God is big. We only need to pray.

This semester, I am so lucky to have a lecture in my college titled PL3### Community Development. We got this assignment to identify a community in Bandung, report it to the class and my team chose The Center English Club located in jalan Setiabudi, Bandung.

The Center is a community, initiated by 8 foreigner (read: bule) 9 years ago after a radio show which was brought in english had made its listener gathered. From 30 listeners, developed until hundreds of them was interested in having a regular meeting about twice a month (it was 9 yrs ago). The purpose is only to build a talking-in-english environment to help them practicing english. (more about The Center http://ngubek.com/artikel/baca/thecenter (in Bahasa))

And now, from 8 of those ‘bules’, there are only 2 people which are a sweet couple, Steve and Jane. They want to be called Pak Steve and his wife, Ibu Jane. At the time we visit The Center, it was soooo crowded by The Center’s member and also native speaker teachers doing their activities like chatting, playing cards, eating, and somehow I felt like I was just warped into Gryfindor’s common room after their Quidditch team won. It was also Pak Steve’s birthday, all of The Center’s member and non-member (including us—me and my friends @ariyanni @anastasiaratna @myunusk, who were actually total strangers) got treated to Hot Dog and a cup of ice cream! I can feel how warm that community was. They were so welcome, even to non-member (you can visit The Center and get involved in their activity, even you’re a virgin fresh meat never been there. really!)

Back to the assignment, we luckily had the chance to have a sweet inteview with Ibu Jane. She was very matronal and religious and I feel so comfortable talking to her. She said that it was really from they deep down inside of awareness and volunteerism to stay in Bandung and contribute to society. To help people to open up themselves, to make an honest relationship and understanding about different culture and of course language. She thought that was kinda God whispered to them, and what they believe as it is, that’s what they live.

at The Center, people come and go. Native speakers who teach there come and go as well. But they’re all likely to come back and visit The Center regularly for quite a long time. They really build a growing second family which-talk-in-english there.

We asked Ibu Jane about what problem is actually she worried about, how about if those people, those teachers, leaving The Centre for another responsibility or job, maybe married or something else. She answered it amazingly touching. She only said,

“I pray. I believe that God is big, and we are only this small. He knows where people are (to help us running The Centre)”..

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I was stunned to Ibu Jane’s answer. By her simple answer, she successfully taught us to believe that God is always there, answering, granting our prayer, no matter when, but He will. Just believe that.

I somehow got the courage to live my life. To become the one who can give positive influence to the circle. To contribute to a better environment.

Thanks Ibu Jane. :)

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  1. gemasatria posted this