I'm an avid reader. Most of the time. Sometimes I fall into a reading slump and just am not interested. Or maybe I just get lazy. I pick up a book I think looks great and it turns out to be...not so much. Whatever. But most of the time, I love it. If it's fiction, it's a fabulous escape and even still, I manage to learn something if the characters are well-developed. Biographies--I love learning about what shapes others' lives. Spiritual/Christian--it's amazing inspiration. And non-fiction--well, it just depends on the topic. And though I'm definitely no fashionista, I've even engrossed myself in fashion magazines (especially Cosmo) in the last few years.
I always have a "To Read" list, generally inspired by books I've already read (especially from my favorite authors and especially if it's part of a series) or by close friends that are also readers. But my most recent read was recommended by God Himself. I'm not kidding.
I first heard about Kisses from Katie when I was volunteering with the church's Pastoral Care team. Another volunteer and I were talking and somehow the conversation turned to depending on God and she shared about a book she'd just read about a young woman that adopted fourteen children from Uganda. Having a heart for missions and orphans and being a mother to a daughter with a heart for Africa, I was immediately interested. But my "To Read" list was (and still is) SO LONG that I sort of forgot about it.
A month later, I was browsing Pinterest and came across it and remembered it had been recommended. And then later that same day, during a discussion with my small group, another member mentioned the book. I knew then, after three times having this book recommended to me--twice in one day--that it was God telling me to read this book. I had no idea at the time why and truthfully, I'm not sure I do now either. But it was well worth the read.
From the back cover:
"What would cause an eighteen-year-old senior class president and home-coming queen from Nashville, Tennessee, to disobey and disappoint her parents by forgoing college, break her little brother's heart, loseall but a handful of her friends (because they 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 and didn't even speak the language?
A passion to follow Jesus.
Katie Davis left over Christmas break of her senior year for a short mission trip to Uganda and her life was turned completely inside out. She found herself so moved by the people of Uganda and the needs she saw that she knew her calling was to return and care for them. Katie, a charismatic and articulate young woman, is in the process of dopting thirteen children in Uganda and has established a ministry, Amazima, that feeds and sends hundreds more to school while teaching them the Word of Jesus Christ.
Kisses from Katie invites readers on a journey of radical love down the red dirt roads of Uganda. You'll laugh and cry with Katie as she follows JEsus into the impossible and finds joy and beauty beneath the dust. Katie and her children delight in saying yes to the people God placesin front of them and challenge readers to do the same, changing the world one person at a time.
Katie Davis is a young woman with a passion to serve Jesus. Now twenty-two, Katie lives in Uganda, where she is in the process of adopting thirteen little girls and is the founder and director of Amazima, a ministry that reahes hundreds of other children in Uganda. Katie is originally from Nashville, Tennessee, where her parents and brother live. This is her first book. You can read her blog at www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com. "
It is an amazing story of a brave young woman (though she would never call herself brave) that answered the call to not only serve the poorest people of one of the poorest countries in the world but to LOVE them. As she described the conditions and challenges the people in that part of the world face, I couldn't imagine leaving my life of comfort and abundance here to provide the not just the basic needs of the people there but the hope and love of not only her and others like her but of the Savior.
Katie describes learning to see others as Jesus sees us. And learning to find joy in the little things while also learning to completely depend on God for EVERYTHING. I was deeply touched at learning how a culture can have so little and live a life so hopeless and yet still love the Lord with all their heart, all the soul, all their mind and all their strength while WE in the land of the lazy and priveleged (even our homeless have it 'better' than these people) often get angry with God when we don't get our way about something so trivial!
It has ALWAYS broken my heart to hear people gripe about "sending money to help other countries" when we have poor, elderly, homeless and sick people here. And while that's true, we also have a lot of opportunity, infrastructure, a stable economy (for the most part), a stable government, political and military climate and social programs to help people in need, not to mention churches and charities. These countries are often unstable, politically and economically. There is no industry to provide jobs. There is little opportunity for education. There are very little resources. There is no infrastructure. There is no clean water or dependable utilities and therefore, the people often have poor hygiene. Disease is rampant. Life is desperate and miserable. Yet their faith often unwavering. Thankful for the smallest things and hopeful that a loving God hears their cries and has not forgotten nor forsaken them. It was a very humbling read. Especially in the midst of my own situation.
I highly recommend this book. But you can't borrow my copy. My precious daughter, Brooke, the one with a heart for Africa, will be reading mine next. It is one of her many dreams to someday adopt from Africa. And I fully support that dream. But I want her to be informed. I'm encouraging her to learn all she can and to get involved now in smaller ways. I have promised her that if she gets involved with Motion (our church's student ministry) and continues to grow her servant's heart, that I will make her dream of a mission trip happen next year. I don't know how, but God does. I truly believe that when God places a call on your heart, you cannot ignore it (nor should you). I do believe He is calling Brooke to do something similar. I don't know that she will move to a third world country to live like Katie did (at least, my selfish mother's heart hopes not!) but I do believe she will be involved in missions and/or adoption one day and I do believe it will be in Africa. Only God knows for sure but I can't wait to see His plan unfold for her.
Nonetheless, I am deeply moved to do even more with what I have. Lord knows I am not rich. I have struggled financially, mostly due to my own lack of self-discipline. But I believe that God can grow money in ways that we can't. I've seen it. And while it's all well and good and definitely nothing wrong with investing and growing one's wealth, I also believe that we should invest in Heaven as well. The best way to do that is to just love people. That is what I am trying to do. It's not always easy. But I believe we have to start where we are with what we have. And I'll share how I got started with my next blog!
Be blessed!
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