On a fall writing retreat weekend with some fellow members of the Redbud Writers Guild, I went down to breakfast on the first morning and found a copy of We Wait You next to my plate. Taryn Hutchison, a fellow Redbud member, wrote this book about her work as a single missionary in Eastern Europe from 1990 to 2000 and was kind enough to gift all of us at the retreat with a copy.

Spare minutes on a writing retreat should be spent, one would think, WRITING, but instead I devoured Taryn’s book. In 1990 she had already been on staff with Campus Crusade for 10 years, serving at colleges across the U.S. She applied for an international mission stint with Campus Crusade and was waiting for placement when Communism began falling all across Eastern Europe. The doors were opened, and she went to Romania, where she and other team members had incredible opportunities to share the Good News of Christ with young people who were starving to hear it. A few years later, she took on a shepherding role and moved to Budapest, Hungary, using it as her hub to travel to Campus Crusade ministries across Eastern Europe.

The title is actually a quote from a Romanian. Taryn had been lecturing on democracy to a class in Bucharest, Romania. Following the lecture, one listener said, “We wait you. We waited 45 years for the Americans to come and set us free. Why did you take so long?”

It’s a fascinating story, and this book blurb is true: “History and faith will come alive as you take this riveting journey with Taryn behind the Iron Curtain, encountering Cold War informants, Russian mafia, and persecuted believers. Relive the unforgettable drama of historic events that changed Eastern Europe.”

In the process of learning about the incredible history and adventures Taryn encountered, you also read about how she learned to trust God to provide everything she needed to do whatever He called her to. Questions for reflection and discussion are at the end of each chapter, making this a great book for group or personal study.

Taryn’s voice is honest–and humorous! I enjoyed not only her wonderful stories and testimonies but also her personality. If you click on the title in the first paragraph of this post, it takes you to its Amazon.com page; here is link to a review of We Wait You that I found very interesting; and here is a link to Taryn’s website. The book is available in both Kindle and paperback form and would make a great last-minute Christmas gift for yourself or a friend!