Maninka, Eastern of Sierra Leone

Maninka, Eastern of Sierra Leone The Maninka is a sub-group of the large people group commonly referred to as the Manding. Their unity and pride stems from their common cultural origin from the once-great Malian Empire. The Maninka are spread across the continent of Africa in nine countries. They have a system of occupational castes, the most important of which are the musicians and blacksmiths, who are set apart in society and revered. Village organization rests on lineage structure. The eldest male of the oldest founding lineage is usually at the pinnacle of leadership. The Maninka are generally open to discussing spiritual matters and are fascinated by them. However, the older generation is very resistant to change, because violation of group norms brings shame to their clan. Ministry Obstacles Tradition is important to African tribes. Change is difficult, and people understandably resist it. Outreach Ideas There are many Christians in Sierra Leone, in other tribes. Pray the Lord will lead some of these to take the good news of Jesus to the Maninka people. Pray for the followers of Christ Christian Maninka need the prayers of Christians outside their tribe. Pray for these Christians to clearly understand their relationship with God is His gift to them through the death of his son Jesus on the cross. Pray for the entire people group Please pray for the large Maninka tribe located in several African countries to be able to prepare their children well for a rapidly changing world. Scripture Focus "I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations ... Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth." Psalm 57:9-11		People Name: Maninka, Eastern Country: Sierra Leone 10/40 Window: No Population: 138,000 World Population: 3,477,000 Language: Maninkakan, Eastern Primary Religion: Islam Bible: New Testament Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.2

Rescuing the Rohingya

Rescuing the Rohingya

October 16, 2013

Unable to attain official residency in Burma or Bangladesh, many Rohingya live in squalid conditions with little hope to escape chronic poverty.

They are a people without a country. As described by the United Nations—one of the most persecuted minority groups on earth.
The Burmese government denies them citizenship, despite their migration from Bangladesh two centuries ago. To the people of Bangladesh, they are an unwanted scourge from Burma.
Among the untouchables in India, they are outcasts.
They are Muslim, and even traditional Muslims have no use for them.
We are referring to the Rohingya, an ethnic group of some two- to three- million people dispersed throughout several countries in South Asia.

Women gather for prayer

Some historians theorize the Rohingya are descendants of Arab traders that were shipwrecked off the coast of Burma in the 8th century. Their language, however, is a Bengali dialect related to the Indo-Aryan peoples of Bangladesh and India. Whatever their origin, the Rohingyans face an enormous identity crisis.
By far the largest concentration of Rohingyans lives in Burma. Numbering between 800,000 and 1 million people, they have faced persecution from the Burmese government for more than three decades.
The majority Buddhist population in Burma views the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Muslim-dominated Bangladesh who do not qualify for citizenship. In the eyes of the government, it does not matter that the Rohingya have lived in Burma for generations.
The laws against them are harsh and highly discriminatory, including:

• a Rohingya cannot be a citizen of Burma
• a Rohingya needs permission to marry
• a Rohingya needs permission to have more than two children
• a Rohingya must inform authorities if they want to travel outside of their villages (even in cases of medical emergencies)

With no hope for a decent life, since 1978 over 300,000 disenfranchised Rohingyans have fled across the border into Bangladesh. They escape the oppression of the Burmese government—only to find themselves the subject of scorn and ridicule in Bangladesh.

