Disability is Not Inability: Lenah’s Life Story

“MOHI has wiped away my long-standing tears. I have faced many challenges that left me despondent for years. But now I am happy that MOHI gave me a platform to pursue my goals despite my disability,” Lenah narrates, her voice filled with swirling emotions.

Lenah is a mother of one and a seamstress at Stitches of Hope—Missions of Hope International’s garment production program. Her challenges began in 2002 when she was in Grade 3. One morning, she woke up with a severe headache, which quickly escalated. The next day, she couldn’t walk.

She spent six months in a hospital in her hometown in western Kenya. When she was finally discharged, she still had issues walking. She relied on others to carry her or crawled to move around. Basic tasks like washing, playing, or doing chores were no longer possible.

With no schools nearby that were able to support children living with special needs, Lena was forced to stay home. She was saddened as she adjusted to a new way of living, different from her peers.

Years later, her father passed away and her widowed mother had to shoulder everything alone. Determined to support her daughter however she could, she spent whatever little money she had on Lena’s medication.

Throughout these years, Lena also endured discrimination. Some in her community mocked or even physically harmed her. But through it all, she held onto her belief in God’s provision.

Later, Lena moved to Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, seeking new opportunities. She got married and had a child. While undergoing medical treatment in the city, a kind-hearted stranger connected Lena with MOHI.

Lena enrolled at MOHI’s Technical Training Institute (MTTI), a skills training program where she studied knitting and dressmaking, finally pursuing a dream that had long been out of reach. Health issues continued to interrupt her progress, but she remained determined. She completed her course and was offered an internship at MOHI’s Stitches of Hope, where she honed her skills further.

When the internship ended, she sought jobs elsewhere but faced rejection after rejection.

Without a steady income, Lena turned to beadwork and shoemaking to provide for her child. But the cost of her medication was overwhelming. She often went weeks without treatment because she simply couldn’t afford it.

Then, an opportunity arose and MOHI was able to offer her a full-time position at Stitches of Hope. The job lifted a tremendous burden. She now has a stable income, and her child is enrolled in a MOHI school.

Beyond employment, Lena’s time with MOHI has helped her grow in faith. She now prays regularly and credits God for the answers she’s received and the strength she’s found. Looking back, she never imagined she’d return to school, complete a vocational program, and secure a job that brings both purpose and provision.

“Indeed, I have come from far, and I am going even further. If God were human, he would have given up on me. But because he is a gracious God, he still holds my hand,” Lena says.

You can be part of more stories like Lena’s.

Through MOHI’s skills training program, individuals facing unimaginable obstacles can pursue meaningful work, support their families, and discover their God-given value.
Your support helps make this possible. When you give to MOHI’s empowerment initiatives, you help open doors for people like Lena to learn valuable skills, find employment, and experience dignity through work.

Support skills training today and empower someone toward a transformed future.