Joseph

Recently we were able to hire Joseph and his father, a professional mason, to plaster the earth bag wall in the camp pavilion. In four days they had finished the job. To be honest, we were shocked and thrilled at the quality of the work. And we were happy to be able to help Joseph provide for his family.

You may recall that we have mentioned Joseph in the past. I met Joseph in 2004 on my first short-term trip to the Mutemwa area. He was one of our interpreters on that trip. I would see Joseph on every trip over the next four years. He has always had a special place in my heart. (It would be difficult not to like the guy). I prayed that the Lord would open his eyes to the truth of the gospel.

Sean met with Joseph later on in 2008 at the Zambian Reformed Conference in Lusaka. He was able to sit with Joseph and go methodically through the gospel from the first two chapters of Ephesians. Joseph claims to have trusted Jesus alone for salvation after that conversation.

Shortly after we arrived last year we discovered Joseph living in another village closer to Sesheke trying to earn a living doing carpentry work. It wasn’t long before he moved back up north to Ilwendo village. Just after he moved he came down with tuberculosis and was hospitalized for nearly three months. When we finally saw him he didn’t look like the same man. He was so weak he could barely get out of the chair to greet us. We prayed for him and asked the Lord for healing. Whether by way of the medication, or our prayers, or the doctor’s care, the Lord healed Joseph and each week we saw him grow stronger and stronger.

His testimony is remarkable. He says he surrendered to the Lordback in 2008 and was convinced at that time that God was telling him to join Dominic in taking the ‘true gospel’ to his people in the villages further west, Makanda and Ngweze. But, much like Jonah, he ran from the Lord and tried to make his way doing carpentry instead. He says the Lord caused him to fail and gave him tuberculosis in order to get his attention; to bring him back on the right path again. Since we got back together with Joseph he has been attending Bible study faithfully every Sunday and brings his wife and does his best to teach the truth of scripture that he is learning to his wife and children in the home. Only the Lord knows if Joseph is truly saved but as we examine the fruit of his life we are very encouraged and hopeful.