An American woman living in the Philippines for her husband's job becomes acquainted with Caridad, an impoverished woman living in a shack with her young children. After the woman befriends Charity and gives her food and clothing for her children, Caridad expresses interest in the Church and is eventually baptized. The woman worries about the depth of Caridad's conversion: does her belief in other legends and traditions somehow make her belief in the Church less sincere?