Kisses From Katie: Review

This true story is an amazing journey of self denial written by Katie Davis. Katie was a senior in highschool when she says Jesus called her to go to Uganda to work in a pre-school over her winter break. She fell in love with the people and felt a strong desire to return.


This came as shocking news to her parents who wished for Katie to attend college. Katie had been the class president, homecoming queen and she was "in love" with her boyfriend.
Even though it was extremely difficult, she did return to Uganda and became a foster parent for 14 girls. She also founded Amazima Ministries which provides food to hundreds everyday.
The organization also helps with school expenses, school supplies, family support, and provides jobs to single mothers.


Katie is living proof of what God can do if we are open to His call and will. The book is a synopsis of her day to day life of joys, tears, and triumphs. I'm not sure if I've ever cried so much!!


The book also challenges us to live out the gospel, not because it's a nice thing to do, but because it's a requirement of our salvation.


I did have a few "issues" with the book, though. As I am about to share these,  keep in mind that Katie is still very young, growing and "figuring it out". She is much more "together" than I was at her age!


First of all, Katie makes a reference to her "parent's church" to which she likes to attend occasionally and distribute communion. This is a Catholic church and she doesn't consider herself Catholic. Although the book never says she was raised Catholic, I'm assuming that because both her parents are and she is allowed to be a Eucharistic minister, she must have been brought up in the church. I understand she is probably finding herself and that is part of growing up, I just have a problem with someone participating in the distribution of the Eucharist who doesn't even consider themselves part of the church. I do realize that she is doing more for God than most Catholics would even consider, and that we all have many lessons to learn from her. I just felt as a Catholic myself, I wanted to share this observation.


Secondly, in the course of the book, she never mentions that the children she considers herself, "mommy" to, are foster children. I felt the way the book is written makes the reader assume she has adopted them. But by law, a person must be 25 years old before they are allowed to adopt in Uganda. I felt this is an important thing to just "leave out". Possibly it is because she is trying to protect her children?? In one chapter she tells of a  heart wrenching ordeal involving the birth mother of one of her "children" and how it was so hard to have to give her back. The truth is, Katie is the foster mother, not the adopted mother...yet, so it is the right of the mother to seek custody. I'm sure life at Katie's home is much more stable, but until she is the adopted mother, she should expect something like that may happen. I'm not saying it still wouldn't be devestating, but when I was reading the book, I felt angry at the birth mother...until I learned later that it was a foster situation.


Please understand, overall, I LOVED the book, I just like complete honesty when reading true stories.


I highly recommend Kisses From Katie and currently, Hannah is reading it as a part of school.
Have you read it?? What are your thoughts???