Jantsen’s Gift by Pam Cope

The cover states this is a true story of grief, rescue and grace. The grief began on June 16, 1999 when Pam Cope’s fifteen-year-old son, Jantsen, died. The rescue is her account of her work to save at-risk children, and the grace is how she has emerged, not fully whole, but in a much better place and as a better person.

This is very honest account, Pam Cope details the horrible grief she felt, the debilitating depression she suffered after the death of her son, but some of the reasons she started doing the work she did was she saw how many people her son had helped in his short life.

In retelling her efforts to help children around the world, innocent victims of war and human trafficking, she is unstinting in her praise for those who helped her. People who also wanted to help and more importantly, were familiar with the situations and knew the best way to help these children. She is also candid about some mistakes she made along the way, how she learned from them and included some travel tips. Such as, if you are in Ghana and see a man with a string around his waist, he is going to try to urinate on you. (I just couldn’t resist telling that)

In short, this is an extraordinary well written account of one woman’s efforts to change things for the better. Included is a website to visit to learn more about the charity she and her husband started.

I recommend this book.

I have 5 copies of this book to give away, click on the picture in the sidebar, or click this link to go to the post with details on how to enter. Giveaway ends April 30, 2009.