Author of: All That You Can't Leave Behind

Perhaps this book was born while I was sucking on a plastic straw in a San Diego McDonald’s.  As I sat there and told my missions pastor about the hundred and one dreams of a twenty-five year old newlywed, the burly blond in his late 40’s listened intently with a smile on his face.

“I want to write,” I said.  Dream one hundred and two.

He paused for a second, searching for the most polite way to say, “What could you possibly write about?”

I didn’t know.  But as the conversation wore on, Brad Buser pushed me past dreaming about living to a place where my life would make a difference for the kingdom of God.  Instead of merely being “interested” in missions, I decided then and there to give my life to God for full-time missions.  And in doing so, I found something worth writing about.  Thanks Brad and may you encourage many more to follow our Savior wherever He leads.  And to all of the other pastors—Kenny, Eloy, Von, Rick, Ray, Jeff, Rick, Anne, Andy—thank you for helping us obey our calling.

I’d like to thank my wonderful wife Heather for being my partner in this life and my helper with this book.  The seminal material of All That You Can’t Leave Behind came from my blog Strangers in Kenya, which I began at the urging of Ian Fraser. Thanks Ian.  I’ve had a slew of great editors along the way as well—my mom Cindy, my sister Emily, Kristy Faber, and Suzanne Geba.  Mike Gaudaur did an awesome job with the cover photos and design.  Thanks for sharing your expertise.

Thanks to Mike Smitley and Father’s Press for caring more about the things of God than dollars and sales.  I’ll always be indebted to you for giving me a shot at sharing my story.

Of course, the biggest thanks of all go to my Lord and Savior.  Thanks for redeeming this mess of a man and giving him more than he could have ever dreamed of.

Ryan J. Murphy