Operation Blessing at 15: Love and Compassion Prevail

My journey in Operation Blessing began in 1995 when I joined Operation Blessing International (OBI) on a medical mission in the Philippines. During the last quarter of that year, I joined OBI’s outreach in Vietnam. That was where I heard God’s calling that I will go and volunteer in this ministry.

On May 1996, Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines was officially established. It was literally unknown. Introducing it to churches, organizations and government units took a lot of hard work. It was an uphill struggle because everything was done from scratch. It was during that year when I regularly volunteered for OB and helped prepare for OBI’s Flying Hospital Medical Mission here in the country.

A year later, I became OB’s full-time director of medical missions. We started giving gifts to 5,000 families in Payatas, Quezon City, scouted for malnourished kids and held pediatric clinics. It was also the time when OB's feeding program in Payatas started. Later on, OB held a one-day medical mission in Talim Island in Binangonan, Rizal, and then a weeklong medical mission in Davao Oriental. And the rest, as they say, is history.

By the grace of God, Operation Blessing in the Philippines is now on its 15th year. What began as a simple healthcare and feeding program to children in Payatas stemmed into different humanitarian efforts that cater to the different needs of indigent families all over the country.

The past 15 years had been a whirlwind of unforgettable memories. I experienced the foreboding threats of terrorists and rebel groups, the pressure of deploying teams to disaster-stricken areas, the helplessness to comfort people because of language barriers, and the funny anecdotes during missions. But in all that, I saw that even in tragic situations, the joy of the Lord still abounds. And it was God who was in full control of everything that happened during those 15 years of sweet grace.  All glory and honor belong to Him alone! We are excited to see where He will take us from here. 

God has used my experiences in Operation Blessing to change my life. I used to be a very worldly person, but He allowed me to meet people who changed me and my perspectives. I learned to be selfless. My faith in God started to grow. It drove me to be more desperate for God so that others will also be desperate for Him. He also stirred in my heart the passion for the lost.

Now, I’m thinking of how I can impart to people the beautiful life in God even in the midst of hopelessness. After all, He made me see the beauty of the world in the midst of tragedies. I believe one can always choose to see beauty in bad times because God will strengthen you.

Even after more than a decade of serving, one of the things that has remained unchanged is OB's  love and care for our clients and volunteers. OB loves taking care of them and showing them how special they are—just the way the Father sees and loves them.

May God continue to fan the flame of compassion in YOUR heart, our dear OB partner. Just like the clasped hands enclosed in a heart in our logo, let us join hands in helping each other rise up against the perils of this world, and let the love of God bind us together in perfect unity.