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Kisses from Katie
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 sponors 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.
Katie Davis, now 21, is more than fascinating, she's inspiring, as she has wholeheartedly answered the call to serve.
To further her reach into the needs of Ugandans, Katie established Amazima Ministries. The ministry matches orphaned children with sponors 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.
Katie Davis, now 21, is more than fascinating, she's inspiring, as she has wholeheartedly answered the call to serve.
275 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2011
About the author
Katie Davis Majors
4 books185 followersKatie Davis Majors moved to Uganda over a decade ago with no idea that this would be the place that God chose to build her home and her family. Today, she is a wife to Benji and mom to her fourteen favorite people. Katie and her family invest their lives in empowering the people of Uganda with education, medical care, and spiritual discipleship. She is also the founder of Amazima Ministries, an organization that cares for vulnerable children and families in Uganda and the author of the New York Times bestseller Kisses from Katie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,779 reviews
November 15, 2017
Enough has been said to praise this book, and what Katie Davis has accomplished is deserving of praise. But this book is severely lacking in cultural awareness or sensitivity. Instead of showing herself completely immersed in Ugandan culture, Katie instead uses the gospel to provide a "universal" truth that everyone engages in. Herein lies the problem, what Ugandan culture that is displayed is often negative, "African people's time", the tendency of step-mothers to neglect their children, the habit of her children--though this is portrayed affectionately--to play with trash. It's only through the discovery of Jesus that the Ugandan people are able to be truly fulfilled or achieve some worth. Add in the constant repetition of the colored skin difference, Katie's children are not just her children but they're her "brown", "chocolate colored" children who disappear into the night save for their teeth. We get it, she's in Africa, she's the only white person there, why does it bear repeating that all her children are brown? Why must we continue to read descriptions about their brown features?
Though Katie Davis service in Uganda is much needed, her savior complex, evidenced in the last scene in the book where one of "her" children is claimed by the biological mother and the long winded diatribe that Katie goes on about how the world is unfair and that unfair things happen to good people (her, because an African mother claiming her child is a bad thing?)makes it almost dangerous. Katie Davis would benefit from reading more, from educating herself on colonialism, and from stopping and thinking if going in as the all benevolent white savior is a positive influence on a country that has a history of being pillaged and undergoing social upheaval because of the benevolent European colonizers is positive in the long term for Uganda. The book was not terrible, and if you want to read about why it was good, stop and read some of the other reviews. It was often misguided and presented a narrow world viewpoint.
Though Katie Davis service in Uganda is much needed, her savior complex, evidenced in the last scene in the book where one of "her" children is claimed by the biological mother and the long winded diatribe that Katie goes on about how the world is unfair and that unfair things happen to good people (her, because an African mother claiming her child is a bad thing?)makes it almost dangerous. Katie Davis would benefit from reading more, from educating herself on colonialism, and from stopping and thinking if going in as the all benevolent white savior is a positive influence on a country that has a history of being pillaged and undergoing social upheaval because of the benevolent European colonizers is positive in the long term for Uganda. The book was not terrible, and if you want to read about why it was good, stop and read some of the other reviews. It was often misguided and presented a narrow world viewpoint.
February 15, 2018
I originally gave the audio of this book 1 star= I didn't like it. I found that difficult to do due to really wanting to like the book and due to the similarities between Katie's work in Uganda and my own work with street children in the Philippines. I found so much of Katie's story mirrored my own experiences. The desperate poverty and wanting to take every person in to your home....
I have now read the book and found it better than the audio. The lady audio narrator tells the story in such a sickly sweet and overly emotional manner that I found myself cringing all the way through and skipping over the last third of the book, which actually turned out to be the best part of it.
The good: Katie is obviously sincere in her desire to share the Gospel and to help people. She makes huge personal sacrifices, effectively giving up her life in the USA, her education and her relationship with her boyfriend in order to go to the mission field. She perseveres and is still working there. She set up an organisation which carries on a wide range of work including livelihood, education and Gospel work. There are testimonies on her website of some whose lives have been changed.
She finds herself in seemingly impossible situations that make her heart ache. She never refuses to help and always finds practical solutions. The people know that they can turn to her. I don't know how someone of her age and life experience managed to endure all of the suffering that she describes and am sure she would have been overwhelmed but for her trust in God. There are some incredible stories of people being nursed back to health from death's door.
The question marks: Katie set about fostering/adopting numerous children as a single within a year of being in Uganda without really knowing the people or the culture and with an outstanding promise to her parents to return to the USA and complete her studies. Throughout the book she speaks about God leading her to do these things as if her refusal would be disobedience. She doesn't refer to taking counsel or advice from anyone else. She doesn't appear to be accountable to anyone or to a local church. This leaves a lot of room for subjective decision making and error. We all need accountability and we can all mistake the will of God at times. The fact that God appears to have been gracious to her does not mean that this is a good example for others heading to the field. The end doesn't justify the means. We need to make wise decisions and take counsel.
I felt also that the focus was too much on help/education and not enough on the transforming power of the Gospel. Katie said this
Obviously, the key to eternal life is Jesus, but the key to a better life here is education.
I disagree with this statement. The key to both our lives on earth and in heaven is Jesus. We can raise the living standards of a community through education but the Gospel still needs to be the focal point of the entire operation--help without hope is the ultimate tragedy.
I guess my main problem with the story isn't so much what is said but the style of writing. I found her account full of emotionalism and her personal spiritual experiences and what she is learning from God. When someone says repeatedly that they will die if something or other happens or doesn't happen, it loses its effect and sounds fake. I believe that Katie probably did feel strong emotions and she writes part of the book like a journal so it is her thoughts and feelings. However, I would have preferred to have learned more about the actual things she was doing on a day to day basis and the lives of the children and the ministry rather than so much about her emotions.
I didn't think it was a good decision for Katie to go to court to try and keep one of the children she had fostered when the biological mother claimed her. Katie had only had the girl for two years and already had thirteen children. Her goal should always have been to try and re-unite the children with their biological families where-ever possible. She describes the court's decision over this issue as unjust and unfair although she accepts it in the end as being part of a fallen world....but what about the best outcome for the child, we know nothing about the birth mother.
I am pleased that I re-read this and am able to rate it slightly more highly as it seems a shame to give a fellow missionary a low rating. I hope Katie continues her work for God in Uganda, I see that she is now married which is great news both for Katie and for the continuation of her ministry.
I recommend this book for those who need to be reminded that God can do the impossible if we are willing. There is no bad language, sexual content or violence.
I have now read the book and found it better than the audio. The lady audio narrator tells the story in such a sickly sweet and overly emotional manner that I found myself cringing all the way through and skipping over the last third of the book, which actually turned out to be the best part of it.
The good: Katie is obviously sincere in her desire to share the Gospel and to help people. She makes huge personal sacrifices, effectively giving up her life in the USA, her education and her relationship with her boyfriend in order to go to the mission field. She perseveres and is still working there. She set up an organisation which carries on a wide range of work including livelihood, education and Gospel work. There are testimonies on her website of some whose lives have been changed.
She finds herself in seemingly impossible situations that make her heart ache. She never refuses to help and always finds practical solutions. The people know that they can turn to her. I don't know how someone of her age and life experience managed to endure all of the suffering that she describes and am sure she would have been overwhelmed but for her trust in God. There are some incredible stories of people being nursed back to health from death's door.
