by Margaret Rodgers

Sulawesi is a picturesque Indonesian island, with an extensive Christian population especially in the north. I visited there in 2000 to attend the five-yearly gathering of the Christian Conference of Asia. The plane landed in Manado, and I was taken from there to Tomohon in the Minahasa Highlands.

We met at the local theological college. Our Christian Indonesian hosts were warm and friendly people, greatly encouraged by the fellowship with so many Asian Christians.

They live in difficult circumstances at times, especially further to the south, where there are fragile political and societal relationships. It was in Poso, also on Sulawesi, that Islamist terrorists, who have admitted the crime, beheaded three Christian schoolgirls last October.

I have some enduring memories of being in Tomohon. From my bedroom window I gazed at a nearby hill that had smoke billowing from it daily. I was told it was the local volcano that was unlikely to erupt soon, but if it did, locals wouldn't mind because the flow added to the rich fertility of the dark soil. If it had erupted it would have hit my bedroom first.

Another memory is of going south on a long Sunday morning drive to preach at a crowded local church. A festive meal was offered afterwards, and to my shame, I didn't try the special dish they offered " roast bat. It was probably delicious because the whole area was surrounded by groves of clove trees that had a pervading sweetish perfume, and the bats fed on them. Perhaps next time"

I attend St Stephen's, Newtown, where our congregations enjoy the ministry of Peter Rodgers, a skilful and powerful preacher. (Parish nominators " keep away!) Peter and his wife Marcelle, with their children, Alanna, Simon and Harrison, lived for ten years in Indonesia as CMS missionaries. Peter lectured at the Eastern Indonesian Theological College in Makassar.

As she does in Newtown, Marcelle Rodgers had a keen interest in ministry to women. She prayed about her wish to find evangelistic opportunities with Muslim women living in remote Sulawesi villages. Previous missionaries had taught craft skills to village women and Marcelle looked for ways she too could teach a skill to other women. She decided to help them make greeting cards for sale using simple cross-stitch patterns, local fabrics and hand-made paper. Her aims were to help local women generate income for themselves and their families, and also to build relationships.

Eventually she started the work with a group in Makassar, but this didn't achieve her aims because the women were scattered across the city and it was impossible to develop relationships. Marcelle realised she needed to concentrate on women living in closer, village communities.

She linked her project with a church-planting group, moving it out of the city and into selected villages. Christian women were taught the necessary skills and encouraged to share them with their neighbours. Marcelle talked to them about developing relationships and showing love and concern to other women.

Today there are still women, both Christian and Muslim, working in a number of villages. The cards they produce are very high quality, deliberately designed to appeal to a Western market. Though the Rodgers family left Indonesia in 2001 the card project is still flourishing with Marcelle a committed Australian sales representative. Newtown parish sells them at the Newtown Festival where they find great interest from locals. A Sydney radio station bought thousands for staff to send as Christmas cards.

This is an inspired project. It brings women from different social and religious backgrounds together in friendship; it empowers them by giving them the dignity of work and an income for themselves; it allows opportunities for sensitive, neighbourly Christian witness, if not of word, then of relationship and care.

It can be viewed as an example of sustainable development. Marcelle has left, but the women continue to empower themselves through their work.

Anyone wishing to buy or sell the cards to assist the women cardmakers should contact Marcelle Rodgers on 9557 2043.