Indonesian Independence Day Class Celebration

On Thursday 17 August our Junior Secondary students participated in some traditional Indonesian games to commemorate Indonesia’s 78th Independence Day. Each year in Indonesia, communities gather on this day to attend ceremonies where the national anthem is sung, the flag is raised and the 1945 proclamation of independence is read. Following these formal events, people will usually enjoy community celebrations and games such as lomba makan krupuk (cracker eating competition), balap kelereng (marble and spoon race), balap karung (sack race), berdansa balon (balloon dancing). Mrs Sarah Edwards led the Year 7s and 8s in a fun filled day as part of their Indonesian culture lessons.

Daniel Bradbury

Head of Indonesian

Indonesian Study Tour 2023

For thirteen days our intrepid MECS travelers set out on the adventure of a lifetime to Indonesia! This wonderful group consisted of 9 Secondary students and 3 staff. I am immensely proud of the maturity of students and cohesiveness of group dynamics during this trip. Our team was met with all sorts of new challenges daily and responded at each step with a willingness to grow and learn.

Our journey began with a chilly 3.30am departure from MECS only to be met later that day by the warm and humid air of Bali. Our group took in all of the sights of Bali including a day tour to Ubud region and a visit to the Hillsong Church, Bali campus. We enjoyed a cultural performance and dinner on the final night which was a highlight for many.

Our next destination was Yogyakarta in Central Java where we began our program by visiting a local junior high school. We were very warmly welcomed by the principal, teachers and students with a full day of activities. Our students interacted with local students, participated in classes, attended a language and music workshop and developed strong ties with the school community. It was a memorable day and our students loved the time immersing themselves in a new educational world.

We then headed up into the mountains of Salatiga and visited a Senior High school for another full day program. During the afternoon we joined with a local Bible College, met students, visited ministry outreach posts and spent time encouraging and supporting young, local leaders. We spent a night in a rural area where our students helped to facilitate a Sunday school program.

The final leg was spent travelling across into West Java province by train and arriving in the capital city of Jakarta. We visited the National Monument, Mesjid Istiqlal (the largest mosque in southeast Asia) as well as a visit to an Asian mega-mall – Grand Indonesia.

It’s hard to capture in words the vast sights, sounds and significant moments our trip entailed. Experiences like this are incredibly valuable for students to learn and grow. We journeyed with each other through the joys and challenges of living in a new culture and allowed God to be at work as we trusted in him for safety, health, provision, security and meaningful connections with local people. I loved seeing our students become more confident in using their Indonesian in real life contexts and experience firsthand many cultural learning moments. There were lots of highlights which I know have ignited a passion in students to consider what their connection with Indonesia might be longer term and more broadly in developing their own skills of intercultural intelligence.

Special thanks to Lisa Dumicich and Mic Dempsey who were fantastic co-leaders taking lots of new things in their stride. I also wish to thank Clare Bradbury for the many hours spent in coordinating our itinerary, developing our trip handbook and establishing people-to-people connections. Thank you to the MECS Executive Team for their continual support and also to the parents of our students for their faithful support, prayers and patience. As a community we have waited over two years to see this trip ‘take off’ having been delayed due to the pandemic. We are reminded that God’s timing is perfect and of his faithfulness in keeping us in good care whilst away.

Over coming newsletter editions we will be asking students to share specific accounts of the trip. Stay tuned for further stories from this wonderful time away!

Study Tour Attendees:

Bo Arbuckle – Year 9

Meg Dempsey – Year 9

Isaac Chow – Year 10

Noah Pirie – Year 10

Charlotte Armstrong – Year 11

Mia Kirkwood – Year 11

Elijah Marshall – Year 11

Acacia Smith – Year 11

Isaiah Smith – MECS graduate (class of '22)

Mrs Lisa Dumicich

Mr Mic Dempsey

Mr Daniel Bradbury

Daniel Bradbury

Head of Indonesian

The Sports Desk

Senior Primary Hooptime