Partnership Visit of the Kaiserswerth Sisterhood

Indonesian Deaconesses visit German Motherhouses

In April 2026, the Kaiserswerther Schwesternschaft welcomed a group of Indonesian deaconesses from IKADIWA in Balige, North Sumatra. IKADIWA stands for the Indonesian Women’s Fellowship for Diakonia. It belongs to the Protestant Batak Church (HKBP). The delegation included six deaconesses and one HKBP pastor.

The IKADIWA delegation in Kaiserswerth, pictured here with Rev. Sr. Dr Katrin Stückrath, Rev. Rahman Sirait and Sister Tiurmina Tinambunan

On 19 April, the visitors joined the special church service for the sisters’ jubilee and the blessing of the probationary sisters. Their beautiful singing, warm hospitality and joyful spirit made a great impression and were one of the highlights of the celebration.

During the following week, the delegation learned about the German system of diaconal work and how it is connected with the public welfare system. They visited the hospital, the nursing school, the hospice, a care home for older people and a nursery, run by Kaiserswerther Diakonie. The managers of these services answered many questions.

The visitors were especially interested in the nursing school and the care home because Indonesian nurses are now being recruited to work in Germany. Young nurses from Balige will first complete an adaptation course at the Kaiserswerth nursing school before starting their work, mainly in elderly care. A group of deaconesses and other volunteers already support them through regular phone calls to help them learn German. The language is one of the biggest challenges. Without the required German language certificate, the much-needed nurses cannot receive a visa for Germany.

After the busy week in Kaiserswerth, the delegation travelled to Sarepta Motherhouse in Bethel near Bielefeld. Many of the Indonesian sisters have close personal connections there with retired missionary sisters from the United Evangelical Mission (UEM).

The Indonesian sisters have brought a present for the oldest of those celebrating their anniversaries.

After a short stop in Kaiserswerth, they continued to the welcoming Motherhouse in Eisenach, Thuringia. From there, they explored the roots of the German Reformation. Following the footsteps of Martin Luther (1483–1546), they visited Wartburg Castle, the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Luther House and several late medieval churches.

In Eisenach: The delegation visits St Elisabeth’s Church

The journey ended with a few days of retreat at the Grandchamp Community in Switzerland. For some sisters, it was a happy reunion, while for others it was a chance to rest, reflect and renew their spiritual life.

This long and full programme strengthened the friendship and the spiritual partnership between the Kaiserswerth Sisterhood and IKADIWA. The visit helped to deepen the relationship and encouraged both communities to continue walking together in faith and service.