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Coffee, Tea, and Holy Water: One Woman's Journey to Experience Christianity Around the Globe
Coffee, Tea, and Holy Water takes the reader on an armchair tour of Christianity in our world, across borders and over continents. Author Amanda Hudson provides a personal touch with cultural curiosities, profound questions about the nature and practice of faith, as she travels to five Brazil, Wales, Tanzania, China and Honduras.
Part reflection, part entertaining travelogue, Coffee Tea, and Holy Water explores everything from each culture’s offer of hospitality to life in a Masaai boma. “There are lessons to be learned from other countries that are not visible in our own culture,” writes Hudson, “Questions that are not our questions. Struggles that are not our normal struggles. And yet, when we look around the throne one day at the nations assembled there, instead of marveling at the diversity, I think we will actually be fascinated by what we all had in common.” This is a book about the places we meet, what we share, how we can learn to cross geographical, cultural, personal―and learning that the steps to do so make all the difference.
Honest, witty and thought-provoking, these stories come from a young woman raised in the South, who found herself wondering what “normal” Christianity looked like in other countries.
Part reflection, part entertaining travelogue, Coffee Tea, and Holy Water explores everything from each culture’s offer of hospitality to life in a Masaai boma. “There are lessons to be learned from other countries that are not visible in our own culture,” writes Hudson, “Questions that are not our questions. Struggles that are not our normal struggles. And yet, when we look around the throne one day at the nations assembled there, instead of marveling at the diversity, I think we will actually be fascinated by what we all had in common.” This is a book about the places we meet, what we share, how we can learn to cross geographical, cultural, personal―and learning that the steps to do so make all the difference.
Honest, witty and thought-provoking, these stories come from a young woman raised in the South, who found herself wondering what “normal” Christianity looked like in other countries.
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2015
10 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Hudson
1 book1 followerAmanda Hudson is a writer and world traveler living in Nashville, Tennessee. She is a journalism graduate of Auburn University and former Alabama native. Hudson has written for numerous publications, including Southern Living, mental floss magazine, Purepolitics.com, Motivation Strategies magazine, The Times Daily and The Auburn Plainsman. In her spare time, Hudson enjoys reading, photography, coffee, and travel. She is an avid fan of Downton Abbey, Survivor, American Idol, and SEC football. She currently attends Crosspoint Church in Nashville.
Favorite books: Mere Christianity, Gone With the Wind, The Hunger Games, End of the Spear, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years and The Kite Runner.
Favorite books: Mere Christianity, Gone With the Wind, The Hunger Games, End of the Spear, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years and The Kite Runner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 21, 2015
Coffee,Tea and Holy Water
This book is basically about the journey of one woman who want to experience Christianity around the world.
When I started reading this book, I was expecting it to be something like Eat, Pray, Love and yes it is similar to it to an extent, but altogether different as well.
This book is about a woman who always had these questions in her mind, "That if Christianity is an integral part of our culture, then what does it look like in other countries? and how it is practiced in other countries?
To find the answers to her questions, she decides to travel the countries where Christianity is practiced.In this book she travel the five countries, that are Brazil,Wales(UK),Tanzania,China and Honduras.
The book contain many details about these countries, which I really liked.It was good to know few good and sometimes weird practices that different cultures have,mostly from her travel to Brazil(never expected that). And surely every journey offered something interesting in turn.
And another good thing is that she compared these cultures to US culture, which I think is to make it easier for the readers from other countries(one like me) to understand her experiences better.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to believers, travelers(I guess they will enjoy it,I did. There is so much to know!) and people who want a good book to read.
This book is basically about the journey of one woman who want to experience Christianity around the world.
When I started reading this book, I was expecting it to be something like Eat, Pray, Love and yes it is similar to it to an extent, but altogether different as well.
This book is about a woman who always had these questions in her mind, "That if Christianity is an integral part of our culture, then what does it look like in other countries? and how it is practiced in other countries?
To find the answers to her questions, she decides to travel the countries where Christianity is practiced.In this book she travel the five countries, that are Brazil,Wales(UK),Tanzania,China and Honduras.
The book contain many details about these countries, which I really liked.It was good to know few good and sometimes weird practices that different cultures have,mostly from her travel to Brazil(never expected that). And surely every journey offered something interesting in turn.
And another good thing is that she compared these cultures to US culture, which I think is to make it easier for the readers from other countries(one like me) to understand her experiences better.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to believers, travelers(I guess they will enjoy it,I did. There is so much to know!) and people who want a good book to read.
May 4, 2015
I enjoyed reading Hudson's take on Christianity and the church in the places she visited. I found her coffee metaphor to be a little tiresome at times, but it was only a small portion of the book, so it was easy to overlook.
What she did really well was share her experience of visiting these places. She provides a wonderful glimpse into the lives of people who worship in parts of the world many of her readers will never have a chance to visit.
What she did really well was share her experience of visiting these places. She provides a wonderful glimpse into the lives of people who worship in parts of the world many of her readers will never have a chance to visit.
January 11, 2018
"I use to think no was the worst answer you could get, But now I find my questions to God are changing. Do I need to give more? Are you calling me to the mission field? If I gave my life to you would you rewrite it? And therein lies the shift. I used to be afraid of no. Now I think I'm afraid of yes...If God called you to cross borders, would you do it? I don't just mean geographically. We all have our own borders whether they're denominational, national, or even self-imposed fear...I can't tell you what borders you should cross or when you should cross them. Only that Christianity isn't a box with rigid sides. It's a moving, lowing thing."
This was a wonderful book to read just how Christianity moves and flows throughout different countries. I enjoyed it because of the different countries you get to visit, but also because it shows that Christianity can manifest in a lot of different ways. You can have the same biblical doctrines, but it look different within different cultures. Many of the things we feel comfortable with and seem "Christian" are actually just western cultural spins on it. But also how wonderful it is that we have a Father who will unite all nations together one day, because the Christ who saved us we have in common.
This was a wonderful book to read just how Christianity moves and flows throughout different countries. I enjoyed it because of the different countries you get to visit, but also because it shows that Christianity can manifest in a lot of different ways. You can have the same biblical doctrines, but it look different within different cultures. Many of the things we feel comfortable with and seem "Christian" are actually just western cultural spins on it. But also how wonderful it is that we have a Father who will unite all nations together one day, because the Christ who saved us we have in common.
June 9, 2017
One young woman. Brazil. Wales. Tanzania. China. Honduras.
With a lot of fluids on hand (coffee as a must), Amanda Hudson reflects on different faces of Christianity in the world.
I like this part memoir/part reflection, part cultural/part religious insight book a lot. Ms Hudson is obviously a warm, bright, curious young woman gifted with a sense to see the small things and transform those things into deeper reflections. She can also see the best in the situations - I am sure I would be unhappy/annoyed about many issues she is writing about, but she is covering them with fun and lightness of the heart.
She is also quite thoughtful - she can ask very accurate questions and offers very interesting insights. I can particularly relate to the fear of saying YES to God (the last reflection).
Being European, I can relate to Wales part and the perceives emptiness and lack of believers there. And I can definitely relate to the question of pain as a key issue in how to people in Western part of world perceive God.
Of course, there is much pain in the world, and in the remaining 4 visited countries there is a particularly hard poverty/illness/oppression/control problematic state of things there. But maybe the pain there in 4 countries is external, so to say, and here in West the pain is internal, the lack of connection with the Living God? Maybe.
But the food for thought is interesting for me on my own life way.
Interesting small read. The book is not aspiring to be neither "big" travel book nor "big" religious teaching book. But in its "smallness" and honesty it can offer maybe a stone to turn in your soul, or just a reflection of your daily life - and this is enough, at least for me.
With a lot of fluids on hand (coffee as a must), Amanda Hudson reflects on different faces of Christianity in the world.
I like this part memoir/part reflection, part cultural/part religious insight book a lot. Ms Hudson is obviously a warm, bright, curious young woman gifted with a sense to see the small things and transform those things into deeper reflections. She can also see the best in the situations - I am sure I would be unhappy/annoyed about many issues she is writing about, but she is covering them with fun and lightness of the heart.
She is also quite thoughtful - she can ask very accurate questions and offers very interesting insights. I can particularly relate to the fear of saying YES to God (the last reflection).
Being European, I can relate to Wales part and the perceives emptiness and lack of believers there. And I can definitely relate to the question of pain as a key issue in how to people in Western part of world perceive God.
Of course, there is much pain in the world, and in the remaining 4 visited countries there is a particularly hard poverty/illness/oppression/control problematic state of things there. But maybe the pain there in 4 countries is external, so to say, and here in West the pain is internal, the lack of connection with the Living God? Maybe.
But the food for thought is interesting for me on my own life way.
Interesting small read. The book is not aspiring to be neither "big" travel book nor "big" religious teaching book. But in its "smallness" and honesty it can offer maybe a stone to turn in your soul, or just a reflection of your daily life - and this is enough, at least for me.
March 24, 2015
When I first started Coffee, Tea and Holy Water I was intrigued and excited to read about Amanda Hudson’s travels. Amanda Hudson wants to see how Christianity works in other countries so she visits Brazil, Wales, Tanzania, China, and Houndras. I was really interested in the idea of traveling to other countries and seeing how Christians live.
One aspect of the book I really enjoyed was hearing about other Christians from around the world and learning about their testimonies. Hudson talks with local Christians about their stories and also asks about challenges and concerns in their area. In addition, I liked getting to read a little bit about the background of the countries.
However, I felt like Hudson often compared other culture’s practices to Americans. While, this might have been helpful to some people to me it seemed a little disrespectful to compare everything to American culture. And at times she seemed extremely sheltered. And while I appreciate her honestly and knowing her feelings, I was kind of surprised by some of the comments she made. Sometimes I felt like Amanda Hudson had preconceived notions and stereotypical thoughts about certain countries.
I received a copy of this book as a free eBook from Abingdon Press through NetGalley.
One aspect of the book I really enjoyed was hearing about other Christians from around the world and learning about their testimonies. Hudson talks with local Christians about their stories and also asks about challenges and concerns in their area. In addition, I liked getting to read a little bit about the background of the countries.
However, I felt like Hudson often compared other culture’s practices to Americans. While, this might have been helpful to some people to me it seemed a little disrespectful to compare everything to American culture. And at times she seemed extremely sheltered. And while I appreciate her honestly and knowing her feelings, I was kind of surprised by some of the comments she made. Sometimes I felt like Amanda Hudson had preconceived notions and stereotypical thoughts about certain countries.
I received a copy of this book as a free eBook from Abingdon Press through NetGalley.
May 31, 2020
Half Christian Lit/Half International Travel memoir, but unfortunately it doesn’t do either part very well. I wished this book went deeper, but in all honestly, there’s only so much you can learn about the complexities of a culture from one short-term visit. It came across as a travel memoir written by someone with a very Western mindset. (Literally within the first few pages she comments on how ugly the favelas are in Rio, and why doesn’t the government just tear them down?Or when when Honduras is described as “so far behind in their living standards.” 🙄)
I was most excited for the section on Tanzania, because hello East Africa 👋🏼 but that part ended up letting me down the most. She barely touched on Christian culture there which is such a missed opportunity and instead talked about poverty, disease and foreign aid, all of which I’m willing to bet she’s not an expert in. And this really annoyed me because I feel like if you’re going to write a travel memoir, it’s your responsibility to not perpetuate stereotypes. Loved the idea of this book but I would suggest passing on it. ⭐️⭐️ If you’re interested in this topic, I would recommend Letters to the Church by Francis Chan which is very different but touches in some of the same themes.