Loving the unloved

Fishing net for Rohingya family

“They have no food, no work, no land, and no help,” said the spokesman for a Christian-Aid assisted ministry in Bangladesh that works with the Rohingya and other unreached tribal groups.
“Because they are an ethnic minority and they are unregistered with the Bangladesh government, the Rohingya are caught in a dual trap,” he said. “The Burmese military will not let allow them in their own homeland, and in Bangladesh they have no identity.”
Less than 10 percent of the Rohingya exiles are officially registered. Some live in refugee camps like the one in Kutupalong in southeastern Bangladesh. Thousands more flock to the government camp but are turned away because they lack legal status. Those refused access to Kutupalong have established their own makeshift camp nearby—a slum community that the ministry leader says is devoid of latrines, safe drinking water, and hope.
With limited education and job skills, the Rohingya typically find employment as rickshaw pullers or they work in the fishing industry. This summer Christian Aid donors made it possible for the ministry to provide fishing nets for nine needy families.
In a recent report, the ministry leader described the impact of the nets for those families: “They are very happy to get these nets because they did not have their own. That is why they had to share 50 percent of their fish with the owners who loaned them their nets. So it was very hard for them to support their family. Now they will be able to provide for them well by the grace of God.”
By tradition, the Rohingya are nominal Muslims that don’t fit into either the Sunni or Shia branches of Islam. The Bangladesh ministry, which focuses on tribal evangelism and church planting, is in the process of dubbing the JESUS film into the Rohingya language. Its gospel workers are also translating and publishing Bible stories for the Rohingya.
One of the missionaries is a Rohingya man who grew up in Burma and was raised in the Muslim faith. He was accustomed to dealing with animosity from the Buddhists, but the new convert felt a heavy blow of rejection from his Muslim neighbors when he and his family received Christ in 2005.
“People did not want to see our faces because they thought we were unholy. If they saw our faces, then they would have to take a bath again,” he said. “They forced the school teachers to forbid our kids to go to school, but the Lord provided a Christian school for them.”
Five years later he felt God leading him to leave Burma in order to serve his suffering people in Bangladesh. He also travels periodically to India to minister to Rohingyans living in the Bhikashpuri refugee camp established by the government in New Delhi.
His efforts are bearing fruit as Rohingya Muslims are hearing the good news of the Prince of Peace for the first time. In one village 15 Rohingya men gathered in secret to hear him share about Jesus. In another, a small fellowship has started and the believers have asked to be baptized.

History of hatred

Christian Aid also assists a ministry that works among the Rohingya and other tribal groups in the Rakhine state of Burma, where tensions between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims have resulted in violent clashes during the past two years.

Christian Aid helps support missionaries who minister to the Rohingya in Bangladesh, India, and Burma.

Years of simmering hostilities boiled over in May 2012 when an ethnic Rakhine woman was brutally raped and murdered, allegedly by three Muslim Rohingya men. Ten Muslims were killed in response, prompting massive rioting and the deployment of government troops to squelch the uprising.
The Burmese army was accused of targeting Rohingyans during the crackdown because of their suspected connections to radical Islamic groups.
As a result of the mayhem, some 90,000 Muslims and Buddhists were displaced and over 2,500 homes were burned. There were more than 80 deaths.
Fighting resumed in October, leading to the displacement of another 22,000 people whose homes were destroyed. An additional 80 people lost their lives.
Following the 2012 riots, the Burmese ministry sought to share the gospel with both Muslims and Buddhists in the area. They also assisted Christian villagers and missionary families caught in the middle of the conflict.
In addition to the 800,000 Rohingya living in Burma, 300,000 are in Bangladesh, 200,000 in Pakistan, and 100,000 in Thailand.
“Please keep praying for the Rohingya, that we can preach the gospel to them and win this people group to the Lord,” said the leader of the ministry in Bangladesh. “We can also stand beside them to provide their physical needs, especially food, housing, wells, latrines, medical care, and education for their children.”
“We are not afraid to preach the truth, and there is no truth except the Lord Jesus,” he said.
Use the form below to contribute online to assist indigenous missionaries working with the Rohingya. Or call 434-977-5650 to contribute by phone. If you prefer to mail your gift, please mail to Christian Aid, P.O. Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906. Please use Gift Code: 600SAM. Thank you!

Tu of China

Tu of China The Tu were first recorded in AD 1227, when a Mongol garrison was dispatched to control the area that the Tu still inhabit today. The troops remained there and later married women from local tribes. Until recently Tu girls were expected to be married by the age of 15. After that age, the girl was considered "married to heaven." Unmarried Tu women wear a single ponytail to advertise their status to prospective partners. The Tu are ardent followers of Tibetan Buddhism. Their main religious center is the Youning Monastery, founded in 1604. Shamans and mediums are also active among the Tu. The annual Nadun Festival focuses around the fala, a Tu medium who "impales himself with as many as 12 iron nails and is possessed by the spirit of the Erlang god." Ministry Obstacles Spiritual opposition will surely be encountered when Jesus is presented to the Tu. Workers need to be prepared for this, but not intimidated. Outreach Ideas Although there are no known Christians among the Tu today, there are about 400 Han Chinese believers living in the mountains 25 kilometers from Huzhu. They interact with the Tu and even speak the Tu language. Pray these Han believers will be given a desire to share Christ with the Tu. Pray for the followers of Christ Please pray for those Tu who will soon come to Christ. Pray for friendships to develop with Han Christians, who will be able to disciple them. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Tu will be given the gift of conviction of sin, that they may know they need a Savior. Pray the Lord will be preparing them for the Gospel message when it comes. Scripture Focus "...that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no one else." 1 Kings 8:60		People Name: Tu Country: China 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 247,000 World Population: 247,000 Language: Tu Primary Religion: Buddhism Bible: None Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1

