$ 25 CAD
Reverend Mother’s
Daughter
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In this gripping account, shares her dramatic personal story of racial rejection, physical and sexual abuse and war time trauma.
Through it all she is aware of a driving force in her life that ultimately brings her to faith and the happiness Reverend Mother always wanted for her.
Reverend Mother's Daughter
I don’t want the family to know about you.” These painful words spoken to Mary Haskett by her 91-year-old half-sister draw us into Reverend Mother’s Daughter. The book then goes back in time to tell the riveting tale of how Mary came to this point.
Mary was born in 1934 after her 40-year-old mother had a liaison with a young west African student. Reverend Mother, an Anglican nun, takes Mary into the Sisters of Mercy priory shortly after birth when her parents refuse to acknowledge her. Here she becomes only the first resident of Reverend Mother’s home for children and is raised under the firm but caring hands of the sisters.
Mary’s first-person account of World War II as seen through the eyes of a child is fascinating. Using her incredible memory for details and her well-honed story teller’s instincts she takes us back to the day the children pack all their things and travel from London to Torquay to escape the German bombs.
We feel her wonder at seeing the sea for the first time, experience the terror of bath night when Ada is in charge, and identify with her confusion when Gardener Grimshaw invites her into his shed for more than peaches. Most of the time we live in the childhood world of games, play and sweet friendships, though the treatment she receives from some adults and children because of her race and orphan status is a damning expose of the attitudes and prejudices of the day.
After the war is over it’s back to London and then off to nursing school. Here Mary’s zest for life comes through as she gets her first taste of independence. Soon she meets the charming Mario and we join her in the thrill of first love, only to plummet to the despair of betrayal and the loneliness of living as a newcomer in Canada. Finally, we’re treated to the pinch-me wonderment of mature love.
Mary’s coming to faith during one of the valleys in her life is the turning point of the story. Suddenly she sees her past in a new way. As she works through old hurts, she gains wisdom and finds new usefulness. Even the rebuff of her half-sister that begins the story proves to be a step along the path to wholeness. Through it all she credits God, working through the loving care of Reverend Mother and others, for her happy productive life.
The beautiful cover photo of Mary as a child and the 22-page section of photos in the middle of the book bring the characters to life.
Reverend Mother’s Daughter will make you laugh, cry and feel outrage, relief, sympathy and admiration. It’s a story covered with the fingerprints of God’s grace. When you’re done, I can almost guarantee you’ll want to pass your copy around to all your friends.
Violet Nedsoly
Violet Nesdoly
A story covered by the fingerprints of grace
I don’t want the family to know about you.” These painful words spoken to Mary Haskett by her 91-year-old half-sister draw us into Reverend Mother’s Daughter. The book then goes back in time to tell the riveting tale of how Mary came to this point.
Mary was born in 1934 after her 40-year-old mother had a liaison with a young west African student. Reverend Mother, an Anglican nun, takes Mary into the Sisters of Mercy priory shortly after birth when her parents refuse to acknowledge her. Here she becomes only the first resident of Reverend Mother’s home for children, and is raised under the firm but caring hands of the sisters.
Mary’s first-person account of World War II as seen through the eyes of a child is fascinating. Using her incredible memory for details and her well-honed story teller’s instincts she takes us back to the day the children pack all their things and travel from London to Torquay to escape the German bombs.
Janet Sketchley
Inspiring and encouraging
Authentic and poignant, this is a memoir that inspires and gives hope. Author Mary Haskett’s painful childhood and adult experiences couldn’t keep her from finding a life of significance and worth — and of faith.
Pearl
An outstanding book – You won’t be able to put it down!!
Author Mary Haskett is a gifted writer who draws her readers like a magnet into the unfolding of her very poignant life story. From her rejection as a mixed race child to her traumatic and sometimes happy life in an orphanage in WWII England, to the shattering of her hopes and dreams of becoming an actress, Mary is being drawn slowly but unmistakably towards a knowledge of God’s love for her. Her benefactor and adoptive mother, the Reverend Superior of a nunnery, is the one constant in her life. Mary’s search for her birth family, their rejection of her and eventual acceptance, all make for a heart-rending, dramatic story the ending of which will bless every reader.
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The adults talked about the war all the time. One particular piece of news filled me with terror; a German submarine had been caught in the harbor. And then one Saturday afternoon a few days later, a plane flew low and shot people as they lay sunbathing on the beach. Then -horror of horrors- the next week as we were playing on the lawn, running after each other in a game of ‘butterfly chase,’ Mr. Morgan, the warden, jumped up from his deckchair. “Get inside,” he screamed, “Hurry! Hurry!” I heard the familiar drone of the plane and almost before we started running it was there flying so low I could see the pilot. I grabbed Hazil’s hand, we could hear the machine gun fire as we raced screaming up the driveway and into the house…”
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As I did I stared in disbelief. In one blinding flash I saw Sister St Claire. As if in an instant of time, her familiar rolling gait, like a nightmare, came toward me, her white veil flapping in the night wind. The road came up to meet me as I crashed at her feet.” Scruffy licked my face whining softly as I struggled up. I took his leash from Ann while she lifted the bike…”
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For a while Mario wouldn’t tell me where he worked. “Tell me,” I’d say, as I looked into his blue eyes, but instead he would plant a butterfly kiss on my mouth.”…
$ 20 CAD
Journey to Joy
Martin Gruber is a German prisoner of war assigned to work on the Dudley Farm in the south of England. Sarah Creswell is one of three English girls assigned to the same farm. The attraction between Martin and Sarah is undeniable, but could she ever love a man who fought against her country?
Peter Dudley, owner of the farm, has dated Sarah twice. For her it’s a platonic friendship, but Peter does not agree.
When the Second World War ends, Martin chooses to stay in England, with Sarah. But Peter Dudley refuses to let her go.
As Peter’s behaviour grows increasingly erratic and disturbing, can Martin and Sarah trust that God will keep them safe and allow them to spend their lives together in peace?
An Endearing Romance
I am a fan of Historical Fiction; it’s my favourite genre. It combines two of my favourite things: learning about a different time and place and escaping into a great story. I especially find the early 20th century fascinating and how the world wars impacted our lives. What I like about Haskett’s novel, Journey to Joy, is she does not focus on the fighting and the horrors of war but the battles being fought on the home front. These stories are often ignored for the more dramatic stories of heroism, yet they are just as important.
At its core, Journey to Joy is a romance, and, similar to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the young couple are on opposite sides of a conflict. Sarah is a young, patriotic English woman who falls in love with Martin, a German prisoner of war. They both struggle internally. Sarah cannot deny her feelings for Martin. He is handsome, clever and kind, but he is the enemy. Martin cares for Sarah, but he is conflicted about his part in the war, is questioning his ideology and does not feel worthy of her love. Just when you feel they can overcome these impediments, the young couple face external conflict that provides some unexpected challenges. But, with a title like Journey to Joy, you just know the ending is not going to resemble the tragic one that befalls Shakespeare’s lovers. With the help of friends, family and their undying faith, Sarah and Martin’s story ends happily reminding us that love can bloom in the most unexpected places at the most difficult of times. And, with an open heart, love can overcome what might first appear to be insurmountable obstacles.
Captivating Page-Turner!
Journey to Joy comes straight from the heart of Mary Haskett who experienced wartime in England.
An outstanding book – You won’t be able to put it down!!
Author Mary Haskett is a gifted writer who draws her readers like a magnet into the unfolding of her very poignant life story. From her rejection as a mixed race child to her traumatic and sometimes happy life in an orphanage in WWII England, to the shattering of her hopes and dreams of becoming an actress, Mary is being drawn slowly but unmistakably towards a knowledge of God’s love for her. Her benefactor and adoptive mother, the Reverend Superior of a nunnery, is the one constant in her life. Mary’s search for her birth family, their rejection of her and eventual acceptance, all make for a heart-rending, dramatic story the ending of which will bless every reader.
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Mary Haskett tells a story of brokenness–scandal, violation, betrayal–the pain of being human that touches us all. But hers, and ours, is also a story of redemption, of healing. As she recounts her life with candour and prose, Haskett opens a window to the divine and gives us hope. “
Margaret Buchanan
Author
$ 15 CAD
India My Calling
Free Shipping in Canada
At the time Gandhi rose to prominence a young girl from Canada set out for India. She learned a language, birthed a nursing school, faced incredible odds, ran the race and pressed on to the mark of the high calling. It’s the end of World War II. The world breathes a collective sigh of relief. Jean Darling, a young Canadian girl and registered nurse, sets out for India. Her journey is fraught with delays, unsanitary conditions, sickness, bedbugs, and a storm at sea, but nothing can deter her from the
At the time Gandhi rose to prominence a young girl from Canada set out for India. She learned a language, birthed a nursing school, faced incredible odds, ran the race and pressed on to the mark of the high calling. It’s the end of World War II. The world breathes a collective sigh of relief. Her focus and trust in God will take her on a forty-year journey in the mission field, with a triumphant conclusion.
It’s the end of World War 11. The world breathes a collective sigh of relief. Jean Darling, a young Canadian girl and a trained registered nurse, sets out for India.
Her journey is fraught with delays, unsanitary conditions, sickness, bedbugs, and a storm at sea, but nothing can deter her from the mission she knows she must fulfill—to start a nursing school in the Reynolds Memorial Hospital. The hospital is a former derelict school building with very little equipment and one doctor who visits in the villages with a missionary nurse. Jean visualizes a nursing school and with dogged determination sets her mind to achieve this goal.
Political unrest swirls in the country she’s been called to. Gandhi is rallying his countrymen to sever British rule and political gatherings are everywhere.
Jean remains focused on her mission, she goes to language school to learn Marathi, tops the class, battles bouts of amoebic dysentery, and malaria, and witnesses unbelievable
superstitions.
Over the years her God given talents are recognized, she takes a midwifery course and tops her class once again. She teaches post graduate courses, moves into administrative positions in the work of the mission, oversees a boarding school with 250 children. She’s a talent for math and keeps record of income and expenditures sending reports, every three months to head office in Kansas.
Her focus and trust in God brings a forty year journey in the mission field to a triumphant conclusion.
Robbie
India My Calling
I think it was wonderful that Jean’s relatives kept all her letters. Her Stories are very descriptive and when reading them you are right in the situations that Jean was. Jean was a very brave Lady who followed the call of God, and obeyed. When she saw the need, she acted. Just reading how she travelled to India was mind boggling. The Illnesses that she endured from time to time. Her patience, and her love for the people enabled her with her deep faith to carry on for 40yrs. An excellent missionary book, told from real life experiences.A must read book, you will not want to put it down.
loupbatho
A real holy life in India.
If you want to know an holy woman , living for the poor, do read this book. It is not the film star life of “Mother Teresa”.
As fact it is the opposite one! And it is so beautiful!
Brenda M
Highly recommend amazing lady
Amazing story about an inspirational lady
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The excellent story-telling skill of author Mary Haskett takes us on a charming and challenging journey with real life heroine, medical missionary Jean Darling. Miss Darling’s life of faith and courage will intrigue and entertain almost as much as it will inspire. Haskett’s narrative and the ‘letters home’ written by Miss Darling transport us to another time, another place, where we see the goodness and the love of God manifested in and through the lives of his servants.
India my Calling will be an inspiration to women of any age.”Fay Rowe
Author
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Mary Haskett’s latest book will enlighten and delight those who read it. Mary brings to life the story of Jean Darling, who as a young woman sets out on a two and a half month journey by land and sea, to serve as a missionary to India.
Between a trying beginning and her return to Canada forty years later, Jean’s challenges and successes are vividly portrayed.”Ruth Smith Meyer
Author
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Because We Prayed
In an anecdotal style, Because We Prayed, expounds on ten considerations for effective prayer. In our changing world where violence and evil prevail the saints of God are encouraged to follow the instructions and guidelines set out in the best how-to manual on the market.
In an anecdotal style, Because We Prayed, expounds on ten considerations for effective prayer. In our changing world where violence and evil prevail the saints of God are encouraged to follow the instructions and guidelines set out in the best how to manual on the market.
Joanna Mallory
Because We Prayed
In Because We Prayed, Mary Haskett looks at ten considerations for effective prayer: faith, forgiveness, not judging, the Holy Spirit, the Enemy, spiritual warfare, hope, evidence, the value of prayer, and victory in Jesus. In her own gentle style she shares key truths learned through Scripture and personal experience.
This isn’t a theology text, but it’s theologically sound. It’s meant for the average reader. New Christians, seasoned pastors, and everyone in between in a variety of denominations can benefit from these brief readings. Prayer is a work to which all Christians are called. It can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be elaborate. It’s our duty–and our privilege. If it’s boring, we’re doing it wrong. And prayer works.
This is a helpful book for every Christian.
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…consummate story-teller, Mary Haskett becomes teacher and encourager. Her compassion for people is obvious; her love of the Lord compelling…”
Fay Rowe
Author
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This book is an excellent reminder of the power of prayer. I recommend this book as a personal tool for teaching and for growth.”
Rev. Rosalita Sorzano
Associate Pastor,
London First Church of the Nazarene -
An uplifting collection of short stories written in that gentle style in which she excels…We highly recommend this book for personal devotions or small discussion groups.”
Jim Jones
Professor, Emeritus University of Western Ontario
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Because We Prayed is a wonderful and inspirational book that all Christians should read. It addresses important practical aspects of our Christian faith… a useful resource for small groups.”
Reverend Junior C. Sorzano
London First Church of the Nazarene
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I heartily recommend it to both newer Christ followers and seasoned Christian believers …many a prayer group or small study group would find much to help them in their engagement and growth in the life of prayer and the ministry of intercession.”
Reverend Peter A. Black
Author and Affiliate of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada