She came to China with a lesson plan. What she found was a new sense of purpose.Amy Young traveled to China in the mid 1990s to teach English to educators. But she never expected the profound way they would enrich her soul. With the influence of the enchanting country and its extraordinary everyday people, Amy extended a two-year assignment to nearly two decades far away from home.Starting … home.
Starting shortly after her arrival, Amy shared her stories and her unique perspective through a series of letters. Her nine years of correspondence demonstrated a country going through growing pains: from political unrest to the SARS epidemic to budding prosperity. Amy battled language barriers, cultural faux pas, and invasive mice with nothing to lose. She even fought for her life with a potentially deadly illness, unsure if she’d survive to share her tale.
Throughout her journey, Amy drew strength from God and came to appreciate the beauty and power of an ordinary life lived well.
Love, Amy: An Accidental Memoir Told in Newsletters from China is one woman’s deeply moving journey of self-transformation. If you like humorous anecdotes, immersions in Eastern culture, and honest stories that aren’t afraid to dig deep, then you’ll love Amy Young’s heartfelt tale.
Buy Love, Amy for an inspirational guided tour into the heart of China today!
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What a gift it was to read this book. I have always admired people who go to other countries to help those who are ill or want to read or just be able to survive. Amy writes a book that not only journals her gift of teaching English but opened her eyes to a country that had the same goals as we do. I can’t imagine leaving the safety of America to travel overseas without having thoughts of danger in my head. I loved when she wrote, ” I can’t guarantee the road will be smooth from here on out, but I know that we have a purpose and are making a difference one student at a time.” As I read that, I smiled knowing her journey would be a blessing to her as well as to others.
Amy writes about her life in China that takes readers to a place we only hear about. I’m sure the culture shock had to be enormous but her ability to adapt was God’s way of saying “This is your calling.” Isn’t that a comfort for us when we know we are where God wants us to be. There were times I’m sure Amy became discouraged but her writing only encourages me to get out of my comfort zone. I loved getting to know the friends she made and the connection she had with the students. She gave them hope, encouragement and compassion.
The book is very detailed and helped me experience a different culture through words that danced across the pages as Amy became more at home in China. She thought she would be there for a short time, but God had other plans for her. Her adventure became her way of life for many years. She touched many lives and experienced a true example of being God’s hands and feet. The book is written as a newsletter of sorts , but for me its a personal letter for everyone to glimpse a life that changed the writer. What would you do if God called you to another country? Could you trust Him enough to step out of your comfort zone? The good news is , ” He will never leave us nor forsake us.”
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
This “accidental memoir” by Amy Young chronicles her first nine years in China through her newsletters. It is such an interesting and refreshing way to write a memoir! Amy Young is a gifted storyteller and draws the reader in with the first stroke of her pen (or keyboard, in this case). She relates so much fun and humor in being totally immersed in a new environment, language and culture. Her playful spirit and hard work to integrate into the Chinese culture are interspersed with heartbreaks and achingly beautiful and breath-taking stories of real people in real time.
These newsletters in the memoir reminded me of those that I receive from my friends who are serving overseas currently and has renewed my desire to continue partnering with them.
Anyone who loves an honestly well-written book about overseas mission work would love this book.
I was given a copy of this book from the author/publisher through Celebrate Lit Tours. I was not required to write a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own and subjective.