A Midnight Rescue: When Faith Was Our Only Way Forward

“Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even

make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.”

Isaiah 43:19

It started like any other ordinary afternoon. Around 6:00 PM, we stopped by Kuya Rico Ela's home for what we thought would be a quick visit. But the moment we stepped inside, everything changed.

Kuya Rico was burning with a high fever and looked completely exhausted. When I asked what was wrong, he pointed to the right side of his face. His jaw was noticeably swollen, and he assumed it was just an unbearable toothache.

Then he casually mentioned something that stopped us in our tracks.

Two days earlier, he had been bitten by a dog—and he hadn't told anyone.

In an instant, our casual visit turned into a serious situation. While we didn't know whether his condition was related to the dog bite, we knew one thing for certain: possible rabies exposure is never something to ignore. Every hour matters.

Unfortunately, life in a remote mountain community isn't that simple.

Financial limitations, long distances, and the complete lack of transportation after dark often force people to delay medical care. By then, night had already fallen, and there were no available vehicles. We had no choice but to let him rest, pray together, and plan to bring him to the hospital at first light. But God had other plans.

Around midnight, everything changed again.

At exactly 12:00 AM, Kuya Rico's mother called us in desperation. His condition had worsened dramatically.

He was experiencing intense pain, his head was throbbing, and he could barely endure the discomfort. Waiting until morning was no longer an option. Without thinking twice, we climbed onto a motorcycle and made our way down the steep mountain roads.

There were no streetlights—only darkness, winding paths, and countless prayers whispered between every turn. Halfway through the journey, another obstacle appeared. Our motorcycle ran completely out of gas.

For a moment, it felt like everything had come to a standstill. We were stranded in the middle of the mountain with someone who urgently needed medical attention.

But this is where the beauty of Christian community shines.

We contacted local church brethren, and without hesitation, they came to our rescue. Even in the middle of the night, they brought us emergency fuel. Their willingness to help became another reminder that God often answers prayers through the hands of His people.

After what felt like an eternity, we finally reached the Rural Health Unit around 2:00 AM.

We thought the hardest part was over.

It wasn't, the clinic had no anti-rabies vaccines available. To make matters even more difficult, vaccinations were only scheduled every Monday and Wednesday—and that night was Thursday.

There was nothing we could do except monitor Kuya Rico closely and pray that his condition would remain stable.The following morning, the doctor discovered that he also had a severe tooth infection, which was likely contributing to his fever and swollen jaw. He was given medication while we continued waiting for the next available vaccination day.

Finally, Monday arrived.

After days filled with uncertainty, countless prayers, and constant care, Kuya Rico received his first dose of the anti-rabies vaccine. Little by little, his condition stabilized, and the immediate crisis finally passed. Watching him rest peacefully after everything we had been through felt like taking our first real breath in days.

The journey to full recovery would still require patience, but hope had replaced fear. With every passing day, his strength gradually returned, reminding us that healing is not always instantaneous—it often comes one step at a time. We remained confident that the same God who had protected his life through the darkest hours would faithfully complete the work of restoration He had begun.

Looking back, that midnight ride down the mountain was far more than an emergency rescue—it became a living testimony of God's unfailing providence. Every challenge we encountered seemed impossible: the darkness that surrounded us, the fuel that ran out, the agonizing wait, the uncertainty of what lay ahead, and the race against time. Yet at every turn, God opened a way where none seemed to exist.

Name: Justine Malenab|65th Batch

Mission Field: Sultan Kudarat