What influenced you as a child and young person?
- Living in a third world country – why is everyone so poor and we are so rich? Why should I be the lucky one? How can I reconcile two completely different universes? One where chocolate and an ipod is a necessity. The other where some people don’t even have sugar to put in their tea and no electricity or education.
- Seeing more things than the average child, and having a lot more experiences.
- Moving around a lot. A feeling of rootlessness. I belong nowhere, yet I can ‘fit in’ most places.
- Growing up in a Christian community of truly dedicated and committed people. Missionaries to Pakistan gave up a lot to go.
- Being a Christian minority in a majority muslim country. If Christianity is so true, then why are all these millions of people rejecting it? And how come there are so many really nice Muslims?
- Boarding school from age 11 to 16. Having to develop independence at a young age. This affected a lot of my attitudes in later life.
- Some really godly, loving people who just shine for Christ. Their influence has been incalculable.
- The prayers of my two grandmothers and a family atmosphere of Christian commitment and faith.
- Growing up in a society that doesn't like women much! I had to cover my head and be continually chaperoned in public as a teenager. Unfortunately it didn't help much with negotiating the continual public sexual harrassment that is inflicted on all women in Pakistan. I am wildly suspicious and of anything that even sniffs of sexism and have very strong emotional reactions to it.
- Seeing fabulous, raw scenery. Black night skies, fields of wild flowers, Himalayan storms, snowcaps, dusty deserts, mountain moonscapes.
- The ability to save money and not spend needlessly! Useful in later life to get through Bible college, although now I do tend to hyperventilate over even necessary purchases.
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