7/9/2025 Kenya (International Christian Concern) – In the quiet village of Witho in Lamu County, Kenya, Auma Wambui, a 45-year-old mother of seven children, had built a life of resilience and perseverance. But on the night of Feb. 18, 2024, her life was shattered when al-Shabab militants stormed her village.

The militants targeted the homes of Christian families and torched everything in their path. Within moments, everything that Wambui had worked for was reduced to ashes.

“They came in the night shouting and firing,” Wambui recalled. “I grabbed my children, and we ran into the forest. When we came back in the morning, there was nothing left. Not even a cooking stick. Everything was gone. I felt like my world had ended. No food, no clothes, no business. Just my children and the clothes on our backs.”

The attack also stole Wambui’s peace and hope for a better life. She and her children found refuge in an internally displaced people (IDP) camp where security was guaranteed. Yet, even in her despair at all she had lost, Wambui never lost her faith.

Soon, a local pastor heard Wambui’s story from village authorities. He visited her camp, prayed with her, and assessed her needs. He shared her needs with International Christian Concern (ICC), which sent staffers to the camp as part of their emergency response relief. They provided Wambui with food, temporary shelter, emotional support, and spiritual encouragement. They also gave her a motorcycle that she could use as a taxi to earn money for her and her children.

“I have never owned such a gift in my life,” Wambui said.

The motorcycle wasn’t just a means of transport; it was a lifeline. It is now used to transport goods and passengers between villages, earning Wambui a steady income.

“I can now buy food and other basic things for my family,” she said. “I am not just surviving, but I am living again.”