A year or two ago, I shared a story about my friend Ruel Malauby, who lives in the Philippines. Ruel and I connected on Facebook about five years ago—how exactly, I can’t recall—but I’m grateful we did. He and his family live in a tiny village nestled in the jungle-covered mountains about 25 miles outside the city of Davao del Sur. He earns a humble living by commuting into the city and giving rides on his three-wheeled motorcycle.

When we first met, Ruel was leading a small group of 5–8 people in worship inside a crumbling shed he had turned into a makeshift church. At some point—and I can’t even remember what moved me—I sent him a small gift to help repair that shed. By the grace of God, that seed grew into something extraordinary: the construction of two new churches—one in his village and another in Lungag. Ruel built both with his own hands, using no modern machinery aside from a welder. It was incredible to witness.

Each Sunday, he preaches in his village in the morning, then rides three hours to Lungag in the afternoon to preach again. Over the years, I’ve seen people come to Christ and be baptized in creeks, rivers, and even 50-gallon drums. I’ve also seen his family endure deep hardship—loss, sickness, and tragedy—but through it all, Ruel’s faith has never wavered.

Just last week, his mother fell seriously ill and was turned away from two hospitals because she couldn’t pay. Thankfully, a third hospital accepted her and began treatment. She’s now recovering, but she requires an extended stay and ongoing dialysis treatments. The bill has already reached 209,000 pesos and is expected to climb to around 300,000 pesos—roughly $5,400 USD. While that may not seem like much compared to U.S. medical bills, it’s a mountain when your family’s income is just a couple of dollars a day.

If the bill isn’t paid, and she needs to return to the hospital after discharge, she will be denied treatment again.

I’m doing all I can to lift that burden so Ruel can be fully present for his mother and his congregations. I’ve created a GoFundMe page for anyone who feels led to give—even a small amount. One dollar equals 55 pesos, so a little truly goes a long way.

Your prayers and support mean more than you know.