When the colonial powers divided the Great Lakes Region of Africa in the nineteenth century, new states were created based on nothing more than lines drawn on a map. Despite having their homelands in the Congo, the Banyamulenge tribe have always been perceived as foreigners in their own country. Alex's extraordinary journey begins with childhood memories of grazing cattle on the plains and mountains of South Kivu. As a teenager, living away from his family, his joy of attending school in the city is tempered by the challenges he faces as an outsider. Struggling to make sense of social, tribal and economic divisions, he witnesses the catastrophic breakdown in order that precipitates the 1994 Rwandan genocide, and the subsequent violence and conflict in the region fuelled by tensions linked to Tutsi and Hutu ethnicity. As a result, tragically, he lost eleven members of his family in the violence. Not My Worst Day is a coming of age tale, set against a backdrop of nightmarish events. While pursuing an education and a dream to publicise the plight of his people, Alex must navigate the dangers of a life lived in the shadow of poverty and discrimination. His journey through the complicated realities of life in the Great Lakes Region of Africa in the 1990s is a triumph of hope, persistence and the will to succeed in his quest. It is "an essential book for anyone who wishes to know - or thinks they know - what life is really like for those caught up in the terrible wars in DRC. This is book offers an explanation of what lies behind the violence and is a moving account from a brave and resilient survivor." Linda Melvern, Investiguative Journalist. The book is "a compelling story of the triumph of humanity over ludicrous odds. This book gives a rich and unprecedented insight into the life of a community fighting for its very existence while a failing state falls apart around them." Richard Wilson, author of Titanic Express and Don't Get Fooled Again

With his mother’s help, RJ learns that his problems happen because he doesn’t listen or pay attention to directions from her, his school principal, teachers, or even his friends. Author Julia Cook’s book shows RJ as well as all K-6 readers the steps to the fundamental social skills of listening and following instructions. When RJ learns to use these skills the right way, he has the best day of his life! This book is the first in the BEST ME I Can Be! series to teach children social skills that can make home life happier and school more successful. The book includes tips for parents and educators on how to effectively teach listening and following instructions skills to kids.

In this smart, funny, and wonderfully Southern novel, Jeanne Roth is forced to come to terms with a past filled with the shadows of her mother, a once-vibrant femme fatale now suffering from Alzheimer's.

No one wants trouble to come. But when it does (and it always does), you can recover…you can prevail.

One person's journey to re-discovering Jesus' caring about us, speaking to us, wooing us, entering into our daily events. We are allowed to imagine what Jesus might be saying to us in our best and worst, our horrid disasters and funniest moments. We will cry, laugh, and find ourselves in every short story.

"John has been one of those used of God to bring me into these lifegiving truths of grace and our identity in Jesus. He is my friend. You will feel he is yours as you read these real-life stories of redemption." Bart Millard of MercyMe Not a moment of your life has been left to chance. Not a moment have you been uncared for. Many of us stumbled into Jesus and discovered the one we'd been searching for our entire lives-whether we knew it or not. Now that we've found Him though, it's hard not to wonder where He was before... Where was He on our worst days? Were we as overwhelmingly alone as we felt? What if every single moment of every single day-He had been magnificently redeeming your worst days into your best ones? What if redemption wasn't a tenet of cold theology, but instead, a relationship of love that was formed most deeply, not when you were on your game, but when you couldn't seem to make sense of almost anything? The hope-infused pages of On My Worst Day reveal the redemption you've longed for. Discover firsthand how the narrative of your life changes as you dare to believe that your worst days do not define you. With each impactful story, you will be awakened to the undeniable power of the cross that sets you free. Whether for the first time or the first time in a long time, you will encounter the voice of God, who has adored you from the beginning and you will hear His words to you: You are enough, My child. Surpassingly enough. Praise for On My Worst Day: "Everyone I know wants to hang out with John Lynch. He's just that type of guy. You're drawn to him, almost without explanation. Maybe it's because he's so uniquely gifted, but more likely it's because he makes you feel important. John Lynch is raw. John Lynch is real. And most importantly, John Lynch knows Jesus. This book is your chance to hang out with John, share some incredibly honest moments with him, and discover the rejuvenating power of God's grace." Dr. Andrew Farley, host of Andrew Farley LIVE on Sirius XM, bestselling author of The Naked Gospel and Twisted Scripture "John Lynch is a trusted storyteller who brilliantly engages the human journey, both his and ours, with kind humor, authentic insight, and deep compassion." Paul Young, author of The Shack, Cross Roads, Eve, and Lies We Believe About God "I urge you to listen to your heart and accept John's invitation in his book to experience, as he is, God's amazing grace." Bill Thrall, co-founder of Trueface, co-author of The Cure "I have never met anyone like John Lynch. He reminds me of a human lantern shining a light of God's outrageous love so bright my eyes squint. If you are so lucky as to read the magnificent On My Worst Day, you will encounter an unguarded peek into a life compellingly marked by unfathomable grace, and the vast love of a very intimate God. Let these powerful words shine as they persuade all of us who long for redemption in our own stories: 'Not a minute left to chance, not a moment uncared for.' Cheers to this important and hopeful book!" Tracy Levinson, bestselling author of Unashamed - Candid Conversations about Dating, Love, Nakedness, & Faith

Recounts the events of a day when everything goes wrong for Alexander. Suggested level: junior, primary.