A Little Rice, A Lot of Love

"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 to provide for the children, earning around ₱250 a day when work is available. But when sickness or other difficulties arise, their family struggles to make ends meet.

Knowing their situation, my partner and I began setting aside a small portion of our monthly stipend to help them. One day, we learned that they had run out of rice. Thankfully, God had provided for us, allowing us to share some with them. “We actually had no rice left, but because you gave us some, we now have something to eat. Thank you so much.” Tatay told us. “It all came from the Lord, Tay. We received a blessing, so we wanted to share it with you, too.” I replied.

They also told us that they had harvested some bananas. Nanay said that bananas were basically what they had been eating. Tatay even offered to give us some raw bananas so we could cook them.

I agreed to take only a few since there were just two of us. We gave them rice, and they gave us bananas. It was a simple exchange, but it carried a beautiful message: you don't need to have much to have something worth sharing.

When we returned the next day, we were surprised to find that the container we had filled with rice was now filled with bananas for us. That touched my heart deeply. But more than the food, i knew God was teaching us about generosity, gratitude, and love. However, their struggles did not end there. There was a time when Tatay became ill and was unable to work for almost three weeks.

Seeing their situation, we decided to help them twice that month with food, to make sure they have enough to get by. Sometimes, we had very little money left, but when we saw their happiness through their genuine smiles, it reminded us that even a small blessing can make a significant difference in someone else's life. We never grew tired of helping them knowing it did not only bring joy to our hearts, but to their family as well.

And now, something even more beautiful has happened.

Tatay and Nanay became our Bible students, and now we visit them every week to study the Bible together. They always welcome us with joy and warm smiles. We came to bless Tatay and Nanay, but God also blessed us. Through them, I have come to realize that, in God's hands, a little rice can become a testimony of love, and a simple act of kindness can open the door to something eternal.

Name: Ejay N. Generalao | 66th Batch 1000MM

Mission Field: Negros Occidental, San Carlos City