Pamela McConnell
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Pamela McConnell, MSW, LCSW was raised in a fundamentalist/ evangelical Christian church and family. At age 34 she converted formally to Buddhism. She has recently completed a Pilgrimage in India and Nepal. Earlier, she spent two years in Asia: a year teaching English in S. Korea and a year in Pakistan with her 3rd husband.
She worked as a counselor after earning a B.S. in Psychology. She worked as a hospice social worker for the last 20 years of her career after earning an MSW degree and becoming licensed as an LCSW. She is an avid backpacker and trekker, having done 500 miles on the Appalachian Trail and more than half of the Annapurna Circuit in the Himalayas.
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The Adventures of a Southern (Baptist) Buddhist
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Autobiography, Spirituality
This autobiography is about a girl; born into a conservative, fundamentalist/evangelical family—who then becomes a Liberal Buddhist. Her family moves back to Appalachia, where Pam is molested. She later becomes promiscuous; beginning a pattern of serial dating, marrying and divorcing. At 18 she marries. The only thing they have in common is their son. Two husbands lie about things like having sex with men and being a felon crackhead. Another husband beats her up. Finally, the love of her life hides that he's already married. Pam completes degrees, becomes a counselor, and a hospice LCSW. Her career begins in California, far from the DEEP South. There, she converts to Buddhism and begins to look inward for answers regarding life’s meaning. Pam goes abroad after failed relationships; teaching English in Korea and then going to Pakistan. Her dad dies and Pam bonds with her mom, backpacking on the AT. Leaving the love of her life, she completes a Pilgrimage in India/Nepal. On a Himalayan trek, just over Thorong-la pass, is magical Muktinath with its dedicated temple to a female Buddha. With new perspective, Pam has the realization that Enlightenment is ensured; she WILL become a Buddha someday. 
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