The Island That is teaching Me how to Love Like Jesus

They say you go on a mission to change the world, but the secret is that the world usually changes you first. When I first arrived on the stunning shores of Caramoan Island, I was armed with a color-coded schedule, a heavy backpack, and grand ideas about “helping.” I expected to be the teacher, but I quickly realized that I had enrolled in a masterclass on humility, resilience, and the slower pace of life. Mission work on an island isn’t always about big projects or “hero” moments. Its significance is often found in the quiet, humid afternoons and the gentle rhythms of the tide. I discovered God in the small things: in the language of connection, where a shared meal or a good laugh can bridge a gap that words cannot, and when language fails, a smile speaks volumes; in the abundance of simplicity, as I watched our host family and neighbors find pure joy in what I had once taken for granted—they may not know what “honey-cured bacon” is, but they feast on the day’s fresh catch, like Blue Marlin or other large fish that usually only appear in city hotels; and in the power of presence, learning that sometimes simply “being there” is more meaningful than “doing something.” These lessons reminded me that loving like Jesus often comes in small, quiet, and relational ways.

Of course, it wasn’t all sunsets and palm trees. There was heat, biting insects, poor mobile signal, and the occasional boredom. But in those moments of discomfort, my faith grew legs. Stripped of the noise and distractions of modern life, I was forced to confront who I truly am and who I truly serve. The beautiful struggle revealed that endurance, humility, and reliance on God are often essential parts of loving others well.

Looking back on my first and second trips to Caramoan Island, I realize how my heart has been reshaped. I leave with fewer answers, but with a much greater capacity to love. This summer, in April, we will return for our third journey as a family for the Daily Vacation Bible Experience (DVBE). With every trip, our roots grow deeper, and our hearts are fixed on a shared vision: a dedicated Youth Center where young people are not merely students with access to learning tools, but disciples and future disciple makers transformed by God’s Spirit. Through the high tides and low tides of this mission, we anchor ourselves in the promise of Exodus 33:14-15: “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Like Moses, our hearts cry: “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”

Every journey, every challenge, and every small moment of connection teaches us that loving like Jesus is not always about grand gestures. It is about being present, seeing others with the eyes of God, and allowing Him to shape our hearts so that we can love more fully, courageously, and faithfully.

Carmela Campanero
Volunteer-PEER Kids
The Philippines