Pages that speak

by Greg Mortenson

The story of a young nurse and mountaineer who land up in a small village in Pakistan after attempting to climb K2. He promises to build a school for those who helped him – a school for girls. He promotes peace by building many more schools for impoverished communities in Taliban country.

Three cups of tea? A quote by Haji Ali, one of Greg’s friends: “The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honoured guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family…”

An uplifting story of courage, respect and honour.

Dr. D.K. Olukoya

A special friend gave me this book to read. Now, it is not the type of book I normally would have chosen myself. So why read it? Occasionally it is good to read something one would never really read, it is written by a fellow African and because of our young lady’s challenges.

I appreciate his African expressions and sensitivity to the spiritual world of which we here in Europe, can learn from. There is a real spirit world which could be damaging and blinding but ‘Divine intervention comes in the form of revelation knowledge.’ (Page 103) given by the Holy Spirit.

‘Revelation knowledge is the knowledge from above which gives you the courage to walk through fire…’ (Page 106).

Thank you, brother for affirming my trust in our Father and all the practical, helpful information.

by Dale Evans Rogers

“They learned, for one thing, that there are many mansions, or “rooms,” in Your earthly house – that there’s a room for the strong and a room for the sick, a room for the healthy and a room for the weak, a room for those born with ten talents, and a room for those with only one, a room for the rich and a room for the poor. A room for everyone, …”

“We taught them to see purpose in pain, …”
(page 64)

Printed before I was born and recently given to me to read.
A delight to see from the other side.
A little girl with Down Syndrome speaks from her heart.
What an encouragement to us as parents giving our best shot. It touched my heart reminding me of our little angel.

I’m not a ‘cat lover’. Give me a dog anytime.
But this cat, Bob, is something else! He did what all cats do, found himself an owner, James, who used to live on the streets of London. Life on the streets is far from easy – a foreign world to me but insightful through the eyes of James and Bob.

A story of faith, hope and unconditional love – something we all need.

It was sitting on the shelf for a very, very long time.

Then I picked it up for leisurely holiday reading but soon stopped. And started again. But this time with a pencil in hand and stopping occasionally to think and re-think and bounce thoughts off the teacher. It changed my theology, my view… still is.

Transforming my view of the Three Persons in One.

A few boxes filled with diaries. Mine. And I’m still keeping a diary: living life again on the pages of many books – cook books, old agendas, school exercise books, art books – anything to write in, draw on and stick pretty pictures in. This is why this book caught my eye, maybe also the pretty cover with calligraphy writing and old photographs…

And then the novel. Beautifully written (diary entries), giving a picture of life in the twentieth century and the two great wars that shaped the lives of so many ordinary people in Europe. We are now living in Europe and are often reminded of the effects of those two wars.

‘An ordinary woman’. I can relate. An ordinary woman.

A true gift to anyone reading this book.

An old man and a young man.

A professor and his student.

They visit every Tuesday in the professor’s study.

The magical real life story of a young professional meeting with his college professor after many years. The old professor is dying and has one final ‘class’ with his student: lessons in how to live. All about being. Truth and inspiration in simplicity!

A profoundly, delightful MUST read.

Also the writer of the series ‘Call the Midwife’, a popular BBC TV series.

As a trained nurse myself, I really enjoyed this book. I could relate to the value placed on each patient and their care. In my training days we still embraced those values, but sadly attitudes have changed over the years.

Her stories brought back many memories…

Death is as central to life as is birth. It is all about dying well and creating the space for those around us to have this basic need met.

‘How people die remains in the memory of those who live on’ – Dame Cicely Saunders

A timely read as we have sick and frail parents, a time to respect their desires in those final moments of life.