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A review by rachelb36
Monique and the Mango Rains: Two Years with a Midwife in Mali by Kris Holloway
4.0
This story is told by Kris, a Peace Corps volunteer who spends two years in Mali working alongside native midwife Monique. The focus is on the friendship they develop, rather than on their work, which I really enjoyed.
As a Christian, the most interesting aspect of reading this was comparing their approaches to religion and morality to my own. The author grew up going to a Presbyterian church because it's what her family did, though she wasn't sure what she believed. Monique's relatives converted to Catholicism in a place that is dominated by a mixture of Islam and tribal religion.
At one point, Monique tells Kris, "Not to worry, Fatumata [Kris' Malian name]. It is all the same if you pray to one God or another, because it is the same God. All religions are the same. But for me, it is the Christians who give more. It is the Christians who believe in helping the poor. Why else would our White Fathers and Sisters have come all the way from your lands to Mali, eh?" (p.80)
Kris goes on to explain that most of the French Catholic missionaries in Mali allowed for "some mixing in of traditional beliefs," such as wearing protective amulets in church or performing animal sacrifices.
This really stuck out to me and was a reminder that Christians of any culture need to be preaching the entire gospel, which includes the fact that worshiping Jesus alone is the path to the true God. All gods are not equal.
Toward the beginning of the book, the author mentions that Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world and goes on to say, "They don't have favorite clothes and favorite foods. They wear what they have and eat what is available." (p.2) I really loved this quote!
While I definitely don't agree with many of the beliefs and choices of the author or the people mentioned in the book, it's always interesting and worthwhile to listen to the stories and perspectives of others.
As a Christian, the most interesting aspect of reading this was comparing their approaches to religion and morality to my own. The author grew up going to a Presbyterian church because it's what her family did, though she wasn't sure what she believed. Monique's relatives converted to Catholicism in a place that is dominated by a mixture of Islam and tribal religion.
At one point, Monique tells Kris, "Not to worry, Fatumata [Kris' Malian name]. It is all the same if you pray to one God or another, because it is the same God. All religions are the same. But for me, it is the Christians who give more. It is the Christians who believe in helping the poor. Why else would our White Fathers and Sisters have come all the way from your lands to Mali, eh?" (p.80)
Kris goes on to explain that most of the French Catholic missionaries in Mali allowed for "some mixing in of traditional beliefs," such as wearing protective amulets in church or performing animal sacrifices.
This really stuck out to me and was a reminder that Christians of any culture need to be preaching the entire gospel, which includes the fact that worshiping Jesus alone is the path to the true God. All gods are not equal.
Toward the beginning of the book, the author mentions that Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world and goes on to say, "They don't have favorite clothes and favorite foods. They wear what they have and eat what is available." (p.2) I really loved this quote!
While I definitely don't agree with many of the beliefs and choices of the author or the people mentioned in the book, it's always interesting and worthwhile to listen to the stories and perspectives of others.