01 April 2009 - 14:30   (Diposting oleh: Rumah Dunia)
THE FOOTSTEPS OF DUTCH CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES IN LEBAK
By Ibnu Adam Aviciena

It was the day for Dr. Mufti Ali and his friend to discover the footsteps of Dutch Christian missionaries in Lebak, Banten. Mufti Ali is a PhD graduate from Leiden University, the Netherlands, and the co-ordinator of Laboratorium Bantenologi, a research centre for Bantenese Studies at the Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN) Banten. Based on the information in the book of Van den End, De Nederlandse Zendingsveriniging in West Java 1858-1963 and missionary archives at a missionary organisation in Utrecht, he is eager to know the footsteps of Dutch Christian missionaries in Lebak, Banten.

And what they would do on that day is to photograph the footsteps and the memory of Lebak people for the Dutch Christian missionary activities in their region in the past, if it was possible. Furthermore, which is meant with Lebak in this feature is not Kabupaten Lebak in the present days. It refers to Lebak district in the colonial period. It is located in Leuwidamar nowadays. Because of the help of a 72 year old man, they found what they wanted to: two tombs of the Dutch Christian missionaries and a plain land on which a church existed.

From the Netherlands to Lebak
This research was started in the Netherlands seven months ago. After finishing his dissertation, Mufti Ali began working on the research. He asked his friends to collect sources on this subject. One of his friends succeeded in finding a very important book. It was the book of Van den End: De Nederlandse Zendingsveriniging in West Java 1858-1963. Afterwards, Mufti Ali obtained the phone number and e-mail address of the author. Furthermore, Van den End assisted him in informing the archives of missionaries at a missionary organisation in Utrecht in which Van den End is in charge.

By bringing the archives from the Netherlands, the mission to seek the footsteps and remains of the missionaries in Lebak was developed. From Pandeglang Mufti Ali and his friend left for Rangkasbitung, Lebak. The journey was continued from Aweh Terminal to Leuwidamar. In the minibus going to the destination he talked with the passengers. He explained his aim to go to Leuwidamar.

Two people responded. One said that he knew the place and mentioned a jungle which is called by people as Leuweung Gareja or the jungle of church. He also said that there were tombs of Dutch people in the jungle even though he never saw the tombs. Mufti Ali was sure that they were the tombs of the Dutch Christian missionaries he looked for. After getting off in Leuwidamar, he said he would look for his friend to help the mission. On the way they met a man riding a motorcycle. He was the owner of Leuweng Gareja. That man said that his land was now managed by a Baduy man. Therefore, he recommended Mufti Ali and his friend to come to the house of Indra bin Regang (72). He was, he explained, the man who looked after tombs in the region.

Afterwards, Indra bin Rageng and two motorcycle drivers accompanied them to see the tombs in the jungle. The jungle is on the top of a hill. Dutch missionary archives also refer to this hill as a heuvel which has the same meaning. Indra bin Rageng, the oldest man there, as most of people, does not know much about the history of his region. He said he was eight years old when Japan invaded Indonesia. He himself never sees the church. That is why he does not know why the jungle is called the jungle of church.

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