A Half Century Among the Siamese and the Lāo: An Autobiography

"A Half Century Among the Siamese and the Lāo: An Autobiography" by Daniel McGilvary is a story that tells of the author’s fifty-year journey as a missionary in Siam (now Thailand) and among the Lāo people. In the beginning, McGilvary remembers his life growing up in North Carolina, showing how his early life and faith led him to become a missionary in Siam during the mid-1800s. During his travels, he gets to know the local cultures, works to learn new languages, and starts the Lāo Mission. He really wanted connections with the people there, focusing on teaching, medicine, and sharing his beliefs. The beginning of this autobiography is full of memories and the feeling of wanting to make a difference in the world that shaped McGilvary's life.