One of my dreams came true yesterday.
I couldn’t have been happier than I was yesterday because something I have always desired, wished for and hoped for finally happened. It was another happy day for me, and I found myself showing gratitude to the Almighty for such an opportunity.
Every October 1st is a celebration of the National Independence Day of my country. She celebrated her 65th anniversary, and we hope and believe in a new Nigeria. I believe things will be good again and my family and I will surely eat the good of the land. I still keep praying for my dear country and it’s never a mistake being a Nigerian. Why? God never made mistakes.
The social ministry in my church decided to visit the Juvenile Correctional Centre on this day to mark Independence Day and also put smiles on the faces of the disabled children. I have never been to one before, and when we were told about it, I didn’t hesitate to show interest. Besides, being a member of the Lydia unit, we were mandated to go so we could write a report and submit it as a project.
There’s this part of the scripture where Jesus said, as long as we feed the poor, visit those in prisons and orphanage homes, clothe those who do not have, give water to those who are thirsty, we’ve done it to Him, and our rewards are in heaven. Also, I believe that in doing things like this, we are storing up our treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy them.
We got to the Juvenile home after the morning service in church as we gathered together to pray for our dear country. We arrived at the centre around one o'clock in the afternoon. We came in a white bus and a black jeep. We didn’t come empty-handed as we brought some items to donate to the disabled children and the caregivers.
As we entered the hall, the children welcomed us in with songs. We all danced and I could see the joy in the children as they didn’t mind their conditions. At first, I wanted to cry seeing them in such condition; seriously this would be my first time seeing a place like this. I had to compose myself from crying because I felt emotional at some point.
As we danced, some of the kids would come to us holding our hands, and I couldn’t refuse because we needed to be happy around them. If they could cheer up and feel joy in such a condition, who am I not to appreciate God for where I am? Most of them were being abandoned by their families; children ages 3 and above were in such pain. Seeing them moved me to pity, but at the same time, I prayed to God to keep taking care of them.
We were taken to another department and seriously, I felt this sharp pain in my heart. One of the women who came with us was just sneezing beside me while we were praying. I looked at her and saw her red eyes. She wasn’t happy seeing those little kids in such a condition. Imagine having babies, too, in such circumstances, and they were all laid down on the mats, some sat on small seats customised for them.
I can imagine the stress and sacrifice of the caregivers, too. Like they would have to feed each child one after the other because they couldn’t feed themselves. Even if they need to pee or poo, they would need to be carried around to do that. It’s a whole lot of sacrifice for those who have determined to take care of these disabled children.
It made me realise how I have never been praying for children like this; though I intercede for everyone in the nation, but that day, I made a decision to always intercede for them, which I do not want to forget every day in my prayer.
I saw some of them in deep pain. There was a boy who was so skinny, like one with kwashiorkor, and then banging his head with his hand, and was restless for the time we were there. Sometimes, he would scream and then stop. There was another girl who kept chewing something in her mouth and didn’t stop. I don’t think there was anything in her mouth but it kept moving nonstop.
The way I felt yesterday, it was as if there should be a massive miracle for God to change their condition and make the children whole again. I really do not like seeing kids in such pain, and worse is how most of their parents had abandoned and forgotten them there.
It’s understandable for some whose parents are dead and have become orphans. It’s so sad, but all I have to do is keep putting them in my prayers daily.
I couldn’t do a video of the children as I was told not to do that. Even the pictures I took of them were taken secretly because they don’t want them to be posted on social media. I don’t know why, though, but I am glad I visited a place such as that and saw the need to be grateful again. If those kids could dance so well yesterday, what’s my excuse not to give praise to God?
All images are mine
