September Meeting

Lisa:

Karen even reminded me 2 days ago to start this (yesterday) and it was on my calendar To Do list (yesterday). I guess it helps if you read your To Do list periodically instead of just adding to it...
I loved Left To Tell, which is why I recommended it. When it was first recommended to me I thought a book about such a difficult subject would surely be a difficult book, but I found her message of hope inspiring.
Favorite quotes "(I had wanted vengeance) But that was before I'd opened my heart to God's forgiveness and made peace with the killers." p. 158. " I would try to bring hope and happiness to their (the children of the Holocaust's) lives, and steer them from embracing the hatred that had robbed them of their parents, and of a family's love." p. 165. "I could see that whatever path God put me on, helping others to forgive would be a big part of my life's work." p. 159.
I also liked, somewhere towards the end of the book, when she decided to leave Rwanda. Sometime's it seems in order to help out in a terrible or hard situation you need to stay or be right in the middle of it, whereas sometimes you can actually help more by removing yourself first. Put yourself in a strong spot to then give you the strength to help others through their difficulties. I remember once being in a not so great roommate situation (not with any of you, of course, all of you I had the privilege of living with were wonderful roommates), but I remember thinking rather than stay in the situation to help make it better it would be better for me, and ultimately for those I served and had responsibility for, if I found a better situation for myself. Which I did.
Karen, please forward this to anyone I missed. Amy, I didn't integrate the quotes as eloquently as you did with the old ladies book, maybe you can help me out with that;).
I've already got Seven Miracles... on my desk and ready to read.
Thank you all for being so great! I love our bookclub.
Lisa

Micah:
I've been waiting for this discussion to start because I actually read AND finished the book. I'm so proud of myself. :) I had to get in Mockingjay and The Silence of God but with 2 days to spare I started Left to Tell.

Honestly, the thing that amazed me the most was that this happened in 1994. Granted I was on my mission for part of that year but I was an adult and I don't remember a thing about this. We hear about the Holocaust all the time but 1 million people were killed in this. Wow! I also can't imagine being crazed enough to think I'm that much better than someone...especially someone I've known my whole life....to go and kill them off in the manner that these people were being killed. I'm assuming Hotel Rwanda was about this same thing?

I was amazed at how much faith she had (can't remember how to spell "her" name). So the quotes I liked the most were about that. Here are a couple towards the end of the book that I really liked:

"I was living proof of the power of prayer and positive thinking, which really are almost the same thing. God is the source of all positive energy and prayer is the best way to tap in to His power."

"....others had lost much more than me..... They'd lost their faith - and in doing so, they'd also lost hope. I may have lost everything but I'd kept my faith and it made me strong."

I received an email on a talk a general authority had given and it said "Faith fuels hope." And that's what "I" had in the book. She had faith and it fueled hope.

I also have Seven Miracles ready to read but I think it's due back to the library soon. I'll have to put it on hold again.

I hope everyone is well!! I'm hoping for a long and beautiful fall!!!
Micah

Karen:
I also have to pat myself on the back for finally finishing the book on time! As sad a story as it was, I kept reading because I was so in awe of her continued faith in God amid such horrible circumstances. I don't know if I would react the same way.

A favorite quote of mine was (pg 114): "I was certain that God had a great purpose for me, and I prayed every day for Him to reveal it to me. At first I was expecting Him to show me my entire future all at once--maybe with a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder thrown in for good measure. But I came to learn that God never shows us something we aren't ready to understand. Instead, He lets us see what we need to see, when we need to see it. He'll wait until our eyes and hearts are open to Him, and then when we're ready, He will plant our feet on the path that's best for us...but it's up to us to do the walking."

I've come to realize that a few times in my life as well. I also couldn't help but think of the Book of Mormon as I read this book. We recently read about one of the many wars between the Nephites and Lamanites and how the Lamanites (in this particular passage) were a "ferocious people who delighted in the shedding of blood". It's hard to imagine how people can develop such hatred and pride. And I'm with you Micah, I felt so bad for not remembering that this went on. I blame it on being 18 and totally clueless.

As Lisa reminded us, the book for September is The Seven Miracles that Saved America, by Chris & Ted Stewart. Don't be intimidated by it's length. If you can only read a "miracle" or two, we can still have a great discussion.

If we're starting over from the beginning, that puts Robyn in charge of choosing our October book. Let me know if that's a problem.

Happy September everyone!

Karen

October Book: Seven Miracles that Saved America, Ted & Chris Stewart
Chosen by: Karen