When MOHI Stepped in: A Mother's Journey

As Missions of Hope International (MOHI) celebrates 25 years of transforming lives and sharing Christ’s love in vulnerable communities, we honor the story of Lydia, a mother whose journey has been deeply shaped by MOHI.For Lydia, MOHI has been more than an organization. It has been a partner in parenting, a place of refuge, and a source of strength during life’s hardest seasons.

A mother of five, Lydia has lived in MOHI’s neighborhood for many years, working as a tailor and community health promoter. Her journey with MOHI began in 2005, during a time when she was struggling to make ends meet. With an unstable family life, she carried the full responsibility of raising her children alone. The small income she earned from odd jobs, like doing laundry, barely covered the basics.

“I remember those days like it was just yesterday. There were times when my children would go to bed hungry. Sometimes, the only food I could count on came from a mango tree that stood where MOHI Pangani Center is now based.”

But God was already at work.

When MOHI opened in her community, Lydia’s hope began to grow. One day, she visited the center to ask for food. Moved by her desperation, a MOHI social worker visited her home and found her in pain from overwork just weeks after giving birth, with her children visibly malnourished and crying from hunger. The social worker returned with rice and beans and told Lydia her children would be enrolled in MOHI’s school. It was a turning point.

From that moment, MOHI became a constant presence in her family’s story. Shortly after, Lydia was hired by MOHI to knit clothing and bags. In 2015, she and other tailors began making school uniforms at MOHI’s garment production center. Over time, she acquired her own sewing machine and launched a small tailoring business from home. She could now buy furniture, personal items, and enough food for her family.

“Everything I have now is because of MOHI. This organization stepped in when I had nothing and gave me everything I needed to rebuild my life again.”

The transformation has been remarkable, not only for Lydia, but for her children. Four of her five children attended MOHI schools and are now living proof that education and discipleship can break cycles of poverty. Her second-born son, once a top student at MOHI’s Ndovoini Center, became a teacher and opened his own school. Another son, among the first MOHI students to take national exams, is now a doctor. Her two daughters, who studied at Joska Center, are currently pursuing higher education.

“My children always tell me their biggest goal is to give me the life I couldn’t give them. That’s what keeps them going. They want to break the chains of poverty for good.”

For Lydia, MOHI’s impact went beyond food and education; it restored her dignity and strengthened her faith. Through devotions and discipleship, her children developed strong moral character and a solid foundation in Christ.

“That’s something you can’t put a price on. They are different from many others who grew up in the same settlements because MOHI didn’t just care for their minds but for their souls too.”

Today, Lydia is a confident, faith-filled business owner watching her children thrive. She reflects with amazement on MOHI’s growth from a single building in Pangani to an international ministry with 36 centers in Kenya and 1 in Liberia.

“Back then, it was just a simple bungalow. None of us could have imagined that one day, MOHI would be known internationally. But here we are 25 years later, and MOHI is still growing.”

As MOHI looks to the future, Lydia dreams big.

“My prayer is that MOHI will one day build a university, so our children can continue their education within the same environment that has shaped them so well.”

Some of her fondest memories are of Christmas seasons when parents and community members received food baskets.

“We used to look forward to those food baskets, not because they fed our families, but because they reminded us we were not forgotten. We were loved.”

Lydia’s story is one of redemption and relentless hope. As we celebrate 25 years of God’s faithfulness through MOHI, we give thanks for mothers like her; women who carried their families through hardship and trusted God to rewrite their story.