Letter from New Haven
Hello Mark,
So I have been struggling at Yale. I came here to be exposed to new ideas and learn from world renowned academic minds. Instead I have found myself nose deep in old Hebrew or Greek Lexicons every night wondering how I can discover God and how God works among His people when I’m parsing Hebrew Qal Active Participles.
I began reading The Book of Mev again. I remembered how she thought about doing Biblical Studies but was turned off by all the ancient languages. Now I find myself in the same boat. :)
So I have decided to go down another path. I’m switching my concentration from Bible to a new program here in World Christianity and Missions! I’m going to focus on Africa and do work in anthropology, theology, and comparative studies with Christianity and Islam.
I’m so excited and I feel like this is what God wants me to be doing!
Reading about Mev again has really helped me look at myself introspectively and remember how enriching it is to see how God is present in the experiences of people in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
I just wanted to thank you again for sharing Mev with me and for the wonderful experience I had taking your course at SLU. I hope you are doing well and are enjoying the semester. I’m planning on making a trip back to St. Louis - perhaps we can meet up for coffee or something if you have the time and are in the area.
Talk to you soon!
Take Care,
Hope
Dear Mark,
Almost a year ago, I was reading a book called ‘Blessed among women’ which contained a short profile of Mev. I was instantly captivated, and went online to find out more about her. I stumbled on information about her books on Amazon, and ‘the Book of Mev’ was recommended to me.
I ordered the book, and it arrived two weeks before I was to leave Australia to work with the Jesuits in Paraguay.
The reason I am so captivated by hers and your story is its humanity, sanctity and extraordinary ordinariness. It lifts my spirits, and I have read it almost three times over 4 months - bits and pieces here and there speak to my heart and soul.
I’m an Australian journalist and teacher, photographer and musician living in Asuncion, Paraguay in one of the poorest urban settlements here. I am challenged on a daily basis to live my faith authentically, and view things through the eyes of the poor.
For me, Mev’s story speaks to me on so many levels - her struggles in Brazil, her righteous anger at times with the institutional church, but her faith that light can shine through the darkness. The list goes on.
I wanted to express to you my gratitude for sharing this book with the world, and for your own very personal story which is intertwined in its pages.
Que Dios te acompana!
Beth