#Collaboreads: Daring to Hope

Today I am linking up with #Collaboreads hosted by bibliophile bloggers Rachel and Kristen to give a shout out to a new book arriving on October 3rd!   I will use the R.E.A.D.S acronym to help organize all the gushing that's about to happen about this remarkable read. But first, allow me to give a brief summary of the book.

"Daring to Hope is an invitation to cling to the God of the impossible--the God who whispers His love to us in the quiet, in the mundane, when our prayers are not answered the way we want or the miracle doesn't come. It's about a mother discovering the extraordinary strength it takes to be ordinary. It's about choosing faith no matter the circumstance and about encountering God's goodness in the least expected places." - Goodreads

Riveting: Which part of the book could you not get enough of?

ALL OF IT. Katie Davis shocked many people when, barely an adult, adopted thirteen Ugandan girls soon after moving from America to start the Amazima ministry, which serves children and families in her village and nearby slum village in Uganda. This story was beautifully written in Kisses from Katie. Now, a decade after moving to Uganda, she has a newly released book that focuses on some of the heavy, sorrowful seasons as she cared for multiple sick people in her home, some of whom passed away despite her faithful medical attention and prayers. She shares her raw emotions in honest, vulnerable reflections as well as digging into Bible passages that helped her process the many emotions, weariness, and confusion of seemingly unanswered prayers and he journey 'daring to hope' amidst all the pain.  

Elements: What are your thoughts on plot, twists, character development? Did you care for the characters/story?

Katie is a phenomenal, brave, humble woman with a gift for writing eloquently and thoughtfully. I underlined, read certain passages over and over, and was encouraged and challenged by this heart-stirring book. 

Associate: Does it remind you of any other book, movie, TV show, or current events?

I grew up loving (and still love) memoirs about courageous Christian female missionaries. A few that exemplify the same courage, faithfulness, and honesty in their lives and writing include:

Elisabeth Elliot (These Strange Ashes is a memoir about her first year as a missionary in the Ecuador jungles)

Jackie Pullinger (Chasing the Dragon is about her battle against Hong Kong's drug dens)

Amy Carmichael (A Chance to Die by Elisabeth Elliot tells of the beloved woman who served in India)

Helen Roseveare (He Gave Us A Valley shares the story of her medical mission in Congo)

Design: What did you think of the cover?

The cover shows Katie on the far right with women, girls, and a little boy (who I am assuming is her son). Not sure which of the girls in the photo are her adopted daughters and who the older women are. 

Stars: How many do you give and would you recommend this book to a friend

★★★★★! Definitely one of my favorite books in 2017! I will definitely recommend it to anyone who is struggling through heartache and grief who want to be reminded of God's comfort and hope amidst the pain. Also to anyone who wants to be reminded of the beauty of the mundane moments of everyday and how we can see God's glory in the seemingly small things. 

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To learn more about Amazima Ministries International, click HERE and here is Katie's blog

Below, a 4min video of Benji asking his wife Katie about the beginning of her journey in Uganda and  then the Daring to Hope book video 

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review, which I have provided here.