw The Bible Companion Book I was intrigued by the premise of a brief commentary and encouragement about each chapter. I’ve been using it with my personal quiet time, reading the chapter each morning and then reading the 1-2 page commentary that goes with it.

I really appreciate the thoughts presented about each chapter. These meditations are simple, but practical, and often offer extra insight into the setting or characters of the Bible. Each one ends with a few questions to ask to help to apply the chapter to my own life. I have not quite finished this volume, but have not found anything yet that I disagree with, so I recommend The Bible Companion as an enhancement to reading the Bible.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

Karen Westbrook Moderow is a Bible teacher and author who brings a storyteller’s perspective to Scripture. She graduated magna cum laude from California State University at Long Beach with a BA in English Literature. She also holds an MFA from Chapman University in creative writing and a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Seminary. She has been published by numerous Christian periodicals and authored two previous books.

More from Karen:

A Father-Daughter Legacy: The Bible Companion Series
In 1993, my father, Pastor Floyd Westbrook challenged a group of men and women from his weekly Bible study to join him in reading the Bible from cover to cover. He found if he wrote short daily lessons for each chapter, people stayed engaged and were transformed by the Scripture they read. His work, though enjoyed by hundreds, was never widely published.
I shared his passion for making God’s word accessible to people who found it hard to understand parts of the Bible, couldn’t keep up with the schedule, or couldn’t relate Scripture to their journey. Later, after I completed degrees in theology and creative writing, we realized combining storytelling with his format could help people overcome the most common barriers to Bible reading. With his blessing, I began working on The Bible Companion. The result is a story-rich study which is simple, flexible, yet rich in content.
The Bible Companion Book 1 Genesis–Exodus is the first of twelve books that tracks God’s story from creation to the end of time. God, who tells His story through families, has graciously given me the privilege of carrying on my father’s legacy through The Bible Companion series.

Father and daughter, Pastor Floyd Westbrook and Karen Westbrook Moderow ministering together.

2004 Christ Church of Westminster

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March 2025 Photos

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I feel like I’m getting very behind with posting photos of our life. Let’s see what I can do today! Gayle took several of the children to the sea one Sunday evening to go fishing with a friend who has a long-line. This was the only fish they caught. Several of the rest of us stayed home and watched The King’s Speech, which is a movie with a wonderful story, but too much profanity for a family movie.

People around here often think of Grandma when they see interesting things in nature. Not sure if you like pictures of big spiders, but here’s one!

Mr. Imagination found this moth at Elijah’s house. I’ve never seen a green moth!

Our chicken coop burned down one early morning. That is a terrible way to be awakened, in case you didn’t know. We lost most of the chicks that were in it (a heat lamp fell down on the bedding), but a few lived. We took the little ones into the house to keep them warm, and the children enjoyed playing with them for a few days.

Gayle took the girls down to the river one day and they had fun there.

This part of the garden was beautiful all summer! I’ve started planting flowers in this bed, beside the driveway. It quickly turns into an overgrown riot of color.

We also had humor in the garden. I have so much trouble getting carrots to germinate that last year, in desperation, I started some in punnets and then set them out. They grew extremely twisted. Esther refuses to use them if she can help it, but they are rather funny!

One of the boys bought himself a set of tools, and they all loved investigating them.

Miss Joy and Little Miss must have taken pictures of each other goofing around in Elijah’s room while they were moving their things from that room back to their own.

The girls showed me this picture, and I thought these were large-scale weapons. Then, they showed me the real thing–they were about 3 inches long, made of dried grass and twigs!

James went to the first auction of his life and got some good deals. He bought these enormous steel beams for only $20! Then, he had to figure out how to get them home. He enlisted several brothers, a sister and a friend, and they spent an hour or so man-handling them onto the trailer. He brought them home overnight, and then got help to unload them at Simon’s house. He mentioned them to some dairy-farmer friends, and they needed beams to build a bridge, so he sold them for many times what he paid, and passed the money along to those who helped him.

We were eating dinner one evening when a pilot vehicle came past slowly. Then another… and then we saw this house pull up and stop at the end of our street! It stayed there for over half an hour while the truck unhooked and went to the trucking yard across from us to refuel.

I went with the boys to work at Elijah’s house one day, and they found an advertisement from Pizza Hut in the letter box. That made Simon hungry for pizza, so they bought enough for the family for dinner.

