Once blind

 

 

 John 9:25

He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

 

We had the great pleasure of meeting Daniel the day of our arrival to Naomi's Village. If you have not heard his story CLICK HERE The name Daniel means "God is my judge" according to the ESV study bible. Because we know that The Lord is a righteous judge, we know Romans 8:28 to be true; "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Hindered by boundaries of language barriers and blindness, many of us were unable to communicate with Daniel. However, Daniel spoke through a translator to Marri and Charelle on two different occasions. On this divinely appointed day, on this very bench, Daniel sat with Charelle and held her hand in the courtyard as he exclaimed in Swahili, "God is good!" repeatedly. Why would a man who recently lost his sight, wife, home and two precious sons - through no fault of his own - be able exclaim the goodness of God with zeal and passion?

 

 

 Because he knew without a shadow of a doubt that God not only heard his prayer to be reunited with his sons after 8 months but also provided security and care for them by way of Namoi's Village. This is the same man, who just weeks ago, talked without hope to Julie and Aunt Flo about the hard circumstances of his life, and his love for his wife and sons. On this sacred day, our team witnessed the reunion of Julius (4) and Isaac (3) with their father Daniel, and them being made part of the Naomi's Village family. What holy ground we stood upon in the courtyard as we watched and cheered the boys upon their arrival. What holy ground we stood upon as we watched a blind father scoop his children into his arms and said, "I didn't throw you away."

(Julius on the left, Isaac on the right)

 

Daniel expressed genuine love and concern for the boys, assuring them of his tender affection and desire for their safety. He explained to them they were now going to live here at Naomi's Village, where they would be well taken care of.

This emotional reunion was followed by a ceremony of acceptance. It took place in the dinning hall and included singing a song of welcome, "Welcome! Welcome to Naomi's Village! Please come and sit down!" by all the children and staff. We all also sang "You are ours" to the boys. Finally, the breaking of bread together which was actually the sharing of cake concluded the ceremony. The giving and accepting of cake was an important event that signifies being bound to one another in friendship.

 

(Julius with orange Fanta and cake)

 

The next day Daniel returned to Naomi's Village to find his boys bathed, clothed, well fed and happy. As they passed by on their way to lunch, they caught a glimpse of him, ran to him and crawled onto his lap. As the boys ate lunch, Daniel, Bob and Julie, and the translator, retreated to the office where Daniel gave his testimony of how he had come to know Jesus as His savior. He said that mere strangers would never have come and done for him and his family what Bob and Julie and a host of other teams visiting Naomi's Village, had done. It was God who heard his prayer and did all this!

 

Romans 2:4 "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"

 

The exact details of Daniel's future are unknown to us. Though Bob and Julie have offered Daniel a job at Naomi's Village as a means for him to take care of himself while also being a part of his sons' lives, no one knows what the future holds. But we can be assured of this truth: Daniel used to be blind to the good news of Jesus and now he can clearly see His savior's hand at work in his life.  What a great story of eternal salvation and acceptance, restoration of a family, and hope added to the Church.....and we were privileged to witness it.

 



(Julius on the right, Isaac on the left. First night at NV in the playroom)

 

 

Posted by Charelle and Marri