From Indonesia and Botswana to Wuppertal’s Holy Mountain

Chantika Della Kurnia from Indonesia and Wapula Malope from Botswana have been working at the United Evangelical Mission (UEM) mission house in Wuppertal for several weeks. For 12 months, the two volunteers will be supporting various areas of UEM’s work. While Chantika Kurnia is working in the International Diaconia Department and at the UEM Archive and Museum Foundation (AMS), Wapula Malope is part of the House and Ground team.

A Warm Welcome to a New Environment

For both, the first few weeks in Wuppertal were marked by a mix of anticipation and nervousness. A new country, a different language, and unfamiliar work processes—all of this meant a major adjustment at first. This made the warm welcome they received at the Mission House even more impressive. “Everyone greets each other here and takes time for one another,” Chantika Kurnia says. She uses her conversations with her colleagues to improve her German. The daily devotions remind the daughter of two pastors of her homeland and give her a sense of familiarity.

Surprises in Everyday Life in Germany

Although both have settled in well by now, they continue to encounter cultural differences time and again. Wapula Malope is amazed by the punctuality of public transportation and by how seriously people in Germany take recycling and waste separation. “I was surprised by how important environmental protection is in everyday life. That was a valuable learning experience for me,” she says.

Chantika Kurnia was amazed that people in Germany are constantly out and about on foot—and walk surprisingly fast. Both also had to get used to German business hours: The fact that stores close early and aren’t open at all on Sundays requires a certain amount of planning.

Chantika Kurnia has also noticed that work-life balance is highly valued in Germany. “Here, no one calls you on the weekend or while you’re on vacation and demands that you work during your free time,” she says. She was also surprised by the situation in church congregations: While church services in Indonesia are always very well attended and many young people participate, in Germany she often sees only a few attendees, most of whom are older.

A shared challenge remains daily life on the Holy Mountain, where the two are housed together with other volunteers. After work or an excursion, they often have to tackle a steep uphill path—especially when the last bus has already left. 

Learning on the Job

Both are already taking on a wide range of tasks in their respective work areas. Chantika Kurnia is currently focused primarily on supporting the UEM archive. She scans historical documents, sorts through visual materials, and helps make information accessible for future research. At the same time, she is learning about the work of the International Diaconia through meetings and smaller tasks.

Wapula Malope works at House and Ground. When the weather is nice, she tends to green spaces, waters plants, or trims hedges. On rainy days, she often performs repair and maintenance work inside the building. She acquired many of the practical skills she needs for this work during her vocational training.

For both, the experience of working in a different work culture is particularly valuable. Chantika Kurnia first had to learn that asking questions is explicitly encouraged in Germany. In her home country, this is often perceived differently. Today, she greatly appreciates open communication within her team.

Community Despite Language Barriers

Wapula Malope had a particularly wonderful experience with her team. Her coworkers surprised her with a cake to celebrate their great teamwork. “They’re very supportive,” she says. Although not everyone speaks the same language, communication works surprisingly well. Sometimes an online translator helps; other times, a few words and gestures are enough.

Plenty of Plans for the Coming Months

The two volunteers still have a few wishes for the time they have left. Wapula Malope is eager to experience snow at least once. Both are looking forward to discovering more places in Germany and Europe. Paris and the Netherlands are at the top of their wish list.

One thing is already clear to both of them: Volunteering with UEM means much more than just working in a new setting for a year. It offers the opportunity to get to know new cultures, make international friends, and look beyond their own horizons.

We wish them both continued success and God’s blessing for their volunteer service at the UEM Mission House.