At just 18 years old, Katie Davis made a life-changing decision that would alter the course of her life. The Tennessee native was on track to become her high school’s homecoming queen and attend nursing school in 2008. But after a trip to Uganda, she returned to her family in Brentwood with a different plan in mind. She informed them that she would not be attending college and instead travel to Uganda to serve as a missionary committed to bringing education to the people.
Katie began teaching kindergarten in an orphanage, but her life took an unexpected turn when a mud hut fell on three AIDS-infected children during a thunderstorm. One of the children, Agnes, begged Katie to take her in, and the 18-year-old agreed. This decision would lead to Katie becoming the mother of 13 orphaned or abandoned daughters ranging in age from 2 to 15.
While initially not considering adoption, Katie became the court-assigned caretaker for all of the girls, who believed that staying with her was in their best interests. “I feel like she’s truly my mother since she shows me love, and I feel like, sure, this is my mother,” said Prissy, one of the kids.
Katie’s objective when she first began her mission was to educate these girls in the word of God, but she had no idea how much love she would feel for them and the desire to become their mother. Over a decade ago, Katie founded Amazima Ministries International, which has helped establish two schools and other services such as medical and vocational outreach, as well as sponsorship and scholarship programs targeted at assisting Ugandan families in remaining together.
Despite growing up not far apart in Tennessee, Katie met her husband Benji Davis in Uganda, where they both served as missionaries. The couple now lives in Uganda with their biological son and 13 Ugandan kids. Katie’s memoirs, Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption and Daring to Hope: Finding God’s Goodness in the Broken and the Beautiful, have become New York Times bestsellers.
Katie believes that her story is not just about her but about the children she has taken in and the people of Uganda who have become like family to her. “You don’t have to be in Uganda to be a missionary. You don’t have to adopt 13 children to be Jesus’ hands and feet,” she said. Thanks to her dedication and love, many children in Uganda now have the stability and bright future they deserve.