Irene's Story

I was born in 1988 to Mr. Pinto Mpalaka and Margret Mpalaka in Jinja town. It was an extended family, as my dad had two women and 3 kids before marrying my mother. My mum and dad had four children together and am the second born of the four.

My parents died of HIV--my dad died when I was eight years old and my mum when I was ten. After my mum's death, the four of us, all still little, were taken to live with different relatives. My grandparents took me up, and they really tried their best to see me go to school. It was a very terrible moment in life though, not growing up with any of my siblings, and knowing we were all going through very difficult times. We had no chance to meet and encourage one other until we had grown up. Life was very hard. But by the grace of God, we went to school.

I gave my life to Jesus Christ at the age of 12. A team of Christians came to our school, sang Christian songs, preached about heaven and hell, and mentioned about Jesus Christ being a good father. This reminded me of how much I really loved my dad and relating Christ to a caring father touched my heart. I learned more about God later in life, but in that moment, all I was looking for was a father figure, just to have someone to call daddy. Each time I went to pray, I said, "Daddy your daughter Ganny has come." And ever since then I have walked with Christ as my Lord and Savior until now.

After I completed my secondary education, my grandfather who had really grown old, couldn't raise enough money to see me through university. It was at this point of life that I decided to leave home at the age of 19 to try and look for employment so that I could save money for university. I got a position at a primary school where I taught for 3 months, but unfortunately the owner of the schools didn't pay me any cent for all my work. He instead wanted to use me sexually, something I wouldn't settle for.

One day, a team came from the USA, which was a big blessing to that ministry. That's how I met a friend who has now become a sister called Rachel Ogimachi who choose to pay for my medical school. She was faithful at this for the 3 years, and I was able to acquire a diploma in Clinical Medicine and Community Health and qualified as a Medical Clinical Officer.

Read Rachel's Story

Rachel's act opened my heart, and I found a big question in me. Aren't there other orphans like me, with potential that just need someone to uphold their hand so they can become what they dream to be? The answer is definitely clear that they are quite many of them.

After my medical school, I started a small community-based organization called Hope to Girl Child in Fort Portal, Western Uganda, which focused on the vulnerability of girls in Uganda. We led young girls to Christ, taught Bible memory verses, life skills, and helped them build their self-esteem. I had to close the organization when I needed to move to a farther district for work, but my experience with Hope To Girl Child Foundation helped me realize the potential in me, how I can do something to help someone else. Every first attempt is hard, but I was happy I did attempt.

In 2014, I began working as a clinical officer at the medical centre at Watoto Children's Home. In April 2016, as I was preparing myself to preach in a Watoto lunch hour fellowship, I saw a vision from God.

In my vision, a man came and led me to the intensive care unit. I had become familiar with the sound of these monitors and life support machines when my son was taken into intensive care at birth. The man took me to the mortuary, and then we stood outside under a mango tree and he told me, "Many of my people are on life support and others in a mortuary in the spiritual world. Go and minister to them. Speak life unto them and they shall live again." He then went away, shining so bright, the rays of light from him were brighter than sun rays.

During this vision, I wasn't asleep; I was sitting on my bed, and the bright light, which was like a star, stayed with me for 3 days. I kept asking everyone around me if they saw the light, but no one but me saw it.

After this experience, I continued with my medical work while serving in church as a choir leader and a youth preacher. As the years went by, the evangelical calling upon my life kept on growing. I decided to look for other people who felt what I was feeling about winning souls for Jesus.

In January 2017, we had our first gospel mission in Gulu town. We kept on growing in the grace of God and more people joined our team.

After two years of doing the evangelical work, over 1000 people gave their lives to Christ. We realized that some people needed more than accepting Jesus Christ, like orphans, widows, and vulnerable people needed more support in housing, clothing, medical care, and education to experience the love of Christ in whole. And that is how we took this vision of Daystar Home to the Lord in prayer.

God has been at the center of it all, and from day one it has been God.