His Miracle

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” —Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

One afternoon, while walking and praying, I saw an elderly woman sitting in a wheelchair outside her home. Her name was Nanay Erlinda Butay, 70 years old.

I approached her, offered a free blood pressure check, and started a conversation. That was when I learned her story.

Nanay Erlinda had been unable to walk for a long time because of severe pain in her legs. She is a widow, and her children had their own families and responsibilities. Most days, she was alone at home. She would prepare her food, go outside in her wheelchair when she wanted some fresh air, and return inside when she needed to rest. But what touched me most was knowing that she still prayed to walk again.

There were times when Nanay Erlinda would cry while praying, asking God to give her another chance to walk. She longed to stand on her own, to move freely, and even to bathe without depending on someone else. I told her, “Nay, I’ll come back and give you a free foot massage.” She hesitated because she was worried that she could not afford it.

I smiled and told her, “Don’t worry, Nay. The Lord will provide.” But honestly, I had doubts too.

I thought, “It’s just a foot massage. What could possibly happen?” Still, I decided to pray.

Every time I visited her, I checked her blood pressure, talked with her, and prayed with her. I waited for the right opportunity to give her the foot massage we had planned.

And when the day finally came, I prayed:

“Lord, I know this is impossible through my own strength. But You are the God who can do impossible things. Please heal Nanay. I want to witness Your miracle—not so people will see what I have done, but so they can see Your power, Your love, and who You are.”

In a way, I challenged God—not because I doubted His power, but because I wanted to witness His power firsthand. I gave Nanay Erlinda the foot massage, but I knew that my hands could not heal her. I could only do what was within my reach and leave the impossible to God. After that visit, I had to leave for Bataan for our midterm activities.

I was away from the mission field for almost a month. But even while I was away, Nanay Erlinda remained in my prayers. When I finally returned to Lubnac, one of the first things I wanted to do was visit her. As I approached her home, I noticed something unusual. Her wheelchair was outside—but Nanay Erlinda was nowhere to be seen. For a moment, I wondered if she had been taken to the hospital. I called her name, the dogs started barking loudly. Then I heard her voice.

A few moments later, Nanay Erlinda came out of the house—walking. She was using a cane, but she was walking. I froze, the woman I had always seen sitting in that wheelchair was now standing in front of me. Walking! My eyes filled with tears, and I could hardly contain my joy. I knew it wasn't me. It wasn't the foot massage. It was God.

Nanay Erlinda was happier than anyone. The dream she had cried and prayed for—to walk again—had become a reality. She could now walk and even bathe by herself.

Then she told me something I will never forget: “When you go home, please tell them that I can walk now. Tell them that the Lord healed me.” That moment changed my understanding of what it means to be a missionary.

I realized that God does not need a famous missionary, a gifted speaker, or someone extraordinary. He simply needs someone willing to obey, serve, pray, and trust Him. I came to Nanay Erlinda with a simple desire to help. I came looking for a wheelchair, but I witnessed a miracle.

Today, I continue visiting Nanay Erlinda every week for health checks, foot massage, and prayer. By God’s grace, she is now one of my Bible students. This experience taught me that the greatest miracle is not simply the healing of a body. The greatest miracle is seeing a soul drawn closer to Jesus. I only did my part. God did what only He could do. All glory belongs to Him alone.

Name: Vin Irigan

Batch: 66th

Mission Field:  Lubnac, Vintar, Ilocos Norte