For Christine, baking is more than a way to earn an income. Each cake, cookie, and cupcake represents skills she has developed, opportunities she has pursued, and a future she is steadily building for herself and her family.
Today, she balances university classes with a growing baking business. Her journey has required perseverance, faith, and the encouragement of people who have walked alongside her through many seasons.
Persevering Through an Uncertain Childhood
Christine grew up in Mathare, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, where her family faced extreme poverty. Her parents worked hard to care for Christine and her younger sister, but an irregular income often made it difficult to meet the family’s daily needs.
“We barely survived,” Christine recalls. “My dad took on casual jobs, which were unreliable. Sometimes he would come home with nothing, and we would sleep hungry.”
Determined to contribute to the household, Christine’s mother began selling samosas and roasted nuts. Through a friend, she later learned about Missions of Hope International, and Christine was enrolled in preschool at one of MOHI's schools.
At school, Christine found opportunities to learn, build friendships, receive nutritious meals, and grow in her faith.
“At school, I received two meals every day, something that was rare at home.”
Teachers, social workers, and a sponsor also became part of the community, encouraging her along the way.
“Being at MOHI was such a relief! At some point, I got a sponsor who changed my life in a big way. She wrote me letters, sent gifts, and encouraged me,” she remembers with a smile.
Her sponsor’s consistent encouragement showed Christine that someone was thinking about her, praying for her, and believed in what she could become. It is a meaningful reminder that sponsorship is not only about meeting practical needs. It is also about relationships formed through faithful presence and encouragement.
Growing in Faith and Purpose
Daily devotions and Vacation Bible School programs helped nurture Christine’s relationship with God.
“School was fun! I found friends; we played, sang and danced together, memorized Bible verses, and shared the Word of God,” she adds.
Christine remained committed to her education as she progressed through primary and high school. Her family, MOHI teachers, social workers, sponsor, and ministry partners all walked alongside her with support and encouragement.
During her final year of high school, Christine’s father was diagnosed with cancer. His treatment placed significant emotional and financial pressure on the family. They moved away from Nairobi in search of more affordable living, but Christine’s father later passed away.
As the family grieved and adjusted to life without him, they eventually returned to Nairobi to begin rebuilding their routines and pursuing new opportunities.
Discovering a Gift for Baking
After high school, Christine joined MOHI’s Mnara Program, a mentorship initiative that helps graduates navigate adulthood, faith, and career decisions.
“At that age, many young people lose focus,” she explains. “Mnara helped us understand ourselves, make wise choices, and prepare for life.”
Through Mnara, Christine learned about the MOHI Technical Training Institute (MTTI), where she received practical training and discovered her interest in baking.
She later enrolled at a university to study biology. Although she was excited to continue her education, covering everyday living expenses remained difficult. Rather than allowing those challenges to stop her, Christine began considering how she could use the skills she had already developed.
With a small secondhand oven in her hostel room, she started baking cakes, cookies, and cupcakes for other students. She promoted her work among classmates, neighbors, and social media groups. As more customers placed orders, her small business began to grow.
Over time, Christine moved out of the hostel to continue expanding her work while pursuing her degree.
Balancing Business and University
Christine now organizes her baking schedule around classes, assignments, deliveries, and customer orders.
“Some days I bake late into the night. I deliver cakes after lectures,” she adds.
The work requires long hours and careful planning, but it has allowed her to meet many of her university expenses independently.
“The money I make sustains me at the university. I do not ask for living expenses from my mother,” Christine says.
Her business is still growing, and balancing entrepreneurship with university life is not always easy. Yet Christine continues to move forward with creativity, discipline, and confidence in the skills God has given her.
Building Toward a Bigger Dream
Christine hopes to open her own bakery one day. She wants to build a sustainable business, support her siblings, and help ease some of the financial pressure her family continues to face.
“I want to help my siblings and reduce the financial burdens at home,” she says. “MOHI gave me a life we never imagined: education, faith, mentorship, and skills that I use every single day. They renewed my hope.”
Christine’s story reflects how meaningful growth often takes shape over many years. God has worked through her perseverance, her mother’s determination, caring teachers and social workers, practical training, mentorship, and the faithful encouragement of a sponsor.
Today, Christine is not simply dreaming about the future. With every class she attends and every order she completes, she is steadily working toward it.
Walk Alongside Students Like Christine
Please pray for Christine as she continues her university studies, grows her baking business, and works toward opening a bakery. Pray that God will give her wisdom, endurance, and opportunities to use her gifts in service to her family and community. Please also pray for other students facing challenges and pressures, that they would find strength, guidance, and hope as they pursue their education and future.
God is at work through students, families, sponsors, and the wider MOHI community. Explore more stories of faith, perseverance, and hope on our blog!
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