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Books > Fiction > True stories > Endurance & survival
Beyond These Eyes is the biography of one of the most inspiring,
courageous and incredible young men to be living on our planet at
this time in history. Professional surfer Derek Rabelo is fearless
in the ocean. The unique characteristic of this young man, though,
is that he is blind, having been born with congenital glaucoma. He
is famous for his big wave courage, riding life-threatening
monsters at Pipeline, Jaws and Mavericks in Northern California,
and most recently surfing 50 foot waves in Nazare, Portugal. This
is an unbelievable attempt for anyone, but a miracle if you are
blind. Beyond These Eyes takes you on an extraordinary journey of
Derek's life. From the time of his birth, the anguish and then
devotion and love of his family, to his time now as a married man
and his devotion to his wife, Madeline. His strong faith and love
for God has enabled him to achieve the miraculous. Derek tours the
world to speak to people of all ages to encourage and inspire them
to take the limitations off their thinking.
Voices of Courage is the vision of life coach and speaker Brenda
Dempsey to bring extraordinary women together from around the globe
to share their stories in an inspirational book of strength,
courage and transformation. Many women become trapped in their
lives feeling hopeless and alone. They are so overwhelmed by their
situation that they can no longer see a way out until... The pain
they are suffering becomes too much and they reach the critical
point of 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!'. This is the Pivotal Moment
when they summon up their courage from deep within their soul and
scream ENOUGH - NO MORE.
At 12.35 a.m. on the 29th April 2015, Andrew Chan and Myuran
Sukumaran were led out in front of firing squad. Strapped to wooden
crosses, they prayed and sang, staring straight ahead at their
killers. On that day, the Indonesian government did not execute two
drug smugglers, they executed a pastor and a painter. But who were
Andrew and Myuran? In 2005, the selfish recklessness of youth and
lure of drugs, money, fast cars and a better life led them and
seven other Australians into a smuggling plot to import eight
kilograms of heroin from Indonesia to Australia. Unbeknownst to
them all, the Australian Federal Police knew their plan and tipped
off the Indonesian police. Charged with drug trafficking, Myuran
and Andrew were found guilty and sentenced to death. Andrew was 22
years old. Myuran was 24. Cindy Wockner was the Indonesian
correspondent for News Limited when the Bali Nine were caught. For
a decade she covered their story and she got to know Myuran, Andrew
and their families very well. She watched them transform from
angry, defiant young men into fully rehabilitated good people. This
is the intimate, and untold, story of Andrew and Myuran; of their
childhoods and what turned them to drugs, what happened in their
ten years in Kerokoban Prison, the numerous legal appeals, the
political fallout and the growing worldwide pleas for mercy that
saw vigils held around Australia. It will show their rehabilitation
and their focus on helping others - of Andrew's growing commitment
to his faith and Myu's burgeoning artistic talent. It will show the
boys they were and the men they became in a potent cautionary tale
and a poignant reminder of what we all lose when we ignore the
power of mercy.
In February 2018, Kiko Matthews set out to row solo and
unsupported, 3000 miles across the Atlantic. She not only added her
name to the handful of women who had successfully made the crossing
solo, but did so in a world record time of 49 days, 10 hours and 13
minutes - more than five days less than the previous record. She
had never rowed before deciding on this challenge. But following
brain surgery after being diagnosed with a rare life-threatening
condition, she set herself goals that pushed her mental and
physical boundaries to the limit. In her book she vividly describes
her epic voyage and what drove her to attempt it.
'IT TOOK ME LONGER TO FORGIVE MY DAD FOR NOT HELPING ME WHEN I WAS
TORTURED, THAN TO FORGIVE THOSE SOLDIERS WHO TORTURED ME' Mirsad
Solakovic survived a war in which some 300,000 people died, but was
left with psychological damage. Mirsad lived through the ethnic
cleansing of Bosnian civilians, until his family escaped to the UK.
Following his experiences, he became difficult and untractable, and
refused to speak English - until dedicated and sympathetic teachers
at his school in Birmingham brought him back into contact with
those around him. This thought-provoking account of the Bosnian and
Herzegovinian tragedy paints a uniquely intimate portrait of
survival, revealing pain that has never faded, yet has not crushed
the human spirit. It is also an uplifting account of just how
effective good teachers can be when faced with deeply troubled
pupils.
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