Happy Hour #208: Katie Davis Majors

My guest for The Happy Hour # 208 is Katie Davis Majors. Katie is an author, speaker, blogger, and founder of Amazima Ministries, an organization that cares for vulnerable children and families in Uganda. Katie moved to Uganda over a decade ago with no idea that this would be the place that God chose to build her home and her family. Today, she is a wife to Benji and mama to her fourteen favorite people. Katie and I start out the show talking about Katie's journey to Uganda and adoption of her 13 girls. When Katie was 18, she made her first trip to Uganda and knew she'd be back. Katie tells us how 80% of East African children are in orphanages not because of lack of family, but due to poverty. Katie learned that in some cases simply paying for school would allow those children to stay with their families. Katie kept sponsoring more kids, and more and more people joined in to support these kids and Amazima Ministries was born! Katie then shares how she came to know and foster 3 girls. When it became clear that there was no family for these children to be reunited with, they became Katie's daughters through adoption. The stories continued and by age 23, Katie was now mom to her 13 beautiful girls. We then talk about the difficult season she walked through facing multiple losses. Katie speaks about the loneliness, pain, and questions she had and describes how near God was to her in that time. She reminds us, "we can bring our hearts to God, He sees them anyway, and He loves us regardless." I also appreciated her honesty in talking about challenges that can happen in adoption with connecting with your children. In the last part of our conversation, we get to hear the story of Katie and her husband Benji and their family of 13 daughters and a son. You guys - it is the sweetest and includes both of them declining dates with each other at one point! I loved my conversation with Katie so much. I was encouraged, inspired, and reminded of how when we say yes, whether it's moving overseas or sponsoring a child's education, God does amazing, incredible things! {You can listen to the show HERE, and make sure you never miss a Happy Hour - subscribe using your favorite podcast app (ie. iTunes, Google Play). And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends!} Links from the Show Katie's website Amazima Ministries Katie's Books: Daring to Hope and Kisses from Katie What is Katie is reading: The Way of Abundance by Ann Voskamp What Katie is loving: this season of having teenagers all the way down to her 2 year old - so much fun!, taking a break from social media Connect with Katie Katie's Instagram // Amazima's Instagram Connect with Jamie + The Happy Hour Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube Stay connected and subscribe to The Happy Hour Newsletter! The Happy Hour Summer Book Club's September Book: If You Only Knew by Jamie Ivey - join in the fun and conversation! Do you love The Happy Hour? If so, we'd love if you'd leave a review! If You Only Knew by Jamie Ivey Sponsors Prep Dish - Get one month for just $4! Coffee and Crayons Podcast presented by Slate Studios in partnership with Target Simple Habit - Free 7 Day Trial of Premium Library