Khaya shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Khaya , we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Something outside of work that brings a lot of joy in my life lately has been “discipleship”. I enjoy spreading the gospel on my YouTube channel, bringing others towards Christ and serving my community with a group of passionate loving women from around my area. We serve free hot foods, drinks and desserts to those in need. We also give out clothes & dog food.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Khaya and I am the owner and chef of my very own Soul Food Catering business called Khaya’s Chicken N Wafflez. I started my business almost 5 years ago in Woodburn, OR. In 2021 during covid, I was motivated to sell food and have customers pre order their orders & come pick up. And so, I got a food handlers permit in Oregon and sold weekly. I’ve always had a passion for cooking. I was always experimenting in the kitchen at a young age. My family and I grew up with eating soul food and in my community that was not popular at all. So I thought I’d bring it to my community during Covid where food takeout boosted in sales! & it was successful and then my partner and I ended up moving unexpectedly to Utah. Which caused me to start all over with networking. It was tuff! But with hard work and faith, I eventually made it to Utah’s number 1 news channel and showed off my business. Which was a huge blessing!
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I sat and really thought about my answer to this and it comes back to Jesus Christ.
I say this because I believe that Jesus spoke to me about my business and what to name it. He reminded me of my passions when I didn’t know what to do with my life. And the biggest passion of mine is cooking. Feeding my family & feeding those in need. I believe that the idea of serving those around me is serving Christ at the same time. My business brought me to use my spiritual gift of “serving” a lot more and that’s why I believe Jesus wanted this for me way before I wanted this for myself.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
As a child, I longed for a feeling of purpose and affection. Having my mom abandon my family was a huge blow to us. And growing up, I felt that I wasn’t enough. I felt that I wasn’t seen and understood. And so, if I could talk to my younger self, I would tell her that God has a purpose and a plan for her and that she is loved by so many. Do not let ugly make you ugly on the inside. Do not victimize your life because your life is a blessing. You’re beautiful inside and out and do not let anyone make you feel other wise. Stay strong!
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am a true believer in our Lord Jesus Christ. I am committed to following Jesus in my life as long as I live. Commitment to Christ is a profound dedication to living a life that prioritizes Jesus above all else, involving a willingness to sacrifice, serve, and follow his teachings.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
There’s a lot of stories I’m sure many people will speak about me when I’m gone. But I just hope that people can be inspired by my testimony. It was so evident how lost I was before following Christ compared to my life now when I gave my life to Christ. I hope people can talk about the times I helped them, made them laugh, fed them and prayed with them. I was never perfect. But I exemplify how you can better your life with Jesus. It’s never too late to follow Christ and become new in him.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @missdrizzyk
- Facebook: Khaya Alizée
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@missdrizzyk?si=1eR9TX3qVB2GlWSb
- Other: TikTok @missdrizzyk
Image Credits
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