Julene is a missionary kid who grew up in Ethiopia during an era when long terms and separation from one's children were the norm. Her family did five-year terms in Ethiopia and her three older siblings stayed in Canada from 9th grade on while her family lived in Ethiopia. As she grew up, times were changing with more options for education, so she had the privilege of doing most of her high school years in Ethiopia. Her parents had 10 children, five of whom were buried in Ethiopia. They also took in an abandoned Ethiopian baby to adopt and she died only a few days after coming to live with them. The Hodges' family's faith was strong and their call was sure, enabling them to overcome the separations, both in this life and until heaven. They loved the Ethiopian people and the country and were loved in turn. This is a good book and though I grew up in a different African country and in a slightly later era, there are so many similarities in our lives. I laughed and I cried throughout the book.