Vision for God

It's the final few days of February, it's Monday, I'm tired, it's still snowing, and I still have to help Jonathan study for an American history test . . . So it would appear that all of you, dear readers, are in for another "good book" posting.

Yes, there are other books out there besides those published by Discovery House, but this is my world, and I have come to know many of these books like a good friend. One of the books I am pleased to have had a (small) part in is Vision for God by Dr. Margaret Brand and her son-in-law, James Jost.

Dr. Margaret and her husband, Dr. Paul Brand, author of Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, are best known for their pioneering work in the treatment of Hansen's disease, first in India and then in Carville, Louisiana. This book was born when Dr. Margaret's family decided they wanted to record her stories of the family's history and their adventures in medical missions. Eventually it turned into a manuscript of sorts, which Discovery House's managing editor pared down to about half its original size into the book I am now holding in my hands. (You can hold it in your hands by clicking on the link for DHP and placing your order!) I actually got to meet Dr. Margaret shortly after I began working at Discovery House when she and her daughter and son-in-law came to visit our offices. Even in her late eighties, Dr. Margaret's eyes twinkle and her British accent drew us in as she shared stories of her work in India and her genuine desire to serve God. I think this book is even more meaningful to me for having met her in person.

Dr. Margaret grew up in South Africa, was educated in boarding schools, and went to medical school during World War II in London. There's enough material in her pre-marriage life for an exciting book, but the story continues. She met Paul Brand when they were both in medical school, and the two of them eventually got married and went to India to work as medical missionaries. They worked there for eighteen years, raising six children along the way, and then, after establishing themselves as experts in treating Hansen's disease (leprosy), they worked in Carville, Louisiana for twenty-two years at the U.S.'s National Hansen's Disease Center.

More on the book itself:

Philip Yancey's foreword to this fascinating memoir sums it up best: "It would be difficult to invent a life more full of adventure than Margaret Brand's." This colorful and delightful memoir tells the story of Dr. Margaret Brand, a medical pioneer in the treatment of leprosy ophthalmology. From her childhood in South Africa to her World War II medical training in London to her world-renowned work with victims of Hansen's disease (leprosy) in both India and Carville, Louisiana, Dr. Brand's biography is a "can't put it down" story that demonstrates that truth can be even more amazing than fiction. "Dr. Margaret" is a skilled storyteller, and her surgeon son-in-law, James Jost, has done us all a great service by coauthoring her story and bringing it to print. Dr. Margaret's service to God, her family, and those around her suffering from a once mysterious and debilitating disease will inspire readers.

This is not your (let's be honest) "ho-hum" missionary story, complete with slide presentation, snakes, lizards, nasty-looking food, and people scantily clothed in their native garb. Dr. Margaret and her family did encounter wild animals, sickness, injury, danger, and just downright exciting adventure wherever they went. With humor, poignancy, and humility, Dr. Margaret tells her story of lifetime service and Christian faith.