Youth in Mission Timeline by

Youth in Mission: Sumba

laurelyuriko — 2024-09-23 03:03:37 UTC

Youth in Mission is a program held by the school to allow students to serve in various regions across Indonesia. This year, it was my first mission trip, and I had the opportunity to go to Sumba. A total of 32 people participated in this trip, including our supervising teacher, Mr. Frankie. It was an exciting chance to serve and experience life in a completely different setting.

Church Day!

laurelyuriko — 2024-09-23 03:19:56 UTC

On the first day of our mission trip, we visited two churches: GBI Ranu and GBI Matawai. At GBI Ranu, one of the most emotional moments for me happened during the worship service. A group of elderly women went on stage to sing. Without phones or modern technology, they had written the song lyrics in notebooks. Despite their limited resources, they sang with such passion and dedication that it brought tears to my eyes. It made me realize how deeply they valued their faith, even without the conveniences we often take for granted.

At GBI Matawai, I received an inspiring message from the sermon by Mr. Frankie. I also made new friends with the tambourine team that served during the service. Unexpectedly, we ended up singing "Selidiki Aku" on stage. None of us had prepared for this, as Mr. Frankie had only asked us to memorize the lyrics, without mentioning that we would be performing. It was a surprising but memorable experience.

Panti Asuhan Tana Mbanas

laurelyuriko — 2024-09-23 03:40:16 UTC

On the second day, we visited Panti Asuhan Tana Mbanas. We were warmly welcomed by the people, especially the kids. Before interacting with them, my friends and I helped clean the boys' dormitory that was being built there. The place was very messy, filled with dust, wood, stones, and metal scraps. We lifted and moved the materials, doing our best to clean with limited supplies. It was also extremely hot that day. Fortunately, the kids joined us; they didn’t complain like we did and were just happy to help.

After our hard work, my face was covered in dirt, and my hair had turned white from the dust. My shoes were just as dirty. Following our cleaning efforts, we had lunch, and then we played with the children. I read Bible storybooks to them, and seeing their joy made me feel truly grateful. They didn’t have smartphones, which I loved. Watching them live without phones made me realize how little they depended on technology compared to us. I even took pictures of them with my Polaroid camera and gifted the prints to them. Their happiness warmed my heart.

Kids at Heart!

laurelyuriko — 2024-09-26 05:37:46 UTC

On this exciting day, we visited SD Lewa Paku, a small but lively school in Sumba. The students greeted us with bright smiles and were eager to learn. I had the chance to teach them English, but initially, it was a bit awkward since it was our first meeting.

To break the ice, my friend Philia and I played Simon Says, which got the students actively participating. After the game, we distributed worksheets titled "All About Me." I was surprised by their enthusiasm as they eagerly shared details about themselves. When time was up, many expressed disappointment and wanted to continue working.

After the English class, I helped in another classroom where students were making sand art. They were quiet and focused, which reminded me of my own childhood, making simple sand arts.

Later, I assisted in creating a more conducive atmosphere during a lesson, as excitement had made the class quite noisy.

Finally, we enjoyed a delicious lunch with the teachers, capping off a fulfilling day at SD Lewa Paku filled with joy and new connections.

Teaching Moments, Lifelong Memories!

laurelyuriko — 2024-09-26 05:55:21 UTC

On this day, I went to Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Terpadu for another teaching session. Once again, I taught the students English. Although the material was the same, I knew their English level was below basic. Since they are senior high schoolers, I decided to challenge them by asking them to write sentences instead of just answering questions. Some students were a bit lazy with the worksheet, but it didn’t affect my enthusiasm to keep teaching. After that, I visited PPA (Pusat Perkembangan Anak), where children from less fortunate backgrounds are cared for and educated. The kids I taught there were very interactive and incredibly fun. It was a memorable experience, and even though it was our first meeting, it felt like we had known each other for years.

Lil Kiddos :)

laurelyuriko — 2024-09-26 06:06:21 UTC

On our last mission, we went to PAUD Peduli Anak Bangsa to teach preschoolers. This was where I had the chance to work with these little kids, but I quickly noticed that they were very quiet and didn’t want to talk to us. It seemed like they were scared, possibly because it was their first time being visited by strangers. Despite their shyness, some of them were a bit naughty, which made things interesting. We played a fun sand art activity and also taught them how to brush their teeth the correct way. Although I hoped for more interaction from them, I understood their hesitation and still enjoyed the experience.

Gems of Understanding

laurelyuriko — 2024-09-26 06:18:52 UTC

I feel a deep joy in my heart because I was truly blessed by this mission trip. It made me think about how happy the people there were that we visited. Their happiness reminded me that joy can be simple. I often find myself complaining about small things, and this experience showed me the importance of being grateful.

As I look back, I am very thankful for this experience. It was not just about helping the community but also about learning from them. Their simplicity, honesty, and love for God left a strong impression on me. This mission trip taught me to appreciate what I have and to use my privileges to bless others.