"To live your life on the mission field, it takes great strength," said Heather Sanford, Brownwood local and author.
Sanford and her husband spent the last 20 years in the mission field. Their most recent work being 15 years in Galway, Ireland, building a church from the ground up.
"We created a family church," she said. "A family Christian center where people could come."
The Sanfords struggled a bit at first, due to the high Catholic population in Ireland. But through their perseverance, they became successful.
"We ended up having Catholics and Protestants both in church, which we thought was real special," said Sanford.
Three years ago, Sanford hit a tough period in her life. It was during that time that she felt God tell her it was time to "just be happy," which inspired her book "How to Love Your Life."
"I felt the voice of God speak to my heart and say, 'At what point are you going to decide to be happy?'" Sanford said.
This was what started her idea for the book. It wasn't until she saw how successful it was through her teachings in Galway that she realized it could be a book.
"I started a series on how to love your life. It wasjust going to be one teaching, and then it kept going on and one. And it went on for almost a year," she said.
And it is because Heather wrote the book during this part of her life that she says it is easier for people to relate to while reading it.
"It's really a book on how to make transitions. How to love where you are and how to maximize your moments, and how to maximize your life," said Sanford. "And really, I learned all of that through living on the mission field."
Sanford said her family will return to the mission field soon. However, they are not sure where they will end up next.
"How to Love Your Life" is on bookshelves now.
Sanford and her husband spent the last 20 years in the mission field. Their most recent work being 15 years in Galway, Ireland, building a church from the ground up.
"We created a family church," she said. "A family Christian center where people could come."
The Sanfords struggled a bit at first, due to the high Catholic population in Ireland. But through their perseverance, they became successful.
"We ended up having Catholics and Protestants both in church, which we thought was real special," said Sanford.
Three years ago, Sanford hit a tough period in her life. It was during that time that she felt God tell her it was time to "just be happy," which inspired her book "How to Love Your Life."
"I felt the voice of God speak to my heart and say, 'At what point are you going to decide to be happy?'" Sanford said.
This was what started her idea for the book. It wasn't until she saw how successful it was through her teachings in Galway that she realized it could be a book.
"I started a series on how to love your life. It wasjust going to be one teaching, and then it kept going on and one. And it went on for almost a year," she said.
And it is because Heather wrote the book during this part of her life that she says it is easier for people to relate to while reading it.
"It's really a book on how to make transitions. How to love where you are and how to maximize your moments, and how to maximize your life," said Sanford. "And really, I learned all of that through living on the mission field."
Sanford said her family will return to the mission field soon. However, they are not sure where they will end up next.
"How to Love Your Life" is on bookshelves now.
