You are in me, and I am in You

Betawi People of Jakarta, Newsletter - May 2007

God knows my desire to win people for His glory. He has brought me here; a great ministry purpose to reach out Betawi people. While I’m still following the church planter training, God guides me to meet Jamile, a mother who has defended her faith in Jesus Christ for more than 7 years now. She is a Betawi, and she is the only believer in among her relatives.
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“You are in me, and I am in You”

My husband is only a low-rank government officer in our small neighborhood. His salary is not enough to provide our needs. As a wife who loves the whole family so much, I’ve been trying all out to help lighten our economic burdens by selling hand-made traditional cakes door to door around Parang village. For more than a decade now, I’ve been working hard and wrestling with this small business for the sake of my family. Life for me only went on the turn of roullette, whether I like it or not, when I had to do the hard labors for the sake of my children’s future. One day, I heard “Good News” while I was selling cakes at the front gate a church, in a Sunday morning.

While I was busy doing my trade there, I could hear people in the church singing their nice Christian songs. I grew in liking to the songs. I followed the tunes as I came to the same church every Sunday. I felt a change in my heart. Sometimes I heard soft and calming voice in my soul; joy suddenly overwhelmed my spirit. I also listened to the pastor who preached before church members, and I was somewhat comforted by these sermons. I still couldn’t figure out the cause of this my magnificent change in my mind.

All I knew was that something had seemed to hypnotize me beyond my control, always to take a seat at a bench near the front door of the church, listening carefully to the songs and sermons.

“Of course I’m the silliest creature in the universe if I dare to go into that church, because I am a Moslem! All my purpose to be there in the church was to earn profit from my business, and that is all!” I said to myself as I despised whispers in my mind. It was no point for me to enter the church. “That is totally nuts!” I said it loud. The more I ignored my feeling, the more I felt nuts. But of course I kept that my top secret.

One day, a lady from the church greeted me, with half-moon smile rising from her nice lips. She greeted me again in every time we met. That day, not only greeting or smiling, but we were talking. She invited me to join a retreat in her church. I know it’s a crazy decision that I had ever made, but I decided to join the retreat instead! My curiosity about Jesus was taking me to enter the Christian community.

All my soul and my body were shaking as I knew about “The Truth” preached during retreat sessions. I sense strange things like me often before, but I couldn’t stand that anymore. “I have now embraced The Truth, and I will never let it go out of me! Never! It is mine now!” I exclaimed. I was asking the pastor to baptize me in the same day. I said my words in tears, “Now You are in me, and I am in You.”

I returned home with peace in my heart; I talked to my husband about my special experience, and my new belief as a Christian. He was shocked, of course! As time passed by, my husband and all my children could understand that I had taken my decision. Yet they still don’t believe in Jesus.
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Jamile is now the only believer among her relatives. The Sunda Kelapa team has been serving this family. Jamile’s husband is now open to the Word of God, and is willing to pray with Christian prayers. Even he now allows Christians to use his house for place of free course for elementary school children in the area.
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Prayer Request:

  • Betawi ministry has just bought a ‘Cinta Baca’ Library building.
  • A free course for local children is now starting to impact the local Betawi people.
  • A CP is planning to set up a playing garden around his house, for Betawi kids.
  • Some CPers are taking solid initiative to learn more about Betawi arts