When things go awry and you know, as well as everyone, that hope is gone, Jesus says, “don’t you ever be afraid, but only believe!” Though the situation is dead and everyone mourns the loss, listen to the voice of the Master saying, “it’s not the end, it’s just a bend!”

4 MONTHS AGO

Swing low, sweet chariot! Coming forth to carry me home;

Swing low, sweet chariot! Coming forth to carry me home

Christine skipped merrily from her Sunday school class. Today she had accepted Jesus as her personal Lord and savior and in her little heart she was so overjoyed. Her Sunday school teacher, auntie Banke, her mother's best friend had been to one to lead her to Jesus. She said He would wash her and make her white as snow and that he loved her forever and ever. But the most important thing of all was that she would go to heaven if she continued to be a good girl.

"I will tell mummy so that she can accept him too." It felt as if God had placed it in her heart to do just that.

She stood for a while and scanned the park for her mom's car. Her mom did not come to church with her. She never did. Every time she asked her she'd say "Oh baby, you know mummy is busy. But I promise to come soon." She stood as if deep in thought for a while. Then she saw her car as she drove up to the church.

She ran to the car just as Chioma got out and opened her arms wide.

Swing low, sweet chariot! Coming forth to carry me home;

Swing low, sweet chariot! Coming forth to carry me home

The voice was very clear and distinct. Like it was carrying a message and wanted to be heard. It was gentle yet firm and kept repeating the song over and over. Chioma turned towards the voice and kept walking. Sometimes, it seemed to fade away or she would start running towards it only to hear it coming from another direction. She was becoming tired; "Hello!" she called out loudly into the oblivion but didn't get any answer. She turned around and looked straight ahead of her only to see a child. The child waved at her, turned and started running. She forgot how tired she was and began to run after the child into the nothingness. Suddenly out of nowhere came a bright light into which the child ran.

Then she heard the song again but this time with laughter. It seemed to be coming from the light. Chioma gathered speed and ran towards it. She did not understand why but it seemed as though all her answers lay in the light. After a few minutes, she reached it and saw little children dressed in white laughing. Then they all kept quiet and the little girl in the middle began to sing;

Swing low, sweet chariot! Coming forth to carry me home;

Swing low, sweet chariot! Coming forth to carry me home

Chioma began to move towards he child. There was something about the song, something familiar. The child was sitting with her back turned and as Chioma got nearer, she began to feel afraid. Part of her wanted to go back but it seemed as though an invisible force kept pushing her towards the child.

Finally, when she was close enough, she took a deep breath and placed her right hand on the child's shoulder. The child stopped singing and turned...

"CHRISTINE!" Chioma screamed as she woke up with a start. It was 2.45am.