Living stones of the Himalayas

Since 1970, the team of Thomas Hale and his wife, Cynthia, have struggled to serve God as medical doctors in the remote storybook kingdom of Nepal. In the process they have experienced both the hardships and the blessings of bringing Western medicine to people who distrust -- even fear -- ideas differing from their own. In the same process, by their selfless love and caring, they have gained the affection and trust of their Nepali patients and neighbors. In this true story, the faith and humility of doctors Tom and Cynthia Hale are matched by the beguiling personality and character of the Nepalese people, the majority of whom are subsistence farmers who share much in common with the poor of all developing countries. Living Stones of the Himalayas, like its predecessors Don't Let the Goats Eat the Loquat Trees and On the Far Side of Liglig Mountain, is a graphic portrait of the human condition and the growing pains of the unique and intriguing land of Nepal with its astonishing beauty that exists side by side with: faith and superstition, sickness and death, ancient traditions and twentieth-century innovations, courage and joie de vivre. Living Stones of the Himalayas is a fascinating account of everyday and sometimes incredible experiences mingled with humor, understanding, and love for humanity. Reading it will transport you to one of the most enchanting lands away -- first class. - Back cover.

Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Nonfiction. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.