Alice Joyce Hutcheson has led an extraordinary life. Her story is at once entertaining, meaningful, poignant and humorous. She is a consummate musician, a leader and mentor to thousands of young women through Pioneer Girls, and a world traveler. Her adventures and achievements weave in, around and through her lifelong devotion to healing. Her early decision to pursue nursing has enhanced a deep and abiding love of people and of life.

She has ministered to a young boy in the wilds of Tanzania and to a President. She has dealt with both the doyennes of society and its underground elements. She has treated them all with equal care and consideration.

Alice's life has not always been easy. A headstrong and competitive young woman, Alice had to learn painful lessons. Learning how to listen when the Holy Spirit is speaking was not easy. Overcoming the fear of being transparent as a Christian in order to bring others to Christ was difficult. There have been spiritual scars along with the rewards.

As a young girl, Alice adopted Proverbs 3:5 - 6 as her motto. She has endeavored to practice these tenets throughout her life.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Alice's hope is that her story, with its challenges, trials and occasional triumphs, might prove a valuable resource for those seeking to blend their Christian lives with their chosen careers. If even one reader of this book can learn to avoid the pitfalls of negative choices and recognize the possibilities of wise ones, she will have succeeded.

Alice and Norman, her husband of fifty-eight years, make their home in Smithville, Missouri. They can be reached through Avant Ministries, 10000 N. Oak, Kansas City, MO 64155 or at avantministries.org