Light in the Darkness

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

— 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 (NIV

Some encounters don’t just change your day—they change the way you see life.

One sunny afternoon, my mission partner, Mark, and I were walking under the intense heat of the sun. As we made our way through the island, we talked about how blessed we were and how faithful God had been in providing everything we needed. In the middle of our conversation, we noticed a small house hidden among the coconut trees.

It looked abandoned, but something urged us to stop.

We walked closer and found an elderly man lying inside his home. We greeted him, introduced ourselves as missionaries, and he warmly invited us in. His name was Rogelio Pielago, 64 years old. As we talked, we offered basic medical assistance by checking his blood pressure, testing his blood sugar, and giving him a simple foot massage. During our conversation, we discovered that he lived mostly alone. He had survived multiple illnesses and had come close to death several times.

At the age of 22, Tatay Rogelio worked as a fisherman. He would spend eight to ten hours at sea using an air compressor while diving. Over time, the extreme cold and the dangerous conditions severely affected his body. One day, he became dizzy, collapsed, and woke up in the hospital. Doctors found that his spinal cord had been damaged and recommended surgery.

However, because the operation was highly risky with little chance of success, he chose not to undergo it. As the years passed, his health continued to decline. A severe infection led to the removal of all 27 of his teeth, and later he developed kidney disease.

Yet despite everything he had endured, he smiled and quietly said, “I almost died, but God still loves me because He gave me another chance to live.” Those words hit us deeply.

Before leaving, we prayed with Tatay Rogelio. As we walked away, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. His life was incredibly difficult, yet he still found reasons to smile. He had discovered light in the middle of his darkest moments.

The following week, we returned with rice and a few groceries after noticing that he had very little food left. It wasn’t much, but it came from the heart. His joy and gratitude reminded me that even the smallest act of kindness can become a huge blessing to someone else.

Since then, we have visited him twice a week. We help clean his home, give him massages, and simply spend time talking with him so he won’t feel alone.

The bitterness of Tatay's past has not disappeared, and the lingering effects of his illness still weigh heavily on his body.

Some days are more difficult than others, but he refuses to let pain have the final word. Instead, he continues to choose gratitude over bitterness. Meeting Tatay Rogelio transformed my perspective, I realized how many blessings I often take for granted. I have the strength to walk, serve, and live each day, and that alone is a gift. And if there’s one lesson I will never forget, it’s this: even in the darkest moments of life, God’s light never stops shining.

Name: Jessieboy Caberos/66th Batch

Mission Field: Mompong, Marinduque