Jan 13, 2020 When the heart sees 20/20

There is one experience from last year’s trip to Iloilo, Philippines, that really stands out to team member Becky. “When I think about it, it still chokes me up,” she says. “I experienced the love of Jesus at work.”

Pastor Dem Robles and Pastor Bill Tucker had made it all seem so simple: God is love. “That is the message of the Bible in a nutshell,” she says. The minute the team met each other, she could tell the group was special and that God had put them together.

It was as if they had known each other for years. One of the team members was Dr. Minder, an optometrist. He brought along his son, Lukas, and they joined the trip from Canada.

The first day of the eye clinic a little girl, about three years old, and her mother came in. The mother was distressed that the girl had wandering eyes. Dr. Minder carefully examined the girl, then explained to the mother that he didn’t have the right equipment to help but that she needed to take her daughter to an optometrist as soon as she could.  If she didn’t, the little girl’s eyes could be damaged for the rest of her life.

“Doctor Minder looked over at me with anguish in his face,” says Becky. You could tell he really wanted to help. He said, ‘I really wish I had my equipment.’ But he couldn’t give up. I could tell he was in prayerful thought.”

Dr. Minder asked Becky to find him the smallest framed glasses in the supplies that the team had brought along so he could look at the prescription to see if they would help the little girl at all. Becky collected all the glasses she could find. 

For the next hour and a half, Doctor Minder struggled to find something that would at least make it better.  Finally, he found a pair that were small enough with a prescription that would help, even if they couldn’t fully correct her vision. Doctor Minder tenderly reminded the mother she still needed to make an appointment with an optometrist as soon as possible.

“The love and care that Doctor Minder showed so many people was deeply felt,” says Becky.  “He took time with them, talked about drinking lots of water, wearing sunglasses because of the wind drying out eyes from riding in a tricycle or jeepney and let others know they needed cataract surgery.  The love of Jesus flowed through his actions.” 

Becky says that this experience has forever changed her. While the blessings were pouring out on the people in Iloilo, they were also pouring out on Becky.   “Dr. Minder wanted to help people read and to see the world around them.  He illustrated how Jesus wants to help us see the Father’s love for us through reading the Bible and seeing God working in the world around u–like I saw in the Philippines,” says Becky. 

Just like Pastor Tucker told them during our first team worship, God is Love. Becky got to experience God’s love at work and saw it with her heart, not just her eyes.

Do Missions: Now it’s your turn!