The question marks: Katie set about fostering/adopting numerous children as a single within a year of being in Uganda without really knowing the people or the culture and with an outstanding promise to her parents to return to the USA and complete her studies. Throughout the book she speaks about God leading her to do these things as if her refusal would be disobedience. She doesn't refer to taking counsel or advice from anyone else. She doesn't appear to be accountable to anyone or to a local church. This leaves a lot of room for subjective decision making and error. We all need accountability and we can all mistake the will of God at times. The fact that God appears to have been gracious to her does not mean that this is a good example for others heading to the field. The end doesn't justify the means. We need to make wise decisions and take counsel.
I felt also that the focus was too much on help/education and not enough on the transforming power of the Gospel. Katie said this
Obviously, the key to eternal life is Jesus, but the key to a better life here is education.
I disagree with this statement. The key to both our lives on earth and in heaven is Jesus. We can raise the living standards of a community through education but the Gospel still needs to be the focal point of the entire operation--help without hope is the ultimate tragedy.
I guess my main problem with the story isn't so much what is said but the style of writing. I found her account full of emotionalism and her personal spiritual experiences and what she is learning from God. When someone says repeatedly that they will die if something or other happens or doesn't happen, it loses its effect and sounds fake. I believe that Katie probably did feel strong emotions and she writes part of the book like a journal so it is her thoughts and feelings. However, I would have preferred to have learned more about the actual things she was doing on a day to day basis and the lives of the children and the ministry rather than so much about her emotions.
I didn't think it was a good decision for Katie to go to court to try and keep one of the children she had fostered when the biological mother claimed her. Katie had only had the girl for two years and already had thirteen children. Her goal should always have been to try and re-unite the children with their biological families where-ever possible. She describes the court's decision over this issue as unjust and unfair although she accepts it in the end as being part of a fallen world....but what about the best outcome for the child, we know nothing about the birth mother.
I am pleased that I re-read this and am able to rate it slightly more highly as it seems a shame to give a fellow missionary a low rating. I hope Katie continues her work for God in Uganda, I see that she is now married which is great news both for Katie and for the continuation of her ministry.
I recommend this book for those who need to be reminded that God can do the impossible if we are willing. There is no bad language, sexual content or violence.
June 13, 2011
This is a very strange book. First, the comparisons of a 22 year old to Mother Theresa ( the galley I had referred to Greg Mortenson on the back too, but I'm guessing they'll take that off) kind of put me off to begin with. Second, the hysterical tone of the religious language and the patronizing attitude toward the Ugandans she works with was disturbing. Why would someone hire a teenager who didn't speak the local language to teach kindergarten? Was she actually being paid a salary? Was it more or less than they paid the interpreter in her classroom? These are the kinds of questions that this book raises for a cynical reader (obviously me). Davis refers to herself as the "mother" of 14 Ugandan girls, but, in actuality, she is running a foster home. She receives payments from the non-profit her parents established in the U.S. to cover all of the household's expenses. She leaves Uganda for weeks and even months at a time. Certainly, I understand why she would travel home to the U.S. to be with her parents and to attend college. But a mother of 13 children would never do this. Mothers of thirteen children are generally not supported by generous charitable donations. At 22, how can she claim that she knows she will be able to provide the life long care and educational opportunities that she would have provided for her biological children if she had chosen to stay in her upper class home in the U.S.? As a charity, it's admirable, but the kind of saintly hero status this book tries to establish for its narrator is neither believable nor healthy. Another fundraising book, and this one full of condescending references to "chocolate colored" children. "When you give, do not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing." Surprised Davis doesn't think of this verse in all her bible spouting.
December 4, 2017
About this book:
“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.”
Series: There is a sequel titled “Daring to Hope”; review of that book Here!
Spiritual Content- All about God, Jesus, Katie’s faith and her love for Jesus, witnessing, praying, God’s grace, His will, & Him leading her; Tons of Scriptures are read, quoted, mentioned, talked about, & referenced; Many prayers; Tons of Talks about God, Jesus, praying, & faiths; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; All about mentions of God, trusting Him, His will, praying, & witnessing; Many mentions of God & following His will; Many mentions of Bibles, Bible reading and studying; Many mentions of & talks about those & events from the Bible; Many mentions of prayers, praying, & answered prayers; Many mentions of Christians, faiths, & love for the Lord; Many mentions of blessings & being blessed; Mentions of thanking, praising, & worshiping God; Mentions of churches, church going, services, & pastors; Mentions of Sunday School classes & Bible studies; Mentions of Jesus’ birth, the nativity, & Christmas; Mentions of Heaven; Mentions of mission work & missionaries; Mentions of miracles; A few mentions of sins;
*Note: A few mentions of religions; A few mentions of the devil & a witch doctor; A mention of a weekend that felt like hell.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘duh’, a ‘shut up’, and two forms of ‘stupid’; Many mentions of diseases, illnesses, starvation/malnutrition, wounds, blood/bleeding, pain, & deaths (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of wars, fighting, killing, & deaths; Mentions of abusive parental figures & being punished wrongly; Mentions of fathers leaving their families; Mentions of insects that cause diseases; Mentions of homemade alcohol, drinking, drunks, & alcoholics; Mentions of throwing up & vomit; Mentions of sewage, waste, & smells (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of children abducted and sold, & child slaves; A few mentions of a man who killed his stepson and sold a body part to a witch doctor; A few mentions of prisons & killing in the Bible; A few mentions of accidents & injuries; A few mentions of lies; A couple mentions of drug addicts; A couple mentions of gossip; A mention of a murderer from the Bible.
Sexual Content- Mentions of dating, dates, boys, & boyfriends; A couple mentions of rebels raping women and children (no details); A couple mentions of how some men looked at & spoke to Katie;
*Note: Mentions of prostitution, prostitutes, & a woman selling her body; A mention of Sarah having her servant sleep with Sarah’s husband in the Bible; A mention of a need for basic education in matters of hygiene and sexual behavior in Uganda.
-Katie Davis
P.O.V. switches between them
280 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Four Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Five Stars
{Add ½ to a full star for those interested in caring for orphans}
I love this book.
Y’all, I love this book.
Let me back up: I first read this book when I was fourteen. It was a library book and as I’m flying through reading these pages on my parent’s bed, I kept thinking: “I don’t want to give this book back. I don’t want to…” I even asked my mom if it was possible for me to buy this copy from the library. Because I did not want to give this book back to the library. (Her answer was, of course, no and let’s just go buy my own copy.)
Even since I first read this book, Katie Davis has been a role model for me.
I’ve talked about how much I love this book in a few of my YouTube videos, but not in the sense of when I was a new teenager, a certain Asian country was on my heart. Reading about Katie’s experiences of being away from the country her heart was in, had me yelling “She gets it! She knows what I’m feeling! I know what she’s feeling!” At that time, I hadn’t yet been to my country, though, so looking back, it wasn’t quite the same. ;)
Rereading this book in preparation of her newest release, Daring to Hope, (which was already been reviewed Here!) had me recalling all those emotions of reading about Katie, her growing family, & their incredible faiths.
This time, though, I had my own copy to underline the majority of the book. ;)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“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.”
Series: There is a sequel titled “Daring to Hope”; review of that book Here!
