Being with my family and close friends has been such a beautiful blessing and a much needed rest, though I admit at first I was rather bored and my hands seemed rather empty without 13 little ones needing me at every moment. Last semester was such a blur of fund raising and I was truly burnt out by the end of it. As I am only in the States for 5 short weeks and want to maximize this peaceful quiet time with the Lord and my family I will not be doing speaking engagements while I am here. At the top of the things I miss the most in Uganda is Strong Tower Bible Church, one of the most incredible communities I have ever had the privilege of being a part of. I want to spend every Sunday there being filled!!!
SO... for those of you wanting to hear me speak, here's your opportunity. This Sunday, June 28th, at 6:00 pm there will be a Point of Grace concert benefiting the Oatsvall's adoption at Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, TN, where I will be speaking. Doors open at 5:00 and admission is ten dollars at the door. Please come listen to some of my stories, ask questions about our ministry, and help one of my all time favorite families bring home their little boy from Uganda!
See you there!
38 comments:
Katie I'm wondering if I could write an article or two about Amazima and what you are doing and submit it to various Christian magazines? I am a writer, and I am looking for some way to use that ability to help you.
Please e-mail me at brekke2004@gmail.com?
Katie.
I cannot believe I lived in East Tennessee for 20 years. I would have driven over to the concert and to hear you speak! Now I am in S. Florida... well, in body anyway. My heart has been directed to Uganda. I laugh only because I don't even think I could find it on a map in less than 30 seconds! But God has made sure my heart has found it . . and you . .and your girls . . and the many, many more. And I know not what to do with ANY of it. So I rest. And pray. And seek, and cry. A lot. "Mom's crying again" is a common comment around here lately. Enjoy your sweet time with your family. Long for your sweet time back with your girls and rest in the sweetness of our Lord. You are loved!
kim.jewett at comcast.net
So happy for your sweet mama to have you back in her arms......I'm relating to her a lot these days and so thankful for her witness! See you Sunday sister!! :))
Praying for your peace that you need to refill so you can enjoy your beautiful children!!!!
Hey, Katie.
I can sure relate.
Leaving soon for a one-month sabbatical, not really to minister but just to be.
Are you Shawnda's friend?
Katie,
Praying over the concert and that God will use your love for Him to touch the nations! Praying that it brings provision from heaven for Gwen and her family to be united forever to her children waiting to come home!
Blessings - I'm so jealous I don't live down South and can't just come give you a hug in person. So ask Gwen to give you one for us!
Lots of love,
Jill
Jane is sleeping so sweetly in our bed right now...and grace is.. somewhere : ) they miss you, sister.
I am thankful that this is a time of fresh oil for you as you rest in the arms of the Father. Enjoy your time with the part of your family that is here in the U.S.
I will be praying for the concert on Sunday.... that hearts will be touched, that lives will be changed, and that enough will be raised to bring Joseph and Abagail home.
Your daughters are in my prayers.
God's Peace,
Daleea
Aww. I wish I could come. But it would be a long drive! I live in Wisconsin. :(
Thank you for all that you do!!! I pray for you every night.
C
If I lived even remotely close I would be there....but as it is we are leaving right after our second morning service and heading to Iowa for Isaiah to see another specialist on MOnday and probably have surgery on Tuesday....
Love to you! Praying for times of joy and refreshing while home...xo
We will be there! We can't wait!
I am so glad you are finding rest in familiar arms. I plan to be at the concert and look forward to hearing you. God has put your ministry on my heart and I pray for you daily. I am seeking Him on ways I can help fundraise for amazima.
God bless ya.
looking forward to hearing you speak! while in our search to find our children somewhere in Africa, God used your & Gwen's blog to lead us to Uganda. i will be forever thankful for that. we're thankful to be able to come from (near) chicago and support Gwen's family and hear you. blessings!!
Oh, how I wish I were in Tennessee! :)
Katie-
We are always sharing about your ministry and remember you in our prayers, thanking God for you and what you do through Him. If you can ever come to the Missouri area, please let us know. We would love to hook you up with some great places to speak and host you in our home for as long as you need.
The Gibson Family.
i got your msg katie. you're home for awhile? all us girls should have a skype date or something :)
i understand missing your girls. a new toy store opened today on the plaza by my house in KC. i bought a couple things for Isaac. no news on the adoption, but i am going back in august to visit. it can't come quick enough!
lots of love n prayers ♡
Katie,
My wife and about 10 of our Small Group people from World Outreach Church are coming to see you.
We've talked about how God has changed us so much this year. For many of us, in previous years past, the highlight of an evening like this would be a Point of Grace concert, but we are really looking forward to hearing you speak. God is moving us and moving our hearts. It is scary and exciting all at the same time. It's almost like walking into the unknown but knowing it's ok. We can't wait to see what He does in all of us this year. Your testimony and choices towards God have been a great inspiration.
We look forward to hearing your stories and the concert!
God bless,
Dave and Michelle Ashworth
Katie,
Although i have been reading your blogs since the first of the year this is the first time i have commented, not because i havent wanted to but because it seems i would always want to write a short story.....as i am now...LOL. You have touched me so deeply and i am blessed to be able to come hear you speak on Sunday.