I was most excited for the section on Tanzania, because hello East Africa 👋🏼 but that part ended up letting me down the most. She barely touched on Christian culture there which is such a missed opportunity and instead talked about poverty, disease and foreign aid, all of which I’m willing to bet she’s not an expert in. And this really annoyed me because I feel like if you’re going to write a travel memoir, it’s your responsibility to not perpetuate stereotypes. Loved the idea of this book but I would suggest passing on it. ⭐️⭐️ If you’re interested in this topic, I would recommend Letters to the Church by Francis Chan which is very different but touches in some of the same themes.
May 12, 2015
I loved this book for a lot of reasons. I love the author's continual struggle with her own American ideals and preconceived notions. I especially loved her self deprecating humour as she tries to reconcile new cultures, community and her own thoughts on religion, church and God as she has grown to know herself.
Her southern roots provide the anchor for most of her sincerest thought provoking lines. I loved going back and reading some of the simplest sentences and realizing that in the weeks since reading the book, they had stuck with me and formed the basis for some of the best conversations I'd had in a while about God, culture and the God who loves us equally whether we're born in China, Honduras, Brazil or Tanzania.
Her southern roots provide the anchor for most of her sincerest thought provoking lines. I loved going back and reading some of the simplest sentences and realizing that in the weeks since reading the book, they had stuck with me and formed the basis for some of the best conversations I'd had in a while about God, culture and the God who loves us equally whether we're born in China, Honduras, Brazil or Tanzania.
March 30, 2015
[ I received this book from NetGalley. I received nothing in agreeing to read and review it. All opinions are mine, freely given]
As a retired pastor who has spent more than thirty years working on ecumenism and bridging cultures, I happily found this book and learned even more than I knew from cultures that were. Closed to exploration by women in my seminary days. This is a spectacular book for people like me, or people afraid of crossing cultural norms. I challenge you to read this book
As a retired pastor who has spent more than thirty years working on ecumenism and bridging cultures, I happily found this book and learned even more than I knew from cultures that were. Closed to exploration by women in my seminary days. This is a spectacular book for people like me, or people afraid of crossing cultural norms. I challenge you to read this book
September 27, 2018
Short, quick read packed with gems of wisdom! A must read for those intending or planning a short term mission. Final pages a wealth of tips in a few pages.
October 11, 2018
Worth the read. Good reminders for belivers.. Quick read...
February 6, 2019
My only comment is that, even though this site says I've read it two times, I've read in only once.
September 21, 2019
An easy to read look at Christianity in 5 different countries. The author is engaging and the book moves along easily. The premise gives clarity to an otherwise complex topic.
March 20, 2020
Inspiring.
This was a 2016 United Methodist Women's Reading Program Book on the National List.
This was a 2016 United Methodist Women's Reading Program Book on the National List.
May 24, 2021
Enjoyable
May 25, 2023
This was one of the most interesting and best books I’ve read in awhile. If you like learning about other cultures, this book is good!
June 27, 2022
This is one of the few books I’ve read that I didn’t want to end.
The book brought me along on the author’s journey of meeting believers all across the globe through Hudson’s experiences in each country, opening my eyes to Christianity as it is known beyond our own nation.
The book touches on topics that affect believers in the various countries yet also affect believers everywhere. As the author visits Brazil, Wales, Tanzania, China and Honduras, Hudson reflections on topics ranging from spiritism, the prosperity gospel, the problem of pain, idolatry, the underground church and more.
Some of my favorite quotes and insights from the book:
“While people might like to attribute their doubts to more intellectual motives, most people’s objections to God aren’t actually coming from answers to the Alpha questions—they’re coming from a reaction to the church, which many see as a lifeless institution.”
“…the prosperity gospel promises “Come to church and your life will get better.” And it does . . . for a while. But when something bad inevitably happens, seekers find themselves disillusioned.”
