To remember her by, I'd like to share her testimony she gave me the first time we met. It shows her deep love to her Savior and Lord by her extraordinary faith and obedience. I pray for comfort to those whom she left behind.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15
The Miracle of the Opened Eye
by Ester Llenado Bonifacio
I was 11 years of age when I discovered something wrong with my eyes. The retina of my left eye no longer centered and the eyelid was drooping. The doctor diagnosed my sickness as mystiquia gravies. I had injections many times. I took pills daily. The doctor massaged my head and used electrical instruments and ultraviolet rays to heal me. I kept getting worse and could feel my right eyelid becoming heavier.
One of the finest doctors in Manila took many pictures of my eyes and said he would make an exhibit of my case.
Needless to say I was spending much money on treatment and medicine but the condition of my eye was seemingly hopeless.
I wanted to die. I was not able to finish my studies because of this handicap. Whenever my eyes became overly fatigued severe headaches would develop.
I seldom ever could read because of the strain it would place on my eyes. When friends would visit me they would read for me. One day a friend brought a newspaper clipping telling of a religious crusade taking place. She read, "Miracles are being witnessed at this meeting!" It was a Protestant gathering and our dominant religion in the Philippines is Catholic. Even so, I thought I might receive healing for my eyes.
It was Thanksgiving day when I came to the crusade at San Lazaro Hippodrome desiring to be healed. Rev. Lester Sumrall was leading the crowd singing, "Oh, How I Love Jesus." Tears began to stream down my face. At that very moment I feared God with all my heart as never before. I recalled my sin and repented instantly. Afterward I had perfect peace and joy that kept me wondering why I was so happy when no one was entertaining me or talking with me. The people in the crowd were merely strangers to me. As I have grown in my faith I have found that it was a born again experience I was feeling. I joined the healing line and was prayed for and then baptized in Manila Bay by Rev. Sumrall. From that day on I began following the ministry of Pastor Sumrall.
A short time later Rev. Sumrall needed to raise $5000 to be used toward the building fund of our new Bethel Temple church. God told me to give my plastic penguin bird worth 80 to 90 pesos and also I was to donate my silver coins.
Then I decided to give all the money I had in the bank. Since I was single at that time the only thing I had was my money. God knew how I loved money and that I had even enjoyed saving money since my early childhood days. When I withdrew the money from the bank and brought it to give it to the church, Mrs. Sumrall was very reluctant to take it. She told me that anytime I felt I needed the money back that she would return it to me. I was confident that God was commanding me to give all that I had and I was afraid to disobey Him.
To this day I have no regrets for giving that money. God has been true in His promises and has blessed me financially a hundred fold.
My eyesight returned and the lid opened up. Then God gave me a job to work as a cashier in a shoe store.
In 1957 I married Andres Bonifacio. After three years of married life God gave us a house and lot of our own. He has blessed us with three lovely daughters and every desire of our hearts.
Since 1970 I have been able to confess to the entire world of a complete healing from the Great Physician. Men do fail... but Jesus never fails.
I cannot forget the day I fell in love with my First Love – Jesus Christ – it has been the highlight of my life.
We love and appreciate the founder and father of Manila Bethel Temple, Lester Sumrall.
April 1973
