The cemetery sits quietly on the outskirts of this small town in Hakha Diocese, its graves marked with simple crosses. But look closer, and you will see something remarkable: a small shelter, built by hands that were once prepared for the priesthood, now serving the living and the dead alike.

When the COVID-19 pandemic swept through Myanmar and difficulties followed, the people of Hnaring faced an unimaginable crisis. Families were dying, and no one was left to bury them properly. The sick had no one to transport them to hospitals. The disabled had no one to offer them a hand.

In September 2022, a group of 18 former seminarians decided they could not stand idle.

“Widespread deaths left many families unable to properly care for or bury the deceased,” says Saya Anthony Thang Pum, who leads the Samaritan Social Service. “The church community began preparing graves and coffins in advance. But as needs grew, we realized a dedicated group was needed.”

And so the Samaritan group was born—not as an official organization with grand funding, but as a band of brothers who refused to let their community suffer alone.

A Mission That Covers Life and Death

Their mission is comprehensive. They prepare graves for the church and community. They manage funeral arrangements when death strikes. They provide affordable coffins for public use. But their work does not end at the cemetery gates.

They support priests and sisters. They assist boarding students pursuing their education. They aid impoverished families. They reach out to persons with disabilities and individuals without shelter.

“We are not rich people,” Saya Anthony says with a gentle smile. “But we believe that God will provide for our needs as we serve others.”

Building Dignity, One Project at a Time

Through fundraising and community contributions, the Samaritan group has already implemented several projects. The shelter they built within the cemetery compound is more than just a roof—it is a sanctuary for those who prepare burial sites, offering a place to rest during hot or rainy weather and a secure area to store tools and equipment.

But their vision extends far beyond the cemetery. They have installed seating areas for patients at the hospital, providing weary families a place to rest. They have dug waste pits for schools, teaching children the importance of sanitation. They have constructed a 10-by-20-foot sanitation facility for a Catholic boarding school, ensuring students have access to clean and dignified facilities.

Perhaps most touching is their work with the disabled. The group has provided wheelchairs and walking aids to those who once struggled to move. In a village where mobility aids are scarce, these simple gifts have transformed lives.

A Walk of Faith

“We have a saying,” Saya Anthony explains. “We are not the masters of what we give. Everything comes from God, and we are merely His instruments.”

The group remains committed to assisting villagers in poor health who face financial and material hardships in accessing medical care. Through pooled contributions and the generosity of donors, they provide support to those who cannot afford hospital treatment.

One elderly woman, unable to walk for years, received a wheelchair from the Samaritan group. Tears streamed down her face as she was able to move outside her home for the first time in months. A man with a severe limp received a walking aid that allowed him to return to work and provide for his family.

A Vision for the Future

The Samaritan group has identified key needs to serve the people better. They urgently require a hearse vehicle for the proper transportation of deceased persons and an ambulance for transporting patients quickly and safely. These are not luxuries—they are necessities that would allow the group to respond more effectively during emergencies.

“We have constructed the shelter. We have provided the wheelchairs. But there is so much more to do,” Saya Anthony says.

The group has appealed for continued assistance in the form of materials, prayers, and guidance to sustain and expand its humanitarian services. They remain committed to working in close cooperation with the parish priest, following his pastoral guidance in carrying out future community initiatives.

A Light in the Darkness

In a country that has faced hardship, the Samaritan group of Hnaring stands as a beacon of hope. They are not wealthy. They are not powerful. They are simply 18 former seminarians who remembered what they were taught: to serve, to love, and never to turn away from those in need.

“The road is long,” Saya Anthony says. “But we walk it together. And we believe that every step we take in service to others is a step closer to God.”

In the quiet cemetery of Hnaring, the shelter stands. In the hospital, the benches hold weary families. In the school, the children learn in clean environments. And in the homes of the disabled, movement is returning.

The Samaritan group has not solved all of Hnaring’s problems. But they have shown that even in the darkest times, love can find a way. And sometimes, that is enough.

By RVA Hakha Chin Service