How Coffee Saved My Life: And Other Stories of Stumbling to Grace

by Ellie Roscher

Based on the author s true life experiences, How Coffee Saved My Life is a funny, tragic, provocative and touching story of a rich, white, North American overachiever who spends a year in Uruguay in hopes of becoming a more responsible and sensitive member of the global community. Throughout the book, vignettes tied to the Spanish language flow from observation to theological analysis.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality, Memoir, Inspirational

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Ellie Roscher is the author of Fair Game, Remarkable Rose, The Embodied Path, 12 Tiny Things, Play Like a Girl and How Coffee Saved My Life and the host of the Unlikely Conversations podcast. She teaches writing and yoga in Minneapolis. Her writing can be found in the Baltimore Review, Inscape Magazine and elsewhere. She edits the Keeping the Faith series: Keeping the Faith in Seminary, Keeping Faith in Rabbis and Keeping the Faith in Education. Ellie holds a master's degree in Theology/Urban Ministry from Luther Seminary and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing from Sarah Lawrence College and is a certified yoga teacher.

Reviews

[Tad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having just come out of a year-long volunteer program similar to her experiences, I can attest to much of what she says in here. She really does a great job of conveying the struggles and challenges inherent in that type of living. Lots of humor but also lots of sadness. Both are an important part of her story and I am glad that she chose to include everything, the good and the bad. It rang very true because of that. Sidenote: I actually met the author way before I read her book and found her to be such a sweet, caring person. This book should definitely be read by anyone considering international (or even) national service but should probably not be read until after the service is finished.

[SheReaders Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit heavy on the Christian influence for my personal taste. Also, having lived in Montevideo, Uruguay myself for 6 months in college, I can say with confidence that it is not coffee which should have saved her life there but actually, yerba mate. It's slim pickings to find books set in Uruguay or Ecuador. I know this because I'm always looking. If you know of any, please do recommend!

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book after hearing the author speak at a church gathering. While I admired her courage in committing to a one-year missionary assignment as well as her honesty in revealing the difficulties she faced and the insights she gained during that year, I found that her organization of the book created some frustration. I believe that a more straightforward chronological approach would have made for better reading.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest, compelling story of Ellie Roscher's internal dialogue and growth during her year of living in South America. Ellie tells the story of how she nurtured and befriended herself during this time in her life. Her story speaks right to my heart.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

2013 Education for Mission

At age 25, Ellie Roscher left her pampered life to spend a year in Uruguay. She did not paint a bright and happy picture of her adjustment to the poverty and isolation of her position. Pg. 4 "articulate English > stumbling broken Spanish; eating bagels > cow tongue; having 3 jobs > none; feeling successful/powerful> useless, invisible; surrounded by friends>isolation. By the 2nd half, she had gotten moved to a different family, made connections with other workers, and came to appreciate her experience.

She inserts quotes -- Pg. 50 "setting out to do something with your liefe is like sitting down to eat a moose. ... do something with your day. Each day...."

PG. 51 "seeing Tom after 1st two weeks ... I knew someone; someone knew me. ... made a habit to get ice cream... few hours of English speaking feast.

Pg. 61 "sharing mate' - Uruguayan people knew no higher priority than to sit with each other converse, pass the mate... communion happened.... You experience a special ...connection, ... create space to share each other's reality. Mate' levels us ...invites conversation, and capitalizes on each moment we are given." PG. 63 writing and a contemplative life.

Pg. 85 30 children in a children's home -- 2 admins, tutor, psychologist, cook, cleaner, farmer, and two "aunts" who stayed for 4 days/nts and other 2 for 3 days/nts,

Pg, 106 moved from 1st home -- young, single woman should not have been placed in a family with history of infidelity! Pg 114 "...year stopped being about church, mission, learning, justice and relationship and started being about interpersonal survival."... "expectations >> reality"

Pg. 119 developing eating disorder. Pg. 126 new family with Mariana. Pg. 145 "I learned...." ;-)

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

So enjoyed reading this book!! I knew about her time in Uruguay, but this was another look I had never experienced and it gave me all the feels for this amazing person who I have been lucky to call a friend.

[Ava Goepfert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know Ellie personally through Gustavus stuff and bought this from her many years ago at an event. I finally took the time to read and absorb this. I love how vulnerable and open she is about her experience. So many little lessons throughout. I laughed and reflected and loved while reading.

[Kathy Hassig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this for the UMW reading program. The book shows the difference between life here & life in another country (Uraguay). We take so much for granted in this country.

[Lydia Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. I have IBS, so understand how hard it was for this young lady.

[Christine Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read "How Coffee Saved My Life" with the eyes of a well seasoned traveler who has experienced culture shock and knew some of what to expect. This memoir was organized around themes, which I didn't enjoy, with journal entries that were totally out of sync with their place in time.
Miss Roscher presents clear examples of the issues that rise with cross cultural interactions, misunderstandings, culture shock, and losing sight of spiritual purpose before finally finding grace. However, a lot of the juicy and expository aspects of this tale which are in my opinion are the most valuable for sharing her spiritual journey, are lost in the organization. It wasn't until I reached the last chapter that I was finally struck with why I felt so off about this read. It felt like it wasn't complete, like aspects of her tale were missing, and it was due to the theme organization that this occurred. So, while I liked this book it is not on my best reads list.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

My aunt gave me this book to read and at first I was reluctant because it has this religious bend to it. About a 25 yr old missionary who ended up in Uruguay, I brought it on vacation with me... I knew i had to read it before giving back to her, why not at the beach? I plowed through this 2-days. Yes, an easy read but it so incredibly paralleled my experience in Paraguay it was uncanny. Although a mission of a different sort (Colby and mine doing eco-reseach), I could so relate to the feelings of isolation (associated with not speaking Spanish perfectly), of looking "different" than peers and people and the vulnerability of that in a poor country, the newness of the air and food and plants. As with Ellie, I recall being adopted by families who would take us on trips to see their aunts and uncles in remote places... eating unknown parts of animals and half-understanding conversations, smiling to make it through. I seemed to embrace the adventure more than the author did, at times it seemed painful to her. But like her, I used my time to be very self-reflective and during the long walks in the cerrado at night with the milky way brilliant in the sky (sometimes with someone special), I really determined who I was and what my life path would be. Stepping out of one's comfort zone ... and truly opening my world to bigger purposes.

Beautifully written and smart use of quotes throughout... may have to steal some!

"And maybe it is only on the trail to nowhere-in-particular that you find the most important thing of all. Yourself." Douglas Wood

[Beckie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea of "How Coffee Saved My Life," a collection of journal entries and reflections on a young woman's time in Uruguay with the Lutheran Church. But I did not much like the book itself. The book is organized by themes more than chronology, but it's not written quite well enough for this to work. Ellie Roscher jumps from story to topic to story to topic without leaving the reader time to catch her breath. And each (short) chapter begins with a quotation- more than a few also end with one- which I found very distracting. It read more like a journal than a journal that had been shaped into a book.
Parts of Roscher's story are very interesting, and she makes some solid overall points about cross-cultural experience, finding oneself, and grace. It's just that none of them were really developed as much as I'd have liked. I keep getting excited for these spiritual memoirs and then finding them flat.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book chronicles one year in Ellie Roscher's life spent as a missionary in Uruguay. She was shockingly open and honest about her physical and emotional struggles there; she candy-coated nothing. I found this to be both enticing and off-putting. There were times when she whined. A LOT. Yet, it would not have been as authentic a story without including the many moments of self-pity and loneliness, and frankly, until I have volunteered to spend a full year in a tiny, rural South American town where no one speaks English, I don't think that I - or anyone else - has the right to judge those moments. Overall, I just loved this story and would highly recommend it.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a young women's journey to Uruguay which leads to, as most stories of this type mine own included, a deep understanding into self. There were so many parallels to both my Peace Corps and Exchange Student experience it was uncany. I certainly was not as self-destructive as she was but my pain at the stress of being so far from home and lonely and misunderstood certainly is mirrored in her journey. I would definitely recommend this boo for people searching for self, about to travel overseas or for those who have and will enjoy her journey.

[Glynis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read. We read this for our church's book club and we all agreed that living as a foreigner in a foreign would certainly give one a new perspective on our American culture, for good or bad. I would recommend it to those considering embarking on a long-term mission trip. I also think the way the book was written--small vignettes with wonderful quotes from famous thinkers.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book changed my ideas about missionary work. I always thought of it as something we did for others. This book shows that instead the best missionary work is about what we do for each other. Both sides have the opportunity to change and grow. Also the hard parts can turn out to be where you least expect them.

[Asha Jaffar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie Is an incredibly talented writer! I was awe-struck by her tenacity, courage, and will to continue even when things were hard. She is an epitome of courage! I love her! Looking forward to reading more.. you are an insanely gifted writer!

[Mare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful reminder of how easily we get wrapped up in our lives and think what we are doing is of the upmost importance. It's really quite laughable when you stop and think about it. Ellie keeps it real in these pages and I appreciate her story.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie starts off slow and perhaps a little preachy. The second half of the book is better.

[Brit Barkholtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book by an amazing Gustie! Very fulfilling indeed.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to missionary life and the deeper theological reflection that comes with it.

[Linda Gocha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another United Methodist Women's book for their reading program and I really liked it.

[Micki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful stories to make us think of how we stand in the world. Excellent footnotes of quotes from others.

[Beth Shultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book that I read for book club. A young woman's story of going on a one year mission trip to Uruguay. Really puts life in perspective.

[Clarissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, it was kind of depressing for a while but I'm happy I read it. It's a good reminder to count my blessings! I really liked all the quotes she included that started each chapter.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, quite perceptive insights from a young person experiencing such a different culture from her own. Great quotes thruout the book.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have some issues with this book but it is still well written

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite book by former Gustie gymnast :)

Seriously, it's very good- read it!

[Sharon Royle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a memoir of a young woman who has had a great life with few challenges. She decides that she needs some challenges to make herself a more interesting person. She picks an organization that facilitates people living in a foreign country for a year and filling a necessary job in that country. She ends up in Uruguay and despite 2 weeks of orientation in the US, she ends up in a very difficult situation. She keeps a diary so we learn of her daily challenges of language (she did take Spanish in school), food, and culture.

She does return to the US after spending a year there. This book taken from her diary notes gives a realistic description of life in a small village in Uruguay. I'm appreciative of her honesty!

Despite my description, she does make life-long friends during her trip. This is a United Methodist Women book pick.

[Katie Theis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was good as a post latin American volunteer. It allowed me to think of different ways that I saw the culture, impacted those I worked with and interacted with on a daily basis, and see how my experience transformed my life. If I was not an ex-latin American volunteer I don't think I would have cared for it too much because I would not have been able to relate to it as well. The timeline was also all over the place, but it fit well into the chapters that the author did.