Betty Greene: Wings to Serve by Janet & Geoff Benge

 Betty Greene: Wings to Serve by Janet & Geoff Benge. YWAM, 1999. 195p. (9781576581520) Series: Christian Heroes: Then & Now

I really enjoy this series. In addition to writing biographies of the “famous” missionaries the Benges have also written about men and women whose work impacted hundreds if not thousands and yet are not as widely known. I don’t think I’d heard of Betty Greene before seeing the title of this book. And what a story.

Back cover:

As a young girl growing up on the shores of Lake Washington, Betty Greene had two passions: a love for Christ and a love of flying. As a young World War II WASP pilot, Betty dreamed of combining her two passions by using wings to serve God.

Betty’s dream became reality when she helped found the Mission Aviation Fellowship. Her faith-filled adventures and faithful service helped created what is today a global ministry that operates over eighty aircraft in nineteen countries.

My review:

Betty Greene (1920-1997) led a fascinating life. She served on the homefront during World War II was a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots), she was a founding member of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), was the first woman to fly over the Andes, and worked in Mexico, Peru, Nigeria, Sudan and Irian Jaya.

London, England and Malakal, South Sudan

This was a great book to get a glimpse of what being a WASP was like and what life was like in the 40s and 50s especially. Reading this book reminded me just how big the world and especially Africa is. In the late 1950s it took 39 hours (and several days) to fly from Malakal, Sudan (now South Sudan) to London, England! Today it takes less than 10.5 hours to fly from Juba (which is about 325 miles to the south of Malakal) to London.

It was also very interesting hearing about the people she met along the way. Nate Saint was a MAF pilot and Cameron Townsend plays an important role in the early days of MAF (I’m looking forward to reading his biography in a few days).

A few things could have been done better. I wish there had been more dates to help the reader keep track of when events took place. We’re told how long she was in each place thus leaving it up to the reader to keep track – which is difficult. Also the focus was mainly on Betty’s flying and work in the MAF office. Rarely are we told about her other passion: love for Christ.

Great book for fourth grade on up, for anyone interested in aviation history, for anyone wanting to be inspired by a life well lived. Includes a bibliography (the unpublished manuscript mentioned was published in 2002).

Go read it! Find it at a library near you; Buy it from Amazon; Buy it from ChristianBook.com;(cheaper here as of Feb 11, 2013)

Disclosure: I borrowed this from the library. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books set in Africa

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's topic is actually Best Bookish Memories but I knew I wouldn't be able to come close to ten so I decided to list ten books set in Africa. I've read most of them or else they are on my to read list. Two weeks ago was Top Ten Settings I'd Like to See More Of and a fair number of people included Africa or some country in Africa.
All images taken from goodreads; links lead either to Goodreads or to Amazon (twice).

Top Ten Books Set in Africa

1. At Her Majesty’s Request: an African princess in Victorian England
by Walter Dean Myers

I actually stumbled across this in the library today and it looked very interesting. This young girl was rescued from certain death, taken to England and presented to Queen Victoria, and then return to West Africa for a time before going back to England. A very dramatic story.

2. Faith Through Fire: Rwanda and Me 
by Randall Bennett

True story about a family I know that went through the Rwandan Genocide.

3. Faith Like Potatoes: the story of a farmer who risked everything for God
by Angus Buchan with Jan Greenough and Val Waldeck

Great book and great movie set mainly in South Africa but they also travel to other countries. Here's my review of the book from last summer.

4. The Golden Goblet
by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

My mom read this aloud to us in middle school, great story set in ancient Egypt. It is a Newbery Honor book.

5. The Cat of Bubastes
by G.A. Henty

I actually don't remember reading this (I have) but Henty writes amazing historical adventure stories for teens. He was a very prolific writer and if they had had best seller lists back then he would have been at the top of the charts many times. (Free Kindle ebook)

6. Lillian Trasher: The Greatest Wonder In Egypt
by Geoff & Janet Benge

I have read a good number of missionary biographies but this was the first time I'd ever heard of Lillian Trasher. And what a story! She left her fiance to go to Egypt, opened an orphanage and had the same "last minute" answers to prayers like George Mueller, survived WWI in Egypt and during her life cared for thousands of orphans.

7. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope
by William Kamkwamba

This one is on my to read list and it's set in Malawi.

8. Going Solo
by Roald Dahl

Read this in middle or high school and I still remember that I enjoyed it. Dahl mentions being in Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, Libya and maybe more, but those are the countries I spotted in a quick flip through.

9. Samuel Morris: The Apostle of Simple Faith
by W. Terry Whalin

I remember reading this in grade school or middle school and being astounded by his faith and perseverance. I know this story doesn't completely take place in Africa but it certainly starts there.

10. Escape from the Slave Traders
by Dave & Neta Jackson

I read probably close to twenty of the Trailblazer books growing up. The Jacksons create a fictional character that meets the missionary and the reader learns about him or her through the fictional character's eyes. This one is about David Livingstone.

What books set in Africa have you read?

Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

Amazon freebie: Faith through Fire

Last week's Top Ten Tuesday was settings you'd like to see more of and Africa came up frequently. Here is a true story about an American and his family in Rwanda before, during and after the 1994 Genocide. I have met the Bennett family and am looking forward to reading this book.

Faith Through Fire: Rwanda and Me

by Randall Bennett

Free on Amazon January 31, 2013

Book Description on Amazon:

Faith Through Fire is the inspirational story of people living out the faith that Christians profess, under some of the most difficult conditions imaginable.

It is the true story of the main protaganist's experiences living out his faith before, during, and after the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda. It is a compelling story that is beautifully told.

If you are looking for inspiration or a way to challenge your faith then this story is a must read!

The story is also about his Rwanda team during one of the most intensive killing campaigns in the history of the world! These are real people who, because of their love and understanding of who God is, acted decisively and heroically, with actions that saved lives. After the Genocide they went back. At great price they went back. Even after the death of his beloved wife, my brother still went back...

The world is in need of real stories of seemingly insignificant people from what seem like insignificant places who do extraordinary things by the power of faith in an extraordinary God. If you're not a person of faith, the story alone will grab you. If you are, you will be encouraged to stand strong even when things do not go the way you thought they should.

Faith Like Potatoes by Angus Buchan

Faith Like Potatoes: the story of a farmer who risked everything for God by Angus Buchan with Jan Greenough and Val Waldeck. Monarch Books, 2006. 174p. (9780825463358 (USA); 9781854247407 (UK))

If you’ve seen the movie you should definitely read the book. And if you haven’t seen the movie you should still read the book. It’s a wonderful testimony to God’s provision and guidance when we trust Him.

Back cover:

Angus Buchan is a tough, straightforward South African farmer of Scottish extraction, whose gentle but uncompromising faith has carried him through drought, financial crisis and family tragedy. Called by God to preach the gospel, he has found the Holy Spirit working through him in amazing miracles of provision, healing and changed lives.

My review:

Written in a very direct, straightforward style Angus tells his story simply and poignantly, never ashamed to admit his failings, never failing to give glory to God. He readily admits when he struggled to fully surrender to God’s will and shares what verses and encouragements helped him be obedient.

Angus was born in Southern Rhodesia (now called Zimbabwe), grew up in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), and eventually settled in South Africa with his family. I really enjoyed getting to know more about southern Africa through this book.

The disciples were ordinary men. Angus Buchan is an ordinary farmer. But he has allowed God to do extraordinary things through him. His love for God’s word and the power of prayer are shown over and over again. It’s a challenge to me to delve into the Bible more.  

Go read it! Find it at a library near you; Buy it from ChristianBooks; Buy it from Barnes & Noble; (Updated 9/9/12: Buy it from Amazon)

Disclosure: I borrowed this book through Inter Library Loan. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Remember - Anytime you visit BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.