MardianaHer name is Mardiana. Though short and simple, it is a name which could also pass as a surname also in documents, as often occurs in Indonesia. She is currently national Vice-President of an important multinational assurance company. The Indopost journalist, Heryanto, singled her out recently as one of the most successful women of Jakarta, in one of his interview columns. Her most interesting story centres around a key strength which is a deep spirituality, lived with simplicity and conviction ever since she encountered the Focolare Moviment as a young girl.

She achieved her Degree in Economics in 1997 at Medan University (isle of Sumatra), and the following year married Mulianta, also a follower of the spirituality of unity. They wanted to form a family with deep Christian roots, and later had two wonderful children. At a certain point the assurance company Mardiana was working for closed down, but then a new opportunity came up to join Reliance Insurance, another assurance company with branches throughout the world. Often Mardiana had to go to the capital, Jakarta (isle of Java), to attend business meetings. It was a great sacrifice for her, since she wanted so much to stay with her kids. But Mulianta gave her encouragement and support, and helped in taking care of them. Following a promotion, Mulianta was offered a key position in Jakarta, which he refused to be able to remain with his wife and children, and with his outstanding entrepreneurial spirit opened his own business in Medan. Six years passed during which Mardiana’s agency reaped a good turnover resulting also in the well-being of its employees. This was when Mardiana was asked to relocate to Jakarta to assume the position of Vice-President of Reliance Insurance Indonesia.

Mulianta and Mardiana reflected on the option to refuse the offer. After all, things were also going ahead in Medan. “But – they said – we must not only think of ourselves. We have to ask ourselves what mission God wants to entrust us with.”

And it was precisely Mulianta who pushed Mardiana to accept, despite the fact that he had to leave his business in Medan and find a new job in Jakarta. In the first six months Mardiana continued to go on business trips in order to turn over the work to the new manager and ensure that the Medan market would not suffer any drawbacks due to the change in management.

“I am really grateful to God for giving me such an incredible husband!,” Mardiana confided to the Indopost journalist – If he hadn’t encouraged me, I wouldn’t have made it,” and continued, “We have faced everything together– above all the commitment to put evangelical love into practice, which leads us to see each person as a brother to be loved. And so, we do not discriminate anyone, whatever religion they belong to, or position they cover; we are all equal. Whatever is the colour of their skin, ethnic group or religion, they are all brothers for us.” She then recounted a personal experience to the journalist. “Our domestic helper who has been with us for some time now, is Muslim. Besides being honest and hardworking, she is intelligent. So I made a proposal – which she gladly accepted – to send her to university. Many around us said: when she reaches a good position, she will leave and forget you. But love, to our mind, means giving others opportunities and thinking of their future. She will always be part of our family, and we must not think that a household helper has to remain forever as such. The same goes for our driver who has to have a better future.”

The journalist, a Muslim, made a very meaningful remark in one of the two articles published on the Indopost: “For Mardiana, being branch manager of Reliance was part of God’s design, even though it is a stressful role with problems of all sorts. But she manages to handle them serenely because her life is founded on love that she learned from the spirituality of the Focolare Movement and of which she and her husband are part. Of course, though she places all her trust in God, it does not mean that she just looks on, but rather, carries out her job with great commitment, as she has always done since she was a working college student.”

4 Comments

  • Great…let’s not forget our source of this Ideal to live always and keep in touch. Since family Is only built One times. Pernandus_Focolare Yogyakarta

  • This is the fruit of the Ideal of Focolare in Indonesia! We would like to say a special thank you to who love and teach us in any situation and condition: Silvio Daneo, Alejandro Poirer (ako), Tarcisio Centis, Heydi, Vanna, Jorge Nikolas, Meg Poiani, Nar, Caloy and all popi and pope.

  • Bagus sekali pengalaman Mardiana. Memberi inspirasi yang mendalam untuk menghargai dan menerima orang lain sama sebagai saudara. Terimakasih kepada Suaminya yang senantiasa mendukung yang terbaik kepada istri. Saya belajar banyak dari pengalaman hidup Mardiana. Terimakasih kepada Focolare..

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