One Step Of Faith

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.”— Isaiah 43:2 (KJV)

Joie and I began our hike to Sitio Kamage for a house-to-house visitation as part of our mission work. What started as a simple day of service would later become one of the most unforgettable journeys of faith we have experienced.

At around 9:45 AM, we arrived at the home of our Bible student, Auntie Lany Cataylo.

She and her children warmly welcomed us. We offered free foot massages, blood pressure monitoring, and blood glucose testing. Praise God, Auntie Lany’s blood sugar had returned to normal compared to the first test we conducted.

Seeing her joy and relief reminded me that sometimes, even the simplest acts of kindness can become an answered prayer in someone’s day. Before heading home, we decided to visit our church brethren, Auntie Nelia and Kuya Semer. They warmly invited us to stay for lunch. However, Auntie Nelia was still at the market selling native coffee. Kuya Semer asked if we could wait because she had been experiencing pain in her right foot and wanted a foot massage. So, we waited.

Nearly three hours later, Auntie Nelia finally arrived, exhausted from the day. She rested first and even encouraged us to take a nap. Without realizing how quickly time had passed, we woke up at around 5:00 PM, when it was already getting dark. We gave Auntie Nelia a foot massage, and afterward, she generously served us milk and snacks. Then, the rain came—heavy, relentless, and seemingly determined to keep us there. Knowing that the trail home required crossing a small river, they urged us to stay for dinner and spend the night. It was the safer choice.

But around 9:00 PM, after evening worship, Joie’s mother, Ate Margie, called and asked if we could still make it back to the church. As she is alone and not feeling well. After discussing it, we decided to go. Honestly, I was afraid. The trail was deep in the forest, with no streetlights and only a dark, slippery path ahead. Worse, the wooden crossing—the taytayan—had already been broken. We had no choice but to cross the river itself. Fear filled my mind. What if something happens? What if we encounter danger?

Then Joie reminded me, “Just focus on your steps. Don’t let your fears win. Trust God.”

Those words became my strength. With every step, I prayed for God’s protection and guidance. And at around 10:30 PM, after a long and frightening journey, we finally arrived safely at the church.

That night, I realized something: mission is not always about the moments we plan. Sometimes, God meets us in the moments that test our faith the most.We began the day serving others. We ended it learning what it truly means to trust God—when fear step in.

Name: Emily H. Cabiladas & Jaquilyn L. Granzo/66th Batch

Mission Field: Dawis, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental