Andre Rosiade Sends Garbage Cart Puller on Umrah Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

For years, Yarmayati (65), affectionately known as Ema, could only stand by the roadside near the Tabing Hajj Dormitory in Padang. Amidst her routine of pedalling a garbage cart and scavenging to make a living, she never forgot to wave at every bus carrying Hajj pilgrims from West Sumatra. Not many knew that behind that simple wave was always a prayer. Ema prayed for all of God’s guests to be granted safety and a smooth pilgrimage. Deep in her heart, she harboured a hope she never dared to voice aloud: that one day Allah would also call her to the Holy Land. The prayer she offered from the roadside finally found its way. Ema officially departed for the Holy Land via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang. She flew to Madinah before continuing her journey of worship to Makkah to perform Umrah. The journey that had only been a dream was realised thanks to an Umrah gift from Andre Rosiade, Deputy Chairman of House Commission VI from the Gerindra Party. Besides Ema, three students from SMA Negeri 1 Padang who have memorised 30 juz of the Qur’an and a tahfiz teacher were also sent as a form of appreciation for their achievements. The group had departed from Padang to Jakarta the previous day and stayed at a hotel near Soekarno-Hatta Airport before the international flight. Andre said he was grateful to finally fulfil the promise he made to Ema after her life story touched many hearts. ‘Alhamdulillah, today Buk Ema departs for the Holy Land. May she always be granted health, a smooth journey, her Umrah worship accepted by Allah SWT, and may she return to the homeland with a mabrurah Umrah,’ Andre said in a written statement on Thursday. Ema’s story previously went viral on social media. The video showing her waving and praying for West Sumatra’s Hajj pilgrims touched many people, eventually reaching Andre. Without delay, Andre visited Ema’s modest home in Parupuk Tabing. At that time, he not only gave her an Umrah package but also a new pedicab to replace her worn-out one, basic food assistance, business capital, and BPJS Kesehatan coverage for a year. According to Andre, Ema’s sincerity is a valuable lesson. Despite her economic limitations and the heavy work of pulling a garbage cart, she still took the time to pray for others to become mabrur pilgrims. ‘She was never envious seeing others leave for the Holy Land. What she did instead was pray for them,’ Andre said. ‘It is this kind of sincerity that moved us to help realise her dream.’ Ema could not hide her emotion ahead of her departure. The woman who spent her life collecting residents’ rubbish admitted she never imagined she could set foot in the Holy Land. ‘Alhamdulillah. Thank you very much, Pak Andre. My dream of going to Makkah has finally come true with this Umrah,’ Ema said. ‘May Allah repay all of Pak Andre’s kindness. May you always be healthy and successful,’ she added. Ema’s journey serves as a reminder that no act of kindness, however small, is ever in vain. The waves she gave for years to the guests of Allah from the roadside ultimately became the path that led her to fulfil her greatest longing: to stand before the Kaaba and offer prayers directly in the Holy Land.