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More Stories Bernardo’s Eyes Have Been Opened | Bernardo’s Eyes Have Been Opened |
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Over 900 people were given the gift of clearer eyesight when three Operation Blessing missions took place simultaneously in Manila, Pasay, and Taguig on August 9. The recipients also had a chance to get to know the Lord through counseling provided by the five participating local churches. In Taguig, as the cool morning turned into a scorching afternoon, over 500 people sat and waited to be given their reading glasses, prescribed by the three volunteer optometrists present.Bernardo Flores was one of those who were happy to receive a free pair of glasses. For him, a luxury, rather than a necessity. He is 54 years old, with one son and “one wife,” he said with a smile. Both parents are jobless but do what they can to make money and feed themselves daily. His wife washes clothes for the neighbors to make a little bit of money for the family, and he sometimes fishes in Laguna Bay, but “because of the pollution, there are no fish,” he said. They never know how many meals they might eat on a given day. Maybe one, maybe three. Bernardo said they live by faith, and by the gifts of other Christian believers. Despite living in extreme poverty, Bernardo, who is a Christian, is active in serving in his church. He plays the guitar for the worship team. In fact, according to Bernardo, he doesn’t know how to do anything but play the guitar. Bernardo looks toward what is ahead in his life. He carries no resentment or bitterness for how things have turned out for him, and the situation he is now in. But it is a struggle to trust that the Lord will provide for their needs because he never seems to get an answer when he prays, he said. Is it because he is doing something wrong? An OB volunteer clarified that God is quick to forgive when we repent of our sins, and reminded him of the assurance of his salvation since he had already believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior. Bernardo prayed right then for forgiveness and a renewed faith to continue trusting the Lord’s provision. Soon after sharing with the OB volunteers, he went on his way, wearing his new eyeglasses. Bernardo is now assured that he is in the hands of a caring and faithful God, and the ministry of the local church partners, who will keep connected with him and his family. Because many have given to the work of OB, one man’s eyes have been opened—physically and spiritually.
(Story by Tami Burke )
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