The Power of Yes: The Story of Katie Davis

By: Rebecca Lawrence

           

            Once upon a time, far far away, lived a princess named Katie. Katie was the daughter of the King who ruled over all the eye can see. Katie loved her Father, the King, more than anything in the whole world with all her heart. The mighty King led Katie on a journey. A journey she never imagined possible. Even though the princess was scared at times, the King never left her side. He provided for all her needs, and the needs of those she loved. The princess lives in Uganda, a tiny country in the middle of Africa. Most people wouldn’t even notice it, but to the King, it’s a piece of His glorious kingdom. This is a place where His people are in need of saving. They are crying out for help. He told the princess “Go into all the world and spread the good news of my kingdom, love your neighbor as yourself, and love Me with all your heart” so she did.  The king continues to watch over his daughter, and bless her and her family.

            The King used her in a way that amazed and inspired many! The princess, Katie, however, is a normal girl from Tennessee. She went to high school, had lots of friends, went to the movies, and grew up with a dream to go to college and have a family. Katie had no idea how far off this idea was to the King’s plans for her.

            Katie had a desire in her heart to help the needy. When she was a child and asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, “Mother Theresa” she would say proudly, and that is truly what she has become. She went on a mission trip to Uganda her senior year in high school for 3 weeks and her heart never came home. She prayed to the King and asked for guidance, for answers. She asked Him to use her in any way He can. So one day over sushi on her 16^th birthday, Katie told her parents that she was thinking about not going to college after high school.  2 years later she had plans to go to Uganda to teach kindergarten for a year. The princess’s parents weren’t very happy with her decision, but the princess wanted to obey her King’s call, she had to. “The King does not ask that we care for the less fortunate, He demands it. Caring for the widows, the orphans, the hungry, is not an option, it’s a requirement.”- Katie. She arrived in the far away land of Uganda and slowly made her way; helping others and serving the King. She had to give all she had every day. She truly put others before herself in all circumstances. Her heart was focused on one thing; making her life less complicated. She shows love in a way that most Ugandan children have never seen. Katie loves the King, and Katie loves others. This is the true meaning of a princess.

            This is the part where most stories say “and they lived happily ever after, The End” but this is not a story. Katie Davis is a real person, is currently 24, and living in Uganda with the 14 little girls she has adopted. She started Amazima Ministries to sponsor children who were unable to afford education, food, and medical care. She wrote a book to help support her ministry called, "Kisses from Katie" all about her journey. She is not a saint. She is not an amazing outstanding super Christian. She is a regular, normal girl with an obedient heart, and the desire to follow God's will. She made an important decision that we all can learn from. She said yes. Yes to an idea that she wasn’t expecting. Yes to an idea that seemed impossible. She loves her Father with all her heart, she loves her neighbor as herself; ALL Katie did was follow the Father’s commands, and say yes.

Amazima Ministries Website

Katie's Blog



Lunch time guys!




What?!




Chill time after lunch




 

High School Finance - Watch the duck face Sydney!





Now... What to do with these Seniors...








High School Chemistry - You guys can clean that one up!



High School Chemistry - Be sure to read your notes Jonathan!







High School Chemistry - Thinking hard...

High School Chemistry - When you burn the paper, be sure to hold
it up to the smoke detector so we can get out of class!

High School Chemistry - Careful!



High School Chemistry - Ryan! You forgot your safty goggles again!



High School Chemistry - Study, study, study!



High School Chemistry - Wait, is that a cheese ball in the expiriment?
Don't let Mrs. Moore see it!




High School Chemistry - Look at all the salt!




High School Chemistry - I do believe we have discovered something!



Middle School Geology - Dress up day!




Is that Alissa or Cameron? Mind blown...




Those are some CRAZY cats!




Not sure if really brave to be dressed up as a
clown or just unable find clean clothes...




Look this way everybody!



Photography credit: Jameson Perry



High School Art class - Hurry and finish for lunch!






High School Art class - Finish up those flowers!



