Evidence Not Seen audiobook

*takes a deep breath* Wow! Review to come when I am not an emotional wreck and can digest everything I just read!UPDATED REVIEW:Wow wow wow! What an amazing story!! Mrs. Rose's writing style is pretty much all description and almost no dialogue (rather normal for an autobiography, I guess), which was somewhat hard to wade through, but I am so glad I didn't put this down! The raw bravery and true courage of Darlene Diebler so humbly portrayed throughout was so incredibly inspiring. That was one thing I really liked about this book; Mrs. Rose was clearly a very humble, self effacing woman, and that was depicted in the writing. I loved how she put the focus on God and others, and not herself. Filled with lovely, heart wrenchingly encouraging nuggets throughout, this is a book that went straight to my heart, and I will not forget it easily! Definitely a must read!

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness~Psalm 30:11After four years as a POW, Darlene Deibler is given a dress and shoes before beginning her trip home. Her story of the ministry she began with her husband in Papua New Guinea (they were truly pioneers) and then her experiences as a POW are simply riveting. What an inspiring story. As a child she felt the call to be a missionary and promised to go wherever God would send her. What followed was a marriage to a man (Russell Deibler) who was a gifted preacher and one whose life was cut short in the Pare Pare. His fellow prisoners lovingly carved a cross for his grave and the inscription read: God kiest de besten. Although Darlene was devastated that they were separated during the last 18 months of their marriage, she was not without hope. Darlene testifies so many times in her book about the ways God's spoke to her by bringing scripture to her mind whenever she was struggling. Time after time, God sustained her in suffering and often provided so much more than she asked. When she was at last home with her family after eight years apart and so many when they could not communicate, she made the following observation: Viewing those eight years from this far side, I marvel at the wisdom and love of our God, Who controls the curtains of the stage on which the drama of our lives is played; His hand draws aside the curtains of events only far enough for us to view one sequence at a time. She wondered if she would have been able to set foot on the ship eight years before. As inscribed on Russell's grave, God knew best. This is one of those books that you put in your own personal library and purchase as gifts for others. Highly recommended!

From childhood, Darlene had promised the Lord that she would go where ever he wanted her too, that she wanted to be a missionary. How the Lord used her, and where He took her is an incredible story of faith and miracles, and blessings amidst unbelievable hardships. Evidence Not Seen is the story of Darlene Deibler, who lived, survived, and perhaps in an odd way, thrived in a Japanese prison camp during World War II. It details how she was captured, and many of the day to day occurrences that took place in a camp full of undernourished and overworked women separated from their husbands, brothers, and sons. It is amazing to read of the many, many miracles which the Lord blessed Darlene with. She thought herself foolish to ask her Heavenly Father for one banana, and yet He gave her 92 bananas as a gift. The camp commander was a horrible, hateful man, and yet Darlene's hope for a bright, eternal future changed him, and he in turn was able to save her. Prayers for healing were answered, and so much more that can only be discovered by reading the book.I was extremely impressed by this book. It was inspiring to me to be faithful in the little things, and "bloom where you're planted" for that is exactly what Darlene did. It was also an amazing reminder to me to serve others and not myself. I would highly recommend this book to others!

What if you obeyed God and lost everything? Could you praise Him? Could you thank Him? Darlene learned that she could. I first read this story when I was about 12 or 13. It one of the first Christian biographies that I read that was not written specifically for children. The difference between this first-person recounting of God’s sustaining power through brutal loss and the rather sanitized, and therefore, weakened retelling in those other biographies was stark. The heroine was more flawed and God more glorious. Darlene not only tells us what she experienced, but she also tells us how God carried her through it. She shares the amazing personal lessons she learned along the way so that we too can learn to rely on God through everything. While it is delicately written, it also covers some very brutal scenes. I would still recommend it to everyone. I believe it will be a great encouragement in learning to walk with God.

