What a beautiful story about relocating to a new country!  When God says, “move your tents,” how does the new country receive you? What are you leaving behind in traditions, and what will you embrace? Learn these answers from Mabel Ninan in her book Far From Home.

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Recently, author Mabel Ninan contacted me about her new book, Far From Home. Mabel Ninan was born and raised in India and immigrated to America shortly after marriage. Her topic sparked immediate interest. And I did not hesitate to “say yes” to her request. Once the manuscript arrived by electronic file, I poured a delicious latte and devoured the book. (Disclosure: I received an Advanced Manuscript of this book as a member of the Endorsement Team. )

Mabel is the story behind many women in my community near Silicon Valley, California. She takes off the veil of mystery and shares her experience. Quiet, soft-spoken, and respectful of her new surroundings, Mabel feels unnoticeable. She feels insignificant and frustrated in her new surroundings.

Yet in her native land, Mable is powerful, well-respected, connected, and highly educated. Due to her husband’s job transfer, she had to leave behind her values and identity in her native society. Then she seeks purpose in a foreign country.

Uprooted into the busyness of America, her story explores immigration as a “trailing spouse.” Her initial isolation and her struggle to regain her sense of importance are deeply internal. She struggles to connect, even at the local coffee shop, where the rudeness of the barista on duty awakens her.

Seeking her identity in a new culture, Mabel opens her Bible to discover her true identity in Christ. Powerful skeins (loosely coiled threads or yarn)  are woven into her testimony.

This is a must-read for the merging of cultures into the Christian faith. How can we invite REVIVAL if we are not accepting the citizenship of ALL God’s people?

Mabel’s story invites me to examine my Mother-in-Law, an immigrant from the United Kingdom. In World War II, she worked as a British decoder, a New York runway model, and in national security.

And my great-grandfather was an immigrant from Ireland who worked in the coal mines and later died of lung cancer.

Mabel’s story also reminds me of my next-door neighbors, immigrants from Mexico, who are joyfully living as an uprooted family. Or my former boss, an app developer from Ukraine who shares his Christian faith with a generous heart. Even my husband’s Silicon Valley IT department celebrates all cultures and religions with weekly meal gatherings.

Instead of looking through the mini-blinds, shuttered windows, or over the rim of a Venti Latte… It’s time we shed American ambivalence and love our new neighbors.

Mable reached out to her Christian community with intentional vulnerability. She experienced the love and identity of Christ through Bible study groups, church attendance, and spiritual growth- Far From Home.

ENDORSEMENT FOR MABEL’S BOOK: Beautifully transparent, Mabel Ninan shares her personal insight from a unique experience of immigration. Yet the revelation of her modern history is also a reflection of Biblical history when God moves. Inside the stories of uprooted people, we discover the heart of God. This book is a beautiful reminder of our citizenship in His kingdom.  – Christine Abraham, Founder & Executive Director Bible Café™ Ministries LLC

ABOUT THE BOOK

Explore the intersection between culture, identity, and faith in this new release from an earthly immigrant who gained a spiritual perspective.
What is my purpose? Why do I exist? The questions of self and belonging are two that many of us struggle to answer.
And what if you are a foreigner in another land?
How does one adjust to a new culture? Discover their place in a new society?

For Mabel Ninan, born and raised in India and an immigrant in America shortly after marriage, the search for those answers sent her on a journey that led to an unexpected and exciting discovery.

God revealed she was not only an earthly immigrant but also a spiritual one, created with a unique calling to impact His kingdom. Mabel’s renewed perspective imbued her with joy and hope, urging her to share the message with others.

Drawing from her personal experiences and by examining the lives of biblical heroes, Mabel sheds light on what it means to live as a citizen of Heaven on earth. Far from Home will inspire you to:

• Embrace your identity as a foreigner on earth.
• Make your home with God.
• Find community and common purpose with fellow sojourners.

Mabel’s story and book release: www.mabelninan.com