Global Mission

Overseas Birthday Project 2008-2009

Women’s Empowerment
Indonesia

At the General Assembly of Gereja Masehi Injili di Timor (GMIT) this year the new Moderator highlighted the fact that the Eastern Isles Province of Indonesia (NTT) was the poorest in the whole of the country.  He affirmed they are a people of faith.  His vision is that with God’s help, GMIT should be helping its people to express that faith in real ways, and to learn to help improve their lives.

PW hopes to provide a truck for the congregations in the Lelogama region of Timor, Indonesia, to transport local produce to the market in Kupang, three hours away.  Lelogama is a hilly area and has always been isolated in terms of transportation links.  It is well known for its cattle and large oranges and is one of the few areas where these oranges grow.   However, because of the high cost of transportation to Kupang there is very little profit on any produce sold.  The truck would come under the auspices of GMIT’s diaconal work and service different villages in the Lelogama area on different days of the week.  The impact will be great.  Families will be strengthened; a better future can be planned especially for their children who struggle to get through school; and the work of the local congregation will develop as giving will increase.

PW also hopes to help with GMIT’s women’s work.  The focus will be on education, counselling, and the training of women in the village areas, especially in the upgrading of their skills, eg in weaving and marketing.  This will decrease the economic dependence of the whole family, and raise women’s worth in a traditionally male dominated society.