God Takes Me To Serve You, Solideo

A piece of the story of Rev. Eirene Grace Nanuru

in Kapatlap, Central Raja Ampat, Land of Papua

Since August 2015, I was placed by GKI in Tanah Papua to serve GKI Solideo, Kapatlap, Central Raja Ampat Cluster. There are 63 churches in the clastur, served by 16 pastors and church teachers. GKI Solideo Kapatlap itself is a small church located in North Salawati District, Raja Ampat Regency.

I live with my husband and two children, Miracle (10 years old) and Zeanneth (5 years old) in Klasaman, Klaurung, Sorong, West Papua. Even though Kapatlap is near from Sorong, it is part of Raja Ampat Regency, and I usually visit there by using a 15PK boat for one hour and a half if the sea condition is shady, and two hours if there are waves and strong wind. GKI Solideo, Kapatlap has 60 families with 245 church members. Their daily occupation is fishing in the sea. Honestly, it is not an easy way to reach this church, because:

The weather condition in the sea is erratic, and  limited sea transportation becomes the obstacle, several times I sailed through terrible sea waves day and night, and because no one is taking care my children, I have to bring them with me in the service from one church to another by crossing the sea.

The elementary school there has only  3 teachers who have to teach 6 classes. Unfortunately, the teachers often left their duty for certain reasons. No wonder if many children have not been able to read even though in 6th grade already, while their parents cannot motivate their children to learn because they are also illiterate. This conditions encourage me and the church assembly to work extra for children through ‘Bahitus’(Ba-ca/reading, Hi-tung/Math, Tu-lis/Writing) program, Bible School during Vacation program, and ‘Let’s Read Bible’ program. These programs really increase children's motivation to learn and read.

Natural resources are availabe abundantly but lack of human resources’ competency, especially fishery. Most of them sell fish to the middlemen at cheap price around Rp 20.000 per kilogram, they will sell to city at higher price. The people catch fishes and sell it only to fulfill their daily needs. Several times I buy fishes from them and sell them to city, because they have difficulty to buy fuel, while ice blocks to preserve fish are not available. The generator for lighting is not owned by everyone in village, so darkness still cover in some areas.

The available land is mostly sand land and swamp and people plant vegetables in their house yards to fulfill their daily needs only. Long-term plants that grow there such as coconut and durian are not processed or marketed properly during their season.

I, as a pastor who serve in church with its limitations have to work hard to open church members’ insight and thought by giving them examples. I designed the surrounding of the manse as green yard, not only with flowers, but also vegetables that can grow in sandy soil, such as Gedi vegetables, cassava leaves, papaya, and katok (katuk). Initially it is just an example, also for self-consumption, but latter when church members need them they can take it. Now, some of them reproduce and plant vegetables around their houses.

For me the church service is holistic. Faith should be accompanied by deeds, prayer should also be complemented by efforts, all should be balanced. Activities of worship, discipleship and pastoral can work well if the congregation is open for insight. A servant should be creative and inventive in finding solutions to answer problems. There is not much can be done, but at least there is small thing that produce light and hope for Solideo congregation, at Kapatlap. (Kapatlap, November 2018, Rev. Grace)

***Experience Notes at Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta***

Experience is the best teacher. While studying in Yogyakarta, I was active in GMKI Yogyakarta, being a companion at Girlan Nusantara shelter for 3 years, and was active in Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta, which at that time was very helpful in shaping student’s character, to be a tough person, strong, creative and responsible. Specifically for students from outside Java like me, how to posses skills and work in their respective areas. Thank you for Rev. Tumpal Tobing, Ariani, Rev. Jeanne Tadu, Sinyo, Domi, Martha Heby, Yos Manu, Ningrum, and other friends from Stube who cannot be named one by one. I have extraordinary experiences with friends. The Lord Jesus blessed our ministry together in our respective regions.