Book Review #2

From Ashes to Africa by Josh and Amy Bottomly

Probably a familiar read to anybody who has adopted or is currently adopting from Ethiopia, this memoir is the story of Josh and Amy Bottomly, one of the first couples to adopt from Ethiopia. In some ways, their story is similar to ours - a strong desire for children, fertility issues, and God's tug to adopt from Ethiopia. As they share their story, they give an honest look into the difficulties they faced in their marriage and a glimpse into the trials of infertility. As they share their struggles, they share the importance of community and mentoring, as that (well, God using that) likely made the difference between them throwing in the towel and continuing to commit and work through the trials they faced in their young marriage.

I enjoyed the honesty that the Bottomleys offered. Though they faced difficult times, they committed their marriage to God and trusted to follow Him wherever He might lead them. It was a fairly quick read, and one that I would recommend for anyone wanting a glimpse into infertility, adoption, or just wanting an encouraging and inspiring story of commitment to God's call. If you want a glimpse of the book, you can visit the book website: http://fromashestoafrica.com/. And you can actually follow along on the Bottomley's journey on their blog: http://bottomlysandethiopia.blogspot.com/. They are actually in the midst of their second adoption from Ethiopia! Yay!