Spiritual Content- All about God, Jesus, Katie’s faith and her love for Jesus, witnessing, praying, God’s grace, His will, & Him leading her; Tons of Scriptures are read, quoted, mentioned, talked about, & referenced; Many prayers; Tons of Talks about God, Jesus, praying, & faiths; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; All about mentions of God, trusting Him, His will, praying, & witnessing; Many mentions of God & following His will; Many mentions of Bibles, Bible reading and studying; Many mentions of & talks about those & events from the Bible; Many mentions of prayers, praying, & answered prayers; Many mentions of Christians, faiths, & love for the Lord; Many mentions of blessings & being blessed; Mentions of thanking, praising, & worshiping God; Mentions of churches, church going, services, & pastors; Mentions of Sunday School classes & Bible studies; Mentions of Jesus’ birth, the nativity, & Christmas; Mentions of Heaven; Mentions of mission work & missionaries; Mentions of miracles; A few mentions of sins;
*Note: A few mentions of religions; A few mentions of the devil & a witch doctor; A mention of a weekend that felt like hell.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘duh’, a ‘shut up’, and two forms of ‘stupid’; Many mentions of diseases, illnesses, starvation/malnutrition, wounds, blood/bleeding, pain, & deaths (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of wars, fighting, killing, & deaths; Mentions of abusive parental figures & being punished wrongly; Mentions of fathers leaving their families; Mentions of insects that cause diseases; Mentions of homemade alcohol, drinking, drunks, & alcoholics; Mentions of throwing up & vomit; Mentions of sewage, waste, & smells (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of children abducted and sold, & child slaves; A few mentions of a man who killed his stepson and sold a body part to a witch doctor; A few mentions of prisons & killing in the Bible; A few mentions of accidents & injuries; A few mentions of lies; A couple mentions of drug addicts; A couple mentions of gossip; A mention of a murderer from the Bible.
Sexual Content- Mentions of dating, dates, boys, & boyfriends; A couple mentions of rebels raping women and children (no details); A couple mentions of how some men looked at & spoke to Katie;
*Note: Mentions of prostitution, prostitutes, & a woman selling her body; A mention of Sarah having her servant sleep with Sarah’s husband in the Bible; A mention of a need for basic education in matters of hygiene and sexual behavior in Uganda.
-Katie Davis
P.O.V. switches between them
280 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Four Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Five Stars
{Add ½ to a full star for those interested in caring for orphans}
I love this book.
Y’all, I love this book.
Let me back up: I first read this book when I was fourteen. It was a library book and as I’m flying through reading these pages on my parent’s bed, I kept thinking: “I don’t want to give this book back. I don’t want to…” I even asked my mom if it was possible for me to buy this copy from the library. Because I did not want to give this book back to the library. (Her answer was, of course, no and let’s just go buy my own copy.)
Even since I first read this book, Katie Davis has been a role model for me.
I’ve talked about how much I love this book in a few of my YouTube videos, but not in the sense of when I was a new teenager, a certain Asian country was on my heart. Reading about Katie’s experiences of being away from the country her heart was in, had me yelling “She gets it! She knows what I’m feeling! I know what she’s feeling!” At that time, I hadn’t yet been to my country, though, so looking back, it wasn’t quite the same. ;)
Rereading this book in preparation of her newest release, Daring to Hope, (which was already been reviewed Here!) had me recalling all those emotions of reading about Katie, her growing family, & their incredible faiths.
This time, though, I had my own copy to underline the majority of the book. ;)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
July 23, 2013
Whoa. So, this book ended up being not quite what I expected and yet exactly what I needed. I went in expecting a touching story about a young, beautiful Christian girl who goes to Africa and cares for some children there. What I got was an honest confession from a young woman trying to follow the Lord about how hard it can be to do just that, especially when He's calling you to do something that seems crazy and difficult. And yet, she discovered great joy and peace doing just that - the hard stuff He asked her to do.
I loved every chapter, every honest journal entry, every story about another child needing a mother and Katie being able to say 'yes' in the Lord's strength. I expected to have a lot of guilt when I finished reading - "Why am I not in Africa helping orphans? Why am I such a horrible Christian? Why am I so selfish and she's so awesome?"; etc. But it's clear from her writing and her heart that this isn't the point of the book at all. The point of the book is to illustrate what's possible when I simply say 'yes' to WHATEVER the Lord would have me to do, whether it's go to Africa and adopt 13 daughters as a single woman, or whether it's live in Denton, Texas, raise my sons to know the Lord, and reach out to whomever He points me to. I finished the book feeling not guilty, but inspired and encouraged to say 'yes' to Jesus in my own life. Loved it.
I loved every chapter, every honest journal entry, every story about another child needing a mother and Katie being able to say 'yes' in the Lord's strength. I expected to have a lot of guilt when I finished reading - "Why am I not in Africa helping orphans? Why am I such a horrible Christian? Why am I so selfish and she's so awesome?"; etc. But it's clear from her writing and her heart that this isn't the point of the book at all. The point of the book is to illustrate what's possible when I simply say 'yes' to WHATEVER the Lord would have me to do, whether it's go to Africa and adopt 13 daughters as a single woman, or whether it's live in Denton, Texas, raise my sons to know the Lord, and reach out to whomever He points me to. I finished the book feeling not guilty, but inspired and encouraged to say 'yes' to Jesus in my own life. Loved it.
September 13, 2012
I get why this book is so popular. Katie has a great heart, and God is using her. It's inspiring.
But...Read it while simultaneously reading it while reading 'when helping hurts'....probably gave me a little bit of 'ugh'.....
BTW--READ WHEN HELPING HURTS, 5 stars!!!!!
Here's the thing that made me give this book 3 stars. The way she did things/does some things is pretty much exactly how I DON'T want to do things here. (don't get me wrong.....I love her heart for adoption and helping the least of these).......
*I don't think she has any business writing a book (YET).....she is too young and too new in the ministry. Spend 10 years there, give yourself away, go through some darkness and failure and even more success and fruit, and then write a book..... that book, I would read happily. She's way too new/young in cc-ministry to be writing a book....she's setting herself up for a fall.
*Africa (or India) Does not need another 'great white hope'.....
The white-bread american girl going in and making such huge decisions in the community---and becoming 'mommy' to the masses? really, does anyone else see this as 100% unhealthy??
*She's neither seasoned, experienced, or educated enough to even know why this might be unhealthy.
*People love the story.....it's enticing. Sweet young high school grad, cheerleader, leaves everything behind to become mommy to a bunch of girls in the middle of Africa....... but community transformation? I don't know....there's not enough place to type what I'm actually thinking. I get the way people are taken in by the story..but I am kinda turned off. Her approach is a reminder of all the wrong approaches taken over the years in CC ministry.
*She has a great heart, and I give her credit, she's been faithful, she seems passionate, she's obviously has a beautiful heart for Jesus, I wish she had someone older and wiser speaking into her life in the area of actual cc-ministry.
I don't know, not my best written review.......but overall, 3 stars. Good story, interesting.....but I definitely wasn't crazy over it. America doesn't need any more Christian missonary super stars.....or books with un-realistic unhealthy methods being modeled. We already have God-complexes as it is. Instead of reading kisses from katie, go read 'when helping hurts'.....or if you MUST read Kisses from Katie, then read it only AFTER reading 'when helping hurts.'
But...Read it while simultaneously reading it while reading 'when helping hurts'....probably gave me a little bit of 'ugh'.....
BTW--READ WHEN HELPING HURTS, 5 stars!!!!!
Here's the thing that made me give this book 3 stars. The way she did things/does some things is pretty much exactly how I DON'T want to do things here. (don't get me wrong.....I love her heart for adoption and helping the least of these).......
*I don't think she has any business writing a book (YET).....she is too young and too new in the ministry. Spend 10 years there, give yourself away, go through some darkness and failure and even more success and fruit, and then write a book..... that book, I would read happily. She's way too new/young in cc-ministry to be writing a book....she's setting herself up for a fall.
*Africa (or India) Does not need another 'great white hope'.....
The white-bread american girl going in and making such huge decisions in the community---and becoming 'mommy' to the masses? really, does anyone else see this as 100% unhealthy??
*She's neither seasoned, experienced, or educated enough to even know why this might be unhealthy.
