One in Love on Buru Island and Seram Island
"Heads up!!!"That was the cry often heard throughout the journey when a tree branch got in the way of the double axle car we were travelling in. The contents of the car were quite dense, namely: The Secretary of the Mission Department of the Maluku Protestant Church (GPM), the Chairman of the Klasis and a team from the GPM Klasis of North Buru Region. Most of the group sat in the pickup. We were on our way to meet God's people in the interior in order to distribute Bibles and other readings. The road was rocky and uphill, not easy to traverse. However, it only added to our enthusiasm to bring the word of God to the remote areas of Buru Island.
"Muan modan," said Rev Barens Faifet, Chairman of the GPM Assembly of Lemanpoli Congregation, welcoming us with a warm greeting from inside the Huma E'Nmilit (House of God). We chatted about his ministry. He told us that in the past in the Lemanpoli area of North Buru, the population had not embraced religion, the preaching of the gospel was pioneered by local missionaries, they were GPM Waenibe and Balbalu assemblies. The congregation in this place is a congregation that has only been matured for four years. Being remote and far from urban areas, there are many challenges to be faced. One of them is the availability of Bibles as the basis for the faith growth of God's people. Bibles are so coveted by the people.
"Where do you go to buy a Bible, Father?" I asked him. Rev Barens replied, "Ambon ma'am. But it costs 1 million to get there," he explained. "Wow, until here the price of the Bible can be one million hundred yes sir. Very expensive," was my reaction to the pastor's answer.
Having a Bible is a very expensive item for those who live in the interior. The people of Lemanpoli-Buru never imagined that today the LAI team would come and bring the book they have been longing and praying for. Joy was on their faces when the Bibles arrived in their hands. With smiles on their faces, they expressed their sincere gratitude for the helping hands of God's people from various places in Indonesia. With the support of LAI's partners, the word of God came and greeted them. "Opo penata kita hamsiak (God bless us, all),
In the pouring rain we left Lemanpoli, and continued our journey to Seram Island. We were again amazed after meeting a servant of God, his name is Rev Fernando Lawalata. He serves at GPM Jemaat Kanike Pegunungan. To get to the place where he serves, you have to walk for three days because there is no vehicle access, no mobile phone signal, and even no electricity. Kanike is an isolated area, as he described it. It is not easy to serve in a remote place like this. However, the passion to preach the gospel makes him happy and joyful in his ministry.
In this place, we handed over the Bible, this Bible will be the main source of inspiration and support in worship, service and also a learning tool for people who cannot read. Concluding the visit in Kanike, Pastor Fernando on behalf of all the people of God in Kanike expressed his sincere gratitude, while praying for the ministry of LAI and its supporters.
"The SDK programme is very beneficial and blesses us. At least now each family has 2 TB-2 Bibles." There are about 19 members of our congregation who live in the mountains that can only be travelled by foot for one to three (1-3) days. Thank you donors for supporting us and LAI for being a channel of blessing," said the chairman of the North Seram Klasis. 26,000 ex-Bibles and parts were distributed to God's people in four Chapters (North Buru, South Buru, North Seram and East Seram) on 17-22 November 2025.
With a heart full of gratitude for God's amazing provision for this mission trip, we return with renewed enthusiasm to continue to move and invite all God's people so that this evangelistic ministry can continue and bring light to the corners of the archipelago.
Upui Lahatala au bless amhaiki (God bless us all).(indri)
