Service Week {grade 1}

The past week at our school was Service Week. All classes and normal routine were put on hold, in order for us as a whole school to devote an entire week to serving not only the community around us, but other parts of Indonesia as well. Plans and preparation started last spring, and were in the works up until the day before (and during as well - it was crazy!)

The senior school classes (Grades 9-11), took week long trips to outside locations (Malang, Bali, and Sulawesi). The rest of the grades were at school during the week, but had the freedom to do whatever. . . and by whatever, I mean 'be involved with as many service projects as possible for your respective grade level'. Most of the specialist classes were canceled (because those teachers were also involved in service projects) which made for a lot of 'teaching hours' during the day, but created the opportunity to leave school and serve in many ways. Classes went to visit orphanages, Omas & Opas  (Senior Homes), nearby villages, and more. We were also encouraged to invite others to our school and host events. Our service week took so many different forms - it was incredible to see. 

My class, along with the other grade 1 and grade 2 classes, went to visit one of SPH's sister schools, SLH Koja. Our school system has three tiers of schools: Pelita (ours), Dian, and Lentera (all words are a different forms of light). SPH stands for School of Light and Hope. The Lentera schools aren't international like ours. They are located within national villages, and all instruction is done in the native language, Bahasa Indonesia. 

The main point of our 'service' trip wasn't as much for service, as it was to build relationships. The last thing we want our 6 year-olds thinking, is that they are in any way better than the kids at this school. I'm making a stereotypical generalization, but school hours are about the only part of these kids' days where they aren't spoiled and waited on. Some of them still don't feed themselves at home. We have a lot of work cut out for us at school - trying to teach responsibility, common sense, and self-sufficiency. So instead of focusing on helping other kids who are "less-fortunate", we focused on building friendships, and being kind and loving to their brothers and sisters in Christ. 

For our time there, we prepared a time of worship through singing (English and Bahasa), craft time (Chinese Lanterns to decorate the classrooms for Chinese New Year), and game time. The way we incorporated service into this trip, was by having our students earn money at home (by doing jobs/chores for their parents) to pay for a special lunch for them, and a buddy at SLH Koja. This got the kids thinking about ways even they can serve - right in their homes! We also talked about being thankful for what we have - especially the nice school they get to go to. We had to prepare them to go to a school with no AC or running water. We prayed that there would be no complaining, even though it was definitely hot enough to! The kids were so good!

Here's some pictures from our day spent at SLH Koja.

This is Helen - one of our wonderful national teachers

introductions - Putri, my incredible teaching partner!

singing, "This is the day that the Lord has made"

my sweet girls who are always doing the actions for songs :)

A little too shy to introduce themselves. . .

. . . it was a work in progress

Our kids made cards to give to their new friends at SLH 

We plan on inviting them to our school during Term 4

starting to make the paper lanterns

My sweet Korean boy who can't speak Bahasa, but was still so willing to interact.

funniest kid in my class. . . without trying, haha

admiring the finished products

This group shot was difficult. I promise they were happier than the look. . .it was getting a little hot in there.

playing together

sweet faces

praying before lunch

chowing down on KFC :)

caught the spill in action!

Saying our "see ya later's" 

I know this is already a long post, but our class also made peanut butter balls in the kitchen one day, to pass out the people in our school who serve them. The kids put the treats in little baggies, and attached thank you notes. Then we spent part of the day walking through the school and handing them out one by one. 

Service week was long and tiring as a teacher, but oh so rewarding! It's such a blessing to be a part of a school that devotes an entire week to serving others. I love it! The only "bad" part about it, was my missing husband. He led the 9th grade service trip to Malang for the week. It's SO great to have him back home now! Soon, I/he will post all about his trip! Stay tuned :)