The Awakening Presence For Togetherness

Reflection on the presence of Exploring Sumba Participants

in Sumba Christian Church of Kaliuda

Kaliuda is a small village, part of Pahunga Lodu district located on the eastern tip of Sumba Island, about 110 km to the east of Waingapu, the capital of East Sumba regency. Pahunga Lodu means Rising Sun because the sun rises earlier here than other districts in Sumba.

In this village I am serving a congregation of Sumba Christian Church (GKS) Kaliuda. My name is Mora Henggi, born in Mburukullu from Umbu Nggaba Kahu and Rambu Hada H. Mila, from a common farmer family that formed me to be diligent in worshiping, honest, kind to others and independent. I graduated from Theology Faculty of Kupang Artha Wacana Christian University in 2006 and became a vicar at GKS synod. On December 12, 2008 I was ordained as a pastor at GKS Kaliuda having 2.148 members, consisting of 1.068 adult members and 1.080 teenagers and children. Based on the vision and mission of GKS and Church duties there are several forms of service that I do, namely worship, preaching, fellowship prayer, spiritual guidance or catechism, evangelism, pastoral, and social services to society.

My recognition about Stube-HEMAT Sumba started in 2010 during a seminar on Law and Human Rights at GKS Kaliuda with students and youth participants. It gave us a new understanding of Law and Human Rights in living in a community so that we are aware of respecting human rights, not committing violence and respecting the law. Besides new material, the church members worked together to support the event. We wanted to regain the atmosphere by keeping contact with Yulius Anawaru and Rev. Dominggus, Stube-HEMAT Sumba team, and wished a chance of activity involving GKS Kaliuda.

This longing was realized in 2014, Novia Sih Rahayu was sent to Kaliuda as a participant in Exploring Sumba. She came from Yogyakarta and brought training material how to be event leader or Master of Ceremonies (MC) for youth and church youth. At first they were not confident enough to speak in public, but Novi was patient enough to train them so that they slowly dared and were confident to come forth and practice leading an event. At present some of them become leaders of the youth fellowship and leader of Sunday worship liturgy.

The following participants of Exploring Sumba came in 2016 was Imelda Dewi Susanti from West Kalimantan. She delivered material and training on hypertension and how to deal with gymnastics and traditional medicines. Imelda's presence greatly helped the church members to behave healthy and diligently go to church. She often visited church members’ house and had dialogue with them, giving advice on healthy living and checking heart rate and practising exercise as a cheap, natural and simple medicine.

From both of them, I found memorable experiences when Novi woke up early and went to beach, took selfie photos during waiting for the sunrise, after that we went home and visited one house of the church member. The family felt so happy because of the visit and then gave Novi a hen to be taken home to Java. When I was with Imelda, she often woke up early to visit the house of church's koster and waited for him from the palm tree to harvest ‘tuak’ tree water.

I hope Stube continue to strive to realize its motto, through its programs and activities that are beneficial and needed by the young generation of Sumba as assets of church and society. For the Exploring Sumba participants, it needs seriousness in preparing materials and training contents so the guidance and training can be optimally obtained.

So, young students, take the opportunity to leap on to other areas with different cultures to share knowledge and discover new experiences and enlightenments that are 'exciting' and growing you and others up. (TRU).