The Captain Commanded Me, "Full Speed Ahead": This is my true story

From Rev. Dr. Ajoy Adhikary 7.0 out of 7.0 stars – From a Hamlet in Sri Lanka to the Riches in Wales Reviewed in Bangalore, India on July 2023 “The MV Marcalan continued sailing and the Captain Commanded Me, ‘Full Speed Ahead’ through the Mediterranean Sea...” It was a classic eureka moment, becoming an impetus in the life of Sharifdeen Nisamdeen. The epic autobiography, orchestrated by him portrays his inspiring real-life adventure covering the entire spectrum of his childhood days in a hamlet in Porapala, Sri Lanka through to the sophisticated Newtown Powys, Mid Wales (UK). Each chapter flows from one segment to another explicitly defining the rationale of the core of this book and complementing it by an anthology of quotations focusing on the author’s objective. In an appealing manner he recalls: his boyhood life (tri-cycle, jackfruits, snake coiling on him, beautiful ghost on bullock cart, …), a daring expedition through unknown gruesome dusty rugged terrain of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran, a life-threatening experience as a heroic seafarer, an audacious navigator (helmsman), when venturing through the rough oceans. He also showcases a galaxy of people who made his mission a blessing, including a dog ‘America’ and ‘suffering heart attack’; together with many carefully selected cases, exercises and problems to illustrate and highlight its practical aspects. In the course of time Nisam’s itinerary took a mysterious twist when a missionary named Asteria, in Belgrade prophesied that God wanted him to go to England where he would have a nation and a family. With that fresh exposure Nisam darted towards the indefinite destination, with these words, as the captain (God) Commanded Me, ‘Full Speed Ahead’. This impetus drove him towards a new era that brought him a new nation, a new career, and a family. Rooted in the author’s life at every turn, this highly stimulating, challenging, well-balanced narration in its brilliance of style and its foretaste comes as a fresh wind, refreshing the mind and showing the way to depth of knowing and being known that we all long for. The meticulous unfolding of events on each page is filled with an aroma of enchanting, practical, helpful counsel, and advice for anyone in times of adversity or success. The author’s innovative brilliance shines in new and unexpected ways with this masterpiece. I love this book because he graphically illustrates how he has seen the “impossible” become “possible” in a host of appalling and obliging situations. It is easy to give up in the midst of a challenge when we forget the power of God to face obstacles “head on” with hope and strength. It explores the wonder of a living God who exceeds all expectations. The flow of the writing gave me a feeling that I too was travelling with the author. The text is complemented by photographs and a sensitive line drawing of his own image. Truly a eureka book with a seven-star rating. I am looking forward to reading this once more!

I am friends on Facebook with the author so bought his book to read

This is a wonderful read which I thoroughly recommend, funny and at times sad but the true travels of a well liked young man as he made his way around the world as a seaman from Sri Lanka ending in a small town in mid Wales called Newtown and a professional job with the NHS as a mental health nurse, I cannot commend this book any higher I enjoyed my read from start to finish

When I write a story I tend to use broad brush strokes, Nisam is a man of details. Interwoven with these details is a fascinating true account of how, looking back, Nisam can see God's hand in his life even before he had given his life to Christ and how now he is born again the blessings of God have been evident in helping acheive all that his God given talents were meant to acheive, going from a small village in Sri Lanka to a successful career with the NHS in Wales.

Loads of mis-spellings of place names and people he worked with .