Pangasinan: Missionaries Put on the Full Armor of God

What do you get when you gather in one place a group of missionaries, a couple of volunteer doctors and nurses with the heart of true compassion and thousands of poverty stricken people in dire need of medical attention?
A provincial wide medical missions that is.
The recent Operation Blessing (OB) medical missions was set out to reach the Province of Pangasinan, a good five hours drive from Manila. A 20 member OB team composed of 5 doctors, 2 nurses, 3 dentists, 1 medical technologist and 9 OB volunteer staff, carrying boxes full of medicines and appropriate medical and dental supplies embarked on a five day provincial wide medical missions.
OB reached out to the most depressed and impoverished areas of Pangasinan namely the municipality of Bayambang and its five Barangays: Ambayat, Warding, San Gabriel II, Manambong and Carungay.
Situated in the deeper areas of Pangasinan, where the only means of transportation for most of them is by foot and travel to the city would be very hard, most of the people of Bayambang have not seen a doctor for years and for most of the children they have not seen a doctor ever. And for people living on a hand to mouth basis, medical attention is just not one of their priorities.
Like much welcomed rain shower on a scorching hot day, OB's visit to Bayambang was greeted with overwhelming smiles and excitement.
Through out the five days a total of 2,476 people including children were given their long needed medical and dental treatment. OB's medical services area offered optical examination, laboratory services, nebulization, blood typing and deworming, while the dental services area offered tooth extraction and dental advice. All patients were given the appropriate medicines and vitamins they needed.
Some of the people who sought medical attention were suffering from various pains and varied symptoms and had no idea what disease they had or what condition they were into. Thanks to the volunteer doctors and nurses these people were enlightened and treated appropriately.
From malnutrition, chest pains, diabetes and even evil spirit possession the OB volunteers were always ready with the full armor of God to offer both physical and spiritual healing.
"As a medical doctor, most of the time, I focus only on the physical aspect of the person and the disease. I always forget the spiritual part. The Lord reminded me through this mission that I can be an instrument of healing to both (spiritual and physical). Dr. John and Dr. Kim helped me realize that I should or can pray while attending to a patient", shares Renee Joy Neri M.D. volunteer doctor.
Ensuring not only their physical but also their spiritual health, each patient had to pass through the counseling area wherein a group of counselors where ready with the friendliest smiles. Here the patients were gradually reminded of Christ's love and free gift of salvation. Some 814 people- through out the five day missions- including children readily accepted Christ as their Lord and savior.
"Dahil sa tulong ng Holy Spirit nagkaron ng kaligtasan at pagpapatawad ang bawat isa. At ayon sa kanila, pagkatapos ko silang ipag-pray, naramdaman nila na gumaan ang kanilang pakiramdam, nagkaroon sila ng kapayapaan at bakas po sa kanilang mukha ang kalayaang natamo nila sa ating Panginoon. At ang kagalakang di nila maipaliwanag", (Because of the Holy Spirit a lot of people were saved, and according to them after we prayed they felt inner peace and their faces were glowing with freedom and joy that comes only from knowing Jesus Christ), recounts Rhea Datuin, OB volunteer counselor.

As if the five-day medical missions was not enough, simultaneous with it was OB's grooming section, wherein patients awaiting their turn to be checked by a doctor had the chance to have free haircut done by no less than Nanay Adoring an OB volunteer. 118 people were able to have their crowning glory trimmed and styled.
There was also a children's area through out the five days, here 1,580 children were treated with different games, bible stories and toys. There were even T-shirt printing and face painting.
1,091 people from varied communities were given nourishment for their bodies through OB's community feeding program.

All in all a total of 5,283 people were served during this mission. All through out the five days, the OB team showed nothing but selflessness, genuine concern and kindness to the people of Bayambang. Never mind the scorching hot weather, the hard pouring rain or their worn-out bodies, they were all dead-set on bringing Christ's love and His mark of true compassion among these people, and that they were able to do.