Adi caring for Mèimei. Photo: Febie Gonzales
When I asked her why she had chosen to come to Taiwan, Adi, an Indonesian caregiver, replied, “To earn money for my family, to provide for their needs and well-being, to send my children to school and to have a decent life back in my home country.”
But what Adi does is even more.
I’ve known and worked with Adi at the Ai Jia Development Center since 2018. With her family, including three children, living in Indonesia, she has been in Taiwan for a full ten years without any home or local leave, missing all the significant family events back home. After her first three years in Taiwan, she changed employers. Then, just as her second contract was expiring, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. I witnessed her intense eagerness to go home. However, financial concerns and the health risks of travelling at that time convinced her to stay put.
Adi looks after Mèimei, a student with physical and mental challenges who attends the Ai Jia Development Center. Mèimei’s physical movements are limited. She is confined to a wheelchair and struggles to speak. Adi’s work is much like caring for a baby; she even sleeps in the same room as Mèimei. Moreover, her responsibilities include household chores such as cleaning, shopping and cooking. Fortunately, she gets to leave her employer’s house each day when she takes Mèimei to school.
Adi’s employer trusts and values her greatly, providing her with the salary she deserves and extra pay for her days off. Not that Adi can take many days off, because no one is available to care for Mèimei, who is entirely reliant on her and constantly longs for Adi’s nurturing affection. I have noticed how Adi displays genuine, tender love and care for Mèimei. She loves Mèimei as if she were her own child. I have seen how patient and gentle she is in supporting one of our students - an invaluable and heroic service.
Adi is a cheerful woman with a big, generous heart. Her humility and helpful nature are well known. Two years ago, she had to undergo surgery, which was a challenging time for her. After being discharged from the hospital, she gradually returned to work because she needed to. It was hard, as she had to lift and carry Mèimei, who is a bit heavy. It took a month or more to fully recover and bring Mèimei back to attend classes.
Adi is a resilient woman. Amidst life’s knocks, I haven’t heard any complaints from her. She continues to push on and works devotedly. She is a humble and compassionate caregiver who selflessly strives for a better life for her family and Mèimei.
Adi’s passion and dedication have inspired and influenced me to invest more love and value in my ministry at the Ai Jia Development Center. Whenever I feel tired, challenged and unmotivated, I always remember Adi as a model of faithful service, a reliable worker. I am truly grateful to have met her. She has shown me the true life of a migrant worker - a caregiver who wholeheartedly provides exceptional care to her clients.
May God bless and guide her always, reward all her good deeds and fulfil her heart’s desires.
Columban lay missionary Febie Gonzales lives and works in Taiwan.
Listen to "A humble and compassionate caregiver"
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - January/February 2026
