“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” —Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) September arrived heavy, as though the month itself carried a grief it could not set down. And yet, beneath the weight of it, there was an old and steady comfort: God is close to the brokenhearted. My partner and I, had gone to the municipal to pay the electric bill, an ordinary err

“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” —Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) We were assigned to Amadeo, Cavite, and we believed, with the easy confidence of those who have not yet been tested, that everything would be gentle. It was an urban place, after all, full of roofs and roads and people, and the house where my partner and I stayed was nice, truly comfortable, the kind of room that makes one think the days ahead will be as

“And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” (Mark 4:26-28, KJV) By our second week at our Mission Field in Palauig, Zambales, we had found our rhythm. Even under the blazing sun, we walked the streets, offering medical s

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12 Ate Beberly was one of our Bible students. One day, she asked if we could visit her father at their house. Her voice made us stop and listen. "My father has been sick for a year now," she said, her fingers twisting the strap of her bag. "He had a stroke, and it's hard for him to move around. Would you come? Just a foot massage. Anything to ease his pain."

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (NIV) It was an unremarkable day in my mission field in Bugaan East, Laurel, Batangas. I was making my way to a small store when a middle-aged woman approached me with quiet urgency. "You are a missionary, right?" she asked. Before I could respond, she continued. "Can you help my father?" She gestured toward an elderly on a stroller "Can you massage his

“Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.” — Malachi 3:7 (KJV) Faith is a conviction deeply rooted in the heart. But what happens when the very beliefs we cherish lead us astray from the truth? The Arnado family was once a devoted Seventh-day Adventist family. However, after a group of Christian believer conducted Bible studies with them, their understanding of faith gradually changed, leading them to become part of it. Years later, their pastor be

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 (NIV) September was a difficult month for me, both physically and spiritually. My body was covered with hives, mosquito bites, and inflamed wounds, leaving me uncomfortable and exhausted. At first, I thought I simply needed rest. However, what began as a desire to recover gradually became an excuse to neglect my missionary responsibilities. I spent hours on my phone instead of reading

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us" — Ephesians 3:20 "We don’t have rice anymore." It was a simple statement, yet it carried a weight that deeply touched my heart. Tatay Rodrigo, 67, and Nanay Perina, 65, years old, are raising their four grandchildren after their own children separated and started families of their own. Despite their age, they continue to work in a field of sugar cane

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” —Psalm 40:1–2 “Now I can finally live as a Seventh-day Adventist, just as I wanted to.” Those words carried more than relief. They held the joy of someone who had waited for so long to live out her faith but had been held back by circumstances beyond her control. For years, Nan

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” — Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) "Lord give us some garden" that was my simple prayer. My mission partner loves gardening, so we started looking for seeds to plant and planned to buy more. We had been encouraged to grow our own vegetables so we could enjoy fresh produce while saving money from our stipend. It seemed like a simple and practical plan and we were

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” —Hebrews 13:2(KJV) “Lord, what if we had never stopped at that house?” September was a special month in our missionary journey because it marked our midterm. All missionaries under the Southwest Philippines Union Conference (SWPUC) gathered in Pangantucan, Bukidnon, for a week of evangelistic seminars. One day, while doing our house-to-house visitation, I noticed an elderly man standi

“By love serve one another.” — Galatians 5:13 ( KJV) Our journey to Nanay Vicky began through our dear sister in faith, Nanay Nita. Knowing that Nanay Vicky was a widow struggling with her health, she suggested that we visit her. However, as a devoted Catholic and an active member of the Handmaids for God, a community for widowed women, Nanay Vicky was hesitant to welcome missionaries into her home. Still, we prayed and trusted God to lead the way. By His grace, Nanay Nita ev

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” — Jeremiah 32:27 (KJV) There are moments in life when everything seems to be going according to plan—until something completely unexpected happens. On September 16, 2026, the brethren from San Vicente invited us to celebrate their Family Day with them on September 20, 2026. Since we had already grown close to the brethren, especially the youth, we gladly accepted. We wanted to spend time with t

Every small improvement felt like a gift from God.

Kindness is free-yet its impact can be priceless.

I loved my dad far more deeply than I had allowed myself to admit.

I did not win an argument. Jesus won a heart.

God can begin growing the most beautiful things in the places we thought were too broken to bloom.