Beja, Bisharin of Sudan

Beja, Bisharin of Sudan Eastern Sudan has been the homeland of the Beja since the days of the pharaohs 4,000 years ago. In general, the Beja have always rejected authority and they greatly value their nomadic freedom. For the most part they have not changed their lifestyle or practices in the last 1,500 years. Most Beja are nomadic herders of camels and goats, although some have adopted sedentary lifestyles in the towns and cities of eastern Sudan. Their crown of fuzzy hair (tiffa) has characterized the Beja for centuries. Although the Beja had partially accepted Christianity in 500 A.D., their conversion was only skin deep and beginning in 640 A.D., when Arabs first invaded Sudan, the Beja began to gradually adopt the Islamic faith. The Beja continue to be highly afraid of jinn, or evil spirits. Ministry Obstacles For the Beja to become disciples of Jesus Christ would require changing a world view and cultural practices dating back many centuries. Making such change requires heart-wrenching struggle. Much prayer is needed to prepare people for such change. Outreach Ideas Gospel recordings are available in the language of the Beja, as are scripture portions. Workers are needed to carry these resources to the people. Pray for the followers of Christ There may be no followers of Christ among the Beja at this time. Pray they will become dissatisfied with the empty religions they have experienced in their lives and seek the true God. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Beja people may be freed from the fear of jinns, evil spirits. Pray they instead will find the love of Christ, which casts out fear. Pray also for sufficient rainfall to sustain their livestock in the dry region where people live. Scripture Focus "Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; and let them say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns.'" 1 Chron 16:31		People Name: Beja, Bisharin Country: Sudan 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 31,000 World Population: 31,000 Language: Bedawiyet Primary Religion: Islam Bible: Portions Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1

Penesak of Indonesia

Penesak of Indonesia The Penesak are known as a friendly community. This is demonstrated by their engaging style of speech. They are known for openly addressing others, offering long explanations of all that they know on a topic and seeking to make others feel at home. Formally, the Penesak people are Muslim though they practice many spiritist beliefs in their daily living. The Penesak watch over the graves of their ancestors and consider them to be sacred places. Every village has a sacred burial ground that is said to possess its own supernatural power. They believe that this spiritual power was possessed by the ancestors buried in that place and is still effective long after the ancestor has died. Ministry Obstacles The Musi language is not currently a written language. Outreach Ideas The Jesus film and Gospel recordings are available in the Musi language. Pray for workers who will take these to the people, and who will help them understand the message. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray the few Christ followers among the Penesak will have a hunger and thirst to learn as much as they can glean from God's word. Pray for the entire people group The most urgent need is help in applying appropriate agricultural technology to overcome the problem of low soil fertility in their area. Improved education and opportunities for work could help the Penesak become more self-sufficient. Better training, medical staff, and equipment are needed to improve health care in their area. Scripture Focus "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" Isaiah 52:7		People Name: Penesak Country: Indonesia 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 134,000 World Population: 134,000 Language: Musi Primary Religion: Islam Bible: None Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1

Plight of Syrian Refugees Extends into Greece

Plight of Syrian Refugees Extends into Greece

October 10, 2013

Greece has become a gateway to Europe for the more than 20,000 Syrian refugees who have entered its borders during the past three years.