*People love the story.....it's enticing. Sweet young high school grad, cheerleader, leaves everything behind to become mommy to a bunch of girls in the middle of Africa....... but community transformation? I don't know....there's not enough place to type what I'm actually thinking. I get the way people are taken in by the story..but I am kinda turned off. Her approach is a reminder of all the wrong approaches taken over the years in CC ministry.
*She has a great heart, and I give her credit, she's been faithful, she seems passionate, she's obviously has a beautiful heart for Jesus, I wish she had someone older and wiser speaking into her life in the area of actual cc-ministry.
I don't know, not my best written review.......but overall, 3 stars. Good story, interesting.....but I definitely wasn't crazy over it. America doesn't need any more Christian missonary super stars.....or books with un-realistic unhealthy methods being modeled. We already have God-complexes as it is. Instead of reading kisses from katie, go read 'when helping hurts'.....or if you MUST read Kisses from Katie, then read it only AFTER reading 'when helping hurts.'
July 18, 2017
She’s twenty-two years old, raising fourteen little girls in a dot on a map called Uganda. How did Katie Davis, high school student from Nashville, Tennessee, end up mothering children in East Africa? In her own words . . .
“ Jesus wrecked my life. For as long as I could remember, I had everything this world says is important. In high school, I was class president, homecoming queen, top of my class. I dated cute boys and wore cute shoes and drove a cute sports car. I had wonderful, supportive parents who so desired my success that they would have paid for me to go to college anywhere my heart desired. But I loved Jesus.
Slowly but surely I began to realize the truth: I had loved and admired and worshiped Jesus without doing what He said . . . I wanted to actually do what Jesus said to do.
So I quit my life.
I quit college; I quit cute designer clothes and my little yellow convertible; I quit my boyfriend. I no longer have all the things the world says are important. I do not have a retirement fund; I do not even have electricity some days.
But I have everything I know is important. I have a joy and a peace that are unimaginable and can come only from a place better than this earth. I cannot fathom being happier.
,b>Jesus wrecked my life, shattered it to pieces, and put it back together more beautifully.”
Katie’s boldness and compassion truly inspired me. I was amazed to find such wisdom in one so young. The lessons she has learned touched my heart.
Grab this book! Soak in her story and let it change you. Then pass it on to every young person you know.
Follow this link the review on my blog to see some beautiful pics of Katie and her family!
“ Jesus wrecked my life. For as long as I could remember, I had everything this world says is important. In high school, I was class president, homecoming queen, top of my class. I dated cute boys and wore cute shoes and drove a cute sports car. I had wonderful, supportive parents who so desired my success that they would have paid for me to go to college anywhere my heart desired. But I loved Jesus.
Slowly but surely I began to realize the truth: I had loved and admired and worshiped Jesus without doing what He said . . . I wanted to actually do what Jesus said to do.
So I quit my life.
I quit college; I quit cute designer clothes and my little yellow convertible; I quit my boyfriend. I no longer have all the things the world says are important. I do not have a retirement fund; I do not even have electricity some days.
But I have everything I know is important. I have a joy and a peace that are unimaginable and can come only from a place better than this earth. I cannot fathom being happier.
,b>Jesus wrecked my life, shattered it to pieces, and put it back together more beautifully.”
Katie’s boldness and compassion truly inspired me. I was amazed to find such wisdom in one so young. The lessons she has learned touched my heart.
Grab this book! Soak in her story and let it change you. Then pass it on to every young person you know.
Follow this link the review on my blog to see some beautiful pics of Katie and her family!
April 15, 2012
If I could give this book more stars I would. I was so inspired by Katie Davis's story of her work in Uganda with orphans. She reminds me of a modern day Mother Theresa. Her heart to live out the Love of Christ has really touched my heart. I highly recommend this book.
October 10, 2011
Katie Davis was an 18-year-old senior class president and a homecoming queen living in Nashville Tennessee when she decided she wanted to become a missionary and put her plans for college (and pleasing her parents) on hold. She left over Christmas break during her senior year and headed to Uganda. What was supposed to be a short-term mission turned into a life-long passion for this young lady who once admitted to wanting to be Mother Theresa when she grew up. Katie fell in love with the people of Uganda, especially the children, and realized that she could make a change. She established a ministry called Amazima which feeds hundreds of children and sends them to school. She also is working on adopting thirteen Ugandan children. Katie Davis shows us in Kisses From Katie that sometimes following Jesus will lead you down unexpected, but extremely joyful paths.
What I Liked About the Book: Katie Davis is definitely an inspiration. She had a luxurious life in an upper-class neighborhood and could have simply taken advantage of all that had to offer. Rather, she forged her own path, leaving luxuries behind but finding true happiness in the meantime. I am always impressed by people with such devout faith, who are so sure of the path they are following.
What I Didn’t Like About the Book: Truthfully, this book wasn’t my cup of tea. I am impressed with Katie Davis and the wonderful things she is doing in Uganda, but I found the writing to be a bit heavy handed and overly laden with religion. I was expecting a fair amount of religious jargon, but it truly was overwhelming to me. I had to put the book down several times and come back to it because it was so off-putting. I think I would have enjoyed the book a great deal more if the author simply would have told her story without so many biblical references.
Review first published on http://pagesofgold.blogspot.com
What I Liked About the Book: Katie Davis is definitely an inspiration. She had a luxurious life in an upper-class neighborhood and could have simply taken advantage of all that had to offer. Rather, she forged her own path, leaving luxuries behind but finding true happiness in the meantime. I am always impressed by people with such devout faith, who are so sure of the path they are following.
What I Didn’t Like About the Book: Truthfully, this book wasn’t my cup of tea. I am impressed with Katie Davis and the wonderful things she is doing in Uganda, but I found the writing to be a bit heavy handed and overly laden with religion. I was expecting a fair amount of religious jargon, but it truly was overwhelming to me. I had to put the book down several times and come back to it because it was so off-putting. I think I would have enjoyed the book a great deal more if the author simply would have told her story without so many biblical references.
Review first published on http://pagesofgold.blogspot.com
March 17, 2020
She left everything she knew to do what she was meant to. She went to Africa to take care of orphans and that lead to teaching and then adopting 14 little girls and making a huge difference in their community.
This made me smile and made me cry and I couldnt have loved it more.
Katie knew what she had to do at a young age and I liked that she said that it was difficult and hard and just how different they lived their and how the children were treated and taken care of.
We get to see journal entries from her first few years in Africa and many bible verses that helped her and helped her help others.
It shows that the holy spirit does turly work through people to do amazing things.
Definitely picking up her other book soon.
Update: after reading both of her books I felt lead to sponsor another child through compassion. I now am sponsoring three little girls!
This made me smile and made me cry and I couldnt have loved it more.
Katie knew what she had to do at a young age and I liked that she said that it was difficult and hard and just how different they lived their and how the children were treated and taken care of.
We get to see journal entries from her first few years in Africa and many bible verses that helped her and helped her help others.
It shows that the holy spirit does turly work through people to do amazing things.
Definitely picking up her other book soon.
Update: after reading both of her books I felt lead to sponsor another child through compassion. I now am sponsoring three little girls!
August 24, 2018
finally finished!! Altho I had hiccups while reading it (not bc of the book, just life) I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. Throughout the entire thing, I just related to Katie SO MUCH from my experience falling in love with foreign missions. What a beautiful testimony!!
December 20, 2016
I have so many issues with this book. It made me angry to the point that I wanted to throw it across the room - but I will try to keep my cool enough to review it coherently. However, I do want to explain why I am so cross, so if you are easily offended you might want to stop reading!
