Conversation with "A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael"

Well, it would be nice if someone I knew were simultaneously reading the same book, so I could have an actual conversation(s) about some of the topics in the book, but, hey, ... anyway...

Okay so for now I want to talk about the idea of the 'romance' or sensationalistic element of missions or helping those in need. I will begin with a couple of quotes from the book -

Were the Scraps accomplishing anything? Amy wondered. 'Do not say, 'Oh, they interest us.' I do not care about 'interesting' you.
(p.164)

Because missionary reports generally included more about successes than about failures, Amy tried to shift the weight to the other side. 'It is more important that you should know about the reverses than about the successes of the war. We shall have all eternity to celebrate the victories, but we have only the few hours before sunset in which to win them. We are not winning them as we should, because the fact of the reverses is so little realized, and the needed reinforcements are not forthcoming, as they would be if the position were thoroughly understood. . . . So we have tried to tell you the truth - the uninteresting, unromantic truth.'
(p.161-162)

From the book, though, I do get the sense that Amy did long for adventure and thrill in the missionary life, where she could see God work. I think that's cool that Amy wanted to focus more on the truth of what actually happens, rather than romanticizing her work.

I wonder if for me part of my interest in missions (even if it is a somewhat distant interest) and helping those in need is sensationalistic. I'm attracted to photography and videos and ministry fairs and learning about the stories and plight of those in need. But then...I think even when I was a child I was attracted to missions, so, probably the seed of interest was planted by God. Yet still I wonder if part of my interest is fueled in part by external factors...