Katie Davis faced a dramatic life transformation nearly five years ago, and now at age 22, as the mother of 13 Ugandan children, she is changing the world one life at a time.
Davis spoke at The Gathering on Thursday Oct. 13 to tell her story and the stories of people she has met and to encourage students to walk in obedience to God’s call.
During her senior year of high school, Davis went on a Christmas break mission trip to Uganda. Her heart was so deeply touched by the people she encountered that she had to go back to the East African nation and care for them.
“I wanted to do something, even if it was small,” Davis said.
Amazima Ministries
Davis established Amazima Ministries in 2008, in order to help more children by partnering them with sponsors around the world. The organization “feeds, educates, and encourages orphaned and vulnerable children and the poor in the country of Uganda.” A $300/year sponsorship provides some medical care, school supplies, three meals a day and spiritual encouragement.
When Davis began Amazima, which means “truth” in Lugandan, she said she expected to have a couple dozen children involved. In January 2008, there were already 150, and now the ministry has more than 450 sponsored kids.
Davis has adopted 13 AIDS orphans, some of whom have special needs. “God created this family out of brokenness,” she said.
Davis said most people hear her story and either think she is crazy or extraordinary. But she says she simply obeys the commands Jesus gave.
“I’m just a normal person,” Davis said, “and in these little ordinary moments of obedience to God, He has made my life something that I could have never imagined.”
Rather than quote statistics about Uganda’s 2 million orphans, Davis said she wanted to share some of the stories of the people she has encountered. She said her time in Uganda has taught her that “God is who He says He is, and He is faithful.”
Credit: NPR
Davis said amazing things can happen when you trust God and walk in obedience to Him.
“It’s not about having an extraordinary plan. I didn’t plan any of this. I can’t even believe this sometimes,” Davis said. “It’s not about knowing the path, but it’s about taking that one step of obedience and knowing that Jesus is right there and faithful to grab hold of your hand.
“It doesn’t have to look like going to Uganda. It doesn’t have to look like an adoption ministry. It’s just about seeing the person in front of you and taking one step to obey and to serve that person. And in these ordinary moments of saying yes to God and yes to the people in front of you, He creates this extraordinary life.”
Find out more about Amazima Ministries.