When Providence Lifts Us Up
- tonytangebirah
- 12 hours ago
- 4 min read
Whenever I bring a mission group to visit a charity like Thien Phuoc Home for the Disabled, I noticed something that never makes it into discussions.
Behind every bathed resident, every fed child, every clean bed, there stood a caregiver quietly straining under the weight—literally—of love.
Some of the residents have grown into adults. Some weigh more than the caregivers attending to them. Some cannot hold up their heads or control their limbs.
And yet, every morning, these caregivers lift, carry, bathe, clean, feed, turn, comfort, and accompany them with a tenderness that cannot be taught.
It is a daily vocation of the body and of the heart.
A Blessing Arrives… and a New Challenge Emerges
Through God’s grace, we found a donor in Singapore willing to contribute a human lift—an equipment that could prevent injuries, give dignity to residents, and protect the caregivers who serve them with so much heart.
But one question remained: How do we get this equipment to Ho Chi Minh City?
Then, as if on cue from Providence, one of our volunteers, Mr. Gregory Chew, casually mentioned that he would be in HCMC for a retreat in December.
I asked—half hoping, half praying—whether we could “tumpang” the lift with him as unaccompanied baggage.
Very quickly, he agreed.
But what followed was far more than a simple delivery.
Above and Beyond
Upon inspection, after collecting the equipment from a donor, the lift turned out to be faulty.
Gregory could easily have said, “Tony, it’s too troublesome.”
He had already done more than I expected.
But instead, together with his wife Daphne—also a Gebirah volunteer—and with the help of his staff, he repaired, dismantled, repacked, transported, restored, and personally delivered the lift to Thien Phuoc Home last week.
All at his own expense.
All done quietly, without fanfare.
Unassuming compassion in action.
Sr. Nhu who runs the home, her staff, and I are profoundly grateful to him.
It reminded me that humanitarian work is not built only on programmes or funding—it is built on human beings who choose to love in personal ways, whether big or small.
It comes in the form of quiet Christians who say:
"Here I am, Lord. Send me." "Let me help."
Why Gebirah Adopted Thien Phuoc Home
Our mission here did not begin with an assessment of what equipment was lacking. It began with listening.
Many people who visit homes like Thien Phuoc tend to highlight the visible disabilities of the residents.
But very few see the hidden burdens borne daily of families and caregivers —the physical exhaustion, the emotional fatigue, the long-term health risks, and the sheer perseverance required to care for those who cannot care for themselves.
Across Vietnam alone:
7% of the population lives with a disability (UNICEF, Vietnam Disability Survey).
Over 70% of caregivers report chronic musculoskeletal pain from years of lifting (local NGO assessments).
The majority live in rural or low-income urban areas, where specialised equipment is either unavailable or unaffordable.
Disabled adults have less than a 20% employment rate, with many homes struggling to provide meaningful long-term support.
This is why Gebirah, a Catholic humanitarian organisation from Singapore, organises missions not to “visit,” but to provide continued support, supplies, and accompaniment, so that our friends in need know they have not been forgotten by society—while also building sustainable, long-term structures of care and support.
Building a Future Where the Children Can Thrive
Long-term assistance means dignity. And dignity requires opportunity.
Beyond immediate aid, Gebirah is helping Thien Phuoc envision a future where its residents and community can eventually support themselves.
This is the heart of our Christian mission work.
As the Holy Fathers have reminded us repeatedly ... the principle of subsidiarity urges us to support without overpowering, help without creating permanent dependence, and uplift communities so they can flourish with dignity.
How You Can Help
If your heart is moved to support Thien Phuoc Home and the many other marginalised communities Gebirah serves—whether through volunteering, donating, or offering your skills—please reach out to me.
We are also inviting friends and supporters to buy a table or seat at the upcoming CHARIS dinner gala through GEBIRAH. The funds raised will help us sustain our social initiatives for the marginalised, vulnerable, and forgotten. For more information, please contact me.
Your support truly makes a difference.
A Prayer Request and Invitation
Please keep the Thien Phuoc family in your prayers— the children who depend on us, the caregivers who lift more than we will ever know, and the volunteers of Gebirah who continue to say “yes” when God calls.
If you feel inclined, pls like, share or comment and connect and follow me at: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-tan-c-g/
Stay tuned to find out about our next mission or humanitarian project. 🔔 https://www.gebirah.org/thai-nguyen-vietnam
Thank you.
Forthcoming Missions:
Thai Nguyen – 23 to 28 Jan 26
Fang, Thailand – 19 to 23 Mar 26
Ho Chi Mihn City - 11 to 15 April 26
Bogor, Indonesia – 1 to 5 May 26
Pamplona, Philippines – 19 to 23 Jun 26
Timor Leste – 7 to 11 Aug 26
Ashiya, Japan – 25 to 30 Sep 26
Tamil Nadu, India – 9 to 13 Oct 26
Hong Kong – 18 to 22 Nov 26