In Letters Home, author Helen Min-Yen Shao shares her story of coming from China to the United States by herself to attend college for four years. The book is comprised of letters that the author wrote and received during her four years as an international student in the United States. By sharing the actual letters written, the author provides a window into her world at the time, and readers will be able to feel like they are on the journey with her. Additionally, the letters included are detailed and well documented, with dates and numbers provided. It shows the amount of effort that went into keeping a record of this time in her life, which is very valuable to the memoir. The author has a compelling story and perspective of moving to a new country by herself and everything that goes into acclimating to a new environment. Readers who have experienced this will relate to her story, and those who have not will have their understanding of broadened. Additionally, the author's story serves as a testimony of the provision and grace of God. She shares how He provided for her every step of the way, and how as her faith continued to grow, she was used by Him to minister to others. Helen Min-yen Shao graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 1963, and she earned a Master's Degree in Christian Education from Faith Theological Seminary in 1984. She worked for the Internal Revenue Service in Brooklyn, New York, and Philadelphia, PA, until retirement in December 2008. After completing a course entitled "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement" in 2009, she has traveled abroad and at home as a member of various short-term mission trips. She lives by herself and visits residents in nursing homes, relatives in China, and various Christian churches.