I think I had read this one years ago.But I felt like I needed to read it again. I knew it would be hard. But I knew I needed the faithful story and testimony of a dear Christian to be rekindled in me. It brought me to tears at certain points. I just loved how real God became to her, and how she could physically feel His presence time after time. She was so young when all this happned to her and her new husband."Viewing those eight years from this far side, I marvel at the wisdom and love of our God, Who controls the curtains of the stage on which the drama of our lives is played; His hand draws aside the curtains of events only far enough for us to view one sequence at a time."

This is probably my favorite book. It is an amazing true story of a missionary who was caught in the turmoil of World War II. Though she did not "deserve" to be placed in a prison camp, she used this opportunity to grow in faith rather than in bitterness. What stood out most to me was her focus on God.Many prison camps had instances which are morally wrong. While Darlene Diebler Rose included some of the true facts, she did it discreetly, reflecting the grief that she felt for the sin.

This was such an amazing story. Seeing how God made Himself known in her life was so encouraging. No matter how big the struggles and circumstances were, she always had faith in God. It was so convicting to me.

Only God can write a story like this one.

What a joyful book! Darlene Deibler is a woman of ironclad faith. Widowed in her early twenties, she spent four years as a POW under the Japanese during WWII. She went through unimaginable hell, but turned to God again and again with absolute trust in His love. This book is like the story of Job—not because it makes it seem like we have nothing we can complain about in comparison, but because it shows us the One we should all go to with our troubles, no matter how big or small. One of the biggest things that struck me is how much trauma and agony and heartbreak God put Darlene through, and how much He loved her. It's fairly easy for me to see how God works all things together for good for those who love Him, but I forget that He works all things together for good because He loves them. Truly, what a great God!

I was told a long time ago I should read this book, and even started it once - back several years ago when I was in Indonesia. I left though before I had time to finish the book, so I picked it up again last month and am thankful I did. This story is an extraordinary one about faith, following God no matter what the cost, and how amazing it is when people go through hard times and come out better because of it. One thing that continually amazed me was how the author kept her senses of humor, adventure, and curiosity, even in the midst of such hardship. This book has a lot of sadness, but also a lot of glimpses at God's abundant grace, power, and love.

this is a wonderful book. i first heard darlene diebler rose when i was about 10 years old at a week of missionary speakers at our church. if she had spoken all night we'd have all stayed all night to listen. her life was filled with god's presence. we heard of a baby coming back to life in the arms of his praying father. we heard a miracle involving life-sustaining bananas. and so much more. i grew up and never heard of her again, until i was listening to focus on the family and heard a missionary being interviewed by dr. dobson. she was being interviewed about a book she had just written. in a very short time - a matter of minutes, i knew this was the same woman i had heard all those years before. i was so excited. i ordered the book immediately and was thrilled to read some stories i remembered from her speaking, and many more i had never heard before. i got her address from focus on the family and wrote to her. she wrote back. she was pretty advanced in age by this time, but she was still doing mission work, this time in the australian outback. i begged her to write one more book, as there were some stories that weren't included in the last book, but i think she was too busy doing God's work to stop and write about it. i wish i could afford to buy this book for everyone i know. it's a book you will never forget.

Wow, just wow! This will be a favorite of mine for the rest of my life! Her captivating story made it hard to put this book down. Her courage, faith in God, and answered prayers were such a challenge to my own life! God will never leave me, and no one is beyond God’s love and forgiveness.

This is one of my favorite books ever. Darlene Deibler Rose's account of her ministry, and the miracles of God's love, provision, and protection during her stay in a Japanese prison as a POW is so beautiful. It is honest and profound, and reaffirms my faith every time I read it.

To quote Bruce Lee, “The successful warrior is the average man with laser like focus.” Darlene was a girl from the Midwest with laser focus to serve the Lord and join many at his feast in the last day. I am stirred to be a better Christian soldier from reading about her life. Also I continue to not be able to handle anything about WWII.