I'm sure most of us have heard that saying, "Better eat your food; there are starving kids in Africa," at least once in our lives, right? Prior to coming to Daystar I had heard this saying, and while I knew it was true, I did not feel the weight of it. After my first trip to Kenya, where we spent time in the slums, my way of viewing the world and that specific statement greatly shifted.
One of the things I struggle with the most (in all honesty) is trying to write my emails in a way that you all can feel a bit of what it's like to actually be in Africa. Through my writing I hope to paint a picture worth more than a thousand words - a picture that portrays the dire need for our help.
I've written many emails about the transformations that take place at Daystar and you've seen the testimonial videos of our students, but you haven't SEEN what their lives looked like before.
Cate has graciously shared the few photos she managed to keep of what her life before Daystar and Christ looked like, so I thought I would contrast the before and after photos to show you her journey.
By this point she is probably a pretty familiar face to you. This is Cate receiving her first award, Daystar's Community Service Award, for her undergraduate degree (2016). You can see how she quite literally is SHINING with the light of God's redeeming and saving grace.
Cate grew up in the Kibera slums - the second largest slum by population in the world. While Cate has not sugarcoated what life in the slums was like, e.g. lack of clean water without sewage in it, or going days without food, she did however manage to make that life her own "little paradise", as she called it. Along with her family, she survived believing that this life was all she would ever experience.
Cate with her niece and nephews in her sister's home at Kibera.
Cate's sister (center), with Cate's niece (right) and nephew (left). Her nephew was orphaned at a young age.
Cate's two nephews outside their home in the slums
Cate's cousin at her house in Kawangware slums.
Cate, along with her multiple family members, shared a one bedroom hut in the slums. Now she has graduated from Daystar with her MASTER'S degree, has her own apartment, and is employed at Daystar's financial aid office. Cate is now in a position to help her family and many more because of your support.
Cate receiving the Chancellor's Award from Chancellor Florence Muindi and Prof. Laban Ayiro for her exemplary servant's heart (Daystar's highest award) this last November when she received her master's degree.
Your support did this. Your support took a girl from the slums and gave her a second chance. That girl living in the slums is this same WOMAN today. From the bottom of my heart I want to say "thank you" to you, our supporters - Cate's supporters. Without you, I would never have met Cate, who I now call my sister.