Mike Maroney

Recollections and Reflections

History & Biography

“In this memoir, one that is full of wonderful descriptions, Reddish brings to life—and reflects on—his years spent in rural Nigeria in the 1970s as a young boy and teenager. Born to British missionaries, he offers a personal glimpse into Nigeria’s culture in the remote villages where his family lived and worked. With youthful curiosity and cultural sensitivity, he paints a vivid picture of the people, landscapes, local foods, and fauna—including the ever-present danger of scorpions and snakes—all of which remain etched in his memory. This is a captivating account of cultural exchange, personal growth, and an honest and personal reckoning of missionary endeavors in general. His insights into the missionary life reveal the duality of goodwill and the negative consequences that can accompany missionary work or foreign economic intervention. As an American, growing up in Mexico City, and now a citizen of Canada, I found this memoir brought back memories of my childhood lived in two cultures at once, with both its challenges and its richness. It is like living in limbo and in an expanded universe at the same time; an upbringing I would not change for all the money in the world.”