Regrets of a Missionary Family

The Poisonwood Bible. An interesting title for a book. A very good book.

I really had no expectations going in. A friend told me the book was good, but I don't always like what everyone else likes, so no expectations. Okay, so there was some anticipation, but mostly I was just excited to read a new book. Like usual.

The Poisonwood Bible is captivating from the start.

My first impression was: this is a book about how not to be a missionary family in the Congo.

Seriously. From bringing the wrong necessities and preconceived notions to judgmental attitudes and being too stubborn to learn something new.

Not to mention the neglect of the children.

But maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. Written by Barbara Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible is the story of a missionary family who goes to the Congo for a year. Told from the perspective of the wife and four daughters, it quickly becomes apparent that this family was ill prepared to bring the Word of God to a village in the Congo, or anywhere, in my opinion.

The Characters

Rev. Nathan Price: Quick to anger. Judgmental. Stubborn. Passionate. Believes that God has sent him to conquer the Congo and its people.

Mrs. Orleanna Price: Tries to be a good mother. Not much of a backbone. Poor choices.

Rachel Price: Vain. Lazy. Misses sleepovers and her life back in America. Values possessions over people.

Leah Price: Adventurous. Liar. Wants her father's love and approval. Ambitious. Real character growth. (Eventually becomes my favorite character.)

Adah Price: Silent. Listener. Understands more than most of her sisters. Physically disabled. Real character growth.

Ruby Mae Price: Very young. Does not understand many things. Likes to sneak off. Disobedient.

All four of the girls are able to quote Bible verses, but have very little understanding of what those verses actually mean. I think this is, at least in part, because their father does not fully understand what the verses mean, and so teaches them wrongly. All are ill-informed, though Adah has a better grasp of some things because of how closely she listens.

The characters are flawed. As I mentioned, in some ways, it's kind of a "what not to do" book in my opinion. It's also a really, really, really good book. Of course, I enjoy books set in the Congo most of the time anyway. There's an element of adventure. But it's also told really well. And there's an element of humanity to such an "untamed" place. You really get to know the characters. Not only the women whose perspectives tell the story, but those around them. The people from the village, the man who flies the plane. You learn so much about people, and how they treat each other, Christian and otherwise.

It's also a good lesson, I think, for Christians everywhere who will probably, at some point in their lives, meet people who aren't yet acquainted with The Living God. Don't be quick to judge them. Don't be quick to thrust your way of thinking on them. Don't assume you are better than them because you have been a Christian longer. Don't be afraid to admit that you're wrong if you are. Don't be afraid to learn something new. Pray. Seek God. Ask Him what He wants you to say. Ask Him the best way to reach them. And always remember that God is love, and He is merciful and forgiving. Thankfully.
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"This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:22-23).