Book Review–Unshakable

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About the Book:

Book: Unshakable (Casts of Silver Book 4. It can be read as a standalone.)

Author: K.J Rowe

Genre: Teen / Y.A

Release date: January 13, 2025

Self-assured. Perceptive. Determined. Character traits Nick Marshall wears with pride, along with a bit of charm.

He knows himself and what his future holds.

At last, living the life he had long dreamed for himself as a Police Officer, Nick struggles to understand why things he witnessed as a first responder early in his career continue to haunt him. Reoccurring dreams grow a nagging anxiety which, combined with the stress of keeping up with his grueling work roster, as well as extracurricular activities, begin to shadow his professionalism.

Frustrated at himself slipping, Nick begins to take steps to ease his workload when his youth minister drops a bombshell on the Leadership Team that leaves them all reeling, but also sparks a question in Nick’s mind: was he really doing what God wanted him to do?

With rumors starting at work amid a sense of impending threat, Nick continues to pursue the life he’s long envisaged for himself, believing the blessings of God are still upon him. However, when he finds himself in mortal danger, Nick is forced to reconsider everything he’d come to believe and the plans he had for himself.

Will Nick win the battle within his mind and decode the will of God for his life? Will he be willing to let go of his own will and take hold of God’s?

My Thoughts:

There were some things in this book which I appreciated. Nick was careful to keep his priorities right as far as making sure that God came first. At the same time, I was puzzled with the fact that he was dating a non-believer, and neither he nor his friends at church seemed to have any problem with that fact. I was happy to see how he stood up for his belief in not living together before marriage, though. I also liked all the activities the youth group he helped to lead came up with to illustrate God’s principles to young people. At the same time, I struggled to read this book. There were frequent typos, and much of the story is told in the passive voice, rather than the active voice, making even high-tension scenes drag. Another thing I noticed, which in itself would not be a reason to avoid the book but is there, is that the story is set within a Seventh-Day Adventist church. The only thing I found that I would consider questionable doctrine, however, was the youth group activity which was intended to illustrate how baptism cleans a person from the filth of the world.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

K.J. Rowe began her writing career in 2012 with the drafting of her Young Adult series called “Casts of Silver”, The series, born out of her own unique experiences and understanding how books can literally change people’s lives has been crafted to spotlight particular issues common amongst young people. To impress upon youth the importance of listening to their inner voice, remembering their self worth and to trust in Gods perfect plan for each of our lives is the mission and vision of this series. Karen lives with her husband and 2 children on a farm in North West Victoria, Australia.

More from K. J.:

Hey! Thanks for stopping by!

Casts of Silver is my debut five book series. After a nagging conviction to write, I asked the Lord what it was He wanted me to pen down. The very next morning, I awoke with five clear stories in my mind.

Unshakable is book 4, of 5. It’s been an incredible journey for me writing this series with each of stories including a part of my own testimony. The series is centered around five youth group leaders, with the stories looking at very real circumstances that young people face in today’s world without sugar coating consequences of individual actions.

However, God is always at work.

But where is He when problems arise?

Well, He is always closer than you think and He’s always working for your good!

Enjoy.
God Bless!

Now, who doesn’t love a great healthy(ish) treat while reading a fabulous book? I’ve recently come across this delicious cake recipe and thought I would share it with you all.

DATE CAKE

1.5C Boiling Water

70g dates, chopped

1 3/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda

3/4C softened butter

1C Sugar (I used a little less)

2 eggs

2C Plain Flour

1/2 tsp salt

TOPPING

1/2C chocolate chips

1/2C sugar

1/2C chopped nuts of choice (I used Pecans, recipe uses walnuts)

METHOD

Preheat oven to 175C, grease 28x18cm lamington pan

Pour boiling water over dates, stir in 1tsp of Bicarbonate Soda. Stand until cool.

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, then remaining bicarbonate of soda, sifted flour and salt. Fold in date mixture.

Pour into pan, sprinkle over the topping ingredients. Bake for 35-45mins.

Goes well cold or warm with cream. Enjoy!

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Renovations

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We saw a lot of renovations happening this summer! Of course, there was the work on Eijah’s new house. Elijah also worked on his bedroom. He started that project last winter, in July or August, and finally got to move back in in March, after the painting was done. I took a few pictures of him laying the carpet. First, the girls had to get their things out! See the walls? He chose to whitewash the plywood he used for the upper part of the walls. The lower part is the original boards that were there, which were covered with a thick coat of yellow paint. He carefully pried them off the wall, then ran them through a machine that James’s boss has which sanded both sides at once, and then oiled them after putting them back on the wall.

Next, he put down tack strips, laid out the underlay, rolled out the carpet on top, and then stretched it in. I enjoyed watching him do what he does every day at work.

Esther got her room painted this summer. A couple of years ago, she touched up some places where the paint got messed up. She used the bucket of paint that was originally used for the room–but didn’t know that a creative brother had mixed some other paint in to it, so she ended up with white squares on a cream wall. She didn’t have time to repaint that summer or the next, so this summer she decided she must get it done. The three girls moved out to our guest cabin for a few weeks, and she painted all the trim, patched and sanded several places where there were holes in the wall (thanks to other renovation projects that punched through), and painted the walls. The motivation to get this done came from finding a set of new curtains at an op shop–she wanted to get them hung, but not until the room was painted!

Miss Joy was delighted to be back in her own room, even though the cabin is very cozy!

Book Review–Mary the Missionary

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About the Book:

Book: Mary the Missionary, A Kenyan Adventure

Author: Yvonne M Morgan

Genre: Children’s Early Reader

Release date: February 1, 2025

A Kenya Adventure

Are you ready for an adventure in Kenya? After singing “Jesus Loves the Little Children” in Sunday School, Mary has many questions about children in other countries. When her parents learn about a mission trip to Kenya, they decided to experience another culture as a family. Mary encounters many trials on her Kenyan adventure. In the end, she learns that she and her new friends aren’t different, and Jesus loves all children.

Through colorful illustrations and engaging storytelling, “Mary the Missionary” teaches important lessons about acceptance, empathy, and love. As Mary meets children from different cultures and backgrounds, she learns to see the world through their eyes and understand the unique challenges they face. Along the way, she also discovers the unifying power of faith and how it transcends all barriers.

My Thoughts:

This is a very cute book. I liked this gentle way of introducing children to the conditions in which people live in third-world countries. Mary and her parents went to Kenya on a missions trip, and Mary was quite shocked at some of the things she saw. At the same time, she grew to love the local people, and found ways to help them. 

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

Yvonne M Morgan takes readers of all ages on a journey of faith, hope, and love with encouraging words. Her captivating storytelling will inspire readers to trust in the Lord and give them hope. Yvonne’s insightful reflections will resonate with anyone who wants a deeper relationship with God.

More from Yvonne:

As my grandchildren grew, I started writing children’s books. I wanted them to read engaging, faith-based stories filled with fun illustrations and valuable lessons that would nurture their faith. As the children grew, I wanted to continue their lessons, tailoring them to their expanding interests and abilities. The book, “Mary the Missionary, A Kenyan Adventure,” shares the message of God’s love, and how we are all his children despite our differences.

The memories of my mission trips to Kenya, filled with the warmth of the people and the beauty of the landscape, led me to choose it for Mary’s visit. I loved the vibrant tapestry of cultures and the welcoming smiles of the people I met during my visits. To help your children explore Kenya, I’ve added free resources to my website; these include downloadable activity books and captivating information. Here is a link to those resources: https://yvonne-morgan.com/mary-the-missionary-resources.

In Kenya, Ugali is used as a fork to pick up their food. Ugali Recipe to try with your children:

Ingredients:

1 cup maize meal / corn meal

2 cups normal water

Instructions:

Heat water over medium heat in a deep pan. Make sure you use a pan with a handle.

Add the maize meal or cornmeal and keep on stirring with a strong wooden spoon.

Keep stirring and pressing the mixture against the sides of the pan to break up the lumps.

As the mixture becomes thicker, it becomes more difficult to mix but keep mixing and breaking up the lumps.

The mixture with begin to come away from the sides of the pan.

Allow it to cook for 2-3 minutes.

At this point transfer the ugali to a platter. Place the plate over the pan and turn it upside down.

Or you can transfer to a small heatproof bowl. Pat it down into shape. Place a plate over the bowl and turn it over.

Enjoy piping hot ugali with your favorite stew or curry.

Rural School in Kenya

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