Self-Denial 2025: Flora's story

In the third of five weekly videos, we meet Cadet Flora Ayu Lestari Hutagaol.

This year’s Self-Denial Appeal runs from 2 February to 2 March with a focus on the Army’s life-changing work in the Indonesia Territory.

‘My name is Cadet Flora Ayu Lestari Hutagaol,’ says Cadet Flora. ‘I am here as a year one cadet, with the session name Keepers of the Covenant.’

Flora is training to be an officer in The Salvation Army. The training college is in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital. Every year each new session is given a name. Flora’s session is Keepers of the Covenant and they share their name with every Salvation Army cadet who started training this year, wherever they are in the world. Training lasts for two years. If she is successful, she will be commissioned as an officer and given the rank of lieutenant.

‘I would say life in the training college is very unique,’ explains Flora, ‘and I would say I feel at home here. We are encouraged to learn everything we can. Starting from small things, we are taught everything here, that’s how we are learning.’

The number of people starting Salvation Army training here is growing. When Flora graduates there’ll be more Salvation Army officers in Indonesia than ever before.

‘All our daily activities are scheduled. From the time we wake up until we go to sleep, everything is arranged in an orderly way,’ Flora shared.

But at the end of the day, there’s always a little bit of time to let off steam.

‘Actually,’ says Flora, ‘I like doing all the tasks. But the thing I like the most is the togetherness I have with friends.’

Moving here to Jakarta has been a big change for Flora. Her home in the north of Sumatra is nearly 2,000 kilometres away.

Flora continues: ‘In my daily life before becoming a cadet, I worked on handicrafts like ulos. This is a handicraft product from Pematangsiantar, especially from the Toba region.’

It was the officers in her hometown that inspired her to think about officership.

‘I saw how they embraced their congregation, those who were less fortunate. They had a heart for social action. I felt moved, it gave me the courage to serve. I felt called to serve more people like that. I decided to take the next step in becoming a candidate in The Salvation Army. This is my calling.

‘I have answered God’s call to become a servant of God. My hope is that in the future I can be a blessing to others. That I can help many people.

‘That’s my hope in the future. I hope my life can be useful to many people.’

Pray for...

• Cadets training internationally to become officers
• Leaders in your area
• People who are yet to respond to God’s call to follow his plan for their lives