As someone who has visited Uganda, I was looking forward to having a unique insight into the work Katie is doing out there and being able to relate to her experiences. I quickly realised that reading this book was not going to be as rewarding as I'd hoped. The patronising tone got my back up instantly, and I was not impressed at having religion rammed down my throat on every single page. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that Katie has her faith and I'm glad that works for her - but it's not necessarily for me, and I don't enjoy being bombarded with sickly sweet assertions about Jesus every other line.
Also, it amazes me how a person doing this kind of work can be so self-centred. I wanted to read about the children, the school, the people of Uganda and the wonderful happy spirits that I witnessed for myself. Instead, there was a lot of whining about the challenges that Katie faced. Yes, I know that such a huge life change would have been extremely difficult and would come with daily upsets, but when you think about what the Ugandan people are accustomed to dealing with, there's really no comparison.
The part of the book that really finished me off was when Katie, having adopted a number of young girls (which I already disagreed with because she was so young) was heading back to America to go to college. This frustrated me no end and still does. Regardless of how the situation resolved, she shouldn't even have CONSIDERED that path. Once you adopt a child, that's it. You don't get to leave them for a few years while you go back to your old life. They should be a part of everything you do. I also wonder what the Ugandan authorities were thinking allowing a 19-year-old girl to adopt so many children - the aura of naivety coming from this book was astonishing to me.
Anyway, I will undoubtedly have offended some people with this review (and, believe me, that was not my intention; I'm a people-pleaser). While I don't necessarily agree with all of Katie's actions, it is great that she feels she is fulfilling her purpose in life. If this book helps to raise awareness and encourages more people to visit Uganda/offer aid, then that's fantastic. But PLEASE think carefully about what you're doing and make sure it's for the right reasons. Rant over!
As someone who has visited Uganda, I was looking forward to having a unique insight into the work Katie is doing out there and being able to relate to her experiences. I quickly realised that reading this book was not going to be as rewarding as I'd hoped. The patronising tone got my back up instantly, and I was not impressed at having religion rammed down my throat on every single page. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that Katie has her faith and I'm glad that works for her - but it's not necessarily for me, and I don't enjoy being bombarded with sickly sweet assertions about Jesus every other line.
Also, it amazes me how a person doing this kind of work can be so self-centred. I wanted to read about the children, the school, the people of Uganda and the wonderful happy spirits that I witnessed for myself. Instead, there was a lot of whining about the challenges that Katie faced. Yes, I know that such a huge life change would have been extremely difficult and would come with daily upsets, but when you think about what the Ugandan people are accustomed to dealing with, there's really no comparison.
The part of the book that really finished me off was when Katie, having adopted a number of young girls (which I already disagreed with because she was so young) was heading back to America to go to college. This frustrated me no end and still does. Regardless of how the situation resolved, she shouldn't even have CONSIDERED that path. Once you adopt a child, that's it. You don't get to leave them for a few years while you go back to your old life. They should be a part of everything you do. I also wonder what the Ugandan authorities were thinking allowing a 19-year-old girl to adopt so many children - the aura of naivety coming from this book was astonishing to me.
Anyway, I will undoubtedly have offended some people with this review (and, believe me, that was not my intention; I'm a people-pleaser). While I don't necessarily agree with all of Katie's actions, it is great that she feels she is fulfilling her purpose in life. If this book helps to raise awareness and encourages more people to visit Uganda/offer aid, then that's fantastic. But PLEASE think carefully about what you're doing and make sure it's for the right reasons. Rant over!
December 12, 2016
One of the sweetest and best books I ever read. Loved it so much and I found it very inspiring!
January 7, 2014
While Katie is an impressive woman, I struggled with her cultural (in)sensitivity and the God that she believes in. On one page God is a miracle-worker who heals the impossible, on the next page it's "God's will" that a child should die of a curable disease.
The good? This book gave me a swift kick in the rear to remind me of my desire to work in developing countries.
The good? This book gave me a swift kick in the rear to remind me of my desire to work in developing countries.
February 22, 2012
This book is written by, and follows the journey of a 19 year old girl who went to live in a village in Uganda after graduating high school in a Tennessee suburb. She is now 23 and has 14 adopted daughters and a full-fledge non-profit that helps feed, clothe, educate and give hope to poor children who live in destitute conditions. Talk about using your life to make a difference! I want to make a difference with my life SO BADLY and this young girl is smoking me! I really enjoyed this book and God used it in big ways to challenge me -- particularly in the areas of my finances, storing up treasure in Heaven, and being willing to go to the hard places.
It's so easy in America, to pretend like people aren't suffering all over the world from things like hunger and diseases that are preventable and easily treatable.
Katie writes this, and it's sobering: "The truth is that the 143 million orphaned children and the 11 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and the 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, or under other horrific conditions and the 2.3 million who live with HIV add up to 164.8 million needy children. And though at first glance that looks like a big number, 2.1 billion people on this earth proclaim to be Christians.
The truth is that if only 8 percent of the Christians would care for one more child, there would not be any statistics left."
Wow. I pretend the suffering doesn't exist. I get overwhelmed by the need and feel helpless to make a dent in it. But Katie is making a dent. And has challenged me to do the same.
It's so easy in America, to pretend like people aren't suffering all over the world from things like hunger and diseases that are preventable and easily treatable.
Katie writes this, and it's sobering: "The truth is that the 143 million orphaned children and the 11 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and the 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, or under other horrific conditions and the 2.3 million who live with HIV add up to 164.8 million needy children. And though at first glance that looks like a big number, 2.1 billion people on this earth proclaim to be Christians.
The truth is that if only 8 percent of the Christians would care for one more child, there would not be any statistics left."
Wow. I pretend the suffering doesn't exist. I get overwhelmed by the need and feel helpless to make a dent in it. But Katie is making a dent. And has challenged me to do the same.
March 13, 2018
Wow, can I give this book 1 million stars?? This book is amazing! Katie's story is probably one of the most impactful I have ever read. Her courage was amazing but her faith was even stronger and more amazing! Katie is probably going to end up being one of my few role models in life, along with Corrie Ten Boom. This story had you weeping and smiling all at the same time. The way our God moves is truely amazing and if you have not read this book, I HIGHLY recommend reading it!! It will change your life forever and open your eyes to so many things! All the stories about diffrent adults and children that Katie helped made me want to go fly oversees and help her. I have no clue what God has planned for me in my future but one thing is for certain, I will say yes to God, even when it means leaving behind everyone and everything I know for Him. It would be difficult but I would look back on what Katie said and what the bible says and trust God. But for now, I am just going to be trusting God right here in Chicago!
Note: PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!!!!
Note: PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!!!!
March 30, 2020
reread 2020: one of the most inspiring and heart touching books I've ever read. Katie has such a beautiful way with words and her own experiences are so relatable to my own, in a same yet different way.
May 26, 2015
I would give Katie herself 5 stars for the ambition and drive she has to do what she has done. BUT, the book itself was not well written. I kept wanting more of her own story and how she grew up, wanting to know about how she came to want to go and do what she has done. I kept wanting to hear more about how the people and family she left behind felt. I had a hard with her leaving her "children" for several months to come back to the United States and attend college. That part seemed a little strange to me because being a mother, I would never dream of leaving my kids for that long. I wanted to hear more about where she was living. What was Uganda like. And I definitely could have done with less religion, even though I consider myself to be very religious. She repeated herself over and over which really started to drive me crazy. I guess it all just seemed a little preachy to me and at some points in her story she just seemed a little naive.
However, that said, I have to give her kudos for doing something that most teenagers would never dream of, for leaving behind her wealthy lifestyle to help others. She is a remarkable girl.
However, that said, I have to give her kudos for doing something that most teenagers would never dream of, for leaving behind her wealthy lifestyle to help others. She is a remarkable girl.
