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When You Don't See His Plan: The Nadine Hennesey Story
Nadine Hennesey grew up learning lessons of perseverance, courage, and godliness. She needed every one of these resources when she lost her young husband after only 11 months of marriage. Widowed and pregnant with their child, struggling to overcome the pain of her devastating loss, she renewed her trust in God. To honor the dreams she and her husband had shared and to follow God’s leading, Nadine, along with her daughter Lydia, blazed a trail of adventure and godliness, reaching out to other women and children marked by suffering and loss. The result was a groundbreaking work in war-torn Kosovo. An inspiring story of what happens when you follow God, even when you don’t see His plan.
176 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 19, 2020
When heartache came into Nadine Hennesey's life, she had a choice to make. She'd suffered an unthinkable loss, yet instead of wallowing in self pity she decided to make her life count in spite of her loss, although she had some real difficulty making it through that process. I'm not sure that I could have done what she did. This true story is inspiring, but not in a sugar coated way. It lays it out there for all to see not only her successes, but also her setbacks and weak moments. You'll be cheering for her before the end of this book and anxiously waiting to see how God will use her next!
January 4, 2026
When we were first on prefield, we went to a missions conference at a church in the Seattle area, and this woman spoke. I was so distracted by my toddler I barely registered what was happening, but I was struck by her story. I guess, reading this book now, she was raising funds for the Kosovo leadership academy. Her story is amazing. The book is a little heavy on positivity and feels slightly unrealistic (as a global worker myself), but God's amazing plans are featured in a way that ensures He gets the glory.
September 1, 2024
my ratings:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Loved it. Couldn't put it down. I will probably read it again and it has a place in my library.
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Enjoyed it. Good characters, great story. if nonfiction, great information, interesting topic.
⭐⭐⭐: Liked it. Glad I read it, but won't read again.
⭐⭐: okay, I won't read it again, it will not be kept for my library.
⭐: I didn't like it, don't recommend it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Loved it. Couldn't put it down. I will probably read it again and it has a place in my library.
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Enjoyed it. Good characters, great story. if nonfiction, great information, interesting topic.
⭐⭐⭐: Liked it. Glad I read it, but won't read again.
⭐⭐: okay, I won't read it again, it will not be kept for my library.
⭐: I didn't like it, don't recommend it.
July 31, 2021
Interesting biography
April 8, 2023
4.5 – A Young Wife’s Journey of Trust & Choices
Nadine grew up in a God-honoring family and eventually married a God-honoring man. Ed Hennesey suffered cardiac arrest and was gone, less than one year after their wedding. From this point, we watch Nadine move through choices and changes which culminate in Nadine serving in full-time mission work. For me, this wasn’t just a biographic testimony of Nadine journey to missions, but a testimony that personifies what all missionaries have done, saying yes to the Matthew 28 call to go into all the world.
The book’s testimony grabs you in; this couple was serving God, but then Ed died. Nadine and Ed had committed to go anywhere and do anything, but she never expects to go or do ministry alone. I loved the progress of trust in Nadine’s story, although she had many challenges to face, she keeps taking steps in learning to trust God in everything, every day. Having been around missionaries and involved with mission outreach, it was wonderful to read a contemporary, fresh, and direct story, which spoke with a sincere message.
On page 94, Nadine reflects on who is in charge of her journey. Even with the hardships she has faced, she realizes she has experienced God’s faithfulness. She also realizes that moving forward, she will continue face other tests. Could she trust God with her journey even if she couldn’t see the map? In other words, she couldn’t see God’s plan, but she would trust Him. She would follow God’s plan and give God the glory.
For me, this was a powerful biography, a clear testimony of the choices every missionary makes, and an encouragement to every Christian to share the gospel message as they come and go throughout their lives.