It’s 11 p.m. on a Tuesday night and Elias’ phone is ringing off the hook.
“Hi, is this Elias? I’m sorry to call you so late, but someone gave me your number if we needed help.”
There is a pause before the man launches into his request. “We arrived in Greece a week ago. My wife is pregnant and her due date was yesterday. Where can I take her?”
Elias calls a friend and makes arrangements for someone to pick up the couple and drive them to a doctor’s office the next day so the woman can be examined.
He barely has time to hang up the phone when it sounds off again.
“Hi, are you Elias? I just came from Holland. My brother was smuggled into Greece. Their boat sank with 30 people on board. Sixteen were picked up alive. Two were lost in the sea. Twelve are dead and we think their bodies are still being held on the island of Kos, waiting to be identified. Can you help us get there?”
Elias reassures the grief-stricken man he will do what he can. He makes a call to a Syrian friend—an Orthodox priest now living in Greece. The priest has spent the past several months trying to make life at least a little more bearable for the refugees who cross his path.
So has Elias. Since the start of the Syrian war over two years ago, he and his wife Voula have devoted their spare time to assist the refugees in Greece. Elias has taught Bible classes and helped with serving hot meals. Seeing their immense need propelled him to deepen his involvement.
Moved by compassion, he gave up his job as an electrician this spring to go into full-time ministry with the refugees. It’s a decision he has not regretted.
“More and more Syrians were asking for practical help and directions with their decisions,” he said. “So we had the first good fruit as some got converted, some came to church, and some were baptized. Others got help to find legal aid or a job.”
“This implanted in me the question if the time had come for me to give more of my time to the Lord. When we took this step of faith and started to invest more time coordinating with agencies and meeting people, the response grew immediately,” he said.

Ministry workers deliver mattresses to a needy family.

In the last two months alone they have provided assistance to over 200 people.
But Elias does not desire attention or accolades. In fact, he will be the first person to tell you how working with Syrian refugees and tackling their myriad of problems has become both a heartache and a headache.
Attending to their needs has become an all-consuming, unending task. He can’t erase their horrific war experiences. Nor can he bring their loved ones back to life. Sometimes all he can do is hear their stories and pray with them.

Gateway to Europe

While most war-weary Syrians have sought sanctuary elsewhere in the Middle East, tens of thousands envision Europe as their promised land. Entering through Turkey, they cross the Evros River or traverse the Aegean Sea into Greece with hopes of migrating northward into places like Germany or Scandinavia.
These are typically middle class families who can afford to pay smugglers to help them cross illegally onto Grecian soil. The fees reportedly range from a few thousand to upwards of $10,000.
Traveling aboard overloaded dinghies in the middle of the night, refugees experience a harrowing and sometimes deadly sea voyage. Hundreds have drowned when their vessels capsized. The situation is equally perilous for those who cross the Evros in inflatable boats.
Those who safely navigate the waters may receive a rude reception as they near the shore. Although the allegations have been denied, human rights groups report instances of the Greek Coast Guard forcibly turning boats back into the sea toward Turkey.

More than 150 refugees gather for a monthly fellowship.

Sadly, life does not get any easier for the refugees who do manage to enter the country. Without legal documentation, they are detained by police and placed in woefully overcrowded detention camps. Most are released after a few months. Less than three percent ever obtain asylum status.
Most disconcerting are the rise in attacks on Syrian refugees and other illegal immigrants—253 such incidents in 2012, according to the Greek Ombudsman’s office, an independent watchdog group. Officials attribute the violence to supporters of the anti-immigration, neo-Nazi political party known as Golden Dawn.
But resentment of the Syrian presence extends into mainstream Greek society, too. Hard-pressed by their country’s collapsed economy, the last thing Grecians want are foreigners to compete with them for jobs and social services. Beleaguered refugees, left to fend for themselves, face an uphill battle to seek the assistance they so desperately need.
That’s where Elias’ ministry can fill the void.

Building Bridges

Elias’ vision is to serve as a bridge, connecting refugees with agencies who can provide them with a place to live, schooling, medication, food, legal aid, emotional counseling, and other essentials.
“They need someone to be a bridge to lead them to Jesus, a bridge to the church, a bridge to the hospital, a bridge to the police station, to the lawyers, to counseling, a bridge to the restoration of their lives,” said Elias. “They need someplace to go where they can pour out their worries and their fears, their anger and their hopes.”
In one instance they were able to help a 15-year-old boy who had been referred to their ministry. With no family, the Syrian teenager needed emotional and financial support as he tried to figure out how to start life anew in a country where he knew no one and couldn’t even speak the language.
The ministry found living accommodations for the youth and provided food and other necessities for him. He is taking lessons to learn Greek and attends Elias’ church.
Sharing the gospel with the refugees is a major priority. Time is limited, however, as many come to Greece for a mere stopover until they can find more permanent arrangements elsewhere in Europe. Most of the individuals Elias assists stay for a month or less.
Even during these brief snatches of time, the Word of God is penetrating hearts and transforming lives. Some walk away with a new view of Christianity; others receive Jesus as Savior and are eager to delve deeper into the Scriptures. Wherever the refugees end up settling, those who choose to follow Christ carry a new sense of hope and peace with them.
Two men, both Muslim, recently prayed to accept Christ and were baptized. One has already left Greece, headed to a destination in a Scandinavian country. The other man also plans to relocate to northern Europe.
What the ministry sees most often, however, are women with children. Some are pregnant or clasping infants in their arms. Usually they travel with extended family, and there may be a half dozen or more youngsters in the group.

