Kisses From Katie is such an inspirational read. Written by Katie Davis herself, Kisses From Katie tells the story of Katie Davis, a teenage girl with a call to missions. Growing up in a great family and neighborhood, Katie never lived in lack. She had a boyfriend who she planned to marry someday, plans to go to college, friends and family who loved her, and had a great life for a teenage girl.
Katie began to feel the call to missions. She convinced her parents to allow her to go on a trip to Uganda before she graduated high school. Accompanied by her mother, Katie arrives in this poverty stricken country and falls in love with the people there.
When Katie comes back to the US to finish high school, she is able to convice her parents to allow her to take one year before going to college to go back to Uganda and teach kindergarten. Her parents give their reluctant blessing on the condition that Katie come back after one year and go to college to complete her education.
During the year that Katie spent in Uganda, her love for the nation and its people grew even more. Seeing the need around her, Katie ends up legally adopting several girls as well as moving into a house and starting a sponsorship program to fund the schooling needs of children who could not afford to go to school otherwise.
Wanting to honor her parents, at the end of the year, Katie goes back to the United States so that she can keep her word and attend college. When Katie comes home, she finds that she is no longer at home in the US. Her heart and her life is in Uganda and she is miserable away from there.
After one semester, Katie is able to return to Uganda and her daughters for good. Although, she does fundraising in the US, Katie says that she knows her home is with her daughters in Uganda. Katie goes on to adopt 14 children and her organization helps provide schooling and meal for many others.
Katie is open about the challenges that she has faced in Uganda. Since her family is unique, they have faced criticim and ridicule from people both in the US and in Uganda, but Katie has seen God do miracles and use her greatly to touch the people of Uganda. Katie shares many stories, both touching as well as humorous, about her life and ministry in Uganda.
I was so touched by Katie's willing and humble spirit. I was reminded of the missionary Lillian Thrasher and her similar story. A young lady willing to give up everything to serve Christ and share His love with people, Katie gives the glory to God and does not take any credit for herself. This book is a must read.
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my review.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
My Review of Heaven is For Real ... For Kids
I had read the original version of Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo and really enjoyed it. When I saw that the version for kids was available, I could not wait to get it. When I read it to my children, they were captivated by the story. They loved the pictures and had many questions as we read the book. The book is very easy for kids to read and understand. The illustrations are cheerful and colorful and it also includes some photos of the Burpo family as well as the pictures of Colton's grandfather that he met in heaven as well as the painting that Colton recognized as Jesus.
This kids version of Heaven is for Real is very condensed and does not include a lot of the details that are included in the original book. It is short and can be read in just a few minutes. It is long enough that it shares details about Colton's experience and message, but short enough that it holds the attention of younger kids. I thought it was very well written and my kids loved the book and wanted to read it again the next night!
This is a book that we will no doubt read many times as a family. My children are small and even at their young age, they had lots of questions and I was thrilled with the conversation that we had about the book as well as heaven and what happens when we die.
I have read other people's comments about the book regarding some theological questions about Colton's experience not completely lining up with Scripture. While I see their point, I still see this book as a great opportunity to share with my kids what Colton experienced and to then build on that topic with what the Scriptures have to say about death and heaven.
I loved the book and encourage every parent of small children to read it with their children.
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my review but was not obligated to provide a positive opinion.
This kids version of Heaven is for Real is very condensed and does not include a lot of the details that are included in the original book. It is short and can be read in just a few minutes. It is long enough that it shares details about Colton's experience and message, but short enough that it holds the attention of younger kids. I thought it was very well written and my kids loved the book and wanted to read it again the next night!
This is a book that we will no doubt read many times as a family. My children are small and even at their young age, they had lots of questions and I was thrilled with the conversation that we had about the book as well as heaven and what happens when we die.
I have read other people's comments about the book regarding some theological questions about Colton's experience not completely lining up with Scripture. While I see their point, I still see this book as a great opportunity to share with my kids what Colton experienced and to then build on that topic with what the Scriptures have to say about death and heaven.
I loved the book and encourage every parent of small children to read it with their children.
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my review but was not obligated to provide a positive opinion.
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