Recommend?

Yes, absolutely! Kisses from Katie is not just another story of a missionary going overseas, it is a personal account of love. Katie learns to love others as Christ loves her. As she grows in her faith, she grows closer to the people she is helping. My main reason for enjoying this book is all of the people she meets and children she heals. The stories of babies left unnurtured and kids left to care for their entire family because their parents died of aids or just left them; all of these accounts are what make this book. Katie Davis may not be a college graduate with a major in writing, but her personal investment  in these stories anchor the book. Who wouldn't love these kids?...

Picture taken from Katie Davis' blog.

Valued Wealth

“I put value in things. These children, having no things, put value in God. I put my trust in relationships; these children, having already seen relationships fail, put their trust in the Lord.”

When trying to find a picture to accurately compare Katie's life in America and Katie's life in Uganda, I came across this image. I chose this image because I thought that it accurately presented the relationship between the wealthy American society and the poverished third-world Uganda. The caption is a direct quote from the book that speaks so much truth. When Katie is thrown into a life of the unknown, she is forced to put all her faith in God. But, when she returns home, it is 'harder to rely on God for everything when you can hop in your car and go to the grocery store for anything you need. ' People may argue that America is the most advanced  society, but is it this wealth and power that is corrupting our nation?

Indescribable

Katie is so repetitive when speaking about broad topics, that I feel like I am being extremely repetitive trying to explain it to you. But, it doesn't matter, because I am going to keep reminding you and drilling you with these central truths in Katie's eyes.

The first couple of months and on into the first year in Uganda, Katie continuously questions her ability to take on such an impossible task at such an early age. Her first thoughts are, “God reminded me how beautiful we all are to Him, after all, we were created in His own image, and He looks at me, at you, in all our sweat and dirt and brokenness, and says, "I choose you. You are beautiful.” The Katie Davis from Nashville, Tennessee was getting settled in to her new life. In the beginning, Katie was scared and questioning God's judgement. But, by the end of her story, she is putting her complete faith in Him and saying things more like “Jesus wrecked my life, shattered it to pieces, and put it back together more beautifully," and “I am blown away that my God, who could do this all by Himself, would choose to let me be a little part of it.” Katie is not only thankful for her new life in Uganda, she is overwhelmed with the thought that God chose her to make such an impact in so many people's lives.

What Is Love?

As a child, I learned to treat others the way I wanted to be treated. In church, I learned the same thing; love others as God loves you. Katie embodies this theme. She is called to serve the Lord in Uganda, by serving and helping others stay alive.  In some accounts, Katie actually nursed a child back to health, when he was almost the size of a twig. Katie makes a god point that connects to this theme, when she says "The people Jesus healed were inevitably sick again at some point in their lives. The people Jesus fed miraculously were hungry again a few days later. More important than the very obvious might and power shown by Jesus' miracles is His love. He loved these people enough to do everything in His power to "make it better." He entered into their suffering and loved them right there." Not only does Katie make a clear point that has a strong authoritative component (Jesus) to it, she also connects it to her own life. Katie's life did not get easier and most certainly did not get any more glamorous when she moved to Uganda, but her love for those children and her love of the community is where the true power lies. Love is not just a component of her day; love is the driving force that keeps Katie "bending over for God".

Katie Exposed

 

I've been waiting the entire book for someone else, her mom, a friend, anyone who would be introduced and developed as another main character in this story. But Katie Davis is taking on the impossible, alone. Not truly alone though, God could be considered a main character. It is evident in her novel, that Katie is a strong Christian and believes that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Although Katie is the only main character in this book, I think it is important to develop her personality, as well as her relationship with her Heavenly Father.

When I began reading this book, I was worried that I would struggle to find symbols and rhetoric study and themes. But, as I was about half way through, I realized that the symbolism and stylistic part of this story was embedded in her simplistic writing and straight- forward details. Instead of taking a part a paragraph and trying to analyze it, I simply began to read the novel as if it were a Christmas break read. I simply read the book, enjoyed the story, and finally began to pick up on characteristics and other passages that clearly identified who Katie was.

 The picture above is a photo of Katie, taken in Uganda, with her 13 adopted children. This picture is just one of many that shows the love and compassion Katie has for serving others and in turn serving the Lord. As I have mentioned before, Katie repeats herself throughout the book when she really wants the reader to understand something. Through countless examples, Katie conveys a message to the audience that she is most happy when she is in Uganda with her new family, mostly because she has answered the Lord's call for her. This specific example leads me to my next point; the relationship between Katie and God.




This is a picture of Katie 'preaching' to a church full of people back in the United States. The reason I put preaching in quotations is because normally that term is used when referring to an educated middle-aged man speaking the word of God to a congregation of people, after he has attended years of college and maybe even seminary school. Katie is a 19 year old woman who has just graduated high school, but she is preaching her knowledge and experiences to others. Katie would say that only God could have changed her life in such a drastic way that she finally feels at home in a completely foreign land. She also says that 'God does not ask that we care for the less fortunate, He demands it.' Their relationship is so unique, that it has never been done on Earth. Katie completely surrenders her life to Christ and in return, she is blessed with the opportunity to LOVE, which brings me to my next point...

One More Time, Please

The structure of this book is different than any other I have read. There is normal text which tells the story, and then there is the print above that tells a very similar story, but in Katie's words from her journal. Throughout the novel, Katie uses imagery as her main literary device. Many authors might have chosen to keep ther story broad, only mentioning specific and extrmemly significant incidents that would further the plot and the theme, but Katie tells the stories of countless children she meets in Uganda. Whether their story was significant or just a quick glance in a crowd, Katie introduced them.

In this particular passage, Katie is using comparison as well as imagery to portray a potential theme or controlling idea. Katie compares herself to all of the people in the bible who were ordinary or minor-seeming in the big picture of Christ, but eventually used in God's plan. Katie was persistent, as I have stated before, in getting her points across. Through repitition and imagery, Katie was able to create a visual image for the reader, but also create a disturbance in their heart, that would hopefully "explode in their heart", as she told her kids (pg.108) what would happen if Jesus came to live in their hearts.

Abandoning the American Dream: Theme

The phrase 'American Dream' is heavily weighted. For many this American Dream is all they know, all they strive for; for others, it is just that, a dream. For Katie, this phrase means nothing. An American's cultural identity is defined by the American Dream, but not Katie's. In fact, Katie completely abandons the infamous American Dream, for a much more fulfilling reality. While millions are chasing after wealth and fame, a thousand others are dying trying to chase after the basic necessities to survive. Katie is quick to remind us about this. Repeatedly throughout the book, Katie emphasizes the fact that while her friends back in the states are living her old life, searching for the perfect education and perfect job, she is in Uganda helping to provide soap and running water to these families that desperately need it. Instead of chasing after the American Dream, Katie is reaching for her Ugandan Dream.

Although the American Dream is imagined to be all shiny and work-free, it comes with a price. Years of education and long hours on the job create an over-worked and very stressed individual. Katie had minimal schooling, but was on the job 24/7. Katie mentions removing jiggers during the day and feeding babies during the night, multiple times. This was a very different and totally foreign kind of "dream" for Katie.

The following pictures show Katie working towards her American Dream. For Katie that is leading others to Christ and bettering their life, by showing love and compassion for them as God has shown her.

All of these photos included in this post were taken from the book.