Where No One Goes—Until Someone Does

tonytangebirah
6 days ago
4 min read

It was still dark when the village began to stir. A mother wrapped her shawl tighter around her child.

An elderly couple sat quietly outside their wooden hut, waiting for the day to warm their bones.

In the distance, the mountains of northern Thailand stood silent—beautiful, remote, and unforgiving.

No clinic.

No paved road.

No one coming—at least not usually.

And yet, this is precisely where the Church belongs.

There is something deeply Gospel-shaped about going to places like Fang, Chiang Mai—not because they are dramatic, but because they are forgotten. And perhaps that is why the words recently shared by Pope Leo, reflecting on the life of the Church, feel especially timely for us today.

He reminded us of two fundamental realities of the Church: mission and communion.

Not programmes. Not structures. But people, sent in love, walking together.

The Church Is Meant to Go Out

Drawing from Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Leo speaks plainly: the Church is missionary by her very nature. She exists because God first went out toward us. The first great “mission” was not ours—it was God’s.

God did not stay distant.

He came close.

He entered human fragility.

This is why mission cannot remain an idea or a theory. It must have feet.

At Gebirah, a Catholic humanitarian organisation based in Singapore, this belief shapes everything we do. We go—not because we have all the answers, but because love compels us outward, especially toward those who suffer: the poor, the disabled, the elderly, children, and families living at the margins.

Our upcoming mission to Fang is one such response.

Fang: Where Mission Becomes Real

Fang is home to ethnic minority communities—Karen, Hmong, Lahu—many living in isolated mountain villages. Poverty here is not just about lack of money; it is about distance, silence, and being unseen.

When illness strikes, help is often hours—or days—away.

When children lack basic supplies, there is no safety net.

When the elderly struggle, they struggle alone.

And this is where Pope Leo’s words cut through any comfort we might cling to:

“We are not mere gardeners tending our own plot, but disciples and witnesses of the Kingdom of God.”

Mission is not about maintaining what we already have. It is about allowing our lives to be interrupted—for the sake of love.

Mission Is Always Communal

But mission does not stand alone. Pope Leo reminds us that mission and communion are inseparable.

We do not go as lone heroes. We go as brothers and sisters. And when we live that communion—across cultures, languages, and circumstances—we become a sign that another way of living is possible.

This is why our missions are never just about aid. They are about presence.

Sitting with families.

Listening to their stories.

Sharing meals.

Praying together.

As Evangelii Nuntiandi teaches us, the first means of evangelisation is the witness of an authentically Christian life—a life given to God and poured out for others.

Or as a priest once famously put it:

“Preach the Gospel always. When necessary, use words.”

If you worry that you are not eloquent enough to be a missioner, take heart. In Fang, the Gospel is preached through love made visible.

Why You — Yes, You — Matter

One of the most striking reminders from Pope Leo’s reflection is this: every person’s contribution matters.

Not everyone can go.

But everyone can participate.

Some serve with their hands.

Some support with resources.

Some pray and send intentions.

Together, we become the Church on mission.

At Gebirah, we see this again and again. When ordinary Christians say yes, extraordinary things happen—not because we are strong, but because God works through willingness.

A Gentle Invitation

Our mission to Fang is not about changing the whole world.

It is about changing someone’s world and that includes yours.

It is about letting the light of communion shine in places where hope feels thin. It is about placing Christ at the centre—because only then do mission and communion become possible.

As Pope Leo prayed, may the Lord grant us His humility, His compassion, and His love, so that we may become His disciples and witnesses each day.

And if, as you read this, something stirs in your heart—perhaps that is not coincidence.

It may be an invitation.

And by extension, we warmly invite partners, collaborators, donors, and volunteers who feel called to walk with us and support Gebirah’s mission to Fang, Chiang Mai. For more information on our Fang Mission, please visit: https://www.gebirah.org/fang-thailand