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Passport through Darkness: A True Story of Danger and Second Chances
As she shares her extraordinary stories of fighting human trafficking as an ordinary mom, Kimberly L. Smith offers hope for readers who wonder if God is calling them to greater things. Passport through Darkness takes readers on Smith's journey to the deserts of Africa and the deserts of her own soul as she tries to live well as an imperfect American mom, crusade for justice for orphans around the world, and embrace God's extraordinary dreams for her. When Kimberly and her husband risk everything to answer God's call, they see God change and restore them even amid exhaustion, marital struggles, and physical limitations. This heartbreaking, heart lifting book is for anyone who longs to see God's redemptive power heal broken hearts, fill empty bellies, and shelter uncovered heads. It is a call to readers to take one more step on their journey to know God's heart. It is a guide from one ordinary person to another to finding a life that matters.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
133 people are currently reading
1,367 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
February 19, 2012
You know those pictures that you see of malnourished children in Africa?
It hurts, doesn't it? For a minute? Usually no more than that.
We are a strangely apathetic people, we Christians, we Americans, we that are richer than 99% of the rest of the world.
This book seeks to change that. This book is raw, gritty, painful, and *real.* The lady speaks of her labors in the Sudan, of the horrific things she's observed, but she also speaks of her struggles during that time. Of her tendencies towards selfishness, the ways she failed her husband and her family, everythin
g. Yet how much more selfish are we, those that stand by while evil goes on in this world?
I'm not saying we all need to pack up and go to the Sudan. Not by any means. Often our calling consists merely of serving our families. But are you truly doing all that you can to eradicate evil in this world? Are you speaking up for Christ, even when it is hard? Are you being a friend to the widow and the orphan? Are you doing *everything* you can? I know I'm not. This book reminded me of how important it is to wage war against the darkness, to help those who need our help, and of how much we have been given by the Lord.
Read it. Please. It will change your life.
It hurts, doesn't it? For a minute? Usually no more than that.
We are a strangely apathetic people, we Christians, we Americans, we that are richer than 99% of the rest of the world.
This book seeks to change that. This book is raw, gritty, painful, and *real.* The lady speaks of her labors in the Sudan, of the horrific things she's observed, but she also speaks of her struggles during that time. Of her tendencies towards selfishness, the ways she failed her husband and her family, everythin
g. Yet how much more selfish are we, those that stand by while evil goes on in this world?
I'm not saying we all need to pack up and go to the Sudan. Not by any means. Often our calling consists merely of serving our families. But are you truly doing all that you can to eradicate evil in this world? Are you speaking up for Christ, even when it is hard? Are you being a friend to the widow and the orphan? Are you doing *everything* you can? I know I'm not. This book reminded me of how important it is to wage war against the darkness, to help those who need our help, and of how much we have been given by the Lord.
Read it. Please. It will change your life.
August 30, 2013
A riveting read, couldn't put it down. Highly recommend. Here's what I liked and didn't like:
Liked:
1) Realism
2) Honesty
3) Many anecdotes about real people
4) The story offers hope
5) Logical beginning, middle, and end
6) Timely
7) Informative--you'll learn a lot about places you haven't visited and cultures you'll like likely never come across
Didn't Like:
1) Overly repetitive--there were times when I wanted to scream at the writer, "So just tell us your secret already and quit repeating that you have one!"
2) A lot of emotional hand wringing, which got old fairly quickly and worsened near the end
3) Above all--and this is why I subtracted one star--too often ideas bounced from one thought to another without transition, often in the middle of a paragraph; a competent editor is charged to fix these things. This was the most annoying of the three weak points of the book.
Despite the weak points, I would definitely recommend Ms. Smith's book. She has quite the story to tell.
Liked:
1) Realism
2) Honesty
3) Many anecdotes about real people
4) The story offers hope
5) Logical beginning, middle, and end
6) Timely
7) Informative--you'll learn a lot about places you haven't visited and cultures you'll like likely never come across
Didn't Like:
1) Overly repetitive--there were times when I wanted to scream at the writer, "So just tell us your secret already and quit repeating that you have one!"
2) A lot of emotional hand wringing, which got old fairly quickly and worsened near the end
3) Above all--and this is why I subtracted one star--too often ideas bounced from one thought to another without transition, often in the middle of a paragraph; a competent editor is charged to fix these things. This was the most annoying of the three weak points of the book.
Despite the weak points, I would definitely recommend Ms. Smith's book. She has quite the story to tell.
March 28, 2011
Passport Through Darkness by Kimberly L. Smith ruined me. See, I have this preconceived notion about missionaries—that they all wear ethnic garb and have 10 kids (because there’s nothing else to do on the mission field when you’re not evangelizing or translating the Bible into native languages.) Or they’re single women who never got married. I know that sounds kind of mean, but it’s secretly (now not-so-secretly) what I’ve believed to be true.
Kimberly L. Smith changed all that.
A corporate executive, a wife, and a mother (not to 10 kids), Kimberly’s whole world changed in one terrifying incident. In Passport Through Darkness, Smith details her experiences not only fighting against human-trafficking, but also digs into the depths of her own heart. Surprisingly, the darkness is found both within Smith and abroad in orphanages through Eastern Europe and Africa.
Smith had a lot to lose, including her personal safety. Yet she wasn’t afraid to get uncomfortable (very uncomfortable) to challenge a system in which children and teens are used as sex slaves. Her writing is articulate and her use of language is beautiful, which only enhances Smith’s eye-opening story.
I didn’t expect Smith to get so personal; I thought she might just detail her adventures, throw in a few heartaches for good measure, and go on with her life. And I would go on with mine. But then again, when I saw that Philip Yancey, my favorite writer, endorsed this book, I thought it might just be different, and I was right.
I hope Passport Through Darkness will ruin you, too, that you will see beyond your stereotypes into a world hurting, long, and starving for redemption.
*Thanks to B&B Media Group for my review copy of this book.*
Kimberly L. Smith changed all that.
A corporate executive, a wife, and a mother (not to 10 kids), Kimberly’s whole world changed in one terrifying incident. In Passport Through Darkness, Smith details her experiences not only fighting against human-trafficking, but also digs into the depths of her own heart. Surprisingly, the darkness is found both within Smith and abroad in orphanages through Eastern Europe and Africa.
Smith had a lot to lose, including her personal safety. Yet she wasn’t afraid to get uncomfortable (very uncomfortable) to challenge a system in which children and teens are used as sex slaves. Her writing is articulate and her use of language is beautiful, which only enhances Smith’s eye-opening story.
I didn’t expect Smith to get so personal; I thought she might just detail her adventures, throw in a few heartaches for good measure, and go on with her life. And I would go on with mine. But then again, when I saw that Philip Yancey, my favorite writer, endorsed this book, I thought it might just be different, and I was right.
I hope Passport Through Darkness will ruin you, too, that you will see beyond your stereotypes into a world hurting, long, and starving for redemption.
*Thanks to B&B Media Group for my review copy of this book.*
November 16, 2013
4.5 stars.
Let me start by saying that I DO NOT recommend this to anyone under age 16. It's a brutally difficult book to read, and it delves deeper than people younger than age 16 really need to know. It's still brutally difficult to read for older people, but it's important for us not to close our eyes to the needs in the world our entire lives, even when they are hard and uncomfortable and horrible.
Kimberly Smith and her husband Milton had their eyes open to the tragedy of orphans and sex trafficking as missionaries in Spain. From then on, they couldn't turn their backs. The effects of diabetes compelled Milton to remain the states while Kimberly traveled to Sudan and faced the horrors of life in a country torn by genocide. She heard about five year old girls raped to death, met young women mutilated by enemy soldier, held the hand of child brides as they died in child birth, and struggled to know how God could use one person to make a difference in such a dark country.
The writing in this book isn't the most polished or trained, but the story is raw, powerful, and shattering.
Let me start by saying that I DO NOT recommend this to anyone under age 16. It's a brutally difficult book to read, and it delves deeper than people younger than age 16 really need to know. It's still brutally difficult to read for older people, but it's important for us not to close our eyes to the needs in the world our entire lives, even when they are hard and uncomfortable and horrible.
Kimberly Smith and her husband Milton had their eyes open to the tragedy of orphans and sex trafficking as missionaries in Spain. From then on, they couldn't turn their backs. The effects of diabetes compelled Milton to remain the states while Kimberly traveled to Sudan and faced the horrors of life in a country torn by genocide. She heard about five year old girls raped to death, met young women mutilated by enemy soldier, held the hand of child brides as they died in child birth, and struggled to know how God could use one person to make a difference in such a dark country.
The writing in this book isn't the most polished or trained, but the story is raw, powerful, and shattering.
June 29, 2018
The stories in this book are a must read. In that respect, I wish I could have given this book a 5 star rating.
The horrific reality of how war and evil devastate the innocent is something we must not hide our eyes from. The courage with which Christians face persecution in these situations is something we must hear. But this can be too uncomfortable for many. The author relates how their financial support from a big megachurch was cut off because ONE woman was uncomfortable by the gruesome tales of human trafficking which the Smiths shared.
So much of this book is inspiring and profound. Here are some of the insights I loved.
She writes, "As I ate my jerky and drank my water, I knew that biggest reason for my anger was that my spoiled life in America had taught me that I was not supposed to suffer. I wasn't supposed to have a sore back, a dry mouth or an empty belly...I had so many concoctions for my pains, so many cushions for the sharp edges of life that over time, I began to believe that I was entitled to be comfortable exempt from any suffering of any kind."
"Something within me began to consider that maybe my fear and pain were the best gifts I could have been given."
"I felt tired and weak. I had one rough day yesterday. How could these women spend their entire lives this way? "
"The more I survived this wild country, the more I believed it was they who understood a higher calling and we who sank to primitive thinking, focused on ourselves. Our service, our giving, was conditional upon having excess. This woman gave service when it meant risking her life. "
The tenacity that these persecuted Christians in Sudan faced was beautiful to see. One man, Tonj, who had lost everything when Muslim warriors swooped down on his village, speaks of his unwavering faith in God. Smith writes about what happened. "Disgusted with Tonj's refusal to worship Allah, the Janjaweed kicked him over to his side. They left him there to bleed and watch as they turned their attention to his wife." Then he explains to Smith, "'Allah isn't God, so how could I worship him?'...Tonj told me that he never owned a Bible and could not read it if he had. He was introduced to Jesus through word of mouth and explained, 'I know Jesus is the Son of God and that same Jesus died on the cross for me and my family. Why would I betray Him because of evil men?'"
She writes of Mary who had been so badly burned by these heartless soldiers that she was unable to bend her arms because of the scars. This meant that she could never re-marry since one of the duties of a wife is to draw water from the well. But surgery was performed and she received 90% use of her arms again. But the abuse she had suffered from the Muslim men took more than that. She could never bear children. So again marriage, the only option for a woman, was out. She was taken in by this ministry and given a small tukel to live in and a microenterprise to start. Smith writes, "One day I went to visit Mary in her new home. I was astounded to see she had moved other widows in to live with her...She also shared her meager earnings from her microbusiness to feed other women who had suffered." Now that's powerful. No victim mentality here. That's Jesus being revealed.
It was truly touching how many came to Mama Kimberly because she wanted to hear and write their stories so she could tell the world what was happening in a seemingly forgotten piece of the world. This act gave many dignity they thought they had forever lost.
But I had to give this a lower rating because of many other things the author shared. I don't understand this line that many authors feel they need to cross over. Some of her reflections were way too personal for me. I don't want to know what she and her husband did in the shower. There was a lot of those intimate details that I didn't want to read. They had nothing to do with the story. Totally unnecessary. I thought the fact that she did not tell her husband about her assault was so selfish. She could have transmitted any number of diseases to him. She also suffered from a severe God complex. She had inflated ideas of personal responsibility and personal ability. Somehow when she failed to save a dying mother and baby, she who had no medical training, in the middle of the bush, felt responsible. She wrote about how she sought counsel in many books but couldn't find anything that touched on her anguish. Yes, we need good Christian books! But she never revealed any earnest reading and dependence on God's Word. I longed for her to receive comfort from her Savior, who is the only one who can save the world.
The horrific reality of how war and evil devastate the innocent is something we must not hide our eyes from. The courage with which Christians face persecution in these situations is something we must hear. But this can be too uncomfortable for many. The author relates how their financial support from a big megachurch was cut off because ONE woman was uncomfortable by the gruesome tales of human trafficking which the Smiths shared.
So much of this book is inspiring and profound. Here are some of the insights I loved.
She writes, "As I ate my jerky and drank my water, I knew that biggest reason for my anger was that my spoiled life in America had taught me that I was not supposed to suffer. I wasn't supposed to have a sore back, a dry mouth or an empty belly...I had so many concoctions for my pains, so many cushions for the sharp edges of life that over time, I began to believe that I was entitled to be comfortable exempt from any suffering of any kind."
"Something within me began to consider that maybe my fear and pain were the best gifts I could have been given."
"I felt tired and weak. I had one rough day yesterday. How could these women spend their entire lives this way? "
"The more I survived this wild country, the more I believed it was they who understood a higher calling and we who sank to primitive thinking, focused on ourselves. Our service, our giving, was conditional upon having excess. This woman gave service when it meant risking her life. "
The tenacity that these persecuted Christians in Sudan faced was beautiful to see. One man, Tonj, who had lost everything when Muslim warriors swooped down on his village, speaks of his unwavering faith in God. Smith writes about what happened. "Disgusted with Tonj's refusal to worship Allah, the Janjaweed kicked him over to his side. They left him there to bleed and watch as they turned their attention to his wife." Then he explains to Smith, "'Allah isn't God, so how could I worship him?'...Tonj told me that he never owned a Bible and could not read it if he had. He was introduced to Jesus through word of mouth and explained, 'I know Jesus is the Son of God and that same Jesus died on the cross for me and my family. Why would I betray Him because of evil men?'"
She writes of Mary who had been so badly burned by these heartless soldiers that she was unable to bend her arms because of the scars. This meant that she could never re-marry since one of the duties of a wife is to draw water from the well. But surgery was performed and she received 90% use of her arms again. But the abuse she had suffered from the Muslim men took more than that. She could never bear children. So again marriage, the only option for a woman, was out. She was taken in by this ministry and given a small tukel to live in and a microenterprise to start. Smith writes, "One day I went to visit Mary in her new home. I was astounded to see she had moved other widows in to live with her...She also shared her meager earnings from her microbusiness to feed other women who had suffered." Now that's powerful. No victim mentality here. That's Jesus being revealed.
It was truly touching how many came to Mama Kimberly because she wanted to hear and write their stories so she could tell the world what was happening in a seemingly forgotten piece of the world. This act gave many dignity they thought they had forever lost.
But I had to give this a lower rating because of many other things the author shared. I don't understand this line that many authors feel they need to cross over. Some of her reflections were way too personal for me. I don't want to know what she and her husband did in the shower. There was a lot of those intimate details that I didn't want to read. They had nothing to do with the story. Totally unnecessary. I thought the fact that she did not tell her husband about her assault was so selfish. She could have transmitted any number of diseases to him. She also suffered from a severe God complex. She had inflated ideas of personal responsibility and personal ability. Somehow when she failed to save a dying mother and baby, she who had no medical training, in the middle of the bush, felt responsible. She wrote about how she sought counsel in many books but couldn't find anything that touched on her anguish. Yes, we need good Christian books! But she never revealed any earnest reading and dependence on God's Word. I longed for her to receive comfort from her Savior, who is the only one who can save the world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2018
Kimberley and her husband Milton answer a calling to become missionaries and discover the horrors of human trafficking.
Their journey soon takes them to Sudan, where Kimberley teams up with local pastor James, to help save women and children from unspeakable atrocities including slavery, rape, torture...
Milton's health prevents him from joining his wife in what at first appears to be an impossible task - to build a safe place for children to find shelter. Although "Passport through Darkness" takes the reader into the darkest corners of humanity, it is an inspirational and eye opening read.
Highly recommended.
Their journey soon takes them to Sudan, where Kimberley teams up with local pastor James, to help save women and children from unspeakable atrocities including slavery, rape, torture...
Milton's health prevents him from joining his wife in what at first appears to be an impossible task - to build a safe place for children to find shelter. Although "Passport through Darkness" takes the reader into the darkest corners of humanity, it is an inspirational and eye opening read.
Highly recommended.
September 10, 2013
Foreword by Randy Alcorn
I first met Kimberly Smith when she visited our Eternal Perspective Ministries office. EPM had been supporting Make Way Partners and Kimberly came to share more about their outreach to the orphans in Darfur, Sudan.
I was in the process of writing my book, If God is Good, so I interviewed Kimberly about the suffering she had witnessed and the light God was shining in the darkness. Later I met her husband Milton and thanked him for releasing his precious wife for the cause of Christ. At the time I wasn’t aware of the personal trauma she endured while in Darfur.
It’s astounding that Kimberly and Make Way Partners were able to establish an orphanage in southern Sudan, one of the poorest nations in the world, with one of the highest per capita rates of victims of human trafficking and enslavement. The challenges seemed insurmountable, and yet by God’s grace it happened. And now other orphanages are being built.
We’ve been privileged to continue our partnership with Kimberly in the ministry of Make Way Partners. I’m glad to see Passport Through Darkness, as this is a remarkable story that needs to be told.
While reading this book you may weep and ask “Why?� It’s not easy to think about traumatized and abused children. You may be tempted to stop reading. Kimberly’s poignant story of the dire situations she dealt with will stay with you for a long time. But facing the distressing realities can move you into caring for the widows and orphans so close to God’s heart. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after the widows and orphans…� (James 1:27).
Kimberly shares her own journey honestly and from the heart. While serving these precious orphans, she suffered at the hands of evil men who didn’t care about her or the work she was doing. But God in his faithfulness has given her strength and help to work through her trauma as she continues to serve the extremely needy children of this world. I commend her for sacrificing her privacy by telling her story to be of greater service to God’s people.
I know Kimberly and Milton’s desire is that what you read in this book will be used of God to motivate you to action on behalf of vulnerable children around the world. In the process, as you walk with Kimberly, you may also find perspective, forgiveness and healing in your own life. May God use his servant’s story to His glory. Not only Kimberly’s, but yours and mine.
I first met Kimberly Smith when she visited our Eternal Perspective Ministries office. EPM had been supporting Make Way Partners and Kimberly came to share more about their outreach to the orphans in Darfur, Sudan.
I was in the process of writing my book, If God is Good, so I interviewed Kimberly about the suffering she had witnessed and the light God was shining in the darkness. Later I met her husband Milton and thanked him for releasing his precious wife for the cause of Christ. At the time I wasn’t aware of the personal trauma she endured while in Darfur.
It’s astounding that Kimberly and Make Way Partners were able to establish an orphanage in southern Sudan, one of the poorest nations in the world, with one of the highest per capita rates of victims of human trafficking and enslavement. The challenges seemed insurmountable, and yet by God’s grace it happened. And now other orphanages are being built.
We’ve been privileged to continue our partnership with Kimberly in the ministry of Make Way Partners. I’m glad to see Passport Through Darkness, as this is a remarkable story that needs to be told.
While reading this book you may weep and ask “Why?� It’s not easy to think about traumatized and abused children. You may be tempted to stop reading. Kimberly’s poignant story of the dire situations she dealt with will stay with you for a long time. But facing the distressing realities can move you into caring for the widows and orphans so close to God’s heart. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after the widows and orphans…� (James 1:27).
Kimberly shares her own journey honestly and from the heart. While serving these precious orphans, she suffered at the hands of evil men who didn’t care about her or the work she was doing. But God in his faithfulness has given her strength and help to work through her trauma as she continues to serve the extremely needy children of this world. I commend her for sacrificing her privacy by telling her story to be of greater service to God’s people.
I know Kimberly and Milton’s desire is that what you read in this book will be used of God to motivate you to action on behalf of vulnerable children around the world. In the process, as you walk with Kimberly, you may also find perspective, forgiveness and healing in your own life. May God use his servant’s story to His glory. Not only Kimberly’s, but yours and mine.
February 16, 2011
Kimberly and Milton Smith, lived the average rat race life, and neither was happy with that. Once they both realized that something had to change the path got rocky! Milton knew he wanted to go back on the mission field. Convincing Kimberly was the issue, at first. But once in Spain on a mission, she knew she was where she needed to be, because it would lead to ministering to children who were being used as sex slaves, and to helping to rescue children from such situations.
The big challenge would come however, when a trip to the Sudan was suggested. Milton's health would not allow him to go, and Kimberly was determined to go, and once there, she fell in love with the Dinka's. She knew she had to minister to these orphaned and forgotten children. Convincing the world, convincing Milton and raising the funds would be hard, but that would not be the hardest part of this mission. Kimberly would nearly loose herself in this work. She bottled up the hurt she was seeing, trying to protect Milton, but driving a wedge between them.
This book included horrific stories of the nightmares that she would see in the Sudan, she would never erase some of the images from her mind. This was not an easy book to read, due to those horrific nightmarish experiences. But it was a compelling story that you just had to keep reading.
I found this book very interesting, it is hard to say I enjoyed this book, because it was a book full of suffering. The writing style was interesting and you had to keep reading. The stories were heartbreaking, and you felt the pain of the author. A book to stir your heart and spirit. 251 pages US $14.99 3 stars.
This book was provide by B & B Media Group for review purposes only, no payment was received for this book.
March 11, 2012
This author and her husband started a ministry to help women and children in different countries who are victims of abuse and sex trafficking. It focuses especially on her trips to the Sudan where she ministered to some of the poorest and most persecuted people on the planet. I appreciated her candor in many places, but also found some of her personal struggles a bit too dramatic. Admittedly, she was immersed in some horrific situations, and I can understand the emotional turmoil that would produce, but she was often away from her husband (due to his ill health), dealing alone with the ministry in the Sudan on many trips there, and I did wonder at times if that was the wisest way for the ministry to function. That said, this book helped me understand better the tremendous affliction of the people in the Sudan, people I have prayed for and who need love and support from Christians. Our family has supported Persecution Project there, and we are grateful for those (including Kimberly Smith) who offer real aid to those suffering what most of us can't even fathom.
August 12, 2012
I tend to rate my books based on the impression they leave on me. This one left a permanent one. I'll be completely honest; this book was very very hard to read. Not on a reading level, but on an emotional level. It brings life to the raw evils that occur in this world, focusing specifically on Africa. I'm trying to find the words for this review, and I can only cry. While this book did a number on my emotions, I'm grateful for the challenge it's laid before me. As Christians, we are called to live a life that will bring the kingdom of heaven down to earth. Each Christian has a unique and specific calling, and I am terrified and excited to explore what mine is. This book has strengthened my faith, my marriage, my understanding of how God views me, and brings to life the injustices that his heart--and my heart should--bleed for.
September 8, 2024
Easily readable, but difficult to read. A sobering first-hand account from the conflict in Darfur and the hope of Christ.
December 24, 2013
A detailed description of the experience of one woman trying to rescue women and children from kidnapping, slavery and extreme poverty in Africa.
The book reveals details about the daily struggle for survival for Christians in a country whose government does not consider them worthy of protection. It shows impossible conditions of desperate people for basic medical care; when bodies are filled with parasites, nearly dead from nutrition and too many pregnancies, and wounded from gang rapes, mutilation, fire, etc., there is little that medical intervention, even if available, could do.
This woman has been able to build orphanages and schools in areas of the world where she was told it was impossible politically, physically and economically, in a country without roads, civil government, but full of politicians who do not get foreign aid through to the needy.
However, this author's style is uncomfortable. She uses flowery language and a complicated style that is inconsistent with the horror of the story she is telling. it is distracting because you are conflicted by feelings of beauty for the language but horror at the words. There is a time for beautiful flowery language; it was not appropriate in this book.
The book also detailed her daily routines for several years, when each story just seemed a repetition of the others. Although each person's suffering is equally important, I felt that a bit more of the book should have been devoted to the efforts of the husband at home to fund the ministry and keep the vital support systems in place for her.
She also spent a lot of time dealing with her feelings which she kept bottled up in her, which she felt almost led to divorce and loss of her family. Again, although her experiences were valid, I felt there was too much detail. She could have made the point more concisely.
But she did conclude that things went better when she let God structure her days so that she did not become overwhelmed by all the needs of their ministry. This is a lesson often learned too late by working mothers, workaholic fathers, pastors who neglect their families for the ministry, etc. It was an important point, well made.
However, she has a fiery emotional makeup which makes the ups too high and the downs too low. This personality style extends to the way that she wrote the entire book. As a result, I ended up being emotionally exhausted when I finished this book.
If you can get through all of this, it is a much better description of the horror of persecution of Christians in Africa than even the video clips from ministries like James Robison, who err, I think on the issue of sensitivity to the viewing public. This woman has been asked not to return to churches because they did not want to hear her depressing story! But it needs to be told, and she was brave enough to tell it.
The book reveals details about the daily struggle for survival for Christians in a country whose government does not consider them worthy of protection. It shows impossible conditions of desperate people for basic medical care; when bodies are filled with parasites, nearly dead from nutrition and too many pregnancies, and wounded from gang rapes, mutilation, fire, etc., there is little that medical intervention, even if available, could do.
This woman has been able to build orphanages and schools in areas of the world where she was told it was impossible politically, physically and economically, in a country without roads, civil government, but full of politicians who do not get foreign aid through to the needy.
However, this author's style is uncomfortable. She uses flowery language and a complicated style that is inconsistent with the horror of the story she is telling. it is distracting because you are conflicted by feelings of beauty for the language but horror at the words. There is a time for beautiful flowery language; it was not appropriate in this book.
The book also detailed her daily routines for several years, when each story just seemed a repetition of the others. Although each person's suffering is equally important, I felt that a bit more of the book should have been devoted to the efforts of the husband at home to fund the ministry and keep the vital support systems in place for her.
She also spent a lot of time dealing with her feelings which she kept bottled up in her, which she felt almost led to divorce and loss of her family. Again, although her experiences were valid, I felt there was too much detail. She could have made the point more concisely.
But she did conclude that things went better when she let God structure her days so that she did not become overwhelmed by all the needs of their ministry. This is a lesson often learned too late by working mothers, workaholic fathers, pastors who neglect their families for the ministry, etc. It was an important point, well made.
However, she has a fiery emotional makeup which makes the ups too high and the downs too low. This personality style extends to the way that she wrote the entire book. As a result, I ended up being emotionally exhausted when I finished this book.
If you can get through all of this, it is a much better description of the horror of persecution of Christians in Africa than even the video clips from ministries like James Robison, who err, I think on the issue of sensitivity to the viewing public. This woman has been asked not to return to churches because they did not want to hear her depressing story! But it needs to be told, and she was brave enough to tell it.
September 26, 2015
Kimberly Smith and Milton Smith became aware of Human Trafficking when they spent time in Spain. An orphanage needed some help, and the Smiths decided to check it out. They soon became invested in the children, all of which came from Africa. One day a child came to Kimberly needing some help, found that he had been sexually abused by the director of the orphanage. They went to the authorities, and after a long struggle, the director was removed. This incident led the couple to want to do everything to help the women and children that become ensnared by Traffickers. In the end they decided to go to Darfur Sudan. They met a young man, James, an orphan and a Lost Boy, who was doing everything he could to round up orphans, to keep them fed and protected, and shared the gospel of Christ the best he could. The Smiths realized that this was what they wanted to be involved in. To build an orphanage and clinic to help those who had nothing in Sudan. The Christians in Sudan were regularly terrorized, raped and murdered by the Muslims. They killed the people while shouting Allah Akbar (praise Allah). The extreme level of poverty, disease and desperation was something so difficult for Kimberly to witness, but she kept coming back to Sudan and trusting that God would make something out of nothing. To read the stories of people who wouldn't worship Allah, as the Muslims demanded them to do, and kept their faith in Jesus, is truly humbling.
This was a difficult books to read because of the horrendous situation, but worth it.
This was a difficult books to read because of the horrendous situation, but worth it.
August 18, 2015
How do you 'like' a book that transports you into the heart of evil? Because it leads to the creation of an organisation that seeks to bring the light and love of God into the very heart of darkness, in South Sudan, where Muslim armies have pillaged, raped, and wreaked violence upon countless fellow countrymen who claim faith in Christ. This book made me cry, not because of the horrors heard & witnessed & recorded, but because of the honesty of the struggles that plagued Kimberly and Milton's marriage during the establishment of Make Way Partners -- I have no words for my desires & prayers for such commitment & sacrifice in love & communication... Do check out and do consider sponsoring a child and bring tangible, lasting impact to a life.
Notable quotes:
"Working to present a Kingdom culture, rather than fighting against the culture you're in or defending your own, is genuinely a humbling challenge. I was about to get a mouthful of humbling."
"If it is OUR ministry, then it needs to die. If it is God's, we're not responsible for its success. We're only responsible to be faithful to what He asks us to do. And we dare not follow that path, no matter the darkness it will lead us through."
Notable quotes:
"Working to present a Kingdom culture, rather than fighting against the culture you're in or defending your own, is genuinely a humbling challenge. I was about to get a mouthful of humbling."
"If it is OUR ministry, then it needs to die. If it is God's, we're not responsible for its success. We're only responsible to be faithful to what He asks us to do. And we dare not follow that path, no matter the darkness it will lead us through."
March 21, 2012
Passport Through Darkness is about an American couple who fight human trafficking all over the world but primarily in Sudan. It's eye opening, shocking and heartbreaking. What to do?
The content is definitely five stars but the writing is sometimes awkward and hard to follow. But hey, if you're willing to sell/give away all of your earthly possesions and start an orphanage in the middle of a dessert 2000 miles from supplies and endure a menengitis breakout and more, then being a less than perfect writer is OK because you're already a HERO times 100.
The content is definitely five stars but the writing is sometimes awkward and hard to follow. But hey, if you're willing to sell/give away all of your earthly possesions and start an orphanage in the middle of a dessert 2000 miles from supplies and endure a menengitis breakout and more, then being a less than perfect writer is OK because you're already a HERO times 100.
August 3, 2011
Great and powerful stories about people and parts of the world that often go overlooked.
The reason I rated down is because the writing. It's sometimes difficult to figure out what is going on (how long she's been in a certain country; what she means by some statements that she intends as foreshadowing but come off as confusing...), and also takes some creativity on the reader to fill in holes such as setting details. Still, entirely worth the read!
The reason I rated down is because the writing. It's sometimes difficult to figure out what is going on (how long she's been in a certain country; what she means by some statements that she intends as foreshadowing but come off as confusing...), and also takes some creativity on the reader to fill in holes such as setting details. Still, entirely worth the read!
October 26, 2013
This is is a true story of a female missionary who spent a few years in Sudan experiencing hardships you may never experience in your entire life. This book will make you realize how blessed you are and to hopefully do more for others in this broken world.
September 17, 2012
I read it in one day, couldn't put it down, but these are the stories that move my heart.
March 14, 2023
Where do I even start with this book that is a knife to the core? I never heard of this book till I saw it on a library shelf and picked it up. I read the back and put it back on the shelf and moved on. Until three people in the span of a few months told me I HAD to read it. So I did. A book that i started with and was hooked just one page into the acknowledgements. Missionary biographies (no disrespect) are often poorly written but with much substance. This book however, with the author’s background in the career of journalism, is incredibly well written. The writing - I cannot describe enough - was sensational. It was written with words the general highschooler could understand which was helpful with the difficult topics it addressed. The chapters were well set up even while the whole book flowed seamlessly.
The name of the book (passport though darkness) fits seamlessly. The book truly does take you on an ever-real trip through the darkest places and situations that one could ever imagine. Describing vividly the cruelty and evil of the world that made me physically sick at times. There were times I could not bring myself to read it. I debated a while whether I should finish it at all.
Kimberly writes that all the books she read in her dark ministry journey depicted missionaries who depended completely on God and were wholly faithful to Christ. She said she searched for those who wrote books about their struggles of building a ministry and trusting God and could find none. Which inspired to write this book (230).
This book is not for the faint of heart or the ones who are triggered by sexual violence. The book describes in detail what people have gone through, the rape and abuse they suffered.
The book is a challenging read besucase of the messege which is aimed for you to answer the question: “Where are hells gate stormers?�
With “Right here!�
Because of the writing and incredible messege I give 4/5 ⭐️ with one star off for the graphicness.
The name of the book (passport though darkness) fits seamlessly. The book truly does take you on an ever-real trip through the darkest places and situations that one could ever imagine. Describing vividly the cruelty and evil of the world that made me physically sick at times. There were times I could not bring myself to read it. I debated a while whether I should finish it at all.
Kimberly writes that all the books she read in her dark ministry journey depicted missionaries who depended completely on God and were wholly faithful to Christ. She said she searched for those who wrote books about their struggles of building a ministry and trusting God and could find none. Which inspired to write this book (230).
This book is not for the faint of heart or the ones who are triggered by sexual violence. The book describes in detail what people have gone through, the rape and abuse they suffered.
The book is a challenging read besucase of the messege which is aimed for you to answer the question: “Where are hells gate stormers?�
With “Right here!�
Because of the writing and incredible messege I give 4/5 ⭐️ with one star off for the graphicness.
September 13, 2018
I read this book during just a few days during our summer holiday in Denmark. It was absolutely riveting! A hard read. I shed tears more than once. But I believe life is not able being comfortable and avoiding the hard things - we can be an instrument for change, just like the author Kimberly. She wrote this book very honestly and vulnerably. She's not a saint. She simply had to do something when she came face to face with evil (something many of us don't have to deal with, often by choice). I don't want to give anything away, but I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to make a difference in the world, specifically in the areas of human trafficking, or wants to know how to pray or what organizations to support. I'm in my only 30's myself, but I particularly appreciated that Kimberly and her husband were a bit older when they decided to leave behind the rat race of the American dream, making a major life change requiring complete trust in God, and ultimately led them down the path of fighting child pornography and later bringing Kimberly to a land torn by genocide and all kinds of unspeakable things (yet, things that must be spoken, brought into the light).
February 22, 2019
I am not usually a fan of non-fiction, but this story tugged at my heart. Kim and her husband begin working on missions trips by moving first to Europe and later traveling to Africa to fight for widows and orphans. The story outlines her struggles, her doubts, her fears, her failures, her successes, her marriage, and all that goes on inside someone living today while fighting for tomorrow. She slowly does some amazing work while doubting her abilities and the toll of her work on her family.
I gave this book 5 stars because it is good to see into the mind of another and realize that we all struggle with imposter syndrome while attempting to do something outside of ourselves. I also gave this book 5 stars because it pulls back the veil and speaks of what is happening in our world in a way not sugar-coated for television or edited to not offend our sensibilities. I am sad at the apathy of myself and others in America when there is suffering we can help fight against.
I gave this book 5 stars because it is good to see into the mind of another and realize that we all struggle with imposter syndrome while attempting to do something outside of ourselves. I also gave this book 5 stars because it pulls back the veil and speaks of what is happening in our world in a way not sugar-coated for television or edited to not offend our sensibilities. I am sad at the apathy of myself and others in America when there is suffering we can help fight against.
November 29, 2017
What an amazing story about an amazing woman. It opens with a suburban housewife and ends with a woman that is broken and ready to be used by God.
Kimberly Smith has written of her life and her attempt to rescue the children of a country torn by war. But she is not only trying to keep the children safe but minister to the people of the area. What she went through without the aid of her husband, who had diabetes and had to remain home as it got worse, becomes a secret that she cannot tell others, not even her husband. Secrets, however, lead you further into darkness.
I would recommend this book to older teens through adult. There is one sequence that is rather strong in describing an evil act. There is also much death in the book that I feel that children and young teens would not be able to process very well.
Kimberly Smith has written of her life and her attempt to rescue the children of a country torn by war. But she is not only trying to keep the children safe but minister to the people of the area. What she went through without the aid of her husband, who had diabetes and had to remain home as it got worse, becomes a secret that she cannot tell others, not even her husband. Secrets, however, lead you further into darkness.
I would recommend this book to older teens through adult. There is one sequence that is rather strong in describing an evil act. There is also much death in the book that I feel that children and young teens would not be able to process very well.
August 6, 2022
Good read!
I enjoyed this story, the heart of the author displayed in her words, and more often than not, her literary style. Some of the dialogue seemed too poetic to be true, but perhaps these individuals really speak to one another like this in their worlds. There were points of discomfort, as examples of the white savior complex seemed evident. I noted some lack of awareness that some of the same horrors experienced by the African orphans occur in the US. Despite this, this book is an excellent read for anyone interested in learning about mission work, as well as stepping out on faith to do what God has called you to do.
I enjoyed this story, the heart of the author displayed in her words, and more often than not, her literary style. Some of the dialogue seemed too poetic to be true, but perhaps these individuals really speak to one another like this in their worlds. There were points of discomfort, as examples of the white savior complex seemed evident. I noted some lack of awareness that some of the same horrors experienced by the African orphans occur in the US. Despite this, this book is an excellent read for anyone interested in learning about mission work, as well as stepping out on faith to do what God has called you to do.
March 28, 2018
“Africa runs on her own time and showed no respect for my “early bird gets the worm� mentality. Most of what brought me success or won achievement at home simply didn’t work in Africa.�
The book takes us on a journey to the war-torn South Sudan, where the things are so different from the world we've been used to. It is not only a book talking how christians should rely on God to walk through darkness and dangers, but also a true story narrating the cruel reality faced by millions of people on the other end of the earth.
The book takes us on a journey to the war-torn South Sudan, where the things are so different from the world we've been used to. It is not only a book talking how christians should rely on God to walk through darkness and dangers, but also a true story narrating the cruel reality faced by millions of people on the other end of the earth.
June 25, 2018
Like some other readers wrote in their reviews, I too would give it more stars for the content but the writing style (or lack of editing?) made it difficult to read. I wonder if the author could summarise her book into 1 sentence? There were too many threads in this book but I do not regret reading it. And I will even recommend it to some of my friends.
(Spoiler here)
As another reviewer wrote, the 'emotional handwringing' at times irritated me. Being from Africa, I knew straight away, the first time she mentioned "a secret" what it was. This is not a novel where the author has to keep her audience in suspense. This is a memoir so spill the beans and get it out there. When her secret was eventually out the author left a big gap in the narrative. I'm still wondering whether she got tested for Aids. Did she get treatment for it, where and how did she get it, what were her thoughts around that.
(Spoiler here)
As another reviewer wrote, the 'emotional handwringing' at times irritated me. Being from Africa, I knew straight away, the first time she mentioned "a secret" what it was. This is not a novel where the author has to keep her audience in suspense. This is a memoir so spill the beans and get it out there. When her secret was eventually out the author left a big gap in the narrative. I'm still wondering whether she got tested for Aids. Did she get treatment for it, where and how did she get it, what were her thoughts around that.
June 21, 2020
Such a profound, authentic and life changing book... Thank you Kimberly, for sharing your heart so vulnerably. You are His treasure.
I am recommending this book to many others. It is an eye opening encounter with God, His heart for all of us, His pursuit of of the most vulnerable and at risk, and the beauty of living authentically.
I am recommending this book to many others. It is an eye opening encounter with God, His heart for all of us, His pursuit of of the most vulnerable and at risk, and the beauty of living authentically.
November 15, 2017
I have a handful of books that have impacted my life in powerful ways; this book is defiantly in that handful.
Challenging, beautiful, raw, and very real. I love the author from afar and feel a kindred heart to her.
A must read for those who are seeking God's dream for their lives.
Challenging, beautiful, raw, and very real. I love the author from afar and feel a kindred heart to her.
A must read for those who are seeking God's dream for their lives.
March 29, 2019
Kimberly's life mission is incredible, and the stories she shares are nothing short of horrific. I was profoundly moved by most of the content of the book, but the structure and composition are less than noteworthy, and detract from the book's actual message.
August 10, 2019
Such an important book. The author is very honest about the difficulties she faced overseas. As a missionary, I was encouraged by her honesty to trust God for healing, faith, and rest in God's grace for everything I can't do.
November 25, 2019
A story of courageous faith in the face of wickedness and depravity. Is at times graphic and hard to read and maybe more focused on the experience rather than the objectiveness of faith. Gave me much to ponder regarding faith in hard places.
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