There are so many wonderful stories from Bryan of God’s blessings through God’s Eyes. I’ve encouraged Bryan to record them many times, he just mentioned to me that he has a blog and he should update his site. I asked Bryan if I could submit something for his blog and he agreed. I started my first blog entry and soon realized that I am writing a full narrative of his stories. A blog should be short and concise. This is not. My plan is to write the full narrative and clip out only the concise parts to post on his blog. Here goes.
Bryan just returned from a 6-day trip to Panama this past month. There were several stories he shared that testified to God’s presence. This first story is a repeat prayer in preparing for Panama. Apparently,the customs in Panama can be rather difficult at times to get through and sometimes they will appropriate passenger’s items. Bryan was concerned about the possibility of losing some of his more expensive equipment or even supplies such as frames or lenses as this has happened a number of times while going through other countries customs. Anything taken could clearly jeopardize the effectiveness of this current mission trip. Bryan asked for prayer in the weeks prior to departing on his last two trips into Panama. He asked us to pray that his equipment and supplies would make it past customs. Our prayers were answered in a remarkable way.
Panama customs direct each passenger to load their baggage onto a conveyor belt that passes through an x-ray machine with an operator viewing each x-ray image. During this most recent trip as he approached customs, he followed a woman who had one bag. Bryan helped lift her bag onto the conveyor belt and then turned around to place his four bags also onto the belt. He observed that as soon as the woman’s bag had completed the x-ray process, the technician viewing the screen got up and wandered off about 15 ft away, presumably to stretch his back. This technician stared at the wall long enough for all four bags to pass through the x-ray machine he then returned to his station only after Bryan finished collecting his four items of baggage. Now what drove the technician to “skip” Bryan’s bags? I’d have to say, “An answer to prayer.”
Bryan’s previous trip to Panama had a similar result with Panamanian customs. This time, the technician didn’t wander off, rather he simply looked away from the screen while all of Bryan’s and Jennifer"s bags went through the x-ray. Isn’t it amazing how God works? Isn’t it amazing how God does answer prayer?
Bryan saw a lot of people in his six days in Panama. He related of one 91-year old woman who had twelve children. She has cared for her youngest child his entire life, as he has been an invalid since birth and today is age 38. Her husband had died years ago and she has no income. Furthermore, she hasn’t seen clearly for years and came to God’s Eyes ministries for glasses. As she was getting fitted with lenses, Bryan asked her, “How have you survived all these years?” She replied, “God has provided everything that I need.”
She shared with Bryan that she has no money and needed to take a cab to travel to God’s Eyes clinic that day. When she arrived in a cab, the cabbie didn’t charge her. Immediately, Bryan felt led by God to give her the money that was in his pocket. He did this before sending her to pick up her new prescription eyeglasses. The remarkable thing about this story is a 91-year old woman, with poor sight and penniless, walks away with her sight restored and money in her pocket. A living testimony of faith in the Lord.
Here is another interesting story of God’s work through God’s Eyes.There was a man indigenous to Panama, age 40’ish, who wandered into the God’s Eyes clinic on the very first day. This man would paint with oil on canvass while evangelizing to whoever would listen. He received permission from God's Eyes to paint for those were lined up waiting to receive glasses. He literally painted the good news of the gospel as well as told its story to those waiting. He was used by God to lead many to Christ that day. At the end of the day, this man asked if he could follow God’s Eyes to their next location around Panama and continue painting. He showed up everyday and shared the gospel with the Panamanian people. They didn't know who this man was, but God is using him in a very powerful way. Praise be to God.
Bryan’s first day in Panama was spent at the Word of Life Camp, which is a camp for under privileged kids. There is a fee to attend this camp and that day,153 children were signed up for, and their fees paid for, a week long evangelism camp they hold in the summer.Most of these scholarships came from the very people who arrived to receive eyeglasses from God’s Eyes. God must have worked on the hearts of these people while they were simply waiting. God blessed this camp through God’s Eyes.
Not so much related to the Panama trip, but Bryan also shared how God continues to feed God’s Eyes at just the right moments. Just last week six people from all different parts of North America have donated money to God’s Eyes, this came from people Bryan and Jennifer do not know.God continues to amaze and confirm to them that Bryan is doing what he is suppose to be doing. God does provide and bless His ministries and God’s Eyes will continue reaching far and wide all over the globe.
Lastly, there is a local merchant who has made a wonderful offer to God’s Eyes. This merchant is the Peachtree City Eye Center. Here is what they said on their Facebook page.
“As we enter this season of giving, we would like to show gratitude to our patients and partners by donating $10 to the God's Eyes Ministry for everyone that "likes" our Facebook page between now and New Year's Eve! So please tell all your friends to like our page and we will help give sight to those in need around the world this holiday season.”
So, please go to their facebook page at facebook.com/ptceyecenter
and click on the LIKE box at the top of the page next to the Peachtree Eye Center name.
God bless you all, Larry … friend of Bryan
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