Sobmoei village in Thailand is close to the Myanmar border. Because it is so far from the city, the village is seldom visited by a priest. The few Catholics in the area are not always able to celebrate Mass and receive the sacraments. So a group of young volunteers from Xavier Learning Community with Fr Sarayuth Konsupap SJ, vocation promoter and formation delegate of the Jesuits in Thailand, organised a visit to the villagers to bring them the joy of the Eucharist as they begin the new year.
Despite the bad road condition, the three-hour drive from Chiang Rai to Sobmoei was full of excitement and anticipation. The group, composed of students, a priest, teachers, and lay catechists, had prepared for the trip two months in advance. Some of us came from as far as the United states and Indonesia. We all contributed our own money to buy food for the villagers.
The local people welcomed us with traditional music. “This journey has brought us to know each other,” said one of my companions. “For me, this is the plan of God. He brings many people on this journey to work together.”
The trip made us see the reality of inequality in our society. As a young person, I recognise how the Jesuit teaching of being men and women for others is more important now than ever. Most of us focus on our jobs, getting a good salary, and acquiring recognition that we forget to take care of other people. Like a train going very fast, we focus on our destination and not notice the environment we pass by. Pope Francis said that the Earth is our home, and we should take care it like it is our home. We should love one another like brothers and sisters in this one home.
Lots of definitions come to mind when we think about love. For me, love is not only between a man and a woman in a relationship. Love is beautiful but sometimes we forget it when we dislike someone. It is hard to love people whom we do not like.
What is real love? To be honest, I have not much of an idea, only that it should start with simple things. Smiling at someone or helping with the house chores are expressions of love. We visited the Sobmoei villagers because we wanted them to feel that they are loved. Love, after all, is the centre of our faith.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said: “True love is love that causes us pain, that hurts, and yet brings us joy. That is why we must pray to God and ask Him to give us the courage to love.”
Narongdet Chuanchuenchom is a graduate of Xavier Learning Community, a Jesuit institution of higher learning serving ethnic minorities in northern Thailand.