February, 2023 | Breana's Blog

Today I am watching for the mail truck, awaiting the delivery of an Irish romance book I’ve been eagerly anticipating: The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel.

Not only does the heroine share my name (although spelled Brianna… sigh), but the book comes out the day after birthday, February 21!

Read my last interview with Jennifer Deibel

While waiting for my copy to come in the mail (and while you’re waiting for yours!), I had the chance to interview Jennifer about her upcoming release.

1. The Maid of Ballymacool is set in 1930s Ireland. What is your favorite aspect of this setting?

It might be easier for me to say what I don’t love!

Seriously, though, I love just about everything involving a historical Irish setting.

One thing I enjoy about the 1930’s is that it’s not a time many people write about when it comes to Ireland. We tend to focus on the Great Hunger and the Irish War of Independence—and rightly so.

However, exploring more unfamiliar time periods really gets my imagination going—especially because rural Ireland was so much slower to get the more modern conveniences, so 1930 in County Donegal was more like the 1910’s were everywhere else in the world.

The Maid of Ballymacool is the featured novel in my March 2023 book box!
Visit cratejoy to order

2. As a romance writer, you are a queen of love stories! What’s your own love story in a nutshell?

Awww, thank you! My love story began my freshman year of college, when I met my now-husband.

Though, really, it started much earlier in our lives, as both our parents had prayed for each of our future spouses. In fact, when we got engaged, my husband’s grandmother gave me a garter to wear on our wedding day that she had bought right after Seth was born. And then she’d prayed over me—even though she had no idea who I would end up being—every day.

But, once we met, it would be two more years before our romance really began to bloom. If we were a romance trope, it would be friends to lovers.

3. Each of your books shares vocabulary from the Irish tongue–your second language! What’s one of your favorite Irish terms or phrases?

Oh, there are so many! And I’ve added almost all my favorites in my books already. But there’s one that always makes me smile. When we were in our langauge class, we were talking about a specific area of County Clare called The Burren, and we were describing it.

I asked our teacher how to say “It’s unique.” He thought for a moment, and then answered: Níl a mhac a samhail in aon ait. It means, “There’s not the likes of it to be found anywhere.”

4. What do you hope readers will come away with after reading The Maid of Ballymacool?

My prayer for this book is that anyone who feels—or has ever felt—unseen, overlooked, or stuck in a seemingly impossible circumstance, would realize just how seen and loved they really are. And that they would turn to God to find it. And for those who are secure in who they are and how much they’re loved to reach out to those around them who don’t know.

Read my interview with Gabrielle Meyer

Thanks for talking with me, Jen!

If you’re putting The Maid of Ballymacool on your To Be Read list, here’s a tip– preorder before February 21 from Baker Book House and you’ll get 40% off and free shipping.

Why move to the poorest country in the world when you could be living the American Dream?

That’s the big question people have for doctors in African hospitals who give up their high-earning practices back home to live and work in Burundi.

And there’s a good answer, too.

While we were in Burundi last summer, we had the chance to meet many people who have done this very thing.

Burundi, according to gross national income measurements, is the poorest country in the world.

That’s just an economic measure, of course. It’s not a measure of natural resources, happiness, overall wellbeing, social health, satisfaction with one’s life, etc. Money’s not everything. But it does impact access to healthcare as well as the ability of people to pursue higher education that would lead to more nationals becoming healthcare professionals.

With a lack of access to healthcare, particularly in rural regions, many people suffer devastation from easily-treated diseases like malaria.

We’ve seen this happen even to our own family members, who, as expats with cars and insurance for medical evacuation, have far more access to medical treatment.

If you’ve been following our story for a while, you may have read about Ben’s near-death experiences growing up in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ben’s Story

In a nutshell, Ben nearly died twice in high school. In both cases, both expat and national healthcare professionals were able to save his life.

Because of these experiences, Ben recognized the need for more expat doctors as well as more opportunities for Burundian nationals to become doctors.

So, he spent the next decade-plus of his life preparing to fill that need.

How to Become a Doctor: Our Journey in Picutres

Part of the reason for our trip to Africa was to tour hospitals and visit with doctors–both expat and national– to ask questions and see where Ben might be able to fit in the future, when we’ve paid off the student loans and are in a position to do medical ministry overseas.

Playing on a African hospital’s compound. In the background, Ben meeting with doctors from this hospital.

Planning to move overseas is complicated.

Hoping to do medical work is even more so. There are a lot of questions to consider.

What hospital/clinic has needs we can fill?
What sending organization do we go with?
Where will our family fit in?
Do we work for an international NGO or a local-run institution?
How much change can we handle right off the bat?
Will our kids be OK here? (This is the one that really weighs on my mind)

Expat doctors live and work on this compound

We came away with a lot of great options. Still, we have a lot of unanswered questions. That’s OK, because we have a lot of unpaid debt, too, so we have some time to figure out the best fit for us when we’re able to go overseas.

We haven’t taken meaningful steps toward moving yet, and James 4:14-15 is always in the back of my head when I talk about our hopes for the future.

Still, we get asked all the time: Why? Why would you want to give up your life in America and move somewhere like Burundi?

The surface-level answer is that Ben is from there. It is home. It was the plan all along and the only reason that Ben had any interest in slogging through eleven years of medical training.

The deeper answer is that Jesus is worth it.

I’ve discovered that answer is a great testimony to our faith and God’s glory. People can argue with your apologetics. But not with your personal experience of Jesus’ worthiness and your willingness to press into that with your own life decisions.

Why struggle on with a difficult season in marriage? Jesus is worth it. Why become a foster parent? Jesus is worth it. Why forgive the family member who hurt you deeply? Jesus is worth it. Why choose a career walking alongside hurting people? Jesus is worth it.

Friends, I don’t know what choices you’re making or what seasons you’re walking through. But I pray that wherever you’re choosing obedience to Christ, you’ll have the chance to give his name glory by telling others that Jesus is worth it.

Africa Day 1: 30 Hours in Transit

Africa Day 2: Crossing Burundi

Africa Day 3: A Dowry Ceremony

Africa Day 4: A Burundian Wedding

Africa Day 5: Gisuru School for the Deaf

Africa Day 6: How to Make Mudbricks

Africa Day 7: How to Make an African Coil Basket