Inside Story: By Faith I See
I was born into a very poor family in a little town north of Medellín, Colombia. Our poverty carved out a hard life for us. Our town has no adequate water supply, no electricity, no telephone. Our houses are made of mud pressed over bamboo poles, for we have no other building materials.
When travelers pass by, they wonder how we stay alive. Everyone looks hungry. Even the dogs are only skin and bones. My village knows only hunger, hard work, sickness, and disease.
When I was little, my parents let me play in the hills around our home. But when I was 11, I began to help the family work. We harvested sweet potatoes and plantains, a type of banana. I also herded cows.
One year a sickness spread throughout our village. The sickness was so contagious that doctors wouldn’t come to treat us. I became sick, but recovered. However, I noticed a change in my vision-everything looked yellow, then became blurry. Finally, I lost my sight completely.
Sounds became my way of “seeing.” I listened to my uncle’s battery-powered television and learned that life wasn’t so hard in other places. That reality made me even more miserable. I felt sorry for myself and hated my life of trouble and pain.
Fortunately, my mother was a Seventh-day Adventist, and her faith was strong. As I gradually lost my vision, her faith became my strength. She taught me to trust God. At age 15, two years after I became blind, I was baptized.
I enrolled in a school for blind students for six months, then returned to my regular school. Because of my blindness, it took me longer to finish my studies, but I kept at it.
During the summer I worked as a literature evangelist. My cousin guided me from door to door, and I talked to the people about the hope they could find in Jesus. I chose to work in the poor neighborhoods, because I thought there would be many people who needed God and hope. They did want my books, and they were glad to know that they were helping me, too.
When I was younger, I was angry and bitter because of my family’s hunger and poverty. Then when I became blind I became even more angry and bitter, and wondered why all of these bad things were happening to me. Several doctors examined my eyes, and I have even had surgery; but they could not restore my eyesight.
Now I see by faith. When I learned to trust God, I realized that He does not guarantee an easy life. But He does promise to walk with us during our earthly life, and if we are faithful, He will guarantee an eternal life.
Several people have asked to study the Bible with me. They want to get to know Jesus and share His power just as I have. If it takes my blindness to win others to Jesus Christ, then I want to be a good example so that others may see Jesus through my faith.
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Only God knows what is good for us! Hold on to our faith...
God has always spoken through signs of nature, and He continues to do so today. We had better pay close attention to them.
God Bless Us
God is willing to be with us at all time in our lives as long us we keep his word, do his will, and follow his counsel, we shall fully benefit from His guidance and Mercy. See Matthew 28:18-20
When I consider how little I do, having as much as I do, in relation to others who have so little and do so much, Lord help me to rise to the occasion.
We should thank God in all circumstances. There is a reason for everything.
Amen! What a testimony.
Thats a great challenge.With all the blessings we have, what have we done for the lord???
Oh, Victor Vergara, wherever you may be, bless your heart! While reading your testimony, I couldn’t help but think of Matthew 5. Truly, heaven is going to be very worth it for you!!! What a testimony!!! What an experience!!! May Romans 8:18 be your close companion & may He Who’s begun a good work in you finish it!!!
The story is soo touching and very true. God can use anyone that has faith and ready to serve him to the end. I pray God will continue to use each and everyone of us to His glory
Why does bad stuff happen to Christians? At the same time it will offer an amazing challenge and hope to those who may be facing a time of "testing" in their life. Using the backdrop of Peter walking on the water with Jesus this insightful message offers reason for the storms of life and courage to face them with confidence in God.
This is a touching story,Brethren may GOd give you strenght to endure,Same hardship here but a crown of victory awaits us.Be faithful till the end.
My brother in christ, continue to be faithful. Sometimes God has to take something from us in order to save us. Continue to spread the word.