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Power of prayer: Story of little church on the hill
Tradition-fusion: Girls wearing traditional Balinese accessories pose in front of their church
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Tradition-fusion: Girls wearing traditional Balinese accessories pose in front of their church.
After running amok in a fit of madness, I Nyoman Lawur was wrestled to the ground and placed in stocks, for his own protection and that of villagers from Dilalang Linggah.
This episode took place more than 60 years ago says his son, Wayan Sangkreg. Now 72 years of age wearing an eye patch protecting his recent cataract operation, Sangkreg was preparing to celebrate Christmas yesterday, Wednesday, with fellow parishioners of Bethesda Protestant Church in Sudimara village, Tabanan.
It is at Christmas that this elderly man and one of the church's earliest members recalls his conversion to the religion he still believes saved his father from perpetual insanity.
'We were Hindus until the time my father went crazy back in 1955. He was taken to a doctor in Tabanan, but he just got more upset and the doctor said there was nothing that could be done. Getting Dad to Tabanan in those days from our village was very difficult. That was the Sukarno days and there were a lot of cars, but not for carrying passengers,' says Sangkreg from his home newly decorated with a Christmas tree and wreaths.
With little choice but to take the sick man home from hospital, Sangkreg's mother, Ni Wayan Rame, stayed a night with her brother-in-law in Tabanan, Ketut Gelimbeng.
'He had studied the Bible ' the holy book that translated to Balinese script back in 1939. He offered to take Dad to a Protestant pastor for help. Dad said if my uncle could take him to someone who could raise the dead, he would go there. My uncle reminded my father of the story of Lazarus so they went to a Christian named Panwargah in Dilalang Linggah village, and with two other Christians they prayed over Dad,' says Sangkreg.
His father grew out of control, 'shaking the building and running amok'. Placed hand and foot in stocks, Luwar was then prayed over for seven days, growing ever more distressed. 'Over the next seven days, Dad got better. He was calm and after that our family converted to Christianity and Dad was never sick again.'
The miracle of Lawur's healing through prayer with this little church by a river-fed jungle is not an isolated case.
According to members of the 17-family-strong congregation that grew from just a couple of members, several people with long-term illnesses have been made well through prayer, healings that led to their conversions. A plaque in the church lists the healing of Nengah Jigreg, born in 1915, who suffered amnesia; Ketut Sobret, who was born with severe visual impairment; Wayan Kutang, born in 1914, who was crippled for more than a year; Wayan Mideh, born in 1921, who suffered paranoia for three years; and Nyoman Tangub who suffered dysentery for three years, all cured the congregation believes, through the power of prayer.
'These people were sick for a long time. No medicines made them better. They were all Hindus then in this village ' there were just nine of us that were Christian. Then the sick prayed to God and they got better and converted. I still believe to this day that the prayers of my father and the belief my father had in the resurrection of Jesus made him well. Definitely God saved my father,' says Sangkreg.
This conviction that miracles do occur is shared by the entire Bethesda congregation, who this week celebrated with Christmas pageants and Masses.
When The Jakarta Post visited the little church on the hill, parishioners were polishing floors and pews, freshening flowers for the altar and putting the finishing decorative touches to the great Christmas tree by the pulpit. Nearby, families were costuming their children in readiness for the evening's Christmas performance while others erected penjor (decorated bamboo poles) to adorn the church.
There is a distinct Hindu flavor to the costumes and decorations; little girls wear golden headdress for the Balinese welcome dance, while their mothers dress for the Angel Dance where traditional selendang (shawls) are used as wings.
'The Angel Dance is performed by the mothers of the children. This is a local dance created by a Christian choreographer with a Balinese influence,' Ni Made Realita says.
With most of the local villagers ' Hindu, Muslim and Christian alike ' all attending the performance and sharing the bounty of Christmas Day, one parishioner, Made Timotius says in their village everyone shares the work and joys of all holy days.
'Hindus come and help prepare the foods and share time with us at Christmas. And we do that for them during Galungan. We share all our religious festivals, so we are all together in joy,' says Timotius of a little church in a remote village where the Christmas spirit is alive in the miracle of community.
' Photos by J.B.Djwan
