“You Are Not Alone, Nanay”

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” — John 14:18 (KJV)

My partner and I would often travel a long distance from where we stayed to our mission field in San Luis, Guinayangan, Quezon. It was not always easy, but we trusted that God had called us there for a purpose. When we arrived, we began building relationships with the people in the community.

One day, we stopped by Nanay Dading’s small store. Out of kindness, she introduced us to several people in the community. Through her, we met Nanay Parado, an 85-year-old grandmother whose story would leave a lasting impact on our hearts.

The first time we saw Nanay Parado, our hearts broke. She was frail and spent most of her time in bed because walking often made her dizzy. She barely had the strength to bathe herself. Yet, beyond her physical weakness, we saw something deeper—a woman who was longing for companionship.

We also discovered that she had a skin infection on her right knee. So, whenever we visited, my partner would bring ointment, clean and care for her wound, give her a gentle massage, check her blood pressure and blood sugar, and simply sit with her.

But we soon realized that Nanay needed more than physical care. She was lonely. Her granddaughter stayed with her but had to attend school every day, leaving the house quiet for most of the day. Nanay often felt forgotten, so we decided to visit her regularly. At first, she would say, “Wala akong maibigay sa inyo.” — “I have nothing to give you.” We would gently hold her and say, “Nanay, seeing you smile and become healthier is already a gift to us. We can be your granddaughters, even if we are not related by blood.”

Slowly, we began to see a change. Every time we visited, she welcomed us with a bright smile. We prayed with her, shared stories about God’s goodness and faithfulness, and listened to her with open hearts. Through these simple acts of genuine care, Nanay’s life began to change.

Her physical condition improved significantly, and her skin infection eventually healed completely.

She can now slowly walk on her own, and she has become more positive and cheerful. Although Nanay continues to recover, we still continually pray for her strength and complete recovery. Her journey reminded us that God can work through even the simplest acts of service when we make ourselves available as vessels for Him. Serving Nanay Parado became one of the greatest blessings of our mission.

Through her, God reminded us that He never leaves us alone. And now, we were able to remind her of that same truth: “Nanay, you are not alone. God is with you, and so are we.” I thank the Lord for the divine appointment of meeting Nanay Parado. Through her, God taught us that love is not always something grand. Sometimes, it looks like a bath, a prayer, a gentle massage, a listening ear, or simply showing up. And sometimes, a simple visit can remind someone who feels forgotten that they are deeply loved, seen, and never alone.

 Name: Mae Sahara V. Biscocho

Batch: 66th

Mission Field: San Luis, Guinayangan, Quezon.