Kisses From Katie by Katie Majors Davis
This books is definitely not a normal for this blog. Typically, I don't read a lot of nonfiction or memoirs, but I think this one is definitely worth it. It truly is a wonderful story about redemption and adoption from a Christian perspective.
Summary
What would cause an eighteen-year-old old senior class president and homecoming queen from Nashville, Tennessee, to disobey and disappoint her parents by forgoing college, break her little brother’s heart, lose all but a handful of her friends (because the rest of them think she has gone off the deep end), and break up with the love of her life, all so she could move to Uganda, where she knew only one person but didn’t know any of the language? A passion to make a difference. Katie Davis left over Christmas break her senior year for a short mission trip to Uganda and her life was turned completely inside out. She found herself so moved, so broken by the people and the children of Uganda that she knew her calling was to return and care for them. Her story is like Mother Teresa’s in that she has given up everything—at such a young age—to care for the less fortunate of this world. Katie, a charismatic and articulate young woman, has gone on to adopt 14 children during her time in Uganda, and she completely trusts God for daily provision for her and her family, which includes children with special needs.
To further her reach into the needs of Ugandans, Katie established Amazima Ministries. The ministry matches orphaned children with sponsors worldwide. Each sponsor's $300/year provides schooling, school supplies, three hot meals a day, minor medical care, and spiritual encouragement. Katie expected to have forty children in the program; she had signed up 150 by January 2008; today it sponsors over 400. Another aspect of the ministry is a feeding program created for the displaced Karamojong people—Uganda's poorest citizens. The program feeds lunch to over 1200 children Monday-Friday and sends them home with a plate for food; it also offers basic medical care, Bible study, and general health training.
To further her reach into the needs of Ugandans, Katie established Amazima Ministries. The ministry matches orphaned children with sponsors worldwide. Each sponsor's $300/year provides schooling, school supplies, three hot meals a day, minor medical care, and spiritual encouragement. Katie expected to have forty children in the program; she had signed up 150 by January 2008; today it sponsors over 400. Another aspect of the ministry is a feeding program created for the displaced Karamojong people—Uganda's poorest citizens. The program feeds lunch to over 1200 children Monday-Friday and sends them home with a plate for food; it also offers basic medical care, Bible study, and general health training.
Content:
Romance/Spice/Suggestive Language: Minor, talk of Katie's boyfriend back home and wanting to kiss him. Describes a woman who was a prostitute who "sold her body at night just to feed her kids".
Violence: Mild, talk of war, story of a kid who's head was removed and sold to a witch doctor, war in Uganda, child abuse, and malnutrition.
Alchohol/Drugs: Mild, descriptions of people who made moonshine, made themselves or kids drunk to ease severe hunger.
Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book! It is a very inspiring book, and I found it very encouraging. I loved Katie's vulnerability and faith. The book is broken down into where each chapter is written with the main chapter and a journal entry. The entries typically held some sort of Bible verse of thing she learned from God which makes the book very good for discussions. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
*picture and summary from Goodreads
