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Launching Into the Unknown: Discovering the beautiful and bewildering world of the Sudanese (The “Not How I Planned It” Memoirs Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 58 ratings

"What should I bring to Africa?"

The answer I got to that question at 31 years old was "Whatever makes you feel at home." Having lived in the southern United States, I had no idea what to pack. Once I arrived in Africa, I adjusted quickly to the various places I lived. “Home” became more of a state of mind than a physical location or set of things.

Some of my most unique experiences happened because I said yes to adventuring half-way around the globe:

  • Waking in the middle of the night to find the house invaded by army ants;
  • Realizing I was the only white person on a very full bus and feeling comfortable with that;
  • Meeting someone at a shop and ending up in their home having breakfast;
  • Spending an afternoon at the Sudanese ambassador’s house;
  • Enjoying sheep intestines while thinking it is macaroni.

This is but a small fraction of the story, for Sudan was fuller, richer, more changeable, unpredictable, and fascinating than I expected. The people are gracious, forgiving, and hospitable. The tastes, sights, and sounds reflect a vibrant, determined, and joyful richness that overcomes poverty and significant difficulties. I was challenged and encouraged while learning great patience and the value of perseverance. This story bears my immense gratitude, especially to the Sudanese, who have taught me so much.


Editorial Reviews

Review

Written as a series of letters to her cousin, Harriet, Gilley's book is filled with interesting detail. Anyone who has lived in another culture will easily identify with the difficulties she meets with a delightful sense of humor: the airline that "will fly" but not today; spending a cold night in a bus in the Sahara after the axle breaks in deep sand; being designated to cope with "a 10 lb. chunk of buffalo meat complete with skin, fat, gristle, hair, and bone at 8:00 on a Saturday night." BlueInk Review

About the Author

Leoma was born and raised in Chattanooga, TN, as an only child. Her father was a gifted storyteller, and she inherited that gift and continues to develop it. She obtained her BS in speech and language pathology from the University of Tennessee and worked for several years as a speech therapist. She then studied for her MA in the same field and worked in a speech and hearing clinic in Macon, GA. In 1988, she earned a PhD in Linguistics from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies.Linguistics fascinated Leoma, and in 1979 she felt called to join Wycliffe Bible Translators and SIL International. This affiliation led her to more adventure than she had expected and she lived most of her adult life in Africa, about twenty years of that in the Sudan. She has traveled widely and enjoyed discovering the languages and cultures of the places she visited. After thirty-seven years, she retired and settled in Knoxville, TN.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CB1NSR1L
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Peak Press (July 2, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 2, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4905 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 242 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 58 ratings

About the author

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Leoma G. Gilley
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Leoma is curious and wants to understand the world around her as well as the world inside. Her writing reflects this search as she examines the inner world of the spiritual as well as observes the large and small events of her everyday life. Follow Leoma and receive 5 of her latest poems.

Leoma is a linguist, international traveler, author, storyteller and speaker. She has a PhD in Linguistics from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and has written several linguistic articles and a book on the sound system of the Shilluk language. She has traveled widely in Africa and Europe, mostly on her own. As part of her work with Wycliffe Bible Translators and SIL International, she has spoken to many groups, both small and large. She loves to tell stories and also to try to answer some of the questions that we should all be asking about life, God, those who differ from us and how to deal with life's challenges.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
58 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining. They appreciate the author's insights and first-hand descriptions of culture. The writing style is described as engaging and drew readers into the story. Readers enjoyed the humor and found the adventures fascinating.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable to read. They say it's fascinating, informative, and a wonderful adventure for anyone who loves travel and adventure. The story is told in an interesting and humorous way that keeps readers hooked until the end.

"...Her writing style will engage you and keep you reading once you start...." Read more

"...Harriet” provide engaging descriptions of the training, and the story moves along...." Read more

"...rats, bats, and shrews in the house, to Sudanese hospitality, it’s entertaining, educational, inviting...." Read more

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found myself visualizing what the author was talking about...." Read more

9 customers mention "Information quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and engaging. They appreciate the author's first-hand insights into Sudanese culture and people. The letters provide descriptions of training and move the story along. Readers enjoy the humorous stories accompanied by the insightful first-hand accounts. Overall, the book is described as entertaining, educational, and inviting.

