"Do you know where the church of God is?" Kaliyah asked her brother JB, who frequented town in search of part-time work.
JB hummed as he walked ahead, turning from one street to another. Kaliyah struggled to keep up, her arms aching from the weight of the buckets filled with fish and fruits. Each turn made her dizzier, the heat and effort wearing her down. She wasn't used to carrying heavy loads, especially for long walks.
"There's something off," she muttered under her breath.
"Huh?" JB slowed and stared at a row of houses. His brows knit together. "I know it's around here… but I can't remember where the church was. It's been two months since I last came."
Kaliyah exhaled and sat down on the ground, wiping sweat from her forehead with her sleeve. "Let's rest first."
They sat side by side and pulled out the pancakes their mother had packed. These fish and fruits had to be delivered soon—God's provision was not meant to be delayed. Kaliyah had resolved in her heart that a tenth of her family's harvest would always go to the church, to support those who served God faithfully.
After resting, something stirred within her again—gentle, insistent.
"JB," she said, standing. "We're going that way."
"But we don't even know where Cornerstone Faith Church is," JB protested.
Kaliyah's voice was calm but firm. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
As they turned into a narrow street, they noticed a child rummaging through trash. He was dressed neatly, yet his body was smeared with dirt, his movements frantic with hunger.
Kaliyah's chest tightened.
The urge to help was overwhelming, like the story of the Good Samaritan rising vividly in her mind. Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Me. The child bore God's image—that alone was reason enough.
"Hey, kid," she said gently, setting the bucket down. "Are you hungry? Would you like a pancake?"
Her smile was warm, free of malice or hesitation. She knelt so she wouldn't tower over him.
The child glanced between her and JB, wary but curious
The child glanced between her and JB, wary but curious.
Kaliyah pulled out a pancake from the container, then paused. "You know what…" She smiled wider. "I'll give you all of it."
She handed him the entire container.
Ah doing a good deed, fills her with warmth. Not only that, she's also storing her treasures in heaven. After all, believing and trusting Jesus, her Lord and Savior, guarantees her salvation and entry to heaven. The child took a small bite and still eyed her warily. Kaliyah took out her aquaflask and have the child drink some water. "Drink on this, lest, you choke on that pancake."
He obeyed. He was eight years old—old enough to fear strangers. He had been abducted once, thrown into a river, and survived only because he knew how to float. Hunger had driven him here.
Maybe it was the way she knelt beside him, unthreatening, that made him feel safe.
"My name is Kaliyah Ramos," she said softly. "This is my brother, JB. What's yours?"
"Aaron Santos," he mumbled through a mouthful of pancake.
"Do you know where you live?"
Aaron shook his head.
When he finished eating, Kaliyah gently wiped his face and hands. "We'll take you to the police station, okay? So they can call your family."
He clung to her hand willingly.
At the station, they learned the truth—Aaron's family had been searching for him for months. A reward of five hundred thousand pesos had been offered. The family immediately went to the Police station to claim the child and gave thanks to her with five hundred thousand.
The two smiled at the family but they couldn't contain the joy. In disbelief, God really directs me into doing things that will result in nothing but good outcome.
Truly, God is good.
They also went to the stores to buy spices and condements for God and halfway to the store, they encountered Dave who's trying to buy but was refused.
Kaliyah wondered what happened but she didn't inquire fitst and instead have JB inquife of the situation before them.
Apparently, the guy was a Christian and they were being denied to buy rice because if the sellers did sell food to these Christians, the government will also suppress them.
After JB listened to it, he went to his sister and relayed the information he received
Kaliyah then decided to buy grains for worth of 100,000 pesos. She figured so this is the reason why God wanted her to go on that alley. She decided to step in and buy the sacks of rice outrightly to offer if to Jesus.
At Cornerstone Faith Church, sorrow weighed heavily on the remaining members.
They had been openly oppressed—by the government and civilians alike—for worshiping Jesus alone. They were pressured to include other gods, even Baal, but their pastor refused. Why worship gods who neither spoke nor saved?
Because of this, market sellers denied them food. Anyone associated with the church was turned away. Fear scattered many members—once hundreds, now barely thirty remained.
They sent four people who are cousins of their church members. Dalia sighed as she waited for the four to come back. Today is Sunday and they just finished the sunday mass and had to have lunch but it's already 11 and they haven't appeared yet. And there are only scarce members. Others have turned away from church because of fear but the worship team stood still and so are the elders of the church, putting their faith to God's provision.
Pastor Edmund took a deep sigh and prayed to Jesus for the Father God's provisions. The church's door opened and Joseph, a twenty year old kid, Jasmine's Dela Vega's cousin- their drummer, returned empty handed, his face carries a huge disappointment. "I'm sorry, I failed to buy the groceries." Joseph's face burned with shame.
Jasmine listlessly step aside and watch everything in disappointment. Is this what it cost in following Christ? They couldn't even buy food because those businessmen won't sell anything to them, because of what? They wouldn't accept any God except Jesus Christ. And at the same time, she knew that when following Christ there will be trials that they will go through and whoever endures till the end will be saved.
Another church member returned empty handed, and another one so. The church continuously pray with their eyes closed for God's provisions. They put their heart to the Lord. They heard a clicked and several steps were heard but they didn't stop praying and believed in their heart that God himself will provide for them.
Footsteps e
choed.
The door creaked open.
"In Jesus' name, amen."
Pastor Edmund lifted his head.
Sacks of grain.
Buckets of fish.
Baskets overflowing with jackfruit.
Behind them stood Dave—and two young faces, weary but smiling.
"Praise the Lord!" Mrs. Alice cried out.
"Hallelujah!" voices echoed, some breaking into tears.
Kaliyah and JB stood stunned.
They had only brought food.
But the church knew—this was not coincidence.
This was provision.
This was promise fulfilled.
And in the midst of persecution, faith stood firm.