Out of Faith, Serving as Volunteers

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Church officials measure the body temperature of a congregation before entering the church to attend a service at the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Jalan Pajajaran, Sukasari, Bogor, Saturday (6/6/2020).

The Covid-19 pandemic has not abated. Despite the risk of exposure, religious adherents have ventured to serve as task force volunteers. They are carrying out the mission of compassion.

Hendri, 44, a resident of Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, has executed his job as a Covid-19 Task Force member of the Duren Sawit Parish for ten months. He also performs the same task at the community unit (RW) level.

His activity has increased during the period. Hendri strives to ensure the compliance with health protocols within church and residential communities. He records data on churchgoers or residents affected by the disease and communicates with regional authorities as well as healthcare personnel, besides handling social aid distribution.

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Hendri’s action began with the discovery of confirmed Covid-19 cases among residents in Duren Sawit. The case finding shocked the neighborhood. These cases also gave rise to a stigma.

Residents regarded local dwellers contracting Covid-19 as junk. They rejected the presence of afflicted people in their neighborhood.

Hendri felt disturbed by the situation. He couldn’t remain silent. He thought such rejection should not have happened.

Prompted by his concern, Hendri’s innermost feelings were aroused. An initiative to help fellow citizens struck him. He consulted parochial priests about the church members and residents infected with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causing Covid-19. The church responded by forming a team for pandemic impact anticipation.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Bogor Archbishop Mgr. Paskalis Bruno Syukur provides a host during the communion procession from behind an acrylic divider during a new adaptation trial mass at the Cathedral Church of Santa Perawan Maria, Bogor, Sunday (12/7/2020).

The communication with church figures developed into a series of discussions. During the talks, it was almost always emphasized that stigmatization was inevitable among residents. Nonetheless, the congregation should not just ignore the condition.

One of the discussions with a priest impressed Hendri. It dealt with the presence of the Catholic church in society amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which should serve as a supporting force to get through the difficult time along with its congregants.

“Praying to get rid of the virus should go hand in hand with doing something like disciplined application of health protocols,” said Hendri in Jakarta on Saturday (19/12/2020).

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Hendri is aware of the saying ora et labora or pray and labor. The pandemic cannot be eliminated only by praying but rather it demands hard and smart work. It’s even unclear when the virus outbreak prevailing as the global pandemic can subside and be put under control.

Hendri is grateful as his initiative to be engaged in Covid-19 control is widely supported by church members. In fact, they realize the high risk of being affected because Covid-19 spreads rapidly and even can be deadly.

Based on the official website https://covid19.go.id/, Covid-19 from March to the present, Tuesday (22/12), afflicted 678,125 people. The disease claimed 20,257 lives. Jakarta remained on top as the epicenter or hardest-hit province in Indonesia.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Church officials wear masks and face shields when a mass will be held at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Bogor, Sunday (12/7/2020).

Yet the initiative of Hendri continue to be backed especially by the Jakarta Archbishopric, which has set up control task force teams at the parochial level. From here, congregation volunteers can join the parochial control task forces.

Other support is also coming in. The task force teams receive social aid from among others the Bishopric of Ketapang and Nahdlatul Ulama.

External backing emboldens and boosts the spirit of task force volunteers. They remember a pastor’s message. “If all of you stay inside, who’s going to do this? There should be those (volunteers) who do the job while tightly adhering to protocols and also praying,” said the priest.

If all of you stay inside, who’s going to do this?

At least 15 volunteers of the Duren Sawit Parish have become task force members. For this purpose, they follow swab or rapid tests at their places of work and have independent tests routinely. Testing is important to confirm the volunteers’ health condition so as not to be spreaders.

Over the last ten months, at least a valuable lesson has been drawn by Hendri. He becomes aware that afflicted people do not merely need funds to support them. Apart from funds, patients are fellow humans who need encouragement. In its slightest gesture, talking to the sick is desirable.

No return

The prevalent Covid-19 pandemic has touched the depths of the heart of Yohana Teodosia Setu, 30, to work as a nurse.

Yohana was determined and set to leave her birth place in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. Yohana went to the capital city as a volunteer at the Covid-19 Emergency Hospital, Athletes Village, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

A number of health workers wearing personal protective equipment. (PPE) complete gathered in the open space of the red zone in the Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital complex, Central Jakarta, Monday (30/11/2020).

Yohana doesn’t deny the anxiety of her mother, who first disagreed with her for fear of getting infected with Covid-19. However, Yohana managed to convince her. She believes that life and death are in the hands of the Creator.

In April or a month after the announcement of first cases in Indonesia, Yohana started assuming her duty. She is assigned to the inpatient room of Tower 6 in the division of patients with comorbidity. Her working hours are very tight.

“For me, life and death are up to God. If it’s the will of God, in Kupang or in Jakarta makes no difference to me. It’s okay with the risk because it’s already my divine call to help,” said Yohana.

For me, life and death are up to God.

Yohana dispels all stressful feelings. She regards her duty as part of religious devotion. Besides, she shares the joy and enthusiasm of nursing fellow humans.

One of her patients at Athletes Village always prays for and encourages Yohana. This patient comes from another region, embraces a belief different from hers and is in a helpless condition.

“I’m a Christian but a patient who practices another religion prays for me. I won’t return home before the coronavirus is defeated,” added Yohana.