February 18, 2018
O ser humano no seu melhor! QUANTAS ESTRELAS VALERIAM UM INÍCIO DE VIDA, AQUANDO DA MAIORIDADE, COMO ESTE? Todas do universo!
Gosto de ler sobre pessoas extraordinárias. Katie é um bom exemplo disso.
“A sua coragem e abnegação abalaram o mundo e granjearam-lhe o epíteto de Mulher do Ano em 2012 pela revista Glamour”. Contudo o que é valorizável mesmo são as suas ações e não os títulos.
Esta jovem, de uma forma muito simples e humilde narra como tudo começou.
Presumo que as invocações religiosas/orações podem ser consideradas supérfluas ou um pouquinho maçadoras mas compreendo que a sua inspiração advém daí, e por essa razão terá tido a necessidade de lhes atribuir alguma notoriedade no seu diário.
Uma história de vida absolutamente excepcional!
Katie Davis tem um blogue onde se pode conhecer melhor o seu trabalho.
Gosto de ler sobre pessoas extraordinárias. Katie é um bom exemplo disso.
“A sua coragem e abnegação abalaram o mundo e granjearam-lhe o epíteto de Mulher do Ano em 2012 pela revista Glamour”. Contudo o que é valorizável mesmo são as suas ações e não os títulos.
Esta jovem, de uma forma muito simples e humilde narra como tudo começou.
Presumo que as invocações religiosas/orações podem ser consideradas supérfluas ou um pouquinho maçadoras mas compreendo que a sua inspiração advém daí, e por essa razão terá tido a necessidade de lhes atribuir alguma notoriedade no seu diário.
Uma história de vida absolutamente excepcional!
Katie Davis tem um blogue onde se pode conhecer melhor o seu trabalho.
May 18, 2018
Katie Davis's life is remarkable!
Her testimony is inspiring, and it definitely stirred up a passion for fostering I didn't even know I had! But that's for wayyyy in the future, I'm sure 🤗
I've always wanted to adopt, and I loved reading about Katie's experience adopting each girl of hers. It offered insight into the good and the not-so-good aspects of adopting, and the trials they faced as a family living in Uganda.
Her passion for spreading the love of God is tangible & moving! It'll make you feel like doing more, giving more of your time & possessions in order to love others just as much as God first loves you. Hallelujah!
I just don't understand how someone can read this whole book and not be moved in some small way. I OBVIOUSLY RECOMMEND
Her testimony is inspiring, and it definitely stirred up a passion for fostering I didn't even know I had! But that's for wayyyy in the future, I'm sure 🤗
I've always wanted to adopt, and I loved reading about Katie's experience adopting each girl of hers. It offered insight into the good and the not-so-good aspects of adopting, and the trials they faced as a family living in Uganda.
Her passion for spreading the love of God is tangible & moving! It'll make you feel like doing more, giving more of your time & possessions in order to love others just as much as God first loves you. Hallelujah!
I just don't understand how someone can read this whole book and not be moved in some small way. I OBVIOUSLY RECOMMEND
May 26, 2012
Dare I say it? This is one of the best, best, best, best books I've ever read, at least in its genre. While Kisses From Katie may not be a theological book, a book about doctrines that unite and/or divide, a book strictly about the gospel--what it is, what it isn't--it is a book that celebrates and illustrates the gospel. It is a book that celebrates and honors Jesus Christ. Kisses From Katie is a memoir or a biography, I suppose. It tells the story of a young woman, a young teen when the book first begins, who felt led by God to go on a mission trip. After spending three weeks or so in Uganda, she wasn't content to let that be enough. She wanted more, needed more. As crazy as it probably sounded to everyone in her life, she fell in love with a country, with a people. She felt sure, felt convicted, felt blessed, to make Uganda hers. At first, perhaps to please her parents, please her boyfriend, she committed to one year, just one year, of serving in Uganda. Of living and loving a community, of working as a teacher, of working with orphans and other children who needed her, who welcomed her. But within months, she had a new family. Literally. For she felt called to adopt, what began with one or two or three within the course of a year or two became fourteen. But her welcome, her care, her love and support, didn't just stay small. It grew and grew and grew and grew. She started a non-profit organization, started widening her ministry. A ministry that kept Jesus at its center, but a very, very practical ministry as well. One that saw to feeding and clothing and providing medical care and attention, one that met every need possible. The book is about her life. In a way, a small way, I suppose you could argue it was about her beliefs as well. But. I would say that it was more about how her beliefs led her to live the life she lives. How her beliefs have defined and shaped her. What's the difference? Well, a person can argue or reason doctrine; a person can state a creed, recite a creed. Not every person who does so actually lives out that doctrine on a day-to-day basis. In a way that marks them, in a way that clearly, undeniably speaks of Christ. Not that Katie ever claimed to be the most perfect person in the world, she doesn't ever make the claim that she's better than anyone else. I didn't get the impression even once that she was showing off or boasting about her good works. What I got from the book was love, love, love, this is all about love. It was inspiring, challenging, encouraging, convicting all at the same time.
August 20, 2016
pg 132 "I was learning that the powerless, broken, dependent place was actually the place where the Lord was closest to me."
pg 224 "Help me to hurt, not just a little, but the way you hurt when your children are overlooked and perishing. Help me to never be too busy or too comfortable to remember the people who suffer. Help me to never stop desiring to do something about it. Lord, help us to remember that as the body of Christ, this is our responsibility. Thank you for loving us, even when we forget. I never, never want to forget again."
pg 229 "She wanted to live in both worlds, but it was becoming impossible. Her eyes were opened and her life was changed. She couldn't pretend to be the same person. She couldn't sit still in his world anymore; it made her head spin and her heart ache."
pg 231 "I believe with all of my heart that nothing is a sacrifice in light of the promise that one day I will get to live with Him forever. I want to obey. I want to give my life away."
pg 247 "Courage is not about knowing the path. It is about taking the first step."
pg. 252 "I have learned along my journey that if I really want to follow Jesus, I will go to the hard places. Being a Christ follower means being acquainted with sorrow. We must know sorrow to be able to fully appreciate joy. Joy costs pain, but the pain is worth it. After all, the murder had to take place before the resurrection."
pg 224 "Help me to hurt, not just a little, but the way you hurt when your children are overlooked and perishing. Help me to never be too busy or too comfortable to remember the people who suffer. Help me to never stop desiring to do something about it. Lord, help us to remember that as the body of Christ, this is our responsibility. Thank you for loving us, even when we forget. I never, never want to forget again."
pg 229 "She wanted to live in both worlds, but it was becoming impossible. Her eyes were opened and her life was changed. She couldn't pretend to be the same person. She couldn't sit still in his world anymore; it made her head spin and her heart ache."
pg 231 "I believe with all of my heart that nothing is a sacrifice in light of the promise that one day I will get to live with Him forever. I want to obey. I want to give my life away."
pg 247 "Courage is not about knowing the path. It is about taking the first step."
pg. 252 "I have learned along my journey that if I really want to follow Jesus, I will go to the hard places. Being a Christ follower means being acquainted with sorrow. We must know sorrow to be able to fully appreciate joy. Joy costs pain, but the pain is worth it. After all, the murder had to take place before the resurrection."
June 1, 2019
TEN MILLION STARS!!! ⭐️
This book is amazing! Katie’s story of how she was called by God to move to Uganda was so touching and inspiring. Her love for God pours from her words and really motivated me to depend more on God and be more aware of the poverty in the world.
Thank you, Katie, for writing such an amazing book! ❤️
This book is amazing! Katie’s story of how she was called by God to move to Uganda was so touching and inspiring. Her love for God pours from her words and really motivated me to depend more on God and be more aware of the poverty in the world.
