The widow of murdered missionary Colin Lee is due to speak to charity volunteers next week, outlining her hopes for Bermudians to receive ?hearts of compassion? for the world?s poor.

Two days before she is due to leave the Island and return to Africa ? the country where her husband was murdered by a rebel paramilitary group ? Hedwig Lee is also expected to talk about the pain and joy she has experienced during her last seven months in Bermuda.

During her time on the Island Mrs. Lee attended her husband?s funeral last November, before giving birth to their baby in May.

Monday night?s charity event has been organised by Women of Vision, a sister organisation of the Christian humanitarian charity, World Vision, which each year helps more than 85 million poverty-stricken children in nearly 100 countries.

Susan Simmons, social chairperson of Women of Vision in Bermuda, praised Mrs. Lee?s compassion and forgiveness.

She told : ?She?s a person who floats off the ground. ?She tells people that she?s forgiven her husband?s killers and has no animosity. She prays for them to receive God?s love. She believes they have been forced to kill people.?

Mrs. Simmons added: ?She still has her moments of breakdown and moments of weakness, of course she does, it?s her husband and he was murdered in front of her eyes.?

Monday?s meeting has been described by organisers as an annual ?friend-raiser?, aimed at boosting interest in Women of Vision and increasing the number of volunteers who will sponsor needy children and help impoverished women in some of the world?s poorest countries.

Mrs. Simmons said she met Mrs. Lee through Christian circles. ?I was very moved when I read the story about Colin?s death and then I saw the picture of her raising her arms at his funeral. I prayed for her every day.? When she met Mrs. Lee through mutual friends she was overcome with emotion. ?I suddenly realised from her name and accent who she was,? said Mrs. Simmons, who lives near where Mrs. Lee was staying. ?I started weeping.?

She said Women of Vision were honoured to host Mrs. Lee on Monday, who she said had a special message for Christians on the Island. ?We?ve invited her to tell her story, and to speak on God?s heart for the nations.

?Hedwig has been in Bermuda for the last seven months, praying daily for Bermudians to receive a heart of compassion for the world?s poor.?

The meeting takes place on Monday June 5, at the First Baptist Church, Middle Road, Devonshire, from 7 p.m.

It is understood Mrs. Lee will leave the Island on June 7.

In an earlier interview, Mrs. Lee, from Paraguay, told she planned to return as soon as possible to Africa with her child. She also confirmed she would return to Sudan, the country where Mr. Lee, 57, was murdered by members of the Lord?s Resistance Army.

The couple were travelling through Sudan last November on their way to help war victims for the charity International Aid Services when they were ambushed and robbed, before her husband was shot in the heart and throat.