Voula helps prepare hot meals for guests.

Because they are immigrants, refugees live in fear of harassment by neo-Nazi gangs but they also do not trust the police. Some are afraid to venture outside their homes.
In those cases workers with Elias’ ministry go to them, delivering a bag of groceries or personally accompanying them to social service agencies.
“It is very important to be respectful in the way we offer assistance to them. They have lost everything, but they do hang onto their dignity,” explained Elias. “Despite the fact that there are some public agencies or NGO’s that offer services, the Syrians have no use for them or stay isolated because of a lack of knowledge or fear. So as soon as they have a phone number of a person they trust, they think this number will have the answer to everything.”
The ministry is seeking support to meet a variety of practical needs for Syrian refugees in Greece. In addition to providing food staples, shelter, and medical treatment, gospel workers arrange transportation for doctor visits and legal and business matters. There are plans to host fellowship meals once or twice a month. They also would like to purchase more Bibles and discipleship materials for refugee families.
Missionary support is needed as well, as Elias is considering taking on some electrician work in order to provide for his family. He also asks for prayer for more interpreters, particularly women, who can speak Arabic.
Truly the Grecian fields are ripe for spiritual harvest, and souls are hanging in the balance.
“As the war in Syria keeps going, and even if it stops today, we know that still thousands of Syrians will leave their country and move to Europe,” Elias said. “We want to reach as many of them as we can, helping them through the trauma, providing practical ways to restoration, making their transition from the war to their new lives as safe as it can be, and offering ourselves as bridges to faith, church, and agencies that can satisfy part of their needs. Our vision is to leave them with such a mark of love, relationship, and help that they will trust their lives to Jesus forever.”
Needs for the ministry include:

• New Testaments and tracts ($5 for each NT)
• Food distributions to 25 families ($200/week) and preparation of 30 cooked meals ($120/week). Also, the ministry holds a monthly fellowship meal ($550) that is attended by about 150 people.
• Legal expenses for refugees ($200/week)
• Medical costs for refugees: doctor visits ($70); baby delivery ($1,700)
• Travel expenses for ministry workers to meet refugees at the Greek borders ($1,000/month)

Use the form below to contribute online to assist indigenous missionaries working in Greece. Or call 434-977-5650 to contribute by phone. If you prefer to mail your gift, please mail to Christian Aid, P.O. Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906. Please use Gift Code: 342BRDG . Thank you!

DOA HANA: DOA SEORANG PEREMPUAN MANDUL

DOA HANA: DOA SEORANG PEREMPUAN MANDUL

"Tuhan semesta alam, jika sungguh-sungguh Engkau memperhatikan sengsara hamba-Mu ini dan mengingat kepadaku dan tidak melupakan hamba-Mu ini, tetapi memberikan kepada hamba-Mu ini seorang anak laki-laki, maka aku akan memberikan dia kepada Tuhan untuk seumur hidupnya dan pisau cukur tidak akan menyentuh kepalanya." (1 Samuel 1:11)

Alkitab tidak memberi tahu kita apakah kata-kata itu diulang-ulang atau tidak sehingga hal itu membangkitkan perhatian Imam Eli. Tetapi, karena doa itu terus-menerus disampaikan kepada Tuhan, akhirnya Eli gelisah dan menegur Hana dengan menanyakan mengapa ia komat-kamit di dekat tiang bait kudus itu. Imam Eli duduk tidak jauh dari tiang, dan terus memperhatikan perempuan itu. "Mabuk anggur?" tanyanya. "Tidak, Tuanku. Hatiku susah sekali. Aku tidak pernah minum anggur yang memabukkan. Aku sedang mengutarakan keluh kesah dan permohonanku kepada Tuhan. Aku juga bukan perempuan jahat."

Latar Belakang

Kita tinggalkan dahulu dialog antara Hana dengan Imam Eli. Mari kita mencoba menoleh ke belakang, menyiasati secara sepintas masalah apa yang sesungguhnya dihadapi oleh perempuan ini.

