"We as the American hospices are not sent to help the poor African hospices, but to deepen relationships with them, to assess needs and to discover how they function. We can share our knowledge with them, and they in turn can share their knowledge and insight with us." Hospice and Palliative Care is a new concept in Africa, and is established, funded and carried out in different ways than American hospices. The author's 3-pronged purpose in writing this book is to: 1) Approach hospice care from a missional point of view, 2) Share the importance of compassionate, faith-based end-of-life care, and 3) Understand and appreciate Zambia's challenges of hospice and palliative care.

A list of things to do or accomplish before one exits this life is called a bucket list. One of the items on the author's bucket list was to go somewhere in Africa to see the wild animals in their natural habitat. Little did she know that Kenya, East Africa would become like a second home and would offer far more than a safari ride. Traveling to Kenya seven times, the author gives a detailed account of her experiences and brings to light the clash of cultures which can cause misunderstandings between missionaries and Kenyans. The cross-cultural lessons learned in this book can be applied to missions anywhere.

Using real-life situations, the author demonstrates principles and practices to recover the true self lost along the way. The blueprint the author used in her own recovery is like a roadmap to protect and guide - not just a rule book. As a hospice chaplain, the author witnessed first-hand the wisdom of the dying, but it was after working with the poor and dying in India that she created the spiritual 12-step program outlined in this book.

Taking care of Richard was one of the hardest and most painful things I ever did - but I did it with no regrets. It seems the more you care, the more you love, the more difficult it is to deal with death, grief and bereavement. For those who have been caretakers of a terminally ill person, whether family or friend, you know how extremely difficult it is watching a human being made in the image of God go through the process of dying. At the time this personal story was unfolding, I worked as a Chaplain in a Veterans' hospital.