Helpful Score: 1
"No Greater Love" by Levi Benkert- book review
"One man's radical journey through the heart of Ethiopia"
Levi is a typical husband and father living in CA. But when the housing market took a hit in 2009, Levi's business started to experience problems, and soon was totally underwater. He had hit the bottom and had no drive or direction when an out of the blue phone call changed his life.
A friend called to ask him to go to Ethiopia for 2 weeks to help with rescuing children who were abandoned by their families because of a long-held belief in a curse. With the support of his wife, Jessie, Levi went to Ethiopia and his life was forever changed.
This book chronicles the story of the Benkert family as they literally sell everything and go to Africa to save children. The story is one of unconditional love, utter poverty and orphaned children. They find that living in a 3rd world country is quite a challenge! But their family (including 3 children) bond and eventually thrive. Levi and Jessie are faced with unbelievable challenges including government problems, illness, lack of food and utilities, and dealing with tribal elders.
This book is easy to read and I was quickly drawn into the crisis that exists with children in Africa. The work of the Benkert family is not completed. They are committed to helping the orphans in Africa and have recently had a change in mission due to cultural and governmental issues. On a personal note, one of my daughters is in a developing county this summer on a mission trip, so I read this book with a lot of interest, and wonder if the story may be one of my family some day.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Tyndale, and all opinions expressed are my own.
"One man's radical journey through the heart of Ethiopia"
Levi is a typical husband and father living in CA. But when the housing market took a hit in 2009, Levi's business started to experience problems, and soon was totally underwater. He had hit the bottom and had no drive or direction when an out of the blue phone call changed his life.
A friend called to ask him to go to Ethiopia for 2 weeks to help with rescuing children who were abandoned by their families because of a long-held belief in a curse. With the support of his wife, Jessie, Levi went to Ethiopia and his life was forever changed.
This book chronicles the story of the Benkert family as they literally sell everything and go to Africa to save children. The story is one of unconditional love, utter poverty and orphaned children. They find that living in a 3rd world country is quite a challenge! But their family (including 3 children) bond and eventually thrive. Levi and Jessie are faced with unbelievable challenges including government problems, illness, lack of food and utilities, and dealing with tribal elders.
This book is easy to read and I was quickly drawn into the crisis that exists with children in Africa. The work of the Benkert family is not completed. They are committed to helping the orphans in Africa and have recently had a change in mission due to cultural and governmental issues. On a personal note, one of my daughters is in a developing county this summer on a mission trip, so I read this book with a lot of interest, and wonder if the story may be one of my family some day.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Tyndale, and all opinions expressed are my own.
"No Greater Love" by Levi Benkert and Candy Chand features the true story of the Benkert family as they journey from America to Africa on a path that could only be constructed by God. Benkert was a successful real estate developer until the housing market crash caused his business to go under. Near the ending of his company and facing an uncertain future, a pastor friend contacted him about possibly going to Ethiopia to help organize a rescue orphanage. He took a leap of faith and signed on. What he saw and experienced changed his life forever. Utterly touched by the lives of the children he met, he and his family sell everything and head to southern Ethiopia to settle in a help with the orphanage. The children they work to rescue are from the Kara tribe, sentenced to death because they are believed to be "cursed". The Benkert family embarks on a wild journey over the next couple of years that results in greater dependence on God, a shift in ministry focus, and an incredible desire to make a difference in the world for these children in Ethiopia.
It's a wonderful book about the great things that God can do through people who are simply willing to allow themselves to be poured out. The only thing I would have loved to see more explanation about was regarding the adoption issue. It appears that the Benkerts were able to adopt one of the rescue children, but other adoptions were not allowed to take place. A little more explanation and clarification would have added to the overall satisfaction of the book.
(Ive received this complimentary book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required and the views expressed in my review are strictly my own.)
It's a wonderful book about the great things that God can do through people who are simply willing to allow themselves to be poured out. The only thing I would have loved to see more explanation about was regarding the adoption issue. It appears that the Benkerts were able to adopt one of the rescue children, but other adoptions were not allowed to take place. A little more explanation and clarification would have added to the overall satisfaction of the book.
(Ive received this complimentary book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required and the views expressed in my review are strictly my own.)
