“Give unto them beauty for ashes; the oil of joy for mourning; the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness . . . that he might be glorified.” —Isaiah 61:3; KJV Lifting my straight wool skirt above my knees; I took off into the night. “Oh; God! Help!” I cried again and again as I ran over chuckholes on the dirt road. It seemed my feet barely touched the ground. Pitch-blackness surrounded ; but up ahead; I could see the light of the McCalls’ house. Looking back; I almost fell—our house was fully engulfed in giant flames; leaping and vaulting like a huge; malevolent beast. Don’t look back—aim for the light! Beyond Ashes is a true story of survival and triumph. It’s about resilient faith in challenging times; miraculous deliverances; and an awakening to the power of grace in our everyday lives. It’s a powerful reminder that God is a faithful Friend. He loves us and stays by our side in spite of our mistakes and failures; as we learn to trust completely in Him. Born to Seventh-day Adventist missionaries in Mexico; Marlyn Olsen Vistaunet tells her story with honesty and clarity. From being kidnapped as a three-year-old in Mexico to losing her brother after a house fire; to being drugged and raped as an adult; the author uses the traumas and disappointments of the past as stepping–stones preparing her for a love relationship with Christ and a life of service to His cause.
