Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell was a book we all enjoyed. It is about a girl that gets stranded on an island off the coast of California. She and her people lived there and then they were viciously attacked and many were killed. As she and her people are leaving the island to escape she sees her brother has been left behind and so she jumps into the sea to be with him. He dies of a wild dog attack within 24 hours of the being on the island alone. She is already aware of how to live off the land which helps her a lot! But it is interesting to read the story about how she lived on the island about 8 years until she was taken off. The kids loved her story of survival. Obviously she has no knowledge of the Living God but the book doesn't go on and on about her beliefs or lack thereof it really concentrates on what she did more than her thought processing. It does show in one part of the book that the beliefs she had grown up with were false and for a short while she struggles as to if she would make weapons since she had been told that women can not build weapons because they will fail in time of need, etc. This book was, from what I understand, based on a true story.
We really loved this book (George Mueller by Janet and Geoff Benge--a YWAM book on Heroes of the Faith) and were surprised by it! The kids and I were surprised by Muller's early years as a rebel and godlessness which is not what we pictured of him! But God did a miraculous work in his life and his life is clearly a picture of what God can do with one of His children when they completely surrender to Him. This book brought be to tears. It was so moving and challenging. The kids loved it for sure. Thanks K for the recommendation.
Our pastor at church on Wednesday nights has been studying the Names of God. Gabriel had really been enjoying it and I told my parents. They had purchased some books and when they heard Gabriel's interest in the study of God's names they said we'll send them to you then! This first book Names of our Father by Yvonne Riley was really good. It gives a name like "Abba" then describes it's meaning in many short phrases then gives about a paragraph on how to think about and how that name applies to your life as a Christian. We read one a day before devotions since they are so short and we went through the book twice. The illustrations are VERY VERY childish and look like they are meant for preschoolers. I do think this book is easily understood by small children but a lot to glean for older children as they learn the names of Christ and how those names apply to them. The second book is slightly different and we are still going through it. I liked this book and what it taught. I would quiz the kids over previously learned names and meanings.
My parents also gave us this book Passport to the World by Craig Froman. This book takes you through many countries of the world and tells you small amounts about the country and shows some pictures of the people or items of interest. A cool feature is it has a passport with stickers from each country that you "visit" to put in your passport. This book the kids enjoyed more than I did. I did not like the way it was written. I thought they put unnecessary info into it while leaving info that I thought kids might really enjoy about the countries out. That said the kids enjoyed it anyway, right? One thing I did really like was they tell you how to say different words from each of the countries and we all really enjoyed that. The book is valuable in introducing many different cultures. Our prayer devotional book that I blogged about awhile back said to be praying for other countries and if you didn't know a whole lot about them to get a book. Well, we got a good tour through the world. I can't say we have been praying for specific countries but we do at times pray for the persecuted Christians because we read Voice of the Martyrs publication. I want the kids to be aware of the price other Christians pay for their faith in Jesus Christ.
Another book from my parents. Gladys Alyward by Janet and Geoff Benge. One of the many books put out by YWAM (Youth With A Mission) This book is PACKED FULL OF ADVENTURE. All I can say is this women is absolutely amazing in her faith! Again the end of this book brought be to tears! Gladys was a missionary to China. She was flunking out of her Bible classes and dismissed from missionary school. She toiled and worked and researched and after an amazingly courageous journey to China she meets this grumpy missionary that she thought would be so excited to have her come to help but instead is well just grumpy! But they do indeed minister along side each other. I just can not begin to tell the adventure and faith described in this book. I am not a good writer and could not do it justice! There is no such thing as a boring chapter! Christ is so evident in her walk through life and she endures so much. You must read about her coming back home to England and what happens on the train station platform. She eventually does go back to minister to post war China. Her story of being what seemed to be an average person with no obvious talent who struggled in school but with Christ in her life she became extraordinary. I love it.
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