Suaminya bernama Elkana. Pria ini memiliki dua istri, yang pertama bernama Hana dan yang kedua bernama Penina. Kita katakan Hana sebagai istri pertama karena dialah yang pertama disebut dalam 1 Samuel 1:2. Menurut kebiasaan memang demikian. Sayangnya, Hana tidak memiliki keturunan, sedangkan madunya memiliki putra dan putri. Tradisi di kalangan Yahudi menganggap bahwa perempuan yang tidak memiliki anak atau mandul adalah sebuah aib yang menyedihkan. Barangkali, itulah yang membuat hati Hana sedih sekalipun suaminya tetap mengasihinya dan senantiasa mengikutkannya dalam kunjungan ke kota lain, untuk mengadakan korban persembahan kepada Tuhan. Ketiadaan anak ini pun sudah menyakitkan hati Hana dan ia tidak tahu apa yang harus dilakukannya. Ditambah lagi sikap Penina, madunya yang pahit itu, selalu menghina dan menyakiti hatinya.

Bolehlah kita membayangkan bagaimana Hana melihat anak-anak Penina bermain-main di halaman dan di rumah, sementara Hana hanya menyaksikan tanpa daya karena tidak ada anak tempat menumpahkan kasih sayangnya. Pada saat yang sama, Penina akan mencibir dan mengejeknya sebagai perempuan sial di tengah-tengah keluarga.

Hari demi hari dilalui Hana dengan hati sedih, pilu, kesepian, dan hinaan yang tidak tertahankan. Suaminya, Elkana, sering melakukan ibadah dan jarang ada di rumah sehingga tidak dapat menyelami perasaan hati Hana. Setiap tahun, mereka berangkat dari Rama menuju rumah Allah di Silo. Persembahan dan pemberian dari Elkana kepada kedua istrinya mungkin sama, tetapi karena Penina mempunyai beberapa anak, pembagian lebih banyak diberikan kepadanya. Mata Penina mengerling dan mulutnya mengejek Hana yang menerima hanya satu bagian saja. Ini memperdalam luka dalam hati perempuan itu. Ia mengadu kepada Elkana. Elkana membujuknya dan mengatakan kepadanya supaya tidak usah gelisah mengenai anak.

Gusar dari Tahun ke Tahun

Ada pepatah yang berkata, "Dua orang perempuan di bawah satu atap tidak akan pernah rukun." Pepatah ini juga berlaku dalam keluarga Elkana. Penina selalu mencari kesempatan dan mengeluarkan kata-kata yang menyakitkan perasaan Hana. Hana sendiri merasa tidak mampu lagi menanggung penghinaan itu. Apa daya seorang perempuan yang rahimnya mandul? Tidak ada seorang pun yang akan dapat menghibur dan menaruh simpati kepadanya. Pedih benar perasaannya.

Suatu hari, Hana menangis dan menangis. Hanya itu yang dapat dilakukannya. Ia menangisi nasib dan kandungannya yang kosong dari tahun ke tahun. Bahkan, ada kalanya seharian ia tidak mau makan. Suaminya menghibur dan membujuknya, tetapi tidak berhasil sama sekali.

Di Rumah Tuhan di Silo

Derita yang dirasakan Hana adalah derita yang merasuk sampai ke tulang sumsumnya. Ia merasakan kepedihan penghinaan dari ubun-ubun sampai ke ujung-ujung kakinya. Buktinya, dalam kunjungan ibadah tahunan ke Silo, Hana menangis lagi dan tidak mau makan. Suaminya menjadi kebingungan. Bagaimana ia bisa berjalan pulang ke rumah kalau tubuhnya lemah karena tidak mau makan? Bukankah hal itu justru akan menambah derita dirinya sendiri dan menggembirakan saingannya, Penina?

