Was Blind But Now I See!

Joseph’s Story

It is the custom of the class to visit a student’s church (one within driving range) on the Sundays during each class session.  Two of our students (usually other than the host pastor) preach at the two morning services followed by lunch and fellowship at the church.  In the October 2019 session, Joseph Omondi, one of the students in the current class, was one of those appointed to preach. Sally Gresham, one of the founders and board members of DPTC, was in attendance as she shared with us some of Joseph’s story from the week:

“As he began, I was astounded at how exceptionally well he was preaching, not to mention that his text was a rather remote story from the Old Testament (one that I would be highlighting in my course in a few days). He preached without a single note quoting cross-references right and left to supplement the message he was highlighting and applying to the listeners. It was outstanding! Paul, the Director of DPTC, was equally amazed and commented that Joseph had turned into another person behind the pulpit!

As my Old Testament course began in full the next day, I was surprised to observe that Joseph indeed was a different person in class.  Although very attentive, he was quiet and it became obvious that Joseph was almost blind. He literally held his Bible up against his nose to read, and his nose was practically pressed against the table when he was writing.  No wonder he had preached note-free the previous day; he could not have seen them. As the course proceeded, I was to witness what a brilliant young man Joseph is despite this handicap with which he had lived most of his life. All he knew was what he had been told… he had an eye disease, and for Joseph, like so many of our students, paying to see a doctor was out of the question.

Being the “pushy” Americans that we can often be, arrangements were made for Joseph to go to a mission eye clinic by the end of that week.  And guess what?  Joseph had cataracts…a treatable condition! God was answering all our prayers. One eye was badly damaged and the doctor was giving it a 50/50 chance of success while the other eye should have 100% chance of success. That evening after his clinic visit, as one can well imagine, Joseph was actually giddy with joy at the future possibilities of new sight.

Surgery was completed on Joseph’s bad eye last week and he has sight in it for the first time in years.  The doctor is keeping up with Joseph and his prognosis has changed to a very positive one as the healing continues. Glasses may be in his future, but his sight should be very good.  Now he is waiting for surgery on his other eye, and I’m thinking he may turn into that other person we saw behind the pulpit permanently. God is so good!”

As an addendum to Joseph’s story, Steve Mutura, the Director’s assistant and a DPTC teacher, had accompanied Joseph to the eye clinic where he also had his eyes checked since he had been experiencing some vision problems.  Amazingly, he also had a cataract and has since had his surgery as well…also with positive results. That equator sun sure does takes its toll!