God Is Still Writing My Story

“Trying to put into words what MOHI has done for me is difficult. MOHI picked me up from the trenches. When people say that MOHI transforms people… I am one of those people.”

Isabella is a caseworker in the special needs program at MOHI’s Baba Dogo Center in Nairobi. She dedicates her life to supporting children living with special needs in the community. Her own story is a powerful testament to resilience, faith, and transformation.

Isabella was born and raised in the informal settlements of Mathare, where life was a constant struggle. Her mother battled alcoholism, and her father was absent. In a community with few opportunities, girls were often taught that marriage was their only escape from poverty.

Believing this was her best chance for a better future, Isabella married young and had a son. But her hopes of a stable, loving family were shattered when her husband behaved in abusive and neglectful ways. Over time, he withdrew emotionally and financially, leaving Isabella to care for herself and their son alone.

The stress and hardship took a severe toll on Isabella’s physical and mental health. She endured the heartbreak of losing two pregnancies, each time without support. “It became a subconscious belief that I was alone and no one would care for me,” Isabella recalls.

Determined to provide for her son, she sold porridge in the community, but the income barely covered their needs. When her son reached school age, she learned about Missions of Hope International (MOHI) and inquired about enrolling him.

“When his turn came [to be enrolled], I had nothing to give him to go to school. It broke my heart, but this was when my transformation journey with MOHI began,” she says, her voice filled with emotion.

Not long after her son began as a student, a MOHI medical camp offered free checkups. Isabella attended with her son, who had been battling a recurring illness. During their visit, the doctor noticed that Isabella herself was in poor health. “I did not look well—I was emaciated and skinny,” she shares. Tests revealed that she was pregnant.

The news triggered deep pain from her past losses, but the doctor prayed with her and offered compassionate counsel. “It was the first time I felt cared for or listened to,” Isabella recalls.

Her pregnancy was complicated, requiring constant medical attention. MOHI stepped in, ensuring she received the care she needed. “While I was in the hospital, none of my family members came to see me. Only the MOHI social worker visited to pray with me and encourage me,” she says.

Isabella gave birth to a healthy baby girl and named her Shekinah Glory. “Truly, the Lord was with me through the pregnancy,” she says with a smile.

Life remained challenging, but Isabella persevered. She left her abusive marriage and moved in with her mother. While she worried about providing for her children, she trusted that God would guide her path.

When MOHI hosted a group of interns, Isabella was asked to assist one intern in working with families of children living with special needs. Walking alongside these families and learning their stories profoundly impacted her.

“I realized how blessed I was and saw the joy we brought to their faces,” she says. “We brought hope to children who could not sit, swallow, or talk. Interacting with them gave me a lot of joy.”

This visit sparked the fire that later became MOHI's special needs program. When the department began, Isabella became a full-time employee at MOHI. With a steady income, she could provide for her children and even purchased land to build a home.

“As we speak, I am now a homeowner, and I live there with my two children, whom God has blessed so much,” Isabella says proudly. Her daughter Shekinah is now in grade 11, and her son serves as an evangelist with a local church.

For over a decade, Isabella has worked as a caseworker in MOHI’s special needs program, serving families with the same compassion and care that transformed her own life. “I don’t know what God has in store for me, but I know He is not done with me yet,” she says with gratitude.

Isabella’s story is a testament to the power of hope, resilience, and faith. You can make a difference for children living with special needs, just like those Isabella supports every day. Join us in bringing hope and transformation to families in need.