"...education comes wrapped in a wealth of humorous stories, accompanied by her insightful and informative first-hand knowledge." Read more

"...Her “letters to cousin Harriet” provide engaging descriptions of the training, and the story moves along...." Read more

"...shrews in the house, to Sudanese hospitality, it’s entertaining, educational, inviting. I highly recommend this book as well as the series...." Read more

"...The book provides great insight into the culture shock many Americans experience when traveling to cultures and physical environments so different..." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing style"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging writing style that puts them in the middle of the author's adventures. They appreciate the humor and storytelling abilities of the author, who recounts real-life adventures and misadventures.

"...Her writing style will engage you and keep you reading once you start...." Read more

"...I highly recommend this book as well as the series. Fabulous writing and insight." Read more

""Launching into the Unknown" is a memoir that recounts the real-life adventures and misadventures of the author in her travels to Africa, especially..." Read more

"...It is written in such a way that drew me into Leoma's adventures through the letters she writes to her cousin back in America...." Read more

5 customers mention "Humor"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's humor. They find the book engaging and touching, with humorous details about her cousin's experience.

"...Cultural education comes wrapped in a wealth of humorous stories, accompanied by her insightful and informative first-hand knowledge." Read more

"...in the form of letters home to her cousin, the author describes in often humorous detail what it was like for her to replant herself in Africa and..." Read more

"...The story is full of humor and tenderness for the people she was living among. Highly recommend" Read more

"...I felt myself there most of the time. Enjoyed the humor and awestruck by the adventures and courage and flexibility of Dr. Gilley...." Read more

3 customers mention "Adventure content"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the book's adventure content. They found the adventures humorous and awe-inspiring. Readers were interested in Dr. Gilley's courage, flexibility, and travels.

"...Enjoyed the humor and awestruck by the adventures and courage and flexibility of Dr. Gilley. A wonderful read." Read more

"...Even though she went into the unknown, she handled her adventures bravely and with humor...." Read more

"...I was fascinated by all of her travels, the people she met, the foods she ate, and all of the stories she told...." Read more

A wonderful account of cross-cultural adventure!
5 out of 5 stars
A wonderful account of cross-cultural adventure!
So much fun to read this account of exploring Sudanese culture. From “sausage trees” to flight delays (you can’t buy a ticket unless you have a ticket!) to various household “visitors” (shrews, bats!) I’m impressed with the author’s resilience and positivity!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2024
    Leona Gilley is a gifted storyteller. As a linguist and missionary to the Sudan, where she lived for twenty-two years, she takes us along with her as she ventured out to help develop a translation of the Bible into an obscure African language. Her writing style will engage you and keep you reading once you start. The twists and turns she encounters are obviously all intricately designed by God to guide her where she needed to be in an unstable war-torn country. This is a must-read.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2023
    Want to laugh out loud on an adventure with an American female missionary headed to the Sudan?
    Looking for a great birthday or Christmas gift, appropriate for pre-teen to senior adult? “Launching Into The Unknown,” written by linguist expert, Dr. Leoma Gilley, is the answer. Confronting frequent trials in her travels, instead of complaining with every other breath, Leoma meets the difficulties with faith and humor. God answered prayer, sometimes by very unusual means, making a way when there seemed to be none and opening tightly closed doors of bureaucracy for her. Learning much in the process, she not only accepted her painful challenges, but made them victories.

