Borneo is often called the Amazon of Indonesia. Fr. Leon, CSsR, who serves in this vast and remote region, shares a story from his recent mission experience. This Time, the Journey was different.
Usually, the journey to the mission station in Hulu Batang Kawa goes smoothly by land. The dirt roads that wind up and down the hills are quite familiar, and even after heavy rain, motorcycles can still pass—as long as there is no major flood. But this time was different. The road was completely submerged, the current was strong, and even the bridge had disappeared under the rising water. Yet, as always in mission life, there is always another way—as long as the heart does not give up.
This time, I was not alone. I was with Frater Herman, a seminarian currently on his Pastoral Orientation Year at St. Joseph Parish in Kudangan, Diocese of Palangka Raya, Central Borneo. Our destination was the mission station of Karang Mas, where we were scheduled to celebrate the 40th-day memorial Mass for the late Mr. Musliadi.
On Wednesday morning, September 11, 2025, we set out with enthusiasm. The motorcycle we used—a small Supra X—had been borrowed from a parishioner the night before. It was lighter and easier to handle than our old parish motorbike, which had seen better days. The heavy rain overnight had made the dirt roads slippery, but we decided to go ahead anyway.
About an hour into the trip from Kudangan, after passing through Liku Village, the road ahead suddenly vanished beneath the floodwaters. A two-meter-deep flood covered the entire section of the road, and even the bridge could no longer be seen. We stopped. The area was silent. No vehicles in sight. The road was completely impassable.
I turned to Frater Herman and said, “Let’s go back to where there’s a signal so we can contact the people in Karang Mas.”
We rode back about 30 minutes to Spoyu Village, where we could finally get a signal. From there, I called Mr. Dihin, the local lay leader in Karang Mas. After hearing about our situation, he calmly offered a solution:
“Well then, Father, we’ll come pick you up by klotok.”
And so, it happened. We waited in Liku Village. About 30 minutes later, Mr. Dihin arrived in his small wooden boat—the klotok. We left our motorcycle at the home of Mrs. Denny, a local Catholic religion teacher, and then boarded the boat to continue our journey along the swollen Batang Kawa River.
What is usually a peaceful trip turned into quite an adventure. The current was strong, large logs floated downstream, and several times our small boat hit pieces of wood carried by the flood. I occasionally turned around to look at Mr. Dihin, who remained calm at the helm. Seeing my worried face, he smiled and simply said, “It’s all right, Father.”
Those few words felt like a prayer in the midst of the surging waters.
For an hour and a half, we travelled down the river, surrounded by towering trees and the roar of the rushing water. Finally, after battling the current, we reached Karang Mas safely. After a brief rest at Mr. Dihin’s home, we celebrated the memorial Mass with the community.
After Mass, the people prepared a simple meal. The atmosphere was full of joy. I introduced Frater Herman to the community, and their faces lit up with excitement. In mission areas like this, the priest’s visit is not only about liturgy—it is a living sign of God’s love and presence that strengthens the faith of the people. Sometimes the community can only be visited once a month—or even every two or three months—but they always welcome us with open hearts.
This time, the journey was indeed different—the road was closed, the current was strong, and reaching the destination took real effort. Yet this experience reminded us once again: in the mission, obstacles are not barriers—they are opportunities to discover new ways of proclaiming God’s love.
Fr. Leon Peuma, CSsR. and Fr. Willy Ng Pala, CSsR.
