In this well-written and soul-stirring memoir, Ellie Roscher recounts the year she spent in Lascano, Uruguay, running an after-school program for kids and working with a youth group, Sunday school, and Bible studies program at a church. She had a master's degree in Theology/Urban Ministry from Luther Seminary and a bachelor's degree in Pre-Medicine/Religion from Gustavus Adolphus College.

"I wanted to listen and learn in hopes of returning a more grounded, intelligent, worldly woman who is also a hopeful, relevant, responsible, and sensitive citizen of the world. I wanted to . . . work my spoiled butt off for justice and human rights while being gently, ever so gracefully presented with a different way of life. And by all means, I wanted to leave room for my imperfections." Excerpts from her journals along with thought-provoking quotations from an impressive array of writers, spiritual teachers, and theologians make this a rousing read!

Roscher arrives in Lascano, a town with 2,500 inhabitants, most of them poor and living in stick houses. The favorite pet is a cow and the most popular modes of transportation are bikes and mopeds. She settles down with Marcelo, a Waldensian pastor, and his wife Marina. Roscher gets used to simple living such as collecting shower water in a bucket and reusing it to flush the toilet once a day. She learns to honor small victories and joys, such as having a successful four-sentence conversation or finding the post office in town.

Besides feeling unable to control her life, Roscher experiences a revolt by her body during her entire stay in Uruguay. She has to deal constipation, lice, blistered skin, weight gain, and other physical afflictions. She also undergoes culture shock: "In North America, I was a published, accomplished, polished young theologian. In South America, I was a scared, awkward volunteer who considered every day without tears a victory." Nonetheless, Roscher relishes the time she spends with the kids, many of whom came from violent homes.

Everyone in Lascano drinks a brew called mate and so she does too; for her, it represents access to people via community, conversation, and communion. Feeling isolated much of the time, Roscher is cheered by get-togethers with other volunteers and a ten-day visit by her boyfriend. Her burdens are also lifted by Maria Jose, who teaches her Spanish and becomes a soul mate. She leaves her host family and moves in with Mario and Julia, the parents of Mariana, a yoga student.

When Roscher tallies up the small victories during her year in Uruguay, her heart is touched. She sees it all through the lens of grace: "Grace happens when I am offered love and joy in the time and place least expected. Grace interrupts and overwhelms with its irrationality and abundance. It is life-offering, countercultural kindness and acceptance without an ounce of earning or deserving."

The author, who self-deprecatingly calls herself "a rich North American overachiever," returns to the United States with a fresh appreciation of her connections with the people who changed her life and offered her love. She concludes: "What I learned there was that I am not an isolated woman from the United States. I am intimately a part of a global community. I came back more complete because I had lived with these people. On a macro scale, I believe that the United States will become more interesting, more whole, as we continue to recognize our connections to people across the world."