You are about to read a glowing book review. “How Coffee Saved My Life: And Other Stories of Stumbling to Grace” by Ellie Roscher is a darn good book. Excellent. Superb.

The thing about “How Coffee Saved My Life” is that it’s about so many things at once. Usually, when an author tries to do that it fails. A book, especially a non-fiction one, can’t get too varied or it loses its pop. But Roscher keeps things honest and interesting, varied and on-track at the same time.

A few years ago, then twenty-five year-old Roscher spent a year living in Uruguay as a young adult in mission with the Lutheran church (ELCA). She explains in the book’s first few pages that everyone she knew who had spent significant time abroad came back interesting, so she figured she should do the same. A rich Catholic girl from the twin cities, she expected some struggles, but had no way of preparing for the challenges that awaited her in the small town of Lascano.

Pretty much everything in Lascano was a challenge: food and her body — you have to read it to find out where the title comes from — work and socializing, language and relationships, her supervisor and host family, down time and vacations. It was a tough year, but by the end of it Roscher learned to thrive in many ways. She also learned to name the crap in life, which is a gift as well. Throughout it all, however, she looks at her experiences with the lens of faith. Maybe that’s what makes the book work — Roscher’s question-asking faith seeps through every page.

The prose comes not chronologically but experientially, in sections including Commissioning, Vulnerability, Accompaniment, Hospitality, Brokenness, and Grace. Journal entries are mixed in with reflections and old-fashioned story-telling. Each section begins with a related quote from a smattering of authors (I turned-down many a page just for these.)

Having lived abroad for a year myself, the book spoke to me in those immediate ways first. My experience in Scotland was nowhere near as intense as Roscher’s, but there were many similarities of vulnerability, cultural challenges, and brokenness. The book would certainly speak to any missionary or Peace Corps personnel. Further, though, the book should elicit great conversations in book groups, churches, or sunday school classes. Roscher’s stories of Uruguay help us get into discussions of theological claims — what is grace today, what is radical hospitality. Each section has helpful examples in positive and negative ways.

Now a teacher at Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, I look forward to more from this young author. And — full disclosure here — I am honored to call her a friend. Pick a book up for yourself. Mail another out for a Christmas present. Give one to your pastor for sermon illustrations. Trust me, it’s a good one. Relish this read.