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News Item: Indonesia Jakarta Mission Report by President Jensen
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| Indonesia Jakarta Mission Report by President Jensen | 11 Oct 2005 |
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Indonesia Jakarta Mission Report by President Dean C. Jensen 30 September 2005 This is a brief update on what is happening in the Indonesia Jakarta Mission. Currently we have 64 full-time missionaries serving including 6 senior couples, 44 Elders and 8 Sisters. Within the next four months we will add 8 new foreign Elders, 2 new foreign Sisters, 8 new local Elders and 4 local Sisters. We will also add 2 new Humanitarian couples. This will bring the total full-time missionaries to 88 (74 single missionaries and 7 couples -we only lose 1 couple). This is a 275% increase in single missionaries since we started in July 2004. Although it has been difficult to transition such a rapid increase in our full-time missionaries it will in the long run bless the lives of the local members and increase the opportunity to create the first Stake in Indonesia within the next 2 or 3 years. Currently there are 4138 members in units in Indonesia. 1535 are in the Jakarta District; 1804 are in the Surakarta District; 684 in the Surabaya District and 117 in the Manado and Medan Branches. We have 23 organized and functioning branches. The Surakarta District is large enough to qualify for a stake, but lacks the full staffing of leadership and sufficient full-tithe paying Melchizedek Priesthood brethren. The Jakarta District has sufficient faithful Melchizedek Priesthood but lacks total membership (1800 seems to be the minimum number of members to qualify for a stake). In the past year overall activity in the Church in Indonesia has increased 3% and contributions to the Fast Offering Fund have increased nearly 70%. We are estimating about 120 convert baptism for the year 2005. Baptisms for the 3 previous years were 92, 74 and 86. The cost of transportation is still one of the major obstacles that members face in staying active in the Church. In many cases a family will pay up to 20% of their income for transportation to attend church on Sunday. This figure will even go higher with the substantial increase in fuel prices that have just been implemented in Indonesia. I am aware of one member in Surabaya that receives a monthly salary of 250,000 Rupiah (about $25). They pay half that amount in public transportation each month just to go to and from work. If the transportation costs double as we expect, you can see what it would do to this member. The answer to all these economic problems is the faithful payment of tithing. Currently, only 16% of our adult members pay a full tithing. One quick example of how the Lord blesses those who pay a full tithing. An Indonesia woman was working in Hong Kong as a pembantu. After working there for 3 years she was introduced to the missionaries and joined the Church. A few months later she lost her contract and was required to return to Indonesia. Her family lived in Jambi on the island of Sumatra. Being told that there was no church in Jambi, the closest being in Jakarta or Medan, she decided to ask her brother, who lives in a village1 ½ hours from Magelang if she could live with him. That way she could take the bus to Magelang each week and attend her meetings. She started a small baking business selling cakes and breads to the local people. One day one of her customers asked if she could get her bread on Sunday. The member replied that she could not because she traveled to Magelang each Sunday to attend church. The woman asked her what church it was? When told the name, the woman went around to most of the people in the village and asked them not to buy bread or cakes from this woman. The impact of this was devastating to the member woman. Her meager income made it difficult for her to pay rent to her brother and to attend church each week. However, being a faithful member she decided that even if she had to walk to church each week she would do it. However, almost every time she started walking the 20 plus kilometers to Magelang, some member from the District that was visiting Magelang from Solo or Yogya, or a total stranger would pick her up and offer her a ride. She was determined to be faithful and even paid her tithing on what little money she earned. After doing this for several months, one day one of her former customers came up to her and asked, “Do you think I could start buying your bread and cakes again? I have been buying from others in the village and their bread and cakes are not as good as yours. I know you are a Christian, but you do make very good bread and cakes and your prices are reasonable.” Within a few weeks this dear sister had all her previous customers back plus many others. At the time she told us this story she said that she had truly been blessed. She said I have enough money to pay all my expenses, pay my brother, pay my tithing and fast offerings, and pay my transportation to church each week. I still have money left over each month. Then she said, “When I lived in Hong Kong, before I was a member of the Church, I made 20 times more money and never seemed to have enough. Now I have more than what I need.” This is just one example of the type of members there are in Indonesia. They face incredible challenges, but for those who put their trust in the Lord, they are blessed beyond measure. Many will inquire about the impact of the relief effort by the Church from the recent tsunami. Elder and Sister Palmer, the Country Directors for LDS Charities have done a marvelous job in coordinating the relief effort. In addition to the initial response of food, water, clothing and medical supplies, the Church has provided an incredible amount of help in providing recreation equipment for children, fishing boats, sewing machines, reconstruction of hospitals, housing, water treatment and computer and other equipment. It is estimated that this phase of rehabilitation and livelihood restoration could last another 2 years. When President Boyd K. Packer visited Banda Aceh with Elder David A. Bednar he said, “Long after others have come and gone, the Church will still be here to help.” When we tell people that our only aim is to help and not proselyte them they are suspicious and doubtful. But then when they see what we do, they are filled with gratitude and appreciation. This has certainly been a wonderful opportunity to build bridges of cooperation and understanding with government leaders and the Muslim community. Perhaps the most influential person for the Church in Indonesia is Elder Subandriyo. Elder Subandriyo not only serves as the country’s only Area Seventy, but also as the Manager of the Service Center. He is really, “Mr. Indonesia.” He works tirelessly to promote the welfare of the people. He is recognized and respected by those in high government positions as well as the poor and needy. Elder Subandriyo’s family is an example of Christ-like service in all that they do. Wherever there is a need, you will find someone from Subandriyo’s family there to help. But Subandriyo is not the only member that gives so much. We are blessed with many wonderful leaders and members here in Indonesia. Indonesia is on the rise. The foundation has been laid. The Church has been established, and “No unhallowed hand can stop this work from progressing.” We are grateful to all you for your support and prayers for Indonesia. I recognize that this may be a sensitive subject to some, be we say to all Indonesians who live in the United States to “Come Home.” We need you here. The Church needs to here. The Lord needs you here. This is your land, your people, your Church. You understand the culture and the people. Your experiences abroad will only enhance and bless the lives of the members here if you will but “Come Home.” Thank you for your confidence and trust. Hormat kami, President Dean C. Jensen Indonesia Jakarta Mission |
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