Weary and hungry, a woman comes to faith in Jesus Christ through the witness of a Samaritan’s Purse team.

Sitting alone inside her dark, tin-roofed hut, surrounded by dusty plastic-tarp walls, Fely had to watch her food supply dwindle away. Where would she get more?

Her mountain village on Luzon Island in the Philippines has been hard-hit by food shortages caused by COVID-19.

Fely wrestled with the fear of starvation and also the terrifying uncertainty of breast cancer. She had no one to ask for help.

Millions of people around the world are struggling like Fely. Already living on the margins, the turmoil of the global pandemic has put them at serious risk of starvation. They are without hope. That’s why your prayers and provision of emergency food are critical during these life-threatening days.

Samaritan’s Purse partnered with a local church on Luzon to identify people in Fely’s village in need of food. They brought Fely a two-week supply of rice, canned goods, fruit, and other food staples. Her tears flowed as she received the gift.

Teams in the Philippines are also working to produce and distribute soap to help families prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Why are you so kind to bring me food?”

Our team returned to Fely’s home a few weeks later to celebrate her 71st birthday. They brought more food, and she was deeply touched.

Fely told the team that she did not know God, but having experienced such love, she asked, “Why are you so kind to bring me food?”

“Because Jesus loves you,” they replied.

More than 800 families in the Philippines have received desperately needed supplies of rice, canned goods, and other food staples to help sustain them through the COVID-19.

The Samaritan’s Purse team shared with Fely that God had not forgotten her and that He loves her so much that “He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Fely had seen God’s love and she was ready to make a decision. Sitting with the team in her makeshift hut, she prayed to receive Jesus Christ into her life in repentance and faith. Praise be to God!

Around the world, Samaritan’s Purse teams are seeing a massive demand for critical supplies like emergency food. They are also seeing a hunger for God.

God is at work through you, as well as local churches and our teams on the ground. He is sustaining the vulnerable and opening doors for people to hear the Good News of Jesus, “an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19).