Katie, I know you miss your babies! I know you are obeying the call of Jesus by doing a few weeks work here at home...may it bear much fruit! And speaking of fruit...I know there will be lots of fruit bearing Sunday night and I am SO thankful that I get to come up for it; me and my little tribe. We are so excited, Katie. To get to see in person someone we pray for so often and so fervently. What a blessing...and we continue to pray that hearts will be stirred and lives changed!
Katie,
Does your ministry have opportunities for mission teams or those interested in ministering to orphans to come and stay with you and help you?
Let me know how that works. Blessings!
Tina
Oh, how I wish I could be there. I will be in the area just 2 days later. Sniff, sniff,
Robbie
Hi Katie,
Your posts are so entertaining! My name is Erin, and I am a college student with mild cerebral palsy. I’m a special education major and have hopes of becoming a disability services director of a university after graduate school. I have just launched a blog that is still getting started, but with the title “Empowering People and Changing Lives,” I hope that it will provide a wealth of resources for people who care for children, specifically those who are affected by disability. I will also be chronicling some personal experiences and will be sharing some thoughts about those along the way. Your blog has also been included in my blogroll, so I hope that together, we are able to collaborate to provide resources to those who are in similar situations. The blog’s address is http://empowerpeoplechangelives.blogspot.com. From there, you will be able to read the posts I have written, find out all about me, check out my blogroll, eventually look at many resources I have gathered, and contact me.
Look forward to reading many more of your posts! Happy blogging!
Dear Katie,
I was honored to come hear you speak. I did not know that you only came here for 5 weeks this is the first i have heard of you from my mother. It is amazing that some one of age 20 has more then half her age number of kids. I was planning on taking a year off for vacation but now i am starting to change my thoughts on that, If i could come there in uganda and stay for maybe a month or however long at a hotel near or somewhere that will not impose on you and your kids, and help you with little things and such like that or play with the kids or do something to help you
email me, if u can, at
Baldee912@Aol.com
Thanks so much for sharing your story with us Katie, you are quite an inspiration and I pray that God continues to bless your faithful heart and obedience to His call!
Praying for you and your beautiful family, Katie. May your trip home be both LONG and SHORT! :-) Sweetest blessings, Amy in OR
I have recently learned of your story and found your blog. What an amazing example and inspiration you are! I pray God blesses you, your family, and the work you do!
Hi Katie - we haven't met - but my husband and I visited your house and your children last week with the Visiting Orphans team...the day with your family (and all of the the extended Jijna family) was the most memorable day of my time in Africa (and that says something since i'm in the process of adopting from Ethiopia and was in Ethiopia as well :- ).
Your children exuded so much love and I am forever blessed by/thankful for the privledge to have been there. I had been following your blog before we left - praying for you all for the last several months. The prayers will be even more heartfelt and real after meeting your children and visiting your home. Your work is simply amazing and an inspiration to all.
Much love,
Holly Willis
hollyvt@msn.com
Your posts always bless me...and inspire me and make me think about life....
It was awesome meeting you when we came to visit Katie. You are truely an inspiration and what you are doing is amazing.
Awesome. I wish you could come to Texas and speak!
I would very much like to meet you and maybe the next time you are in Tennessee I'll sneak down there with Steffie and meet you and visit with Gwen.
I am so touched by your account of Happy and her life. Sometimes I think that people enter this earth for the lessons they will teach others, not truly having lessons to learn themselves.
And I believe it is truly a privilege to be able to hold their hand and love them as they return home to the Lord. A bittersweet privilege.
Your life is a beautiful inspiration to me.
Katie! Cherie Hammond just told me all about you and what you are doing...I am in awe!! I will commit to pray for you and your precious 13. I would love to come to your fundraiser tomorrow night but I don't think I can make it this time. I will definitely be following you! God bless you and may His face shine upon you and your entire family and give you PEACE, direction, protection, provision and favor in Jesus' name. Much love!
hey katie. i heard your story on a mission trip to guatemala that i just got back from like almost a week ago. i think your story is amazing!! Very inspiring.
and i also wanted to say that i love the song that starts playing when you click on your site. :)
dani
I am a missionary to this world. My family is missionaries to Ghana. I just returned from China. I thank you for having the heart to hear God's voice. I hope we can share our hearts some day. I recently started a new blog to reach the quiet Christian ears.
In His name.
Katie,
It's Sunday night after the benefit, and I just wanted to say what a huge blessing it was to us, and to all the guests we brought! God's annointing was evident to all, and I just wanna say another big, "You Go Girl!" Since I'm old enough to be your mom, I just wanna say that I'm proud of you, although you're not seeking that at all...which is one of the reasons God has so blessed your ministry....you do it with the purest of heart and intentions! It's an honor to come alongside you and be a small part. Thanks for allowing us to!
Love and blessings from the Kemp family!
~Rhonda
So happy for you to be home with your sweet family who I am sure love you dearly. I just love coming to your blog to hear your words Jesus carrying you through. Sorry I dont live closer to hear your speak.
Know that you are loved and thought/prayed for often.
Lisa
you are an inspiring woman.
just came upon your blog yesterday. you are truly being the Father's hands and feet. i am filled with joy over the love you have brought to Uganda.
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