    Leoma’s genuine love for the Sudanese people shines brightly throughout “Launching Into The Unknown.” Cultural education comes wrapped in a wealth of humorous stories, accompanied by her insightful and informative first-hand knowledge.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2023
    Leoma Gilley's title explains the theme of her book. The first half covers her training up to the point of arrival on her station. Her “letters to cousin Harriet” provide engaging descriptions of the training, and the story moves along. I went to the atlas many times as I read this book, as the Kindle edition had a map that was not sharp enough to enlarge. Ms. Gilley is helped into the Unknown by friends she meets along the way, and by people who already are living in the new locations. Even in the linguistic aspect of the unknown she finds helpers and prior efforts. My favorite quote: “Until I got to Sudan, the only people I ever met who liked slimy okra were real Southerners.” I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and heartily recommend it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2024
    Launching into the Unknown by Leoma Gilley

    Are you a military brat? An expat? Live overseas? Interested in African culture? Love true stories in history? Launching Into the Unknown is perfect for adults and teens. The author shares stories of living in Sudan: the odd things, funny things, work-related things. From flying in small planes, using goatskins of water, making “freezing ice,” trying to control rats, bats, and shrews in the house, to Sudanese hospitality, it’s entertaining, educational, inviting. I highly recommend this book as well as the series. Fabulous writing and insight.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2023
    "Launching into the Unknown" is a memoir that recounts the real-life adventures and misadventures of the author in her travels to Africa, especially to Sudan. Comprised of many stories in the form of letters home to her cousin, the author describes in often humorous detail what it was like for her to replant herself in Africa and adjust to conditions most Americans could not even imagine. The book provides great insight into the culture shock many Americans experience when traveling to cultures and physical environments so different than what they are used to. The stories are sometimes poignant and sometimes bittersweet, but the author's sense of humor and storytelling abilities shine through every time. Once I started reading, I could not put it down, always wondering what unbelievable thing would happen next. I highly recommend this book!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2024
    I would recommend this book to anyone considering overseas work, or curious about life in Sudan, the challenges and joys of living in a culture and climate completely different from your own. Gilley gives insights into how she learned important lessons - the hard way, sometimes. The story is full of humor and tenderness for the people she was living among. Highly recommend
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2023
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found myself visualizing what the author was talking about. When I would stop reading for the day, I always looked forward to continuing my travels through this author's story. A very visual book for me. I felt myself there most of the time. Enjoyed the humor and awestruck by the adventures and courage and flexibility of Dr. Gilley. A wonderful read.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2023
    Loved reading this book. I’ve known Leoma since we were teenagers in church together. Even though she went into the unknown, she handled her adventures bravely and with humor. So many things she described made me so thankful for all God has blessed me with. So thankful that she ventured into the unknown and let the Lord use her to bring His love to these wonderful people.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story telling!
    Reviewed in Canada on June 15, 2024
    The author is a born storyteller and tells her tales with humour and grace. It’s hard to put this book down once you start!
  • Pamela Bertha Hollman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, detailed, humourous, poignant and true!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 21, 2024
    For those of us who lived and worked alongside Leoma during many of the years covered in her book, Launching into the Unknown provides an authentic and vivid reminder of the life and experiences we shared. Leoma is a wonderful story teller and the scenes described came before us in detailed, skilful and colourful pictures. She takes us through not only the scenes and memories but giving insights into her own thoughts and perceptions of the people and culture she was becoming immersed in.
    For readers who have not shared in the experiences first hand this book will provide a graphic entry into the culture, practices, challenges and joys of a vastly different life style and world view. It is not merely a description of the situations the author found herself living in but it gives a perceptive insight into her own life journey and how this contributed to her personal growth and the shaping of her life leading the reader to a richer understanding of her as a person.
  • Jutta Blühberger
    5.0 out of 5 stars A real page-turner
    Reviewed in Germany on July 10, 2023
    I thoroughly enjoyed reading the author's adventures. She writes in a clear and crisp style and you get the feeling of being right there with her. Having experienced many similar situations it reminded me of my own first years in Africa. When I finished the book, it took me a bewildering moment to realize that I am in Austria not in Africa.
  • Alison
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and plenty of Humor
    Reviewed in Canada on October 4, 2023
    If you have ever gone to stay or live in a very different culture, or even if you wonder what it would be like, this book is for you. As I knew the author in Sudan, I had a special interest in that part of the book. But it is so well written that it will carry you forward and you will find it hard to put down. The blend of sensitivity, understanding, and humour is irresistible.

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