One of the saddest realities that can dampen the otherwise Joyful Feast of Christmas is when children never receive gifts because of their poverty. This is where HEAL and the Messengers of Justice step in to turn the frowns of the poor and marginalized into smiles with our “Christmas outreach” into the rural villages. Rev. Leo Okonkwo filled me in on the details of this important aspect of our mission.
It begins when children come to school from an unknown area and don’t pay their school fees. Rev. Leo explains, “We then investigate by following the child home and we find out the family doesn’t even have food to eat. We mark their names and village and put them on our visitation list for Christmas.” The villages the MOJ’s visit are nearby the schools they staff or administer. “In Cameroon, we will visit Poango, located in a rocky valley in between two hills. In Nigeria, we will visit Umuagwu, where the Compassionate Home is located”, Rev. Leo says.
These villagers are not in the economically viable or high class. Many of them are widows and victims of property grabbing, which forces them into roadside begging and other extreme survival measures. For this reason, were it not for MOJ visitations, there would be no Christmas celebration for them. Rev. Leo shares, “Like anyone, people in the rural villages want to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But, for many, there is no celebration because they are thinking about survival.”
Because of their dire conditions, when the MOJ’s visit, the appreciation of the people is “very fabulous” as Rev. Leo says in his unique way. They bring necessary food stock like tomatoes, beans, yams, and rice for the families. But, there is a personal touch as well. Per Rev. Leo, “We meet each villager person to person to learn their needs. Our aim is to alleviate their poverty at Christmas in the name of the self-emptying Christ who gave up his riches to uplift the poor.” The joy this brings about is evident on the faces of those the MOJ’s call “their masters”.
On behalf of all the HEAL missionaries and their masters, the orphans, widows, and poor villagers, I wish you a very Merry Christmas! Make your own Christmas gift to our masters today!