As the first rays of the morning sun lit up the gazebo at my host Ed’s home here in Texas, my thoughts wandered back to the Philippines – my home country grappling with challenges that weigh heavily on the hearts of my fellow Pinoys. In that moment of reflection, an idea sparked: what if I could share a story that might bring a glimmer of hope to my kababayans amidst these trying times?
What could be more inspiring than the journey of a Pinay who, despite the odds, found a way to uplift and inspire others? This thought led me to seek out an inspiring life story, one that could serve as a beacon of hope for those enduring the socio-political and economic hardships back home.
I reached out to my friend Edith, a resilient cancer survivor whom I had previously featured in my ATABAY article Branson Unveiled: Live Shows, Lake Views And Life-Changing Stories. Edith didn’t hesitate. She texted:
“Susie is a good story. You should visit the website of Operation Care International (OCI).“
Exploring the website, I discovered Susie’s compelling narrative and the mission of OCI: In obedience to God, Operation Care International facilitates worldwide opportunities for the lost, the least, and the lonely to experience the love of Jesus and the promise of eternal life.
Later, I met Susie in person at Edith’s house blessing, where she shared her extraordinary journey with unwavering passion. Her remarkable narrative, recounted unfailingly to anyone, anytime and anywhere, has graced countless occasions. I knew, it was exactly the kind of inspiration I had been searching for. Sharing her story, Susie recalled:
“I got saved when I was 10 years old in the Philippines. I am one of nine children. I’m number eight and after I got saved, the Lord just touched my heart.”
She was in church, the very church where she was raised, when her godfather, who was also the pastor, made an invitation. Susie went forward and accepted the Lord.
That very day, her oldest brother had a motorcycle accident where his motorcycle went under an 18-wheeler. Susie’s mother rushed to the hospital, and Susie felt tested that day. Sitting on the stairs, she told God:
“I’m going to be a good girl today.”
From that day, Susie felt a profound change within herself, feeling that sin was no longer a part of her. She resolved to no longer steal her mother’s money, which she had done as a little girl. That day marked the beginning of her transformation.
Susie’s work with the poor began in her mother’s kitchen. She recounted:
“When I was a little girl my mother used to feed the homeless in our kitchen. I didn’t like that because they ate my food and occupied my space. I grew up not liking any homeless people.”
She recalled her mother would feed them and give them jobs, like chopping wood, in exchange for money and food. Susie grew up disliking homeless people, especially after one of them slapped her in the marketplace.
Her attitude remained until she moved to the United States. Baylor University Medical Center hired her as a nurse while she was still in the Philippines. Susie came to the U.S. in 1982, joined First Baptist Dallas, and became a member. She met her late husband, David, and they got married. The marriage lasted nine years, during which David was diagnosed with a chemical imbalance called serotonin deficiency, that caused severe depression.
One day, on March 9, 1993, David disappeared from their home. He was missing for 30 days. Susie remembered:
“In those 30 days, I would read Psalms chapter by chapter, and God led me to the verse that said, Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning, and that was the verse that carried me all over 30 days.”
Susie managed three hospital units at Baylor with no support, and only God knew her husband was missing.
Eventually, they found David’s body. Susie felt as if the whole world had come crushing down. He was dead for 30 days. She recollected:
“When we found him, I remembered turning around, kneeling, and falling on the ground, screaming, ‘Why David? Why?’ I was so mad – mad at David, not mad at God. I questioned him why, because we were supposed to grow old together; but then he left me.”
Susie and her pastor drove home. In the car, she started singing hymns like It Is Well with My Soul, How Great Thou Art, and Great Is Thy Faithfulness. Those were the songs they were singing when Susie and David first met. She reminisced:
“He sat next to me in the first meeting, wondering why I memorized all these hymns. I said, ‘Well, that’s the hymnal we used in the Philippines.’ He wondered where I came from. I said, ‘The Philippines.’”
Three months after David’s death, Susie had a car accident and became disabled. For two months, she could not walk. While baking a cake in her kitchen, her next-door neighbor shot himself, committing suicide just like David. She got angry at God this time and asked:
“God, why? Why did you allow that to happen?”
That night, Susie dreamed she was knocking on her neighbors’ doors, telling them about Jesus. The next day, she woke up and pronounced:
“I’m going to choose joy.”
She raised her hand and asked:
"Lord, what can I do to serve you?”
Three weeks later, while driving, she heard the voice in her heart: Go under the bridge and help the homeless.
Susie retorted:
“No, not me. They are crazy, lazy, smelly… I don’t like homeless people.”
Then Susie remembered: You asked Me what you can do for Me.
Convicted and repented, Susie said:
“God forgive me. I would go. What could I take to the people?”
She recalled He said: Blankets.
She asked her colleagues for $5 to buy blankets for the homeless, marking the start of her blanket ministry. Thus, Susie became known as the Blanket Lady in Dallas, as reported by the Dallas Morning News. For eight years, she and her mother bought blankets every Saturday, distributing them to the homeless.
In 2001, Susie felt overwhelmed by the work and considered quitting. In her prayer, she told God:
"I cannot stand this.”
She heard in her heart the Lord spoke: You’re going to become a nonprofit.
Surprised, she asked:
“What?”
Two weeks later, her friend Nate helped set up the nonprofit organization.
And so, the blanket ministry was born, transforming Susie’s life and the lives of countless others. Her journey from a little girl in the Philippines to the Blanket Lady of Dallas is a testament to the power of faith, perseverance, and the desire to serve others. That modest beginning was the OCI’s genesis of which Susie has been its Founder and President.
After having served 334,275 homeless and impoverished, involving 50,436 volunteers, and achieved 49,017 professions of faith and 170,382 foot washings since 2004, on December 21, 2024, OCI will celebrate its 21st Annual Operation Christmas Gift in Kay Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. The event has grown to be the largest birthday party for Jesus, honoring the homeless and impoverished in the world.
In a deeply moving TV interview on YouTube, host Nick Vujicic spoke with Susie about her remarkable journey. Susie reflected:
“God called me to ministry I didn’t want, to people I didn’t even like. And then He changed me… I quit my [six-figure] job… Out of my brokenness, I chose joy and I found my purpose. God has given me a purpose to help the poor and the homeless.”
Nick Vujicic concluded the interview with a poignant prayer – excerpts of which resonated profoundly:
“We thank You, God, that for those of us who do know You, thank You for saving us, thank you for rescuing us, thank You for giving us what we do need. Help us now to be YOUR HANDS AND FEET and to fulfill and give of what You’ve given us…” (underscoring mine)
Nick’s prayer is particularly powerful, considering he is a globally renowned Christian evangelist who lives with tetra-amelia syndrome – born without arms and legs.
This reminds us of the timeless quote:
“I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet [and no hands too].”
What a fascinating subject to ponder – and perhaps a story for another day.
Content & editing put together in collaboration with Microsoft Bing AI-powered Co-pilot
Head collage photos courtesy of Flickr, susiejennings.org
Photos courtesy of Operation Care International, YourStory.com, Hungarian Conservative, YouTube
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