Akhirnya, Hana sendiri menyadari situasinya. Ia tidak dapat terus larut dalam duka yang tidak berakhir. Ia mengambil sebuah tekad yang tidak pernah dipikirkannya selama ini. Dalam duka dan sesenggukan tangis, ia mencoba tegak lagi, membasuh wajahnya, memakan makanan untuk menguatkan tubuhnya, dan berjalan ke rumah Tuhan. Ia menangis tersedu-sedu. Kadang-kadang, ia diam dan mulutnya komat-kamit karena ia berdoa dalam hati. Tidak ada jalan lain, selain berdoa kepada Tuhan. Tidak! Tekadnya sudah bulat. Biarlah! Pikirnya. Aku mengadukan segala keluhan dan derita batinku kepada Tuhan. Hanya Tuhan yang dapat merasakan suara batinku dan mendengar doaku betapa pun jauhnya Ia di surga sana. Ia senantiasa dekat kepada orang yang berseru kepadanya. Dalam doa sendirian, dengan tangis yang muncul dari lubuk hati yang paling dalam, ia menghadap hadirat Tuhan.

Tidak ada yang mendengar doa dalam hatinya. Tidak ada orang yang mengerti perasaannya yang paling dalam. Tidak juga suaminya, apalagi madunya yang pahit itu. Dalam tangis, dalam doa, dalam suasana komat-kamit itu, ia mengeluarkan segala unek-unek hatinya. Tidak jauh dari tempatnya berdoa dan menangis, duduklah Imam Eli yang sudah tua di kursinya.

Narasi dalam Doa

Doa Hana sebenarnya singkat. Tetapi, isi doanya sangat padat dengan masalah dan keluh kesah. Dalam doanya, ia bertutur sebagai berikut:

"Tuhan semesta alam."

Hal ini perlu kita perhatikan dengan saksama. Doa Hana adalah pengakuan bahwa Tuhan berkuasa atas alam semesta ini. Dialah yang menjadikan langit dan bumi serta planet-planet lain dan benda-benda alam yang terdapat di angkasa. Tidak ada yang mustahil bagi-Nya. Lalu, Hana "menuntut" kepada Tuhan yang selalu disembah dalam kunjungan kebaktian yang dilakukannya setiap tahun. Allah memberi mandat kepadanya bahwa ia dapat mengajukan permintaan dengan sungguh-sungguh kepada Tuhan.

Doanya dilanjutkan sebagai berikut:

"Jika sungguh-sungguh Engkau memperhatikan sengsara hamba-Mu ini dan mengingat kepadaku dan tidak melupakan hamba-Mu ini ...."

Hana meminta perhatian dari Tuhan, yang diakuinya benar-benar ada dan berharap kepada-Nya dengan sepenuh hati, pastilah Tuhan mengetahui keadaan rahimnya. Ia mengadu kepada Tuhan agar Tuhan menghilangkan aib ini dari catatan hidupnya. Hana memiliki keyakinan yang pasti bahwa "sengsaranya" akan diperhatikan Tuhan dan ia tidak akan dilupakan dalam lembah kesengsaraan dan penghinaan. Suara hatinya yang terdalam dicurahkan dengan sungguh-sungguh, ia meminta rahimnya diperhatikan oleh Tuhan. Tuhan mampu mengadakan sesuatu yang mustahil menurut pemikiran manusia. Oleh karena itu, dengan sangat tulus, ia melanjutkan permohonannya dengan permintaan yang lebih spesifik:

"... tetapi memberikan kepada hamba-Mu ini seorang anak laki-laki ...."

Doa memang harus spesifik, tidak mengambang dan muluk-muluk. Sampaikan doa Anda dengan terus terang, apa keperluan Anda, maka Tuhan akan memberikan sesuai dengan keperluanmu. Hana tidak menyampaikan doa yang panjang, indah, dan enak didengar di telinga. Ia memerlukan seorang anak untuk mengukir kehidupannya yang berharga di dunia ini. Ia tidak mau dipermalukan karena Tuhannya pastilah menjawab doanya. Itulah pengharapan Hana. Ia menuntut, ia meminta seorang putra, untuk melengkapi kehadirannya di tengah-tengah keluarganya, di tengah-tengah masyarakat sekitarnya yang senantiasa memandangnya dengan sebelah mata, dengan mulut yang mencibir.

Doa ini tidak berhenti pada permintaan untuk menghilangkan aibnya secara pribadi, tidak. Hana tampaknya tidak hanya mementingkan dirinya sendiri. Ia juga kagum kepada anak-anak yang bekerja di bait kudus, mereka yang dengan sukarela mengabdikan hidupnya kepada Tuhan. Bukan hanya kepentingan dirinya saja yang didahulukan. Ia meminta dan menuntut, untuk menyerahkannya kembali kepada Tuhan dan mengabdikannya kepada-Nya seumur hidup anak yang dijanjikan itu.

