Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
If you like the blog, you’ll be familiar with her style and really like the book. I’d love to get another on in a few years. Like an update to her lessons back in CA
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
On graciously questioning
Jaime’s snarky and yet gracious prodding to love and yet question the church and missions brought me to tears— because it spoke to the most scared, angry and heartbroken parts of myself. I am a child of the church and I know, as Jaime says, that I would not be the passionate, fierce, questioning, lover of justice and people that I am today if it were not for the church and my experiences with missions (both very short and long-ish term). And yet I’ve spent so much more time being bitter and angry about the brokenness, instead of cautiously thankful and brave for the ways that brokenness crafted me into who I am. Thank you Jaime for your bravery and for your honesty, for you vulnerability and your thick skin—you are a needed and holy voice in this time as the children of the Church try to figure out how to move this messy, beautiful family of ours more towards Jesus, knowing that we’re probably getting a lot wrong too.
Jaime’s snarky and yet gracious prodding to love and yet question the church and missions brought me to tears— because it spoke to the most scared, angry and heartbroken parts of myself. I am a child of the church and I know, as Jaime says, that I would not be the passionate, fierce, questioning, lover of justice and people that I am today if it were not for the church and my experiences with missions (both very short and long-ish term). And yet I’ve spent so much more time being bitter and angry about the brokenness, instead of cautiously thankful and brave for the ways that brokenness crafted me into who I am. Thank you Jaime for your bravery and for your honesty, for you vulnerability and your thick skin—you are a needed and holy voice in this time as the children of the Church try to figure out how to move this messy, beautiful family of ours more towards Jesus, knowing that we’re probably getting a lot wrong too.
2.5 stars, perhaps? The content and critique of church and missions culture is important, but the delivery is at times so self-involved and crass that those who need to hear it most won't be able to stomach it, and those willing to listen through the author's "unfiltered" voice already know and agree with what she has to say. We need more critique like this for the church, but it needs to be fleshed out more (critique of missions), and said differently if it is going to make it to the ears/eyes of those who need to hear it most.
I read and followed Jamie’s blog many years back when I was also on the mission field, so I was fully aware of what I would be getting with this book. I am not bothered by cursing, but I will admit some of her unconventionally irreverent descriptions of things even made this easy-going reader a little uncomfortable. It is part of her plan and please know going in that that is not the point. Please see past all that for the point.
Be prepared to pull your boots up and be slapped around a bit. The author holds nothing back. She will make you look at your own life in a new way as she lays hers open for inspection. Her authenticity and humor will hold you as you read her crazy antics, and possibly your heart will be changed.
My “Missional Mama” blog title paled in comparison to the ultra cool swag like name, “Jaime, The Very Worst Missionary”. I was a little envious. Being a former missionary, I think it is very pertinent that you understand that what she is saying about missions was also what I experienced. I had many quandaries about being in South America and if what we were doing was in fact worth the huge sacrifices being made to keep us there. There were so many questions and not many answers. Plus we dealt with the craziness of life abroad including electrical house fires, boils, having money stolen, our car being broken into, and deep depression. So, her stories resonated from a place of understanding and head nodding.
This is an important conversation starter. Please read this book with friends and talk about what stirs your heart. Give it to your Pastors and leaders, your friends interested in missions, and send it to your missionaries. Look deeply at the conversation Jaime is starting here and see what your is your part in the next best thing to do
*This book was given to me by NetGally in exchange for my honest review.
originally posted here:
https://amyconcafe.wordpress.com/2018/03/22/the-very-worst-missionary-by-jaime-wright-book-review/
Be prepared to pull your boots up and be slapped around a bit. The author holds nothing back. She will make you look at your own life in a new way as she lays hers open for inspection. Her authenticity and humor will hold you as you read her crazy antics, and possibly your heart will be changed.
My “Missional Mama” blog title paled in comparison to the ultra cool swag like name, “Jaime, The Very Worst Missionary”. I was a little envious. Being a former missionary, I think it is very pertinent that you understand that what she is saying about missions was also what I experienced. I had many quandaries about being in South America and if what we were doing was in fact worth the huge sacrifices being made to keep us there. There were so many questions and not many answers. Plus we dealt with the craziness of life abroad including electrical house fires, boils, having money stolen, our car being broken into, and deep depression. So, her stories resonated from a place of understanding and head nodding.
This is an important conversation starter. Please read this book with friends and talk about what stirs your heart. Give it to your Pastors and leaders, your friends interested in missions, and send it to your missionaries. Look deeply at the conversation Jaime is starting here and see what your is your part in the next best thing to do
*This book was given to me by NetGally in exchange for my honest review.
originally posted here:
https://amyconcafe.wordpress.com/2018/03/22/the-very-worst-missionary-by-jaime-wright-book-review/
Love the story!
I first heard of the author on someone’s podcast a year or more ago, I don’t remember where. I bought the book then but didn’t start it until recently. I appreciated the honesty of her story, and it gave me insight into the “missionary” business, about which I’ve been skeptical since I’ve been an adult and walked away from my parents’ fundamentalist faith.
I first heard of the author on someone’s podcast a year or more ago, I don’t remember where. I bought the book then but didn’t start it until recently. I appreciated the honesty of her story, and it gave me insight into the “missionary” business, about which I’ve been skeptical since I’ve been an adult and walked away from my parents’ fundamentalist faith.
Corona Virus 4 stars where I am loving everything and all books are entertaining. I came across Jamie Wright a couple of years ago on a podcast. I loved her stories and presence on the podcast and love her writing and perspective on her blog. This is a memoir or whatever and tells the story of young Jamie leading up to her decision to go to Costa Rica to be a missionary and then about her disillusionment once there. Her story is funny, well her writing about her story is funny and witty, and I enjoyed her perspective. After I read this, while I was reading the back cover I noticed that the genre was "Christianity - spiritual growth." In a lot of the reviews people really were not happy with her foul language because well, Christianity - spiritual growth genre I guess. It didn't bother me and honestly after reading the reviews I didn't even think it was that bad but if you are offended by the exclamation, "Jesus shit balls Christ!" this book probably isn't for you. They don't call her the very worst missionary for nothing:)
Like a blog, this is a quick and entertaining read. The hyperbolic, obscenity-laden prose that works well in shorter formats can wear thin for an entire book. Fortunately, Wright sometimes slows down to reveal true emotion w/o the snark. The big ideas are appealing—love your neighbor; maybe missionaries are mostly fulfilling their own dreams rather than those of the people they serve—while the specifics are often hazy: what exactly did she do for 5 years in Costa Rica besides riff on her experiences? What is the mental illness she keeps alluding to? I wished she did not need to throw in a “dickwad” or “douche” every paragraph to establish her badassery, but that’s a style issue where many would disagree w me.