Dongi Dongi Mission Trip Reflection

Feeling Accomplished

One of the common critiques of short-term mission trips is around the immediate and long-term impact of the mission activity.  Some wonder if anything of lasting significance can be accomplished in a couple of weeks.  Others question if the money spent on the cost of the mission trip could be better utilised by sending it directly to the mission field.  While these are valid questions that should be given reasonable consideration, at the end of our three weeks in Indonesia I am left with the following reflective conclusions:

• We have mobilised a team of Salvationists from our Corps to actively engage in the international mission of The Salvation Army.
• We have evoked a spirit of generosity in our Corps and community to resource the vision of an overseas Corps and community.
• We have invested into the lives of 180 children and their families by helping to establish a school building more appropriate for the needs of the local community.
• We have partnered with a community by participating alongside them in a project that has laid the foundation for ongoing relationship beyond the end product.
• We have shared life with other Salvationists through local hospitality, mutual encouragement and pastoral ministry.
• We have been mutually enriched by exchanging broader perspectives of Salvationism through our respective cultural expressions and experiences.
• We have responded to unplanned ministry opportunities adding value to and alleviating stress from local leadership and discipleship initiatives.
• We have followed-up relationships established during previous trips through ministry engagement that continues to sow into the faith journey of other Salvationists.
• We have returned home better equipped with a higher level of cultural intelligence to more effectively engage cross-culturally in our Corps and community.

It is one thing to contribute to a mission by sending money but quite a different experience to commit to a mission by going and personally engaging with those on the mission field.  Both can be valuable, but approached with right attitude the latter fosters a level of engagement that puts relationships ahead of the task and helps to develop a level of cultural intelligence that can integrate into mission and ministry back home.

Dongi Dongi Mission Trip - Days 16 & 17

Last Hurrah at Dongi Dongi

Today we headed out to Dongi Dongi for the third and final time; this time with Neville and Major Erik Kape onboard.  Before we left Palu we stopped by the Mecure Hotel to catch up with Commissioner Ros Poke who was finishing up her trip around Indonesia.  Commissioners Vic and Ros Poke were on staff at the Training College with Vic being our Training Principal when Nyoman and I were Cadets training to be Salvation Army Officers back in 1995-96.  It is amazing where God has led us each over the past twenty years and how our paths have crossed on this mission trip.

Like previous team members earlier in the trip, Neville was keen to get involved with rebuilding Dongi Dongi School.  Majors Paulus and Felma weren't home when we arrived, so we didn't waste any time heading up the hill to see the progress of the builders over the past week and to plan out our work for the next couple of days.  Once again we were amazed at how much work had been done!  The front verandah had been concreted, the brickwork was complete, internal walls had begun to be rendered, and the timber cladding was almost finished.  The builders weren't onsite, so once Nyoman and Eric left to return to Palu, Neville and I got started cleaning up the building site, emptying the classrooms of building waste and sweeping out a mountain of wood shavings and concrete dust.  The cloud of dust combined with our sweat made for one very dirty afternoon of work.  There was also a load of timber delivered on the side of the track out front, so we decided to haul it into the classroom that stored the remaining building materials.  Maybe we were just tired, but this load of timber was way heavier than a previous load that other team members had moved.  In fact, it had been cut thicker and was still very wet (that's our excuse, LOL).  

The Corps Officers returned home late afternoon to find our belongings hidden out the back of their quarters, so Major Paulus came up to give us a hand to finish off our afternoon of work.  As with previous team members, Neville and I were warmly welcomed into their home and blessed by their hospitality.  We engaged in conversation after tea with Major Paulus, without Nyoman present to interpet, and had a lot of fun teaching each other new words and phrases in our respective languages.  Despite the language barrier we managed to communicate well enough to enjoy each others company and discover new things about each others culture.

The next morning before we got back to work, I took Neville across to the old classrooms to see for himself the conditions in which the children were learning.  On our way out Nyoman had just arrived back from Palu and joined us for another day of hard work.  The job for the day was to level out the ground out the front of the verandah by 'cutting and filling' with dirt from the land beside the building.  A couple of local labourers started digging a hole for the septic tank for the toilets so we joined forces as we relocated the soil they dug out of their hole.  The speed these guys worked was impressive. 

After our lunch break we were amazed to see that they had dug their 3x3 metre hole to a depth of 1.5 metres and had built a lean-to shelter in the process to give themselves some shade while they worked!  Not to be outdone, Neville, Nyoman and I worked equally as hard to finish off our levelling, which required more and more fill as the gradient increased along the length of the verandah.  It was a very tiring but satisfying day of work.  

Leaving the building site for the last time was a little emotional after three weeks of working on this project.  Neville and I really connected with how Tony, Jill and Stav must have felt as they left Dongi Dongi knowing it would be the last time they saw the project before completion.  Yet, that feeling of sadness was mixed with a deep sense of satisfaction with the knowledge that together we had contributed to the rebuilding of Dongi Dongi School.  Our belief in the Corps Officer's vision for the school, our collective fundraising over the past twelve months and our presence on this mission trip is a significant investment into a community, a church and a generation of children who will be educated in these new buildings!  Praise the Lord!!

