Experiencing God’s favour on a journey to Joburg

Years ago, I felt the Lord calling me into a particular area, where I landed up being a business owner with a small product that helps people who are visually impaired.

There’s an annual conference in Johannesburg, run by The Low Vision Centre of Learning , for professionals who help and serve people with visual impairment, such as optometrists, occupational therapists, neurology specialists, and others working with people and families in this field.

God Opens the Door to the Conference

This year, I initially decided not to go to the conference entitled, ‘Low Vision Matters More 2025 ‘. My product was not ready for manufacture and registration was very expensive. But André and I prayed about it and asked the Lord to guide us.

Ten days before the conference, the organisers phoned and said they wanted me there, and that they would sponsor our registration. They are not yet believers in Jesus, so I told them that André and I would pray about it first, because that’s how we live our lives.

Two days later, we felt I should go, because Jesus usually invites us into the places He wants us to be. Why would He not?

Provision for Every Step

Next came the dilemma of the flight costs. I registered, but again André and I submitted it to God. At a prayer meeting for disciple makers, we asked the Lord to confirm if I should really go.

The very next morning, I got a message from someone saying his organisation would cover my flights and he insisted I don’t choose the cheapest ones. I hadn’t wanted to go at first because my product wasn’t ready, but now I knew the Lord wanted me there.

On the Friday before I left, the manufacturer phoned, asking me to come and double-check the design so they could sign off on the product. I left with new spare parts, able to show potential clients what we were working on.

Favour in Every Encounter

I had favour all the way, from speaking to a high-level person who runs a foundation that rescues children in distress, to business people, Uber drivers, people serving in restaurants. I had the opportunity to speak to people and find out what is in their hearts, discover who they feel they are and what has God created them for?

Unexpected Blessings Along the Way

On this trip I stayed with my sister at her house and she invited me to come a day early to see my niece dancing in the ballet premiere. My sister was also given a spa day and her friend could not go with her, so I was asked to change my flight to stay a day later to enjoy a full day at a spa for free. How good is God?

Sharing Hope and Encouragement

I also visited a client with helpful business connections and was invited to share at a meeting where American professors spoke to people with low vision and their families. In simple language, I told them what the Lord had been doing, encouraging them to find the gift within their impairment and their God-given identity beyond their broken bodies.

A Divine Appointment at Lunch

Another God-moment came when I bumped into the Chief Innovation Officer of a foundation that had sponsored my product years earlier. I had been trying to get hold of her and I had a draft email ready, she was also pinned on the top of my WhatsApp chat so that I could clarify a few things. She’s a very, very busy woman.

At lunchtime, on the second day of the conference, I heard my name being called. When I went over, it was this lady. She attending a conference downstairs and talking about getting your product export ready. When I showed her the draft in my WhatsApp, we both burst out laughing.

I got to introduce her to the optometrists and professors who were leading the conference, which was helpful as there are other innovations to do with blindness that she supports. When we met at lunch the following day, she was amazed at the progress that had happened in the last two years.

What are the chances that God would put the very lady I needed to see in the same hotel, eating lunch in the same restaurant at the same time as me, and she spotted me!

God’s Goodness on the Journey Home

And finally, on my way home, I checked in at the airport early and the man from the airlines who was serving me told me about his wife, who recently went blind. He has had no support and now we have connections so that she can get the help that she needs.

On the way home, I happened to sit next to a family who live in Morning Star, Durbanville (around the corner from ESCC) and we got to share about the goodness of God.

It was wonderful to come home from what seemed like a solo mission trip. Although, I knew I had family support, prayer, and the God family with me all the way.

— Jenny Webster