There is a popular saying that goes, “It’s not how you start, but how you finish.” I’ve heard it used in many contexts from sports to life in general. But, when anyone’s life begins with great difficulty, intervention is necessary to help that person reach their fullest potential. Otherwise, crushing circumstances can be too much for one person to overcome alone.
Baby Destiny is a one year old girl from Obowo, a village nearby HEAL’s “mission central” village of Akpim in Imo State, Nigeria. Her mother gave birth to her in great pain, which had to be reduced with heavy medication. Destiny is currently blind and doctors speculate that the extreme measures taken to stabilize her mother during labor may have had something to do with it.
Destiny’s parents, given their poverty and inability to deal with her condition, have granted partial custody to the Messengers of Justice (MOJ), who are now raising her. Despite her blindness, she has had breakthroughs verbally. “She can now sing some rhymes and other songs, despite her condition, and she has made friends in her class”, said Sr. Racheal Ulor, Superior Delegate of the MOJ’s.
During her recent visit to Chicago, Sr. Racheal spoke frequently of baby Destiny and her needs. Because of her blindness, she often bumped into objects and hurt herself while crawling or, as of recently, while walking. A generous HEAL supporter responded compassionately and provided a solution. Sr. Racheal says, “Thanks to her new walker, Destiny now moves about confidently without falling down and injuring herself!”
Of course, we are all hoping and praying that, in spite of Destiny’s difficult start in life, that she will develop properly thanks to HEAL and the dedicated Self-Emptying service (Phil 2:6-11) of the MOJ’s. We are still seeking the cause of her blindness and any possible treatment options for it. If you have any ideas or leads for us, please contact me directly.
There are many children the MOJ’s care for in the mission and we need your help to cover our operational costs. Please consider a small monthly gift of $15, $25, or $40 per month to help us help them. Be a hero and give today!