Thank you, Katie, for writing such an amazing book! ❤️
April 2, 2018
4.5 stars.
September 3, 2014
I searched and searched and cannot find anything but glowing reviews for this book and gushing pats on the back for Katie. She is, afterall, single handedly saving the children of Africa. Be warned, this gal is kind of (actually extremely)irritating. Unless you can look past all the drama and emotion and baby cuddling that is poured into this thing. Allright, again, she is saving the children of Africa and that has to incorporate some drama. But not as much as this book contains. And I am glad for the children who are the recipients of all that . . . care. I hope their lives are enriched by it. Truly. And surely some people do revel in the kissing and hugging and cuddling and bathing and tickling of children they dont know. If that is you then you will be greatly satisfied by the accounts of that in this book. I for one dont understand what exactly is meant by the term: to love ON someone. But I can comprehend the story around it. Once I get past the voice in my head that is crying: Make it stop. Get on with the story.
I gave this book a three because it was a horror to read. It was preachy and child like and confused, and frankly, disturbing in many ways. But I must like disturbing because it sure made me think. It provides lots of inverse examples of how to be. And a few examples of how TO be.
I am thankful for anyone who is helping to ease suffering in the world. That is important work that we all can do - every day - where ever we live. I think that is a big part of Katies message - that we dont need to move to Africa to be faithful servants of God. She says (p. 214) We arent really called to save the world, not even to save one person; Jesus does that. We are called to enter into our neighbors suffereing and love them right there.
Mostly Katie delivers the sense that, while she really desires to be living the life that she is living she has a continual need to justify it to us as well as to herself. I think she should just accept and embrace it and not worry about what anyone else thinks. Same thing about her doubts about her own faith. She alternately tells us that her faith is super strong and that she trusts Gods purpose for her but then she contradicts that and tells us that her faith is not complete: (p. 261): As I took his sweet little face into my hands, I whispered to him that Jesus loves him and that He will always show up, always come, always be there to help him. Conversely: (on the same p. 261)Katie says: I see these childrens blind faith and I long for my faith in the Lord to be so trusting. It is ok to tell the true story of ones doubt. But please, Katie, be consistent. The very definition of faith is a lack of uncertainty. Is your faith solid or is it not?
The second to last paragraph of the book states Katies summary of her story but I am disappointed with her summary. It does not represent what she has told us, in the rest of the book, that her message is. She says (p.262) We are expectant like Gwens young son, Elijah. We will not be put to shame.
Definition of Shame: to experience a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. That is our goal as christians? To avoid being shamed?
You have to read the quote in context to understand that the source of our shame that Katie identifies for us is our having been proven wrong in our belief that Jesus will return to come for us. Katies summary belief then is that the most important thing is that we be proven correct in our belief that Jesus will come again. ALARM BELLS, TURN OFF, WHAT? That right there represents what is so misdirected and alienating about much of the type of christianity malpracticed today.
Is our goal as christians 1) to be proven right in our belief that Jesus will come again or 2) to love one another as Jesus has loved us? I believe (and I believe that Katy wants to believe) it is the latter. So why does she conclude, after all her Africa living and girl bathing, the former? Answer: She is imperfect (as are we all) and still has much work to do. I believe she will continue to do her work.
And while she is at it I hope she will revisit why skin color should be so important to her even though she realizes that it is not even noticed by Jesus. I cannot remember what page it is on but in the book Katie says: Jesus knows we are family, He doesnt see the colors of our skin. Besides, in Heaven I am going to be black; I have already asked God for it!
Huh? See what I mean about disturbing?
I gave this book a three because it was a horror to read. It was preachy and child like and confused, and frankly, disturbing in many ways. But I must like disturbing because it sure made me think. It provides lots of inverse examples of how to be. And a few examples of how TO be.
I am thankful for anyone who is helping to ease suffering in the world. That is important work that we all can do - every day - where ever we live. I think that is a big part of Katies message - that we dont need to move to Africa to be faithful servants of God. She says (p. 214) We arent really called to save the world, not even to save one person; Jesus does that. We are called to enter into our neighbors suffereing and love them right there.
Mostly Katie delivers the sense that, while she really desires to be living the life that she is living she has a continual need to justify it to us as well as to herself. I think she should just accept and embrace it and not worry about what anyone else thinks. Same thing about her doubts about her own faith. She alternately tells us that her faith is super strong and that she trusts Gods purpose for her but then she contradicts that and tells us that her faith is not complete: (p. 261): As I took his sweet little face into my hands, I whispered to him that Jesus loves him and that He will always show up, always come, always be there to help him. Conversely: (on the same p. 261)Katie says: I see these childrens blind faith and I long for my faith in the Lord to be so trusting. It is ok to tell the true story of ones doubt. But please, Katie, be consistent. The very definition of faith is a lack of uncertainty. Is your faith solid or is it not?
The second to last paragraph of the book states Katies summary of her story but I am disappointed with her summary. It does not represent what she has told us, in the rest of the book, that her message is. She says (p.262) We are expectant like Gwens young son, Elijah. We will not be put to shame.
Definition of Shame: to experience a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. That is our goal as christians? To avoid being shamed?
You have to read the quote in context to understand that the source of our shame that Katie identifies for us is our having been proven wrong in our belief that Jesus will return to come for us. Katies summary belief then is that the most important thing is that we be proven correct in our belief that Jesus will come again. ALARM BELLS, TURN OFF, WHAT? That right there represents what is so misdirected and alienating about much of the type of christianity malpracticed today.
Is our goal as christians 1) to be proven right in our belief that Jesus will come again or 2) to love one another as Jesus has loved us? I believe (and I believe that Katy wants to believe) it is the latter. So why does she conclude, after all her Africa living and girl bathing, the former? Answer: She is imperfect (as are we all) and still has much work to do. I believe she will continue to do her work.
And while she is at it I hope she will revisit why skin color should be so important to her even though she realizes that it is not even noticed by Jesus. I cannot remember what page it is on but in the book Katie says: Jesus knows we are family, He doesnt see the colors of our skin. Besides, in Heaven I am going to be black; I have already asked God for it!
Huh? See what I mean about disturbing?
November 24, 2015
She says she didn't do anything... Yes she did. She wholly and completely surrendered herself and her life to God, and that is HUGE.
Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption tells Katie Davis's remarkable tale of her crazy decisions and equally crazy day-to-day situations. Which produced a beautiful life... a life in the center of God's will. What would that look like in my life, I wonder?
Katie says she didn't do anything. But she did. She allowed God to do with her life what He wanted. Now she lives in Uganda and is mother to thirteen precious African girls. She was twenty-two at the end of the book I believe. She traveled to Africa after graduating high school, planning to stay there for a year. It has become her home. Her schooled/sponsoring group of children was supposed to be like 40 at first... well over 200 children are part of her program. She's seen unimaginable horrors. She has a pet monkey. She's always opening up her home to people other than her thirteen daughters. Her much-loved parents and brother live in Tennessee, USA. People called her "Mommy Katie".
Wow. I can't imagine. I read this book and just saw how marvelous and completely awesome our GOD is! His work through Katie Davis is incredible. I also saw more than ever what it means to live life to the fullest.... surrendering your life to God. TRULY surrendering. Letting go of the fear of what God might ask of you, and living in obedience and loving with abandon.
Kisses from Katie isn't exactly a story (even though we get the answers for most of the questions in the end)... it's more of Katie telling her experiences, and what God taught her through them. -And how much Uganda needs our help! There was some precious and adorable pictures of Katie and her daughters and the people from Uganda in the book too.
