“We may think we know all there is to know about international adoption—isn’t it constantly in the news? Aren’t celebrities doing it? A memoir like from ashes to africa reminds us of the uniqueness and poignancy of each family’s journey, of the sorrow and longing that often precedes the discovery of a child, and of a joy sweeter and more miraculous for having been delayed.”

-Melissa Fay Greene, author of There Is No Me Without You: An Ethiopian Woman’s Odyssey to Rescue her Country’s Children

“I strongly recommend this book to you. It will make you laugh and cry, but most important, once you put it down you will never be the same again.”

-Tom Davis, author of Red Letters: Living a Faith that Bleeds

“If you ever find yourself asking the question, ‘Where are the God stories today of personal transformation?’ then look no further! This book will provide a compelling answer to that question. With humor, transparency, and poignancy, Josh and Amy share their life-changing journey in such a way that will not leave the reader unchanged.”

-Dave and Jan Dravecky, co-authors of When You Can’t Come Back

“This book offers the reader hope, encouragement, laughter, and optimism. You will empathize with Josh and Amy as they openly write about issues they had to face when it came to their marriage, their struggle with infertility, and ultimately the decision to adopt their son from Ethiopia. No matter what your current situation might be, whether you are just looking to be encouraged, are going through infertility, or are already in the midst of your adoption journey, this is a must read. If adopting couples would take to heart some of the nuggets in this book, I believe their whole adoption experience would be enhanced.”

-J. Scott Brown, Executive Vice President,The Gladney Center for Adoption

“Josh and Amy tell a lovely story of how they saved their lives by giving them away. In a world given to grasping and getting, they found their eyes opened to Jesus’ image in ‘the least, the last, and the lost.’ Josh and Amy’s difficult journey of infertility led not to the expected ashes of disappointment and despair. Instead it took a path to Africa and to adoption—an alternative journey, which led unexpectedly to ‘beautiful headdresses, oils of gladness, and garments of praise (Isaiah 61:3).’ In their journey, they showed us how to escape the pull of selfishness by ‘bringing good news to the poor and binding up the brokenhearted.’ In healing others, we heal ourselves. In blessing others, we find ourselves blessed.”

-Dr. Jay Lorenzon, Founder of Families for Africa

“This book is an amazingly heartfelt, pure, really well-written story of world-changing redemption.”

-Lance Humphreys, Senior Pastor, Bridgeway Church

“Books are difficult to write and even more difficult to write with a spouse. Josh and Amy don’t hold back as they offer us their story from unfaith to faith, from despair to hope, from strife to partnership, from an empty home to parenting a child, from Oklahoma City to Addis Ababa. They model the kind of honesty that helps us remember why we need a saving Lord. Reading this book will not allow any couple to go back to business as usual.”

-Josh Banner, Minister of Arts and Music, Hope College

“How does one recapture the dream of marriage and family when hope is dead? This book bleeds hard won truth from life experiences. As counselors who saw the beginning of this couple’s doomed relationship, we can tell you that you’re reading a remarkable story. The journey from ashes to africa will thrill you with the goodness of God and challenge you with the insightful story of those who persevered and learned to love God and each other in a new way.”

-Scott and Ann Manley, Director of Cornerstone Network Ministries

“Let’s be honest: it’s easy not to think about miserable places or situations if we don’t want to—or, when we do, to send a little chunk of money. Josh and Amy Bottomly write about the outrageous decision to welcome an Ethiopian child into their lives—a decision that will never allow them to be armchair activists again. Of course it wasn’t easy; they write with sincerity and thoughtfulness about their struggle with infertility and, in that struggle, discover another option. They offer therein a compelling and acute sense that the typical American model for family is often too thin, too sugary— like the soda pop we down in aluminum cans. You’ll not soon forget the Bottomlys’ powerful journey to live beyond that model and how that transformation connects them— and me, and you, and all of us—to a global community of humans in need: orphans—all 143 million of them.”

-Dr. Susanna Childress, poet, Jagged with Love