Lent is a season of reflection, repentance and renewal — a sacred time of surrendering in carrying our crosses, trusting in God, and discovering hope even in the midst of suffering, writes Columban Lay Missionary Joan Yap.
Larne is a single mother of two daughters now aged 26 and 17 years old respectively. She was married but separated from her husband and single-handedly raised her daughters over a period of fifteen years.
She decided to work abroad in order to provide for her daughters’ futures. She worked as a care-giver in Taiwan. She was willing to endure missing out on her children growing up to achieve this. Care-giving became an act of love towards her daughters and those she cared for in Taiwan.
Larne first worked in a nursing home for differently-abled residents, serving there for three years. Later, she spent six years caring for a 56-year-old man diagnosed with ALS or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease.
Bedridden and completely dependent, he relied on her for everything — feeding, bathing, and constant care. It was a very demanding role, which required great patience and this was sometimes tested by a lack of sleep. Larne’s only consolation aside from meeting friends was to be able to attend Mass where she had time to pray. This is what has given her strength to continue when overcome with tiredness and when she felt close to giving up.
Larne learned about hardship early in her life. As a child, she had to work in order to have something to eat. She planted root crops and helped her mother sell rice cakes to survive. When she got married, due to poverty, she was left with no choice but to work overseas. This meant having to leave her younger daughter, who was just two years old, to go overseas. It broke her heart, but she believed it was the only way to provide for her children. Sacrifice has always shaped her story.
Years of caregiving eventually took a toll on her health. Breathing problems led doctors to recommend heart surgery. She returned to the Philippines hoping to recover, but family conflicts and a failed business forced her to seek work abroad once more.
Larne regularly prays the rosary at the Columban Hope Workers Centre in Taiwan with the shelter residents.
Then came the most devastating trial. Severe abdominal pain and bleeding brought her to hospital where she was diagnosed with Stage 4 malignant cervical cancer. She was so afraid: she thought she would return home in a coffin.
Through the help of her employer and a broker, she was brought to the Hope Workers’ Centre. Hope felt distant. Yet in the darkness of illness, something unexpected happened. Her suffering became the beginning of a deeper relationship with God. In her helplessness and loneliness, she learned to surrender completely.
Larne with other care-givers during the Caregivers Monthly Gathering.
She began to see how God had walked beside her through broken relationships, painful decisions, and years of sacrifice. Her illness revealed a powerful truth: God allows us to live freely, yet His love is greater than our mistakes. He transforms weakness into strength and brokenness into grace.
After ten chemotherapy sessions, encouraging news came—the tumour had reduced to a normal size, and her lungs were clear.
Today, Larne calls her life a miracle. She continues to join community prayers and support fellow caregivers. Her presence alone speaks of hope. Her message is simple: “Do not lose hope. God is always present. Do not be afraid to ask for His help.”
This Lent, Larne’s journey reminds us that the cross is never the end. When we surrender everything to God, suffering becomes grace, and even the darkest path leads toward light.
Columban Lay Missionary Joan Yap is from the Philippines. She currently lives and works in Taiwan.