A Life Worth Living

Tante Ririe is her Indonesian nickname (Tante is “aunty” in English). She was born in Magelang on 30 June 1939. Being raised up by her aristocratic Javanese family and by both parents who were teachers has truly built deep conviction in Auntie Ririe. She put a lot of emphasis on her education. While she was a sensible and diligent student, her parents were also very strict with their religious practises at home. During her childhood, they used to pray and read the bible every morning before everyone left the house. At the end of the day, after dinner, they would also have a daily family devotional.

After her graduation from university, she worked as researcher and  academician at the Institute of Textiles in Bandung. At 23 years old, she was married to a young thriving military officer. Being an officer's wife, she had to continue working whilst raising up 3 children.  She was a researcher in a chemical  laboratory and assistant lecturer at her alma mater. In her thirties, being recognized for her outstanding performance, she pursued her master’s degree on a full scholarship in the United States for two years.

Although people always thought she had a good and perfect life as the wife of a high ranking military dan government officer, what people see was not the true reality.  She also struggled with their relationship and being dragged away into their big family issues, which had never been easy. Life was very complicated for her.

Amidst all of those times, she often felt empty and lonely, and felt the obligation that she had to protect her husband’s reputation and family dignity.

In her fifties, she had to battle with cancer. Thank God, she was healed after a long and painful process. In her early sixties, in 2000, her daughter introduced her to our community. She was so fired up to study the bible for almost a year. Right before her baptism, she attended Women’s Day in Tokyo and a conference in Singapore. God added colors to her journey and finally on the first day of year 2001, she made a commitment to Christ and gave herself to be baptised as a disciple of Christ.  Her life was totally transformed.  For her, being a disciple at 62 years old was like receiving a gift from God: brand new life.  She found peace, security, hope, joy, and love in Christ alone. Soon after her baptism, she started leading a small group, with only 5 disciples. God really blessed them and this group has grown so rapidly. They often met up and prayed together. No wonder they have such deep bonds with each other.

  In 2007, they set up a specialized ministry called Women of God, of which all membership consists of  grandmothers, empty nesters, and women aged 60 and above. Today Auntie Ririe is leading a group of 43 disciples. During the pandemic in 2020 they have baptized 7 people. Right now in 2021, with the travel limitation due to the global pandemic, they never stop having many on-going bible studies.

Another special note in her journey with God, at 66 years old, she started learning watercolor painting  She learnt many techniques and special skills to master watercolor painting.  Her paintings have been selected to represent The Indonesian Water Color Society (IWS) in the Incheon exhibition in Korea all these years. On her 76th birthday she decided to take on a play therapy course from the UK. She noticed that many people, be it children or adults, struggled with their emotional challenges. So she pursued the training and a couple years after, Auntie Ririe got her licence to do therapy to help many people. She especially loves to help children and youth in the church. She also set up her own Play Therapy Centre and gives counseling to special needs children.

Today Auntie Ririe is 81 years old. She has been through so many things in life, this Woman of Strength. (Poem specially written by Vania D.) She lost her only son in 2017 because of prolonged illness. It was a very devastating moment in her life; she was so crushed inside. It was very hard for her to move on, but she realized she couldn’t live her life in misery.  She had to surrender to Sovereign God. Her journey with God was not perfect; there are still ongoing struggles, challenges, disappointments, bitterness, and sadness in her daily life. Whether it is a relationship in her family, health issues, or ministry, she never ever gives up. Life will not beat her down. To Auntie Ririe, struggles are "heavenly training and boot camp” to build deep-rooted faith. That is how she is trained to be more like Jesus.

At the age when most people feel that they are not able to do anything or think it is too late to start something, this woman uses her talents and allows God to stretch her to her best potential. All in all, she prays that God be glorified through her life. Every morning, she does her quiet time faithfully, serves her family lovingly, communicates with friends outside church kindly, does gardening, painting, supervising her play therapy students joyfully. Having bible studies with people, participating in board meetings, and discipling time give her added energy. She has also contributed in a couple mission-sendings to Magelang, her hometown, and to Lake Toba, North Sumatera, her husband’s hometown as well.   Sometimes she travels to Magelang to study with our brothers’ and sisters' moms or grandmothers and baptize them.

Her true motivation and inspiration is that God’s grace in her life gives her every reason to share her faith.  For Tante Ririe, all her sufferings and struggles are incomparable to the joy and goodness God has blessed her with all these years. Understanding that, she is determined to do her best in her life. She wants to please God and she wants to finish strong until the day comes! This is her 20 year journey as a disciple, a life worth living indeed!

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about what you wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing?
Matthew 6:25

Tante Ririe - Jakarta’s Church

Board of Directors, Welfare Management Committee, GKDI, ICOC Indonesia

Women of God Ministry Leader

Play Therapist Supervisor

Water Colour Painter