Omondi

I first saw Omondi over a year ago, as he shuffled very slowly up to the gate of our compound. His head was down, he looked very disturbed and he was unable to speak. He was dressed in very poor clothes, was dirty, hungry and looked like an old man. The security guard told me that Omondi used to be totally normal, but a few years ago he had become like this. He is well known in the area and people have said that his condition is a result of witchcraft. The guard also said that Omondi was aged around 30! I guessed that he had experienced some sort of nervous breakdown. I discovered that day that his legs were badly swollen and covered with infected sores. So we cleaned his wounds, applied antibiotic powder and found him some clean clothes. We fed him and prayed with him. I remember praying for him to return to his right mind and for his speech to return. Then he shuffled off again. Thus began a series of visits from him. Often we would not see him for long spells and then he would reappear. The sores improved and healed but then would reappear, mostly because of the swelling in his legs. This swelling was partly caused by his habit of standing in the same place for over an hour at a time, in a catatonic manner. One time he found his way to our church, and our pastor, Kennedy, invited him to come forward for prayer - which he did. During his more recent visits to the compound he had been trying to speak to us; he would mumble a word or two. In the last week or two we heard that he has been speaking more. On New Year's Day he came to visit us as he wanted to thank me for treating his legs. At last, they are now totally healed. Even better, Omondi’s whole disposition was changed – his face was bright, he was relaxed and talking away very easily. All the staff and some of the children gathered round as he chatted and laughed with us, and yes - he can even speak English. He told me that his first name is Kenneth, and I told him that that’s a Scottish name – it means “handsome”. Everyone knew his condition in the past and they are all truly amazed at the change in him. Kennedy was able to pray with him again and we thanked God for his mental and physical healing. Please pray that Omondi will also find Jesus as his Lord and Saviour as well as his Healer. Transformation is what we pray for this community - maybe it has begun with Omondi!