"... maka aku akan memberikan dia kepada Tuhan untuk seumur hidupnya ...."

Sebuah janji yang luar biasa. Pokoknya, ia diberi anak, cukuplah sudah. Dan, anak itu akan dipeliharanya dan kalau sudah disapih, anak itu akan diserahkan ke bait suci untuk menjadi penolong di bait kudus itu. Bukan untuk bilangan tahun, melainkan untuk seumur hidupnya. Tekad seorang perempuan yang merindukan anak.

"... dan pisau cukur tidak akan menyentuh kepalanya."

Ini tidak lazim. Seorang ibu yang mengharapkan anak dari rahim yang mandul, akan memperoleh anak atas kehendak Tuhan (dan itu sangat diyakininya), dengan sebuah nazar yang harus dipenuhi, juga disampaikan oleh Hana. Sebuah tanda diberikannya bahwa anak itu tidak akan dipangkas rambutnya. Bagi orang Israel, rambut adalah lambang kehormatan.

Doa yang Hampir Dijawab

Dialog antara Hana dan Imam Eli pada awal tulisan ini kita lanjutkan.

"Aku mencurahkan isi hatiku di hadapan Tuhan ... sebab karena besarnya cemas dan sakit hati aku berbicara demikian lama," jawab Hana kepada Imam Eli ketika Eli merasa heran karena Hana berkomat-kamit.

Lalu, Eli menjawab, "Pergilah dengan selamat, dan Allah Israel akan memberikan kepadamu apa yang engkau minta dari pada-Nya."

Sebuah jawaban yang serta merta. Hati Hana merasa lega.

"Biarlah hambamu ini mendapat belas kasihan dari padamu," jawabnya.

Siapa yang tidak merasa gembira bahwa doanya akan dijawab? Sang imam telah memberikan ketegasan kepadanya bahwa Allah orang Israel akan menjawab doanya. Hana tidak mendengarkan suara Tuhan dari surga sebagai jawaban doanya. Tetapi, Tuhan berbicara kepadanya melalui Imam Eli yang sudah tua itu. Imam itu juga berdoa kepada Tuhan agar permohonannya dikabulkan, dan memberikan jawaban yang pasti bahwa permohonan perempuan yang tulus itu akan digenapi dalam tahun itu juga.

Doa Menjadi Kenyataan

Hana yang pulang ke rumah tidak lagi bermuka murung. Ia makan dengan senang hati. Ia tidak peduli lagi dengan hinaan dan cemoohan Penina, sang madu yang pahit, dan tidak menunjukkan kerisauan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Setahun kemudian, ia melahirkan seorang putra yang diberi nama Samuel. Setelah disapih, anak itu kemudian dibawa ke Silo, ke rumah Tuhan untuk diserahkan kepada Imam Eli. Hana memberi tahu Eli bahwa anak yang dibawanya itu adalah anak yang dimintanya setahun yang lalu ketika ia berdoa di dekat tiang, dan disangka seorang perempuan yang sedang mabuk atau perempuan dursila.

Ada kebanggaan dalam diri perempuan itu. Doanya telah dijawab oleh Tuhan. Ia hendak menyerahkan anak yang dikasihinya, anak perjanjian itu kepada Tuhan yang mengaruniakannya. Hana menghendaki anak itu akan berbakti kepada Tuhan dan melakukan yang terbaik kepada-Nya, sebagaimana ia telah memberikan anak yang paling berharga kepada Tuhannya.

Segenap jiwa dan hatinya bersama anak itu di bait kudus. Setahun sekali, Hana dapat menemuinya dan menyaksikan perkembangannya di rumah Tuhan. Ia merasa gembira karena anak itu bertumbuh dalam kerohanian di bait kudus, tidak merengek-rengek untuk pulang ke rumah ayah bundanya.

Sebuah kalimat penyerahan anak masih mendengung sampai kini:

"Untuk mendapat anak inilah aku berdoa, dan Tuhan telah memberikan kepadaku, apa yang kuminta dari pada-Nya" (ayat 27). (t/Wina)

Diambil dan disunting dari:
Judul buletin: Sahabat Gembala, Edisi Mei 2005
Penulis: Tidak dicantumkan
Penerbit: Yayasan Kalam Hidup, Bandung 2005
Halaman: 37 -- 43