Though I struggled, though this book made some points I didn't want to hear at the moment, though some parts were so painful I wanted to sob... this book was truly a gem.
Katie, thank-you for sharing your story with us! It has touched me more than you can know. I needed it, and I think God knew that, :)
Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption tells Katie Davis's remarkable tale of her crazy decisions and equally crazy day-to-day situations. Which produced a beautiful life... a life in the center of God's will. What would that look like in my life, I wonder?
Katie says she didn't do anything. But she did. She allowed God to do with her life what He wanted. Now she lives in Uganda and is mother to thirteen precious African girls. She was twenty-two at the end of the book I believe. She traveled to Africa after graduating high school, planning to stay there for a year. It has become her home. Her schooled/sponsoring group of children was supposed to be like 40 at first... well over 200 children are part of her program. She's seen unimaginable horrors. She has a pet monkey. She's always opening up her home to people other than her thirteen daughters. Her much-loved parents and brother live in Tennessee, USA. People called her "Mommy Katie".
Wow. I can't imagine. I read this book and just saw how marvelous and completely awesome our GOD is! His work through Katie Davis is incredible. I also saw more than ever what it means to live life to the fullest.... surrendering your life to God. TRULY surrendering. Letting go of the fear of what God might ask of you, and living in obedience and loving with abandon.
Kisses from Katie isn't exactly a story (even though we get the answers for most of the questions in the end)... it's more of Katie telling her experiences, and what God taught her through them. -And how much Uganda needs our help! There was some precious and adorable pictures of Katie and her daughters and the people from Uganda in the book too.
Though I struggled, though this book made some points I didn't want to hear at the moment, though some parts were so painful I wanted to sob... this book was truly a gem.
Katie, thank-you for sharing your story with us! It has touched me more than you can know. I needed it, and I think God knew that, :)
July 14, 2012
I found out about this book after working with my church on an adoption/foster/child sponsorship initiative. Someone recommended that I read it, and a co-worker even lent it to me. I didn't get around to reading it though until this past week while on a mission trip. I didn't bring a book other than my Bible and daily devotional to read, and a friend happened to have the book with her. I read through it this week and am so glad I was able to do so while doing ministry in another country (the Dominican Republic). Her heart for orphans, the sick, widows and all of God's people is so clear and helped keep my own heart in check while working with young children who often were dirty, sick and yet so beautiful and lovely all the same. Not once does Katie allow any credit to fall on herself or for any attributes such as "brave" or "courageous" to be attributed to her efforts. She always points back to Christ and scripture and is constantly able to identify examples of God working even during the hard times.
Katie is a wonderful example of being the hands and feet of Jesus in a way that could intimidate and scare away many quite easily. A wonderful story to read about a wonderful and humble servant of the Lord doing wonderful things to let others know how loved they are by the God who created them intentionally and equally.
Katie is a wonderful example of being the hands and feet of Jesus in a way that could intimidate and scare away many quite easily. A wonderful story to read about a wonderful and humble servant of the Lord doing wonderful things to let others know how loved they are by the God who created them intentionally and equally.
July 19, 2012
This was an incredible book that really captured my attention and my heart. Initially, I had my doubts about this young girl moving to a foreign country, adopting a housefull of orphans, and deciding against finishing university in the States. I wondered how responsible the decisions were and how mature she was. However, as I read the book, I realized that my objections to her and this life she had chosen were all objections filtered through an American, twenty-first century worldview. Maybe her decisions wouldn't allow her to live the cush life so many of us enjoy in the United States, but that was precisely what Katie wanted to avoid. She strove to make sacrifices. She fled security. She lived a radical life that makes us as Westerners feel uncomfortable. And yet, as I read, I saw a rare and extraordinary girl who wanted to love Christ and love others well. She didn't do any of this for acclaim; she did this out of love.
This book really challenged me to rethink the things I value. It caused me to evaluate my goals and the things I hold really closely.
I loved this book. It was honest. It showed a flawed young woman following Christ's leading in her life.
I highly recommend this book.
This book really challenged me to rethink the things I value. It caused me to evaluate my goals and the things I hold really closely.
I loved this book. It was honest. It showed a flawed young woman following Christ's leading in her life.
I highly recommend this book.
January 15, 2012
I am finding it very hard to rate this book....because I cannot imagine anyone being anything but impressed by this woman. She gives up everything to help the poorest of the poor in Uganda. You have to admire this girl and she personally deserves 5+ stars for her work and commitment. The book, however, was kind of irritating to read. Have to say first and foremost that I am extremely not religious. I wanted to hear about the children and people she helped, but could do without the Biblical stories and preaching. I am glad, for her sake, that she believes so deeply. It would be hard to do what she does without something inspiring her so deeply. But, I think a more secular version of the book would appeal to more people and in the end gain her more support, monetary and otherwise, for her work. Caring for the poor and compassion for your fellow man/woman/child is not limited to those who are Christian.
July 18, 2020
An amazing look at Christian missionary work.
While I don't think God is calling me to move to a foreign country or adopt a bunch of children, this book makes me think about my life situation. For those who don't know, I have never had a driver's license or a significant other; seriously, I've never even been on a date. Sure, I've had lots of female friends--in fact, I've known many of them longer than their fiancés or husbands have--but, they're just that: friends. I've never been able to get any girl interested in dating me; even my number one "match" in high school--a fellow nondenominational Christian, mind you--chose to date a Mormon instead of me. When it comes to driving, I pursued getting a license, only to be hit by one roadblock after another. My friends told me that I just had to overcome those barriers, but, I knew that it was different in my situation. For most people I know, getting a driver's license wasn't an "if"; it was a "when," because they knew that, barring Jesus' return or an unthinkable tragedy, they eventually were going to get it. However, I wasn't sure if becoming a driver was in my future, and I was just attempting to get a license to see if it was right for me; after what happened, I think God's response was a resounding no.
A lack of a significant other or my own transportation makes it hard at times, such as when a longtime friend posts news of her engagement, or when you have to walk to work at the last minute because your mother lost her car key at Tuesday Morning. However, the problems I've had are nothing compared to what Katie and her students faced in Uganda; my ability to even buy this book at a garage sale shows how blessed I am. There have been times where I would give anything to have a wife and a driver's license, but, just like Katie did, I have to trust that God knows what He is doing...because He definitely does.
While I don't think God is calling me to move to a foreign country or adopt a bunch of children, this book makes me think about my life situation. For those who don't know, I have never had a driver's license or a significant other; seriously, I've never even been on a date. Sure, I've had lots of female friends--in fact, I've known many of them longer than their fiancés or husbands have--but, they're just that: friends. I've never been able to get any girl interested in dating me; even my number one "match" in high school--a fellow nondenominational Christian, mind you--chose to date a Mormon instead of me. When it comes to driving, I pursued getting a license, only to be hit by one roadblock after another. My friends told me that I just had to overcome those barriers, but, I knew that it was different in my situation. For most people I know, getting a driver's license wasn't an "if"; it was a "when," because they knew that, barring Jesus' return or an unthinkable tragedy, they eventually were going to get it. However, I wasn't sure if becoming a driver was in my future, and I was just attempting to get a license to see if it was right for me; after what happened, I think God's response was a resounding no.
A lack of a significant other or my own transportation makes it hard at times, such as when a longtime friend posts news of her engagement, or when you have to walk to work at the last minute because your mother lost her car key at Tuesday Morning. However, the problems I've had are nothing compared to what Katie and her students faced in Uganda; my ability to even buy this book at a garage sale shows how blessed I am. There have been times where I would give anything to have a wife and a driver's license, but, just like Katie did, I have to trust that God knows what He is doing...because He definitely does.
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