One Simple Yes

“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 legs?" she added.

I was taken aback. I had not introduced myself to everyone in the community, yet word of our presence had somehow traveled ahead of me. I studied the man carefully. His gentle smile bore the quiet dignity of a heart that had known both hardship and hope.

In the brief pause before I answered, a conviction settled over me: I had been so preoccupied with searching for opportunities to serve that I had overlooked the ones God was already placing before me. "Yes," I said, without hesitation. That single word was all it took to meet Grandpa Taling. A stroke had robbed him of his ability to walk with ease. Even with the aid of a cane, he could neither travel far nor stand steadily. Yet he received us with a warmth that needed no translation.

From that day forward, we visited him regularly, often two or three times a week. We massaged his weary legs, and afterward we played music together, filling his modest home with laughter and melody.

Above all, we prayed with him.

Gradually, I came to understand that this, too, was missionary work. Jesus did not minister only to crowds. He noticed individuals. He paused for the overlooked. He touched, he listened, and he entered people's lives, revealing the heart of God through compassion. As the weeks unfolded, we witnessed encouraging progress. Grandpa Taling grew stronger, he can now walk without aide nor a cane for about 3-4 minutes and his spirit seemed lighter. His improvement filled us with gratitude. I cannot claim that every step forward was the fruit of our efforts, but I can say that it reminded me how God may work through even the humblest act of service.

Even more meaningful was the bond that blossomed between us and Grandpa Taling's family. We were no longer strangers passing through; we had become trusted friends. They began to learn about our way of life: the foods we abstain from, and the Sabbath as our day of worship. Through ordinary visits and simple kindness, they glimpsed something of what we believed. This taught me that the gospel is sometimes introduced long before a Bible is ever opened. People first observe how we treat them. They discern whether our concern is genuine and whether our faith has truly shaped the way we live.

Only then, once trust has taken root, do hearts become receptive to our message. It also compelled me to examine my own heart. Why had God sent me here? Was it merely to complete a program? To say I had served in a foreign land? Or was there a deeper purpose? I believe the answer is souls. Behind every mission field are people with stories, families, struggles, fears, hopes, and spiritual longings. They are not simply names on an assignment list. They are people for whom Jesus gave His life. And it all began with one simple "yes."

Name: Adam Langi | 66th Batch | 1000MM

Hometown: Indonesia

Mission Field: Bugaan East, Laurel, Batangas.