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One Candle to Burn
One Candle recounts God's amazing work through two people determined to share His light in the darkest corners of the world. After World War II, Dallas and Kay became frontline soldiers in the great twentieth-century army of missionaries that left the United States to serve around the globe. Whether preaching the gospel to tribes deep in the jungle, rescuing unwanted babies, founding a ministry for blind children, or helping start a hospital for the sick, Dal and Kay took the Light of the world to thousands. Along the way, they loved and laughed and built a family that, between them, has now served over a hundred years in Africa and continues to serve there today.
333 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 14, 2017
A very informative book which follows the life of a missionary couple who take the gospel to several countries in Africa from the 50's to the 90's.
May 14, 2018
Just an ordinary girl, family whom she loved with friends and a job, busy and active and coming through World War II as “Kay the Riveter;” but yet an extraordinary girl when she decided to set aside her dreams and ambitions to pursue whatever her Lord wished her to do. She doesn’t set down this story for us to think highly of her or her husband, Dallas Washer. She records it to help inspire the reader into seeing just what amazing tasks can be accomplished in light of eternity if one simply obeys the Holy Spirit and realizes the worth of eternal souls when looking at humanity.
Dallas (1921-1989) and Kay Washer (1926-2018) spent the early part of their marriage preparing to minister to others on the mission field. Some of this desire came from family who had served, some cane from Dal’s vision of hopelessness in the world after serving in World War II, but all was due to the calling they received and responded to. They first served in Niger, and then moved to a smaller African country nearby. As they had children, Kay’s responsibility was to be mother and help-mate while Dal sought one and one more to study the Bible and start little churches. Kay learned that medical help was always needed, and so worked on keeping supplies and a helping hand to anyone who needed amateur help. Later, she would help get a hospital going. Meanwhile, Dal’s hard work was taking root as little churches farther and farther from their home base began to flourish and grow. Kay had a special place in her heart for the people she saw as outcasts in Togo, the blind. They basically lived by begging. Kay decided to see if she could help them learn Braille and other school subjects so that they could then learn various trades to have a useful life. Over time, this led to land and buildings housing the ABWE Togo Blind Center. During the school year, students boarded and studied. Over the summer months, children came to camp to have fun and learn about their Creator.
One of the chapters which brought tears to my eyes was the telling of Kay receiving a special recognition from Togo’s President Eyadema, not because she had any idea of obtaining this honor but because it came as a shock to her and most importantly that she understood and related the implications of the honor it really brought to the Lord Jesus since she had only been attempting to serve Him and had done so without bringing dishonor by mistreating those with which she served or had business dealings. This wasn’t the first contact she had with a President of Togo.
The whole book is written in such a way so that the reader feels as though they were sitting on the porch visiting with Mrs. Washer and seeing a regular, ordinary lady tell about the miracles she has seen in her life. She isn’t telling about her life being comfy or cushy. She describes heat and pain and tears just as most people living in Africa would experience. She relates how discouraged people can be in the face of waiting to see prayers answered. But she describes the changes in human hearts which can only come about when one has met God.
Dallas (1921-1989) and Kay Washer (1926-2018) spent the early part of their marriage preparing to minister to others on the mission field. Some of this desire came from family who had served, some cane from Dal’s vision of hopelessness in the world after serving in World War II, but all was due to the calling they received and responded to. They first served in Niger, and then moved to a smaller African country nearby. As they had children, Kay’s responsibility was to be mother and help-mate while Dal sought one and one more to study the Bible and start little churches. Kay learned that medical help was always needed, and so worked on keeping supplies and a helping hand to anyone who needed amateur help. Later, she would help get a hospital going. Meanwhile, Dal’s hard work was taking root as little churches farther and farther from their home base began to flourish and grow. Kay had a special place in her heart for the people she saw as outcasts in Togo, the blind. They basically lived by begging. Kay decided to see if she could help them learn Braille and other school subjects so that they could then learn various trades to have a useful life. Over time, this led to land and buildings housing the ABWE Togo Blind Center. During the school year, students boarded and studied. Over the summer months, children came to camp to have fun and learn about their Creator.
One of the chapters which brought tears to my eyes was the telling of Kay receiving a special recognition from Togo’s President Eyadema, not because she had any idea of obtaining this honor but because it came as a shock to her and most importantly that she understood and related the implications of the honor it really brought to the Lord Jesus since she had only been attempting to serve Him and had done so without bringing dishonor by mistreating those with which she served or had business dealings. This wasn’t the first contact she had with a President of Togo.
The whole book is written in such a way so that the reader feels as though they were sitting on the porch visiting with Mrs. Washer and seeing a regular, ordinary lady tell about the miracles she has seen in her life. She isn’t telling about her life being comfy or cushy. She describes heat and pain and tears just as most people living in Africa would experience. She relates how discouraged people can be in the face of waiting to see prayers answered. But she describes the changes in human hearts which can only come about when one has met God.
June 18, 2019
Kay Washer (1926-2018) has written a fine inspirational memoir about her many years as a pioneer missionary in Niger and Togo. Although she confesses to being neither a writer nor “even skilled in English grammar,” she was fortunate to receive competent editorial assistance in organizing her material and in reducing the original manuscript to publishable size. Perhaps a skilled copy editor might have pruned another fifth. Still, considering the author’s secondary intention of memorializing her husband, Dallas Washer (1921-1989), the book is an excellent example of its genre.
Dal Washer was most interested in seeking converts in previously unevangelized villages, while the author spent much of her career working with blind children. Both seem to have been the best sort of missionary, filled with Christian charity and a deep love for the African people, as well as possessing the necessary practicality and good sense of humor necessary to accomplish their pioneering ministries.
Kay Washer sometimes writes with emotion but never stoops to pious pronouncements or cloying sentimentality. She also recounts stories (such as the chapter about “James”) that are difficult to convert into pat religious tales. The book is exceptionally well illustrated with photographs, but it lacks an index.
Dal Washer was most interested in seeking converts in previously unevangelized villages, while the author spent much of her career working with blind children. Both seem to have been the best sort of missionary, filled with Christian charity and a deep love for the African people, as well as possessing the necessary practicality and good sense of humor necessary to accomplish their pioneering ministries.
Kay Washer sometimes writes with emotion but never stoops to pious pronouncements or cloying sentimentality. She also recounts stories (such as the chapter about “James”) that are difficult to convert into pat religious tales. The book is exceptionally well illustrated with photographs, but it lacks an index.
March 18, 2019
I'm not sure where I got this book from but I am so glad I read it. What I thought was going to be a story of a lady who helped an orphanage in Africa turned out to be a testimony of God's faithfulness through the lives of Dal and Kay Washer. As a missionary in South America, I was encouraged to read of their sacrifices (which make my sacrifices seem like luxury) and all the ways that God blessed them for making those sacrifices. Their faith in the Lord and love for the Lord permeates every page in this book.
If you like adventure stories, you'll love this one. If you are looking for encouragement in your marriage, read this book. If you like to learn of other cultures, this book is for you. And if you are a child of God looking for someone else's faith to inspire your faith, buy this book and don't put it down until you finish. It's well worth every minute you'll spend on reading it.
If you like adventure stories, you'll love this one. If you are looking for encouragement in your marriage, read this book. If you like to learn of other cultures, this book is for you. And if you are a child of God looking for someone else's faith to inspire your faith, buy this book and don't put it down until you finish. It's well worth every minute you'll spend on reading it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews