Learning Jesus’ heart for those with disabilities

Marta is from Nias Island, Indonesia. We met her at the Pelita Dunia Bible College as she trains in ministry. Her heart is to return to her village and start a school and ministry for children. However, her time at College taught her something unexpected....

SISTER WITH A MENTAL DISABILITY:

Marta has a sister with a mental disability. Actually, this young one had a tragic accident at 3yrs old, causing her to have a brain injury and affecting the way she relates and regulates. The injury was not well understood by her parents and farming community. Throughout her childhood, Marta felt very embarrassed and sometimes angry at her sister for the strange way she behaved. Other children would bully her for the outbursts and crazy way she acted, and Marta resented her sister for many years. She would often walk home from school a different way, and avoid being connected to avoid her own embarrassment.

As Marta finished high school, she wanted to go a Bible College. Her pastor has long been part of the Lifewords network in Nias and joined numerous training events. He knew about Pelita Dunia, the school that Pak Gunar Sahari had started years ago. Pak Gunar started Pelita Dunia as a way to train rurual students who cannot afford the usual tuition fees, and the College has successfully gained sponsorship for hundreds of students to train with them each year. Marta was recommended to Pelita Dunia and she started as a 19 year old.

As a student, Marta has been working very hard to achieve high academic marks, even achieving a scholarship for her great results. She has made friends, enjoyed practical ministry with Life Kids Ministry, and is really growing into a confident young woman. But her heart has always been to return to Nias, and reconnect with her community.

AN UNEXPECTED REVELATION:

During one of the Lifewords Visible Story training sessions at College, she grew to understand that Jesus’ love and attention is for everyone. They were learning about the way Jesus would often go to those who were rejected in society, he would place value on those who were left out, he would elevate the servant and reverse the script for who is important. Part of the lesson was to consider someone that we really struggle with, someone we might have rejected or misunderstood. At first, Marta struggled to identify anyone who might fit the category - until suddenly her mind was filled with memories of how she had acted toward her sister throughout their upbringing. Marta started to feel ashamed of the way she treated her own disabled sister, and she started to understand Jesus’ love in a whole new way.

She told me,

“One of the pictures in the Visible Story reminded me of my sister and how we would treat her in the past. Jesus wasn’t like that. He would reach out with grace and acceptance. It started to shift the way I saw my sister, learning to love her for who she is, accept her challenges and support her. Now I speak to her every week, give her support and love and actually she is the one person who gives me the most encouragement to keep going in my study and faith. She helps me as much as I help her.”

A MINISTRY TO THOSE WITH DISABILITY:

Marta is now embarking on her ministry field placement, where she will spend her next 12 months in practical training. Her chosen area for field work is to work with children who have disabilities and relational challenges. She has chosen to join one of the Life Kids Ministries that has a particular work among children with disabilities on the outskirts of Jakarta.

As we left, Marta shared how she feels this is now her calling: To start her own Life Kids Ministry back in Nias, and work alongside her sister to help children with disabilities to be more accepted and understood within their community. In essense, to capture Jesus' heart for those with disabilities.