Unexpected Journeys: My Search for Adventure, Love, and Redemption on the Other Side of the World

Review "Unexpected Journeys is a captivating read full of twists and spiritual turns.... [For anyone who] wants to find a deeper walk with God or a stronger reason to believe that 'all things work together for good of those who love God.'"-Christian Booksellers Association's Christian Retailers + Resources "This memoir is endlessly inventive as Perkins takes the reader on an epic global journey that is, at once, a journey into the very heart of God. With crisp brio, Perkins allows the reader to be swept up again and again in the moment, and always animated by his sensitivity and transparency. As a writer, he has a wondrous touch."-Tim Goeglein, Senior adviser, Focus on the Family "Brave and raw, Paul tells his unfolding adventure with honest self-reflection. His stellar writing style kept me turning the pages. And his discoveries about God, love, and life inspired. A great read."-Lara Williams, Speaker and author, LaraWilliams.org "Paul's voice is honest, broken, and still hopeful. His story, emotional and raw..., is a universal one that reveals the presence of a faithful and loving God through our suffering. This is a beautiful, redemptive work."-Kevin Palau, President, Luis Palau Association; Author, Unlikely "This book is the story of a...[guy] who went halfway around the world, where he discovered God's unmerited favor. Paul shares the tragic experiences that cauterized his heart--and the unexpected ways God broke through."-David Murrow, Author, Why Men Hate Going to Church "Paul Perkins magically cloaks the reader in a refreshingly honest story of adventure, redemption, and the creative spirit inside all of us. Unexpected Journeys is a candid account of big ideas in a small world."-Marty Makary, MD, New York Times best-selling author, Unaccountable When 28-year-old Paul Perkins leaves his hectic life and travels to the other side of the world, he expects the adventure of a lifetime. Not a collision with his past.But with each new adventure, he's confronted by dark memories and questions of faith--while surfing Bali's legendary waves, and driving a motor scooter along Thailand's breathtaking coastline; during a guilt-ridden encounter in a red-light district, and an anguished reunion with his older brother; while teaching a class of veiled girls, and preaching before a crowd of India's poorest widows; through friendship with unlikely locals and fellow travelers, and the thrill and confusion of romance.Along Paul's epic journey, he learns to loosen his white-knuckled grip on life as God confounds his expectations, heals his shame, and reveals that redemption is always possible--even when least expected. About the Author By Paul Perkins