I traveled to Nigeria to meet the orphans and widows whom HEAL serves and the missionary brothers and sisters who provide our services. So, after staying the first night at Leo’s home in Mbaise village, we embarked from there to the Compassionate Home School, located in the remote, rural village of Umuagwu.

The Children of HEAL greeting me upon arrival at the CHS.

After a long drive, we turned onto a dirt road into a wooded area. Villagers along the roadside carried jugs of water on their heads, fetched wood, and rode scooters. Their dwellings were mostly small wood and straw crafted huts with a few larger, cinder block houses. As villagers saw me in the passenger’s seat of the car, they shouted “Oh-NO-cho-a”. Leo laughed and said, “They are saying ‘Welcome, white man!’” I learned my first phrase in Igbo, the tribal tongue of the villagers!

We turned onto the road leading into the home school grounds and I saw a crowd of children standing at attention in front of a C shaped school building. As we got out of the car, the children cheered as if I was Santa Clause bearing gifts! They broke into a beautiful song with these lyrics, “I can see in you the glory of the Lord. You are welcome in the name of the Lord!” I was moved by the joy in their voices and on their faces!

Sr. Ann, in the photo above, pulled up a chair for me along with a small table with a cup of hot tea. Two of the children stood on either side of me and fanned me with paddles. Eager to communicate, I began a light hearted Q & A with them and asked, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?'” Hands shot up and I called on one at a time. Judith said, “A lawyer!” Solomon said, “A doctor!” Nicole said, “A musician!” I wondered where such hope came from in spite of their poor conditions.