In her powerful memoir, nurse and humanitarian aid worker Roberta Gately (Lipstick in Afghanistan) explains "the refugees are often friends, people I've come to know and love... like precious gems, I carry their names and memories tucked safely into my heart." Footprints in the Dust shares Gately's cherished experiences in a world that is apprehensive and unsure about the millions of individuals displaced by war and violence. Through her words she illustrates the humanity of a sea of nameless individuals "who fight against the odds to live simple lives of dignity and grace."
Gately knew little about Afghanistan when she volunteered for her first humanitarian effort in 1986. But television images of starving children fleeing their homes during the Soviet invasion were all the motivation she needed to sign up and fly to a foreign land to provide health care in a refugee camp. Her first trip was only a couple of weeks, but it was long enough to intrigue her. She returned to the United States determined to save money for her next experience. This turned into the regular rhythm of her life: saving money to help save lives. Gately's dogged determination resulted in placements in Kenya, the Balkans, Iraq and Darfur. Footprints in the Dust skillfully highlights both the horrors and the joys she encountered.
Compassionate, insightful and honest, Gately's inspiring story is a timely reminder of the bonds we share, those that make us human and far more alike than different. --Jen Forbus, freelancer