13 Months of Sunshine and Other Fables
The Beauty, Magnificence and Occasional Terror of Growing up as a Missionary Kid in Africa
by Bruce D. Clark

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In 1956, a young Canadian family left behind the comfort and certainty of home to answer a call that would change their lives forever. What began as a mission of service in Egypt and Ethiopia became an extraordinary journey marked by courage, sacrifice, humour, heartbreak, and wonder. Told through the eyes of the oldest son, this deeply personal memoir captures the beauty and hardship of growing up in a rapidly changing Africa, where childhood was shaped by separation, resilience, and unforgettable adventure. At once tender and inspiring, this is a story of family, faith, and the enduring truth that the places we set out to change often change us most of all. For anyone who has ever wrestled with belonging, loss, purpose, or the hope of a new ending, this remarkable memoir is an invitation to remember that even the hardest journeys can leave behind a legacy of grace.

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Bruce D. Clark Phd lives in Huntsville Ontario Canada with his wife of 47 years, Cynthia. Having retired in 2022 from a rewarding career in the pharmaceutical industry, Bruce was, like many retirees, considering what comes next. Looking back on a corporate journey that spanned 35 years, four continents and was personally and technically challenging, he was mindful of the role his early years living in Africa as a Mission Kid played in preparing him for his successful career. For the better part of 17 years as an MK, in Egypt and Ethiopia he overcame challenges, experienced adventures and endured hardships that prepared him for success in the corporate world. This book grew out of the telling and re-telling of a myriad of stories about the early years that his family and, particularly his grandchildren wanted to hear.

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Bruce D. Clark

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