“I believe we owe it to the poorest regions of our world to be informed about the problems, not just write checks. Look for projects that provide education or stimulate the local economy. Give money directly to individual missionaries who are responsible and ethical with their resources . . . so that monies don’t get diverted by government bureaucracy.”
“While the culture is atheistic, the Chinese way of living—with its emphasis on sharing, avoiding gluttony, responsibility for family, and being content with what one has (in general, putting others’ needs above oneself)—seems inherently more “Christian,” than the American lifestyle of me, me, me.”
She doesn’t gloss over the truth of how she sees things or how she feels, but presents it with honesty and authenticity. Some will like this, others will not, but I personally appreciated this because you could tell she was able to see her own perspectives on things clearly. A person that has a clear view of themselves is able to do the all important thing: grow. This coupled with honesty is so key.
All in all, I enjoyed this book immensely and I’m so grateful to a friend recommended I read it.
The book brought me along on the author’s journey of meeting believers all across the globe through Hudson’s experiences in each country, opening my eyes to Christianity as it is known beyond our own nation.
The book touches on topics that affect believers in the various countries yet also affect believers everywhere. As the author visits Brazil, Wales, Tanzania, China and Honduras, Hudson reflections on topics ranging from spiritism, the prosperity gospel, the problem of pain, idolatry, the underground church and more.
Some of my favorite quotes and insights from the book:
“While people might like to attribute their doubts to more intellectual motives, most people’s objections to God aren’t actually coming from answers to the Alpha questions—they’re coming from a reaction to the church, which many see as a lifeless institution.”
“…the prosperity gospel promises “Come to church and your life will get better.” And it does . . . for a while. But when something bad inevitably happens, seekers find themselves disillusioned.”
“I believe we owe it to the poorest regions of our world to be informed about the problems, not just write checks. Look for projects that provide education or stimulate the local economy. Give money directly to individual missionaries who are responsible and ethical with their resources . . . so that monies don’t get diverted by government bureaucracy.”
“While the culture is atheistic, the Chinese way of living—with its emphasis on sharing, avoiding gluttony, responsibility for family, and being content with what one has (in general, putting others’ needs above oneself)—seems inherently more “Christian,” than the American lifestyle of me, me, me.”
She doesn’t gloss over the truth of how she sees things or how she feels, but presents it with honesty and authenticity. Some will like this, others will not, but I personally appreciated this because you could tell she was able to see her own perspectives on things clearly. A person that has a clear view of themselves is able to do the all important thing: grow. This coupled with honesty is so key.
All in all, I enjoyed this book immensely and I’m so grateful to a friend recommended I read it.
February 28, 2017
3.5 stars
It was good, but I wish she'd gone deeper and explored more.
It was good, but I wish she'd gone deeper and explored more.
February 15, 2015
Coffee, Tea, and Holy Water
One woman's journey to Experience Christianity Around the Globe
Amanda Hudson
Abingdon Press
Abingdon Press
Pub Date Mar 3 2015
I was given the opportunity to read a review copy of Coffee, Tea and Holy Water through Netgalley in exchange I am given my honest review...
From a young age Amanda posed this question to herself if Christianity is such an integral part of our culture what does it look like in other Cultures? But instead of just wondering as Amanda grew up she decided to seek out the answers. She startedcthis journey by going to places different from the south but places where Christians live she decided to start by traveling to these five Countries Wales (UK), Brazil, China, Honduras and Tanzania.
The author reminds us that where in Brazil they may worship a block of wood as an idol in America we arrange our lives around other stuff that can quickly become an idol. Observing a church service she sees how serious those who believe take their worship.Traveling to Wales she discovers that Wales has the lowest church attendance in all the UK.
In Tanzania Amanda sees the effects of mass poverty, starvation, malnutrion and death. Attending a service in Tanzania she learns the devotion of the believers here they talk for hours in oppressive heat even in dust storms to get to church.
Soon Amanda finds herself traveling to China she learns that despite the fact that China is a largely atheistic country Christianity is growing despite the sanctions limiting the number of people who can attend the various home churches.
The last stop on Amanda Hudson's journey is Honduras where she learns of the struggles of Christians there. Despite the poverty and sickness there she sees how they pull together to help one another.
I thoroughly enjoyed this look at Christianity around the world and would gladly recommend it to others.
Five out of five stars
Happy Reading
One woman's journey to Experience Christianity Around the Globe
Amanda Hudson
Abingdon Press
Abingdon Press
Pub Date Mar 3 2015
I was given the opportunity to read a review copy of Coffee, Tea and Holy Water through Netgalley in exchange I am given my honest review...
From a young age Amanda posed this question to herself if Christianity is such an integral part of our culture what does it look like in other Cultures? But instead of just wondering as Amanda grew up she decided to seek out the answers. She startedcthis journey by going to places different from the south but places where Christians live she decided to start by traveling to these five Countries Wales (UK), Brazil, China, Honduras and Tanzania.
The author reminds us that where in Brazil they may worship a block of wood as an idol in America we arrange our lives around other stuff that can quickly become an idol. Observing a church service she sees how serious those who believe take their worship.Traveling to Wales she discovers that Wales has the lowest church attendance in all the UK.
In Tanzania Amanda sees the effects of mass poverty, starvation, malnutrion and death. Attending a service in Tanzania she learns the devotion of the believers here they talk for hours in oppressive heat even in dust storms to get to church.
Soon Amanda finds herself traveling to China she learns that despite the fact that China is a largely atheistic country Christianity is growing despite the sanctions limiting the number of people who can attend the various home churches.
The last stop on Amanda Hudson's journey is Honduras where she learns of the struggles of Christians there. Despite the poverty and sickness there she sees how they pull together to help one another.
I thoroughly enjoyed this look at Christianity around the world and would gladly recommend it to others.
Five out of five stars
Happy Reading
February 27, 2015
It took me a while to finish this book but not because it was boring. It has only 183 pages of the actual story but they all are about a trip to five different countries - Brazil, Wales, Tanzania, China and Honduras. Amanda Hudson visited churches there, it was the goal of her trip - to learn more about how people in other cultures worship God, to explore Christianity globaly. So this is a point of view of a person who grew up in an American church. Naturally there are many occasions where the author compares American church to every local church she sees and a lot of times she finds it better somewhere else.
On p. 34 Amanda Hudson compares hospitality in America to the one in Brazil. "In the American South we pride ourselves on our hospitality, true. But Americans offer hospitality within limits, and often not until we feel we have the proper amenities." It is a great point and the only way for Americans to really experience hospitality is to get out of the country just like Amanda Hudson did. Then we realize that our famous Southern hospitality is simply overrated. People in Brazil give there own bedroom to the guests, preparing a meal is a norm.
Every trip has something interesting to offer. China, for example, has "Chinglish", and some phrases translated into English sound hillarious: "Attention. Don't jumping in elevator. If you do it, it's gonna be stop. And you must be locked up."
One thing I noticed when the author talked about herself in the very beginning p.6:
I think I might have been British in another life.
That is very typical of American Christians to mention "another life" or "karma", or something else that Christians do not even believe in.
On p. 34 Amanda Hudson compares hospitality in America to the one in Brazil. "In the American South we pride ourselves on our hospitality, true. But Americans offer hospitality within limits, and often not until we feel we have the proper amenities." It is a great point and the only way for Americans to really experience hospitality is to get out of the country just like Amanda Hudson did. Then we realize that our famous Southern hospitality is simply overrated. People in Brazil give there own bedroom to the guests, preparing a meal is a norm.
Every trip has something interesting to offer. China, for example, has "Chinglish", and some phrases translated into English sound hillarious: "Attention. Don't jumping in elevator. If you do it, it's gonna be stop. And you must be locked up."
