Scottish Fellowship of Christian Writers

Lynda Samuel

The Wonder of God's Providence in the Life of Harry D'Monte by Lynda Samuel

This is a remarkable testimony of a humble Christian, through whose dedicated life God has done mighty things. Childhood poverty taught Harry dependence on God. He cites amusing and heart-rending anecdotes from his schooldays and movingly charts the course of Divine guidance towards his marriage to Poppy. Detailed vignettes from a career in the Indian Post & Telegraphs Dept. demonstrate how God enabled this uncompromising Christian to confront the evil of corrupt systems, to survive plots, death threats and transfers and to retire with his integrity intact. His generous hospitality and gifted Bible teaching made many spiritually rich. Excerpts from his correspondence are laced with loving Biblical exhortation. His feelings as he faces bereavement, amputation and the limitations of immobility are poignantly described. Harry plumbed the depths of 'knowing Christ in the fellowship of His sufferings' and the priceless treasure he found there makes this an inspiring and faith-building read.

The Wonder of God's Providence in the Life of Harry D'Monte    by Lynda Samuel
Review by Donald Banks

Shortly before I read Harry D’Monte’s biography, the television was publicising a brash young man who openly admitted lying about his qualifications in his CV and who stated he would do anything, whatever it took, to get the job on offer. When I turned to Harry D’Monte’s biography it was like a stream of cool water to my soul as I read of a humble, godly man who had lived his life to a different tune, seeking to be faithful to the Lord Jesus, his Master, Friend and Saviour, and to live a life shaped and guided by the Bible.
  He and his wife Poppy had no children of their own, but instead of allowing this to make them bitter and resentful towards God, they informally fostered 50 to 60 boys, helped them with their education, and saw many of come to share their Christian faith.
  His working career was spent in the Indian Post and Telegraphs Department and he was transferred no less than 19 times, sometimes to “punishment” postings because of his refusal to compromise his Christian principles, and at other times to sort out places where corruption was rife.
  At one particularly corrupt place, his fellow workers knew Harry often worked late at night alone in the office, so they arranged to send in a prostitute to compromise his witness. On another occasion, they hired some thugs to break in and beat him up. But the prostitute refused to enter the building and so did the thugs. He later found out why. They had seen an unknown person sitting with him and were afraid. As Harry comments: “The Lord, or His angel, kept my enemies at bay.”
  Lynda Samuel, who has known Harry D’Monte for 25 years, has worked with him to write The Wonder of God’s Providence, the story of his life, mainly using his own words.
  The Wonder of God’s Providence was a blessing to me and I heartedly recommend it. Lynda Samuel has done us all a service in making the life of this man of God available to many who may never have the privilege of meeting him this side of Heaven.

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