"Kisses from Katie" giveaway winner!

And the winner is....

JENNIFER FLAVIN from Paisley Print Shoes!

I chose my winner using the random # generator from random.org. Congratulations Jennifer! You are going to love reading Kisses from Katie! Be sure to message me your mailing address and I will get this in the mail to you tomorrow!

To everyone else who entered, THANK YOU for following The Sound of Hope on facebook, twitter, and signing up for our blog updates. I'm planning to do more giveaways on my blog AND through The Sound of Hope in the next few months, so "stay tuned" for more opportunities to win!

I can't wait to share our videos, pictures and stories with you while we are in Africa. Please keep us in your prayers! 

 

ps - If you didn't win and you want to purchase this book, I would encourage you to do so from this link. They give 50% of the proceeds back to Katie's ministry, Amazima!

FREE "Kisses from Katie" GIVEAWAY!

In 6 days I'll be on my way here....

 

(specifically to the little yellow dot that is Swaziland.)

And I can't think of a better way to celebrate our return to Africa, than a FREE GIVEAWAY of a wonderful book that was written in Africa! I just finished Kisses from Katie a couple of weeks ago, and it did not disappoint. I laughed and cried and underlined whole paragraphs. I loved reading Katie's raw, real, beautiful writing - and I found myself in her story. So much of her explanation of what was happening in her heart to put her where she is today, reminded me of my own journey from prissy pageant girl to the woman who regularly spends time in third world countries and deals with job hazards like parasites and rats! (ugh!) A woman who now leads an unexpectedly crazy life - but a crazy life that I love.  I never could have guessed that this would be the life God had for me!

I like the way Katie puts it - 

"I have learned that something happens when one makes herself available to God. He starts moving in ways no one could imagine. "

"People from my first home say I'm brave. They tell me I'm strong. They pat me on the back and say, "Way to go. Good job." But the truth is, I am not really very brave; I am not really very strong; and I am not doing anything spectacular. I am simply doing what God has called me to do as a person who follows Him. He said to feed His sheep and He said to care for "the least of these,", so that's what I'm doing, with the help of a lot of people who make it possible and in the company of those who make my life worth living."

I believe that the children we care for in Swaziland, India, and Thailand are some of the ones that make my life worth living. And I want you, my wonderful blog reading friends, to be impacted by this book the way I was. So - I'm giving away a copy for FREE!

What you'll get :: 

One Hardback Copy of Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis

How to enter :: 

          Step 1 - Choose one of these ways to "follow" The Sound of Hope 

• Sign up for our blog updates HERE (upper right corner)
• Like us on Facebook HERE
• Follow us on Twitter HERE

Step 2 - Comment below and tell me which way you chose to "follow us" (you can do all 3!) and you will be entered to win! And don't forget to leave an email address so I can get in touch with you if you do win.

That's all you have to do for a chance to win your own copy of Kisses for Katie! It's really a "win-win", because believe me - you're going to want to see the pictures and videos of our sweet kids in Africa that we'll be sharing via facebook, twitter, and blog the next couple of months!

I'll be announcing a winner on Sunday, March 11th - so enter today!

Kisses from Katie

Sorry for the "downer" of a blog post yesterday friends! I promise I'll do better at sharing happy things with you - like the #1 thing I'm looking forward to this weekend.....

KATIE DAVIS IS COMING TO BIRMINGHAM!

For those of you who don't know who Katie Davis is, she's the 22 year old author of the new book, Kisses from Katie. You may also know her as the author of one of my favorite blogs by the same name (Kisses from Katie).

If you're wondering what a 22 year old has to say of importance, let me give you a little background info on her. Katie, once her high-school homecoming queen, left her comfortable Brentwood, TN life behind to move to Uganda. At the age of 19, she adopted a little orphan girl - and in the years that followed, she adopted 12 more. That's right - this beautiful 22 year old from Tennessee is now "Mom" to 13 little girls in Uganda. She also started Amazima ministries, helps run a feeding program and health clinic for her community, and every day lives her life as "Jesus with skin on" to the people in desperate need around her.

If I had to describe her, I would say she is my generation's Mother Theresa. I'm sure she would shy away from that title, as I've read nothing but sincere humility in her posts. But I can't help but be challenged, convicted, humbled and inspired every time I read her blog.

And now, she has written a BOOK that I cannot wait to get my hands on! (You can order your copy here and a portion of the proceeds will go to support her ministry.) And even better - she is coming to speak at the Church of Brookhills this SUNDAY (ie- tomorrow!) at their 9 AM, 11 AM, and 6 PM services.

She is high up on the list of people I'd like to meet before I die, and Rusty and I will definitely be going to hear her at the 6pm service. We're also bringing along my parents, little brother, and his girlfriend. If you're in the Birmingham area (or within driving distance) I hope you'll come too!