The story of six intrepid Kentucky nuns, their journey to build a hospital in the poorest state in India, and the Indian nurses whose lives would never be the same.
This is told in a highly personal style—the author is the daughter of one of the nurses trained at the hospital—but above all it is the story of courage and faith seldom talked about and the longevity of a mission that is still in existence. This would be most appropriate for collections with an interest the history of India, the missionary movement, and the Catholic Church.
... vivid and uplifting ... Though students didn’t hesitate to point out the racist attitudes of teachers and administrators, Thottam doesn’t linger on disharmony, preferring to focus on the hard work and dedication of all the women of Nazareth Hospital. She also doesn’t sugarcoat the stresses of missionary work, documenting how illness and exhaustion forced chief surgeon Mary Wiss to choose between her health, her medical career, and her commitment to the order. Full of complex characters and intriguing historical tidbits, this is a rousing story of hope and determination.