Photo credit: Jameson Perry

The Star Wars Sellout Debacle

Current Event: The Star Wars Sellout Debacle

by Alissa Abner

Recent news reports have revealed that Star Wars, the legendary stories that have been subject to our fanatic adoration since 1977, has been handed over to Disney in exchange for no less than 4 billion $. Dorks everywhere have been buzzing ceaselessly since the announcement, and I don't think I've heard a positive comment yet. I can't say I've been looking optimistic about prospects myself.

“I'm doing this so that the films will have longer life,” states George Lucas, creator of Star Wars. Really now, George? I think we all know you've been beating a dead horse since the infamous Jar Jar Binks was introduced back in Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Me-sa thinks you-sa has milked this for all it's worth (which comes out to about 4 billion, apparently).

This buy out also means the rights to the Indiana Jones now belong to Disney. Didn't anyone learn their lesson from Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Not even the lovely Shia Labeouf could save that mess. Let's face facts, Harrison Ford is too old for action and the alien plot needed to stay in a galaxy far far away where it belonged. Here's to hoping no more of these movies are ever made, or heaven forbid it gets turned into a cartoon, and old Indy can escape with at least a sliver of dignity.

We now have to sit through three more movies following the adventures of Luke, Leia, Hans Solo, and all the classic characters that captured our nerdy hearts from movie one. It hasn't been said whether it'll be a cartoon, or if they'll cast our favorite characters with new actors. I don't know which would be worse, watching people attempt to fill the shoes of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford, or actually watching the three of them attempt to play the characters in their old age. I shudder at the mere idea of either. The first of this trilogy is scheduled to arrive in 2015, and that's only the start. New movies are scheduled to be cranked out every two years following, none of which are written by George Lucas—he is merely “overseeing” all scripts.

I am of the opinion that George Lucas and the idiots at Disney need to take a step back, recognize the error of their way, and personally apologize to every fan whose childhood and/or favorite saga they are about to ruin. George—we forgave you for Jar Jar Binks. We stood loyally by when Episode II: Attack of the Clones was entirely a love story with little-to-no fighting action. We even pretended it was okay that Leia and Luke were revealed to be siblings after they had sucked face that one time. So, speaking for fans everywhere, do us a solid and take back this nonsense—you totally owe us.

According to an article from Discovery News, Lucas is pledging every cent of his newly accustomed fortune to his foundation for furthering education. Which is really cool, and I appreciate it and all, as well as fully recognizing that it will go toward helping people become smart so they can write us more awesome things like Star Wars; but I'm also pretty sure Lucas is wealthy enough to do this kind of thing anyway without selling out to Disney. I know I have bought enough light sabers, action figures and movies to pitch in for the cause. The sellout to Disney is simply an embarrassment, and will only lead to more ridicule than Anakin's pod racer in Phantom Menace, when the mean kids made fun of it.

Social Report: Game room Night By: Sam Blevins

This month’s social consisted of a game room night, which was held at the Stuart Heights Hixson Campus. The night started off with a high stakes foosball game which would not have been complete if Zach Owens was not yelling like a crazy Japanese mad man throughout the entire game. Food? Yes there sure was food. The food table featured the widest array of brownies, cookies, BBQ chicken wings, and even Quesadillas.  Drinks included pink lemonade and water. Later on some of the attendees settled down and played a nice game of apples to apples. But that was cut short when Luke White came over and randomly started playing duck, duck, goose.  He then ran off with Sam Blevins chasing him very fast. After that bit of craziness was over most of the group settled into the video game area. This is where Nick Goss got into a battle on Guitar Hero where he tried to play five fast paced, up tempo songs, on expert mode. He beat 3 out of 5. But what was going on out in the main room was even crazier! By crazy I mean a dance off with most of the girls, and even the chaperones, yes that’s right the CHAPERONES. It was quite entertaining  watching Mrs. Bobbie and Mrs. Paula do the Cha Cha Slide, but it something that could not go unmentioned. All in all it was a great time. “Crazy night”, said Natalie Mitchell on Facebook hours after the event. Indeed it was a crazy night, hats off to Mrs. Bobbie for planning such a fun and wonderful event that everyone enjoyed.