I just finished reading an amazing book called Kisses From Katie, about a 23 year old girl who now lives in Uganda, has adopted 13 girls, and started her own non-profit ministry! Katie felt a tug on her heart to do mission work after high school, while having no intention of actually living overseas. But as she followed God’s lead, she realized abandoning everything and going on the adventure God had for her was what she needed to do. It was truly inspiring to hear about her life, and how God is so powerfully working through her – all because she answered his call to go and serve.
Here is an excerpt from Katie’s story:
"The night in 2007 was cold and rainy. I was walking out of the supermarket on Main Street in downtown Jinja, on my way home. Then I saw hm. Huddle son the street corner, drenched and shivering, was a little boy. At that moment, all I really wanted to think about was getting home, getting dry, and crawling in to my warm bed. But a voice inside told me to stop.
I took the little boy inside the supermarket to dry him off a bit and bought him some biscuits and juice. I gave him my sweatshirt, a small wooden cross I carried in my pocket, and some change so he could get a ride home.
As he left, he called out, “What is your name?”
“Katie,” I responded, “Auntie Katie.”
“Me, I am Daniel,” he shouted and disappeared into the wet, chilly night.
About a year later, I walked into the supermarket to buy food for my family and got caught in a big hug. Two small brown arms wrapped around me as a child’s voice excitedly proclaimed, “Autie Katie!”
I looked down to see Daniel. Beaming.
“Wait,” he urged me.
He hurried to the nearest street vendor and bought me a popsicle with the little pocket change he had. He then dug his little hand in his pocket and pulled out the small wooden cross. Looking at me with a wide grin, he spoke words that pierced my heart: “I have never stopped praying for you every day.”
To this day, I think of that story and stand amazed at the goodness of our God and the enormous things He can accomplish if I am obedient to His command to stop and love the person in front of me. That rainy night, I really just wanted to hop on a piki [a kind of motorcycle] and go home. But I stopped, because that’s what my heart told me to do. I only gave him a sweatshirt (I’m sure I have eight more)…some cheap biscuits (I can eat biscuits anytime I want to)…enough money for his ride home (probably less than the equivalent of fifty cents). But Jesus gave him hope that night. And he remembered. He didn’t just remember my face; he remembered my name. He prayed for me. He prayed for my safety and for the opportunity to see me again. I blessed him just one cold night, and he blessed me every day after that for an entire year." (p. 101-102)
Many times we pass up the opportunity to serve someone because we simply don’t feel like it. It may be inconvenient, we have other things to focus on, and we just want to go on with what we were doing, not being interrupted. But may this be a reminder to us, that it is always best (even if we don’t get a “thank you”, like Katie received) to reach out and take that extra step to show someone we care. Loving others is what we are called to do. It is always worth it to put others first!
You can read more about Katie and her journey on her blog: kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com
watch a short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfXgCx3f_1c
or purchase her book: Amazon, Wal-Mart online (cheapest price), Christian retailers – you can find it most places!
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