Twenty-one-year-old Grace Somana knows the concept of loss in a way that few can imagine.

She grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo without a mother, a father, or any family to call her own. As a toddler, security agents brought her to a children’s center after Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in Kakalali killed her parents.

Left with no trace of her origins, Somana entered life with only God’s guidance and the care of “Mama Marie,” one of the few who remembered her earliest days.

Even in the face of such hardship, Somana discovered her calling early. By the age of 8, she instinctively began caring for the other children at the center, comforting them, sharing her limited belongings, and showing maturity beyond her years.

“Helping the other children brought me joy, and I knew that through serving them, I was living out God’s love in my life,” Somana said.

Though she lacked a traditional family, Somana became a source of warmth and stability, demonstrating that compassion can flourish even in the absence of parents.

As Mama Marie grew older and became less able to manage the center’s daily demands, Somana stepped into a greater role of responsibility. At 15, she took on cooking, washing, and caring for all the children, working tirelessly from dawn to dusk.

The labor was grueling, and over time, the physical toll on her young body became evident. Bending, lifting, and long hours caused pain in her vertebral column, yet she continued out of love for the children she considered her family.

“I may have lost my parents, but God has never left me,” Somana said. “Through him, I found purpose, hope, and the courage to serve those around me.”

Recognizing her physical strain, International Christian Concern (ICC) provided Somana with a supportive belt to help ease her back pain.

“I thank ICC so much for this support belt,” she said. “May God bless you so much. I got a problem with my vertebral column from doing manual tasks to help my brothers and sisters. I thank God for your support because I know with this belt, I will be OK.”

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