Nadine grew up in a God-honoring family and eventually married a God-honoring man. Ed Hennesey suffered cardiac arrest and was gone, less than one year after their wedding. From this point, we watch Nadine move through choices and changes which culminate in Nadine serving in full-time mission work. For me, this wasn’t just a biographic testimony of Nadine journey to missions, but a testimony that personifies what all missionaries have done, saying yes to the Matthew 28 call to go into all the world.
The book’s testimony grabs you in; this couple was serving God, but then Ed died. Nadine and Ed had committed to go anywhere and do anything, but she never expects to go or do ministry alone. I loved the progress of trust in Nadine’s story, although she had many challenges to face, she keeps taking steps in learning to trust God in everything, every day. Having been around missionaries and involved with mission outreach, it was wonderful to read a contemporary, fresh, and direct story, which spoke with a sincere message.
On page 94, Nadine reflects on who is in charge of her journey. Even with the hardships she has faced, she realizes she has experienced God’s faithfulness. She also realizes that moving forward, she will continue face other tests. Could she trust God with her journey even if she couldn’t see the map? In other words, she couldn’t see God’s plan, but she would trust Him. She would follow God’s plan and give God the glory.
For me, this was a powerful biography, a clear testimony of the choices every missionary makes, and an encouragement to every Christian to share the gospel message as they come and go throughout their lives.
November 27, 2011
"When You Don't See His Plan: The Nadine Hennesey Story " by Nadine Hennesey and Rebecca Baker, is a stirring true story of Nadine Hennesey, who found her life completely changed after the unexpected death of her husband, less than a year after they had married and while she was pregnant with her child.
A story of strength, faith and hope, Nadine shares her inspiring story as she follow God's desires for her life, sometimes, not always knowing what laid ahead of her, and all the while, dealing with the devastating loss of her husband
Taking readers to the war stricken land of Kosovo and the events leading up to her travel there, that changed her life, inspired the lives of others and will encourage those who are faced with devastating circumstances in their own life,"When You Don't See His Plan: The Nadine Hennesey Story " , is a first person story that will take readers to what feels like the ends of the world and the edge of emotions.
Filled with personal anecdotes and encouragement, not to mention reminders of the sacrifices that missionaries make to share not only God's word, but acts of love and compassion, often in places where those simple virtues seem absent,"When You Don't See His Plan: The Nadine Hennesey Story " inspires the readers that no matter what the circumstances are in their life, that they can overcome, even when we may not see God's total plan at hand.
A story of strength, faith and hope, Nadine shares her inspiring story as she follow God's desires for her life, sometimes, not always knowing what laid ahead of her, and all the while, dealing with the devastating loss of her husband
Taking readers to the war stricken land of Kosovo and the events leading up to her travel there, that changed her life, inspired the lives of others and will encourage those who are faced with devastating circumstances in their own life,"When You Don't See His Plan: The Nadine Hennesey Story " , is a first person story that will take readers to what feels like the ends of the world and the edge of emotions.
Filled with personal anecdotes and encouragement, not to mention reminders of the sacrifices that missionaries make to share not only God's word, but acts of love and compassion, often in places where those simple virtues seem absent,"When You Don't See His Plan: The Nadine Hennesey Story " inspires the readers that no matter what the circumstances are in their life, that they can overcome, even when we may not see God's total plan at hand.
April 13, 2012
A mesmerizing True, recent story of faith romantic love,living for God and how our Heavenly works through unexpected heartbreak ,and shattering plans.to a wonderful not end but ongoing life..
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October 21, 2012
Great book of an incredible journey of a young woman who is a testimony of how you can trust God's heart even when you don't see His plan.
January 14, 2013
I knew some of Nadine's story, since I met her in 1997. It was nice to fill in some of the things I didn't know about her and her ministry.
April 29, 2015
wonderful testimony of the author's faithfulness and God's working in her life. Many Cedarville University connections throughout.
December 5, 2015
The bottom line in this book is that God is trustworthy, even when your circumstances don't make sense and everything appears to have gone irretrievably wrong.
March 7, 2016
Inspiring true story. Appreciated all the Cedarville connections.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews