Daylight must come;: The story of a courageous woman doctor in the Congo

by Alan Burgess

Daylight must come;: The story of a courageous woman doctor in the Congo [Jan 01, 1975] Burgess, Alan

Genres: Biography, Christian

297 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read a recommendation to read a biography of Helen Roseveare and so picked this up from the library. The story of this woman's experience was compelling and I read through it very quickly. However, the writing wasn't very good. You could tell a lot was being left out and the connections between parts of the story were quite hard to trace sometimes. Because it wasn't well tied together, it was a very dark book overall, with explicit description of atrocity committed against the women serving in Congo at the time. I don't mind these being included, but it would've helped to see the larger picture of why they were told the way they were. In the end, I was left interested in this woman's story and sufferings, but wanting to find out the whole story, rather than the spotty picture this book gave.

[Jennifer Morefield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book among the books my mom had that I inherited. I thought this was an incredibly inspiring book about a person who had dedicated her life to serving the people of the Congo and the Lord. She was a medical doctor and faced many trials and tribulations including the takeover of the government by a group that abused missionaries, doctors, and nuns. She survived that turmoil and returned to England. Many she worked w/wanted her to come back to the Congo and her love for the African people finally prompted her return. It's always great to read about selfless people who give their whole lives to help others. A very inspiring book.

[Yibbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Helen Roseveare poured her life out helping the lost and dying. In doing so she suffered privations, tortures, and humiliations that brought her to the brink of death. Then in the face of death, she proclaimed the power of the Gospel. That part of this book and her story is amazing.
Unfortunately, this book is not. It jumps around, flying from the 1960’s Congo to the 1940's England, from her early ministry to the Simba rebellion, and back again. It jumps from her arrest as a missionary to her conversion, from her founding of a hospital to her medical training. It’s just all over the place. And this is what really bothered me, while the Gospel is there in spots, it’s mostly not mentioned. Instead, the focus is obviously on the years of the rebellion, but next it’s on her medical and social work. I don’t know if that was just the way the book was written or if that was really where her focus was. She was clearly there to help people, but was the Gospel involved at all? I just couldn’t tell from this book.
On top of the terrible physical tortures she suffered, she also seemed to be in a constant spiritual struggle as well. Even before confronting evil, she had given up on knowing the peace of God. It was very sad. When she attempts to help the other women after they were assaulted, the book lets us get a glimpse of the lessons she shared. I deeply hope this book just left out most of what she said. Because as her advice is presented here, all but one piece of advice lacked all Biblical support. Like I said, the Gospel is presented, occasionally, but there is so little other teaching, that I can’t say for sure what she believed beyond a personal knowing of God through Christ.
This book chronicles her struggles and work, but not her beliefs, and not how God worked in and through her. That made it all very depressing. It is also a very hard story. Burgess handles it all delicately, but it’s still very hard to read. I would only recommend it to a mature audience.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing story of a woman and her colleagues who found faith and strength in God to continue to serve amidst the horrors of civil war in a country not their own, and later return. I was left wondering if the author was a believer. He does not mention Christ much or seem to be able to detail the source of the Christians' strength and motivation.

[Edna Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now Zaire, the Congo in the time of independence from Belgium in the 1960's. One white life who made a difference; the clarity of Jesus' suffering; "Be still and know that I am God" became real for Dr. Roseveare.

[Norma Nill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alan Burgess wrote this biography with such finesse that I didn't think about the writing at all, only about Dr. Helen Roseveare - her passion for whatever she set her mind and heart to, especially her medical work in the Belgian Congo (aka Zaire and DRC), her commitment to her patients, and her willingness to give up everything if necessary. How often do we see that kind of unselfishness today? I admit I was invested personally, because I also worked in Zaire. See more at
http://normanill.com/daylight-must-co...

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1953, Dr. Helen Roseveare arrived in the Belgin Congo as a medical missionary. This book tells of the danger, discomfort and the day rebel Simba warriors dragged her from her home and held her and dozens of other missionaries hostage. An inspiring portrait of woman of strength and dedication.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story of a female doctor who decided Congo is the place to be a doctor and missionary. She went 3 times, over several years, and each time had its triumphs and trials. She endured a lot.