Dongi Dongi Mission Trip - Days 9 & 10

Project Progressing Well

We embarked on our second journey out to Dongi Dongi with Stav on board to pick up where the first shift of our mission team left off.  The program for the next two days was to dig a trench around the pathway dug out last week as drainage for the runoff from the roof and the higher ground behind the new building.  It was great to reconnect with the Corps Officers of the Boya Lentora Corps who have graciously hosted us in their home and have blessed us with their hospitality.

After a great lunch we walked back up the hill to be yet again amazed by the progress of the builders in just a few days.  Two thirds of the timber cladding on the front wall was completed, the rest of the required bricks were made and the internal brickwork was moving along at a rapid pace.  We set to work on digging the trench along the rear path and were moving along at an equally fast pace until we encountered a succession of buried rocks!  These rocks kept appearing in pairs and were big!!  Unfortunately, my determination to remove these obstacles resulted in breaking the handle of one of the only two shovels onsite.  This significantly slowed down the pace for the afternoon as we improvised by using other building materials laying around to lever out the offending rocks.  Our improvisation didn't end there; with a half full water bottle being used as a level, a long piece of ribbon used as a string line and borrowing the builder's tape measure to ensure the fall of the trench was correct for effective drainage.  By the end of the afternoon the trench was complete, leaving the side trench for the next morning.

The Dongi Dongi area has recently had power lines installed along the main road, but does not yet have electricity connected.  This means that the residents of this area (who can afford it) rely on portable generators for their power needs.  The quarters we stayed in only ran their generator between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm, resulting in early nights in an electronic device free zone.  I must admit that it was somewhat liberating sitting around enjoying as much conversation as we could given the language barrier and the natural environment, without the distraction of a cyberworld.

We made an early start the next morning to give Stav an opportunity to witness the children in the classrooms of the old building.  This time the classes were full, giving the full impact of the unsuitability of the current school.  With this vision fresh in our minds, we got stuck into the days work, digging the last trench by morning tea and collecting river pebbles from around the building site to fill the trenches to assist with drainage by lunchtime. 

It seems we finished the trenches way faster than anticipated, prompting us to return to Palu after lunch, half a day earlier than planned. 

Dongi Dongi Mission Trip - Day 6

Power of Testimony!

Our team expanded early this morning with the arrival of Stav to Dongi Dongi.  It is great to have him on board and I know he is as eager as we were to engage with the Dongi Dongi School project.

Today we had the opportunity to worship at two Salvation Army Corps in Central Sulawesi.

This morning, before leaving Dongi Dongi, we worshipped at the Boya Lentora Corps alongside the officers who had been our hosts, Major Paulus and Felma.  It was a privilege to be invited to preach at their meeting and an incredible joy to see God at work in the lives of their congregation.  The highlight for me was seeing Tony give his testimony and  share his journey of faith and how God prompted him to be a part of our mission team.  I can't help marvel at the alignment of circumstances that God orchestrated to bring Tony and his family to Cranbourne Corps and use him in such a mighty way on this mission trip.

This evening, upon our return to Palu, we worshipped at the Towua Corps situated on the site of the Palu School.  It is always a blessing to see the youth so involved in worship through music and dance, and a particular joy to be led in worship by Ruth Frisca Pandjaitan.  She has a passionate heart for the Lord and together with her fiance Ratno Harinei, they are exceptional Salvationists!  During this service Jill gave her testimony, which had a great impact on the congregation.  Jill's love for God and people was clearly evident as she shared about her family, church and service activities.  

Dongi Dongi Mission Trip - Day 4

Back to Dongi Dongi

The trip out to Dongi Dongi was longer than I remembered.  Maybe it's because we were so excited to see the progress of the project we had been fundraising for and eager to get involved with the construction.  Our anticipation was rewarded with the sight of a magnificent structure that was way further advanced than I had imagined.  From the dilapidated buildings at the front of a borrowed property, the Dongi Dongi School is now situated on their own land with a partially completed building that will provide the children and staff with an environment much more conducive to learning when finished.

 

It's difficult to describe the feeling of seeing the collective efforts of our Corps and community fundraising take form in a facility that will facilitate the education of 180 elementary students across the Dongi Dongi region.  To be able to partner with such a vision and resource it to become a reality is an incredible privilege!

When the local tradesmen arrived back at work after their siesta we couldn't wait to get involved.  The afternoon consisted of a general clean-up of the building site, including clearing the verandah of building rubble and relocating the timber ready for cladding the walls.  It was interesting watching the pace that the two builders cladded one of the internal walls with the timber panels using only hand tools and work practices that would give a work site safety officer in Australia a heart attack.  Eager to help, but not get in the way, we keenly observed their pattern of work and were able to act as their laborers, passing panels of timber, measuring lengths...but not yet earning their trust to use the hand saw. While it wasn't a particularly demanding afternoon of work it was a rewarding afternoon to finally engage with this project.

The evening presented us with an unexpected opportunity to wander into the Boya Lentora Corps next door and join the youth in their Youth Service.  Major Paulus gave the youth an inspiring message and the worship band led a powerful time of worship.  We thoroughly enjoyed seeing the youth from the Dongi Dongi area worship and express their love for Jesus.  

We have also been so blessed by the generous hospitality of the Corps Officers as they welcomed us into their home.