Can Ordinary Citizens Build Their Nation?

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Dear families, friends and colleagues,

Is building a nation solely the responsibility of a prophet as is reflected in the experience of the prophet Nehemiah? Nehemiah was sent to Jerusalem at the end of the Babylonian exile. In Jerusalem, Nehemiah was called to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The success story of the prophet Nehemiah leads me to ask: “How can ordinary citizens get involved in building their nation?”

 This question became important when the Griya Jati Rasa consumer cooperative, known as House Authentic Sense Co-op, or HAS Co-op, reflected on its journey to digitalization. Cooperative members are small entrepreneurs who are just learning how to launch businesses. Recently, the management of HAS Co-op has collaborated with Duta Wacana Christian University lecturers to provide training programs to help the new entrepreneurs focus on product quality, maintain business sustainability, and expand marketing through WhatsApp.

[ngg src="galleries" ids="1248" display="pro_horizontal_filmstrip" show_captions="1" width="80"]The joy was unspeakable when HAS Co-op got its digital application. This joy is reflected in Mrs. Istri’s words, that she chanted while dancing, “I make catfish floss specifically because of my love for pregnant women who need additional omega-3 nutrition without fear of the food they consume is contaminated with mercury. Catfish is a fish that can be kept in the home garden and is free from mercury but has high nutritional value. I know that many pregnant women, who don’t pay attention to their food, can give birth to stunted children. My products have slowly begun to be known and sought after by the public. Hopefully, with the launch of the Semar Jati Rasa Mobile app (Semar application), my products can be marketed more widely.”

Fifteen other HAS Co-op members danced with Istri while telling stories about the history of their products. They brought incense and placed it in the middle of the altar and then told their personal stories of success. Mrs. Endang led the dance, which was given the title: “Dance Celebrating the Product,” and everyone else followed her lead. Incense, a sign of Thanksgiving, was carried in the procession and placed on the altar table in front of a jasmine garland. In the background, stood a screen as a symbol of the Semar application. Mrs. Istiatun, Mr. Purnama Setiawan and I, as a representative of HAS Foundation, cut the jasmine strand together and then pressed the application launch button to project an image of the application onto the screen. (Please see the photo of the launch and visit Tarian Bersama Anggota Pada Peresmian Aplikasi Semar Jati Rasa.mp4 - Google Drive to see a recording of the beautiful dance.)

August 22 was an important day because the Semar application was ready to be accessed by cooperative members. My students from the Master Management program of Duta Wacana Christian University (DWCU) attended the launch of the application. The launch was carried out in August, the month when Indonesian independence is celebrated as a sign that HAS Co-op wants to make its contribution to the Indonesian nation. Indonesia celebrated its 79th Independence Day on August 17, 2024.  

Applications are a modern way of enabling HAS Co-op members to succeed individually and as a group. Currently, the Semar application brings four direct benefits. First, the HAS Co-op accounting system has been adapted to a digital system and members can see a report on the total financial position of HAS Co-op in real-time. Secondly, HAS Co-op members can view their respective savings and loan reports. Thirdly, members can pay for various general transactions such as electricity, water, taxes, health insurance, credit purchases, etc. Finally, members can market their products. Everything can be done directly from the members’ cell phones after they have downloaded the App from Google Play.

The Semar application is a gift from HAS Co-op friends. Four donors contributed to the procurement of the Semar App. The members of the Saint Andrew congregation, Presbyterian Church in Iowa City, Ms. Janice Zitelman and Mr. Fred Johnson from University Presbyterian Church San Antonia, Texas, the Griya Jati Rasa Foundation, Yogyakarta and Mr. Koichi Otawa (Japan) who led an interfaith retreat for some leaders of the HAS Co-op. Ms. Janice Zitelman and Mr. Fred Johnson also visited some of the HAS Co-op members when they spent their summer vacation in Yogyakarta this year.

The HAS Co-op managers rejoice in the availability of the Semar application. Ade Maria, donated snacks for the launch event as a sign of gratitude to God for bringing donors to contribute to procuring the app. Ade Maria, Pujiastuti, Anna Istanti, and Krisdiyanto are HAS Co-op managers who had the opportunity to take the accounting training that is offered by the creator of the Semar application. A HAS Co-op administrator, Sukanti, was also able to take part in the training.

Success belongs to God. The prophet Nehemiah helped me to believe that the source of inspiration came from God, the Creator of the universe. With this letter, I thank all members of the Presbyterian church congregation who have supported my ministry in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. When I saw what has been in the world, the diversity and richness of God's creation opened my eyes to understand how a good, just, and prosperous life should continue to be lived. As written in Nehemiah 2:20, “The God of heaven is the one who will give us success” (NRSVUE).

Salam,

Farsijana