So cool Michele. Here I sit at Lydia's gym and browsing your website. Technology is so cool. Your site is really awesome.

Hi Michele. Your website is really amazing. Thank you for sharing your life with so many people. I was so happy to hear about your writings and your ministry at BFA. You have influenced more people than you'll ever know...and all for His glory. You are a great example of God's beautiful creation appointed by him to do great things. I too am an MK and attended BFA ('85-'90) and I know I will relate all too well with your novels. I want to thank you for telling our story. God bless you.

Hello Michele, I vicariously know you through my daughters, Bethany and Lydia Bell. Just read your, By the Edge of Tidal Pools. It is a must read for organizations who train families going on onto the mission field. We are going to recommend to those who work specifically with MK's in our member care department. Sadly as I read the book it took as back 17 years ago, working with a group of missionaries in training, we saw this same thing unfold right before our eyes. David Lay to his life at the age of 16. Thank you for your work and insight and help in this area! How do we get a copy of your second book? PS. Lydia is looking forward to choir again with you! Blessings, Randy

Michele,my name is Jonathan, I too grew up in France (Nantes). Two of my brothers attended BFA in the early days (2nd graduating class). Your first book touched me deeply. Being an MK, I've seen and experienced what you so beautifully painted through words. The Powells are dear friends. I am praying for your continued recovery and for your ministry.

Michelle,Thank you so much for writing these books. I know there are things within that must have been difficult to write, when you could recall similar scenarios. I picked them up when we brought our kids to BFA for the first time this past fall. Many times I questioned - are we really doing the right thing? This was their idea, this decision, but is it truly the right one?! Thankfully the Lord (who knows me SO well) has confirmed to me on a DAILY basis that yes this is the right thing for them. Thank you for being so insightful and honest. I recommend these books to everyone I talk to and esp. our mission organization. God must be our all in all, then our family, and then our ministry. We can be sure to get in trouble when we mix up that order. Bless you!

Michele (although you'll always be "Miss Phoenix" to me), Shard of Shell is amazing! I cried, laughed, and then cried again. You have a gift. Thank you for putting into words so much of what makes us MK's. Thank you for writing of the school, places, and people that are such an important part of our history, and who we will always love. You are special to me!

I had so much pleasure reading your second book because there are so many truths hidden in it. Childhood injuries do have an impact on our adulthood but healing is possible. I hope many people will find help and comfort through your books. Keep on writing please.

Michele - thank you for writing this book. My folks were missionaries on this side of the world for over 30 years in Vietnam, Laos & Thailand. I still remember the heavy raindrops outside my dorm room window the night I said good-bye to my parents after they dropped me off at Dalat School in Penang Malaysia. I was six years old. God kept me close to His side - and thankfully I had a very positive experience. Now as the Spiritual Life Director at Grace International School - a school for missionary kids - God is using the experiences He took me through to come alongside these precious kids and assure them everyday that they're okay and God thinks they're okay too. Your book was beautifully written and so vivid! Keep them coming. Tell Glen and Shiela Lewis hello; and the Stemples.

Thank you so much for your books. I've read both and love them.

Michele, Your book has really opened my eyes to the plight of missionary kids. I would never have thought there was such a thing. Ignorance can be bliss but it also can be a dangerous thing. It this case I perceive it to be a very dangerous thing. I will never again look at missionaries in the same light. I will not paint them all with the same brush. Thank you for the eye-opener!!

“Shards of Shell" masterfully balances a story of hurt and healing with sharp wit and humorous situations, leaving the reader with an ‘I can't put it down’ dilemma.

The need to be understood . . . we all feel it. And in you, MK's have found someone who "understands". What a blessing. I have forwarded your 1st book to some missionary friends grappling with the idea of sending their teen daughter away to boarding school. I believe you have a tremendous ministry and calling . . . carry on! I use your books to send to missionaries - you help through your writing in ways that I never could - I am content to be the messenger and delivery person!

THE EDGE OF TIDAL POOLS is well written fiction with vivid “word pictures” and a jolting nonfiction message to parents in general, and parents in ministry to their responsibility to see, hear and meet the emotional as well as physical needs of their children above all else.

Nearly half-way through and finding myself rearranging my schedule to grab more reading minutes in the day!

Michele I enjoyed the book very much. It deals with an important and disturbing subject. I do not think Ben's desperation and religous cynicism is unique to missionary kids but felt by many sensitive kids of any parent who has a consuming passion. Like many others I was sure at some point that you had obtained my long discarded teenage journals. I, like Luke am a survivor but I could easily have been Ben had not I been too weak and God so strong. He put people in my life that were able to bring me out of that abyss. I thank you for the work you continue to do and hope that many people will read ,understand and share your excellent novel. I think it has enough merit to be necessary reading for anyone with kids or who works with kids especially Christian young people. I'll sign off before I end up writing a novel...and you have said it all very well. Thank you.

Beautiful, Michelle. I absolutely loved the book, and seeing the pictures here only makes it more striking. Please write more!

Excellently written and thought provoking. We're looking forward to your next masterpiece!

I hated to put the book down and I hated for it to end. Will there be a sequel? Very well written. It almost felt like I was Casey.

We've never met, but you described me better in your book than I've been able to in 21 years of marriage. My wife thanks you...I'm starting to make more sense to her!

Michele, Bob ordered your book to give me for Christmas. I read it in a day and a half. What a storyteller you are! I can't believe it's your first novel. But I knew from reading your prayer letters that it would hold me from start to finish. AWESOME!