Mary-Ellen Stroup

A Bunk Bed, a Banana Tree and a Dog Mary-Ellen Stroup

Never intended for anyone's eyes except parents, these letters are now compiled by the author for her adult children to read and relive the life they loved growing up in Zaire, Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo). Stored by her mother-in-law in old film boxes for three decades, they serve as a record of daily life in a family learning to survive and thrive and do ministry in a developing country. Daily water and electricity and regular mail became luxuries to celebrate in prayer and praise. Often considered by others to be a unique life, in reading you may encounter the unique, but guaranteed are also some boring details that were not omitted in the copying process so the children would understand what life involved for their parents. Whether unique, boring or difficult, these were deemed a privilege by the author and her husband who regard themselves as simply obedient to a call to that life out of their deep love for Jesus, their Lord and Savior who loved them and gave his life for them.