One thing I noticed when the author talked about herself in the very beginning p.6:
I think I might have been British in another life.
That is very typical of American Christians to mention "another life" or "karma", or something else that Christians do not even believe in.
August 30, 2018
This was a fun read and easy to digest. I really appreciated the author's transparency and direct style. The book is about her decision to travel the world after thinking about the connection between caffeine and Christianity; both are present throughout the world and uniquely experienced in different cultures. As someone who has traveled before, I could relate to the way the attitudes and understanding of the author shifted over the course of the book, as her experiences with different people and customs shaped her worldview. I say this because I had to cringe in some places at the beginning, but by the end she was articulating important ideas respectfully learning from other people. Especially fun for me was the end where she talked about what doing these trips did to her and how her understanding of life and her place of it changed.
February 23, 2015
2.5 stars (Average). I really wanted to like this book and it started off well, with witty writing and an intriguing premise. However, as the book went, this young Southern "millennial" ventured further from her stated goal of exploring everyday Christianity in multiple cultures and kept trying to preach what was wrong with the US church. It was extremely evident in her section on the UK, in particular, that she had preconceived notions about what she would find there, and merely looked for what she wanted to see. She also wrote less from her own voice as the book went on, and instead spent huge chunks of narrative quoting from others, whilst drawing no measurable conclusions. Overall, not a book I would recommend.
March 6, 2015
Disclosure: I received this free from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this as a light read but wanted it to have a bit more weight to it. We got little bits from each place she visited and I think I would have rather had more even if it meant a longer book. Each place she talks about has me very interested in learning more about these countries and their histories. There were times it felt a bit like a ramble but it wasn't bad. I did enjoy being able to read about her travels, something I'd love to be able to do myself. Being able to see the Christian viewpoint from so many different places was very interesting. I appreciated her openness to these different cultures and her ability to compare it all to how we live in America.
View all of my reviews @ https://gloriouspanic.wordpress.com/
I really enjoyed this as a light read but wanted it to have a bit more weight to it. We got little bits from each place she visited and I think I would have rather had more even if it meant a longer book. Each place she talks about has me very interested in learning more about these countries and their histories. There were times it felt a bit like a ramble but it wasn't bad. I did enjoy being able to read about her travels, something I'd love to be able to do myself. Being able to see the Christian viewpoint from so many different places was very interesting. I appreciated her openness to these different cultures and her ability to compare it all to how we live in America.
View all of my reviews @ https://gloriouspanic.wordpress.com/
April 9, 2015
I'm glad I read this - interesting memoir of a young woman's trip across several continents to see how Christianity differs and is the same in widely varying countries. I would have given it four stars except for the fact that it's rather uneven - she writes about some of the places with more insight and understanding than others (I wish she had prepared more thoroughly to understand what she experienced in each of the countries - she's much readier for some of them than she is for others.) Still, interesting and worth reading.
April 18, 2016
How interesting to take a spiritual road trip to five very different countries to find out how Christianity works in each place. I liked her admitted addiction to coffee and how she used coffee (and other drinks) as clever analogies. Humorous, insightful and thought-provoking, it was an easy to read book that will leave me with much to think about for a long time.
February 24, 2016
I gave this book three stars because I was hoping for more. It definitely makes you want to keep reading. I read it in two days (could have in one if I had the time). It was interesting, but also lacking. I read this as part of the UMW reading program.
March 6, 2015
*I read a digital ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley.
October 17, 2015
Really liked this book and tells of religion in different countries. Also a UMW book for their reading program.
November 10, 2015
Very eye opening book on one writers experience as she travels to five different countries to explore Christianity. Her travels take her to Wales, China, Honduras, Tanzania and Brazil.
August 8, 2016
Interesting
June 8, 2016
Such a pleasant, quick read. The author related her travels in such a conversational way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews