True Knowledge | Faith in Christ | Godly Character

28th Edition/February/2014

Open House SPH International Pluit VillagePluit Village Mall – GF 20

Editorial Team

PUBLISHERYayasan Pendidikan Pelita Harapan

ADVISORPhillip Nash

MANAGING EDITORHana Herawati

EDITORSMaureen Cox, Elizabeth Santosa

GRAPHIC DESIGNERIwan Werlin

PHOTOGRAPHERSHariyanto, Simon, Clifford, Dody, Melissa

Address2500 Bulevar Palem Raya, Lippo VillageTangerang 15811, BantenPhone: (021) 546 0233-34, Fax: (021) 546 9663www.sph.edu

c o n t e n t s28th Edition/February/2014

3 Living the Truth By Phillip Nash

4 Service Week at Kemang Village By David Michel

6 Grade 6 Service Learning Week Reflection 8 Journey to Mamit 10 SOAR! By Marc Bergen

16 Bulan Bahasa 2013 By Lea Setyaningrum and Debora Sibarani

18 Letting Go of Your Children By Dra. Charlotte K. Priatna

19 Parents Seminar Reflection21 Staff Retreat Reflection

Bulan Bahasa 2013 SPH International Lippo Village

COVER : Developing the Passion for True Knowledge

3r e g u l a r

THROUGH parent seminars we have tried to help parents stay true to their God given role as primary educators but also learn

how to release their children into the next phase of life. Through service weeks and mission and service learning opportunities, students have tried to put into practice what it means to be true to God’s call to love and care for others. Through the activities of Bulan Bahasa, we help students stay true to the cultural richness of Indonesia while living out Biblical principles within that culture.

Through sports and performing arts activities, students strive to use their talents to bless others, staying true to Godly characteristics of humility and service while giving pleasure and enjoying competition. Through professional development activities, teachers and staff strive to stay true to their calling as Godly educators and administrators by applying themselves to personal development with in a Biblical framework.

The ‘Journey to Mamit’ is a powerful expression of how the Yayasan Pendidikan Pelita Harapan is seeking to reach out to the remotest corners of this nation with the Truth of the Gospel through education and community development. The Mamit community would have eventually undergone transformation but without the investment of Christian people, who knows how much damage may have been done as secular,

Western values and beliefs infiltrated it. We are grateful to have a Founder in Bapak James Riady, who has a heart for the disadvantaged and has built an education foundation committed to living out the truth of God’s Word. The Foundation reaches out to the poor and disadvantaged not just with the hope education can bring but with a living hope grounded in the True Word—Jesus Christ.

So we must not forget the focus of our year—R U True? The Apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:8 ‘I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.’

There are four things we note from this important statement:1. Truth Revealed – Imagine a school where

very teacher, student, parent and staff member understood that we rely on God’s revelation of himself to truly know him. (Truth dependent)

2. Truth Reliable – Imagine a school where very teacher, student, parent and staff member so entered into Jesus who is the truth that he sees in us a mirror image of himself. (True Living)

3. True Relationships – Imagine a school where very teacher, student, parent and staff member measured their spiritual temperature only by the barometer of God’s love. (True loving)

4. True Responsibilities – Imagine a school where very teacher, student, parent and staff member discerns truth from error and can graciously defend it against what is false. (Truth defended)

What might such a community look like? Well, it would look something like this:• A community humbled by God’s grace and

hungering for God’s truth.• A community that is Christ formed and

focused as true image people.• A community motivated by and ministering

God’s love to others.• A community of courageous conviction

before the challenges to truth.

Here at SPH International we do not need to think about a community like this as something wonderful to imagine but in reality impossible to create. God is the God of the impossible. What seems impossible to us is very possible with God. The idea of a truly Christian truth based community is not just a nice ideal in the Christian faith—it is what God expects it to be. Too often as Christians we read about God’s plan for humankind in the Bible and treat it as a wonderful idea not to be achieved until we reach the new Creation. But God expects us to be living like this now in spite of our failings and weaknesses. The reason we are not a good witness to the world is we do not really believe that true transformation can happen while we live. We don’t commit to it and it seems like too much effort.

At SPH International we can live differently and I think in the pages of this magazine, we see evidence of parents, teachers, staff and students who are working out what a True community is really like. So let us not become complacent as though we have already achieved all we can, but redouble our efforts to live Truly and share that with others.

By Phillip NashHead of School SPH International Lippo Village and Coordinator of Pelita Harapan International Schools

As we pass the half way mark in this academic year, we should ask ourselves the question, “How are we doing in living out our theme of True Knowledge?” I trust that as you read through this edition of our magazine, you will see evidence of the SPH International community seeking to live out in practical ways, this important element of our vision statement.

Living the Truth

OUR teachers requested that it should be held earlier so that Service Week events could be a springboard to

Mission and Service Learning throughout the year. The following are key elements to Mission and Service Learning at Kemang Village:

• Mission and Service Learning involves restoration and reconciliation. We must be engaged in the restoration of people to God; of positive human relationships and in the restoration of God’s creation.

• Mission and Service Learning requires an organized curriculum and age appropriate programs that provide students with opportunities to experience and express the call to serve, to praise and glory of God.

• Mission and Service Learning offers a process of building relationships with others, not just doing something for others, recognizing not only the needs of others but also their gifts, in a mutually beneficial way. Such service enables those who are invisible, voiceless or devalued in society to become seen, heard and valued.

• Mission and Service Learning develops in students the virtues and values identified by SPH International.

• Mission and Service Learning encourages students to take responsibility for their growth as persons by developing gifts, recognizing limitations, evaluating motivations and learning to accept themselves and others.

• Mission and Service Learning helps students realize that education occurs beyond the classroom.

• Mission and Service Learning strengthens students’ commitment to doing justice. They see more clearly and deeply how the Christian faith calls forth a commitment to overcoming the structural roots of injustice.

• Mission and Service Learning helps student move beyond self-interest and selfishness into the satisfaction of giving oneself for the sake of others. By understanding God’s compassionate and loving nature, expressed supremely in Jesus, students become more able to put themselves in another’s place to understand them.

As part of the Biblical Studies curriculum (see note below), all students in the school participate in mission and service learning activities from showing care and concern for our own security and cleaning staff to visiting other parts of Indonesia. This year, G9 students travelled to Malang (East Java) and G10 students were sent to Semarang (Central Java), G11 travelled to Bali and G12 travelled to Palu (Sulawesi) providing help and assistance to orphans, seniors and young children. In partnership with The Salvation Army, our students were provided opportunities to develop meaningful relationships with disadvantaged people. Each student was asked to record reflections on their experiences and the following are excerpts from several students:

Claudine A. Haliman (Grade 9.2)Service Week was so much fun. It was a great experience to have the chance to get out of my comfort zone and try different things. Other than serving, the field trip helped me to become more independent. Meeting all the people, listening to different perspectives and stories was life-changing. Being with my friends and bonding more with them was very special and as well as making new friends.

Amber Lubbe Bakker (Grade 9.1)Service Week was a very valuable time for me because I was able to spend time doing things that I normally wouldn’t do such as mopping,

For the past two years, students at Kemang Village have been actively engaged in Mission and Service Learning. This year, our Service Week was held in the week of November 25–29, which was much earlier than last year.

Service Week at Kemang VillageBy David MichelHead of School SPH International Kemang Village

4 e x a m p l e s

dusting, teaching kindergarten how to sing Christmas songs, and so much more.

Ariel Tanihaha (Grade 9.2)Service Week was really fun because we were able to spend so much time with our friends and we served the kids and seniors in Malang. Playing with the students at school was super fun because they were all so adorable and they also loved to play with us. Serving the seniors at Senior Home was a really valuable experience, talking to them and interacting with them just made me feel so happy.

Adrianna Bonelli (Grade 9.1)Service Week was great fun and I really enjoyed it. At first I thought that it wasn’t going to be fun and I was really nervous. I thought that I wasn’t going to get life lessons from it. However, at the end I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to continue serving and spend more time with the kids from the school and love them more.

Natasha Halim Widjaya (Grade 9.1)The most valuable part of service week was being able to help the children at the school and conversing with the seniors at the retirement home. Being able to interact with the children and the seniors was such a joy

because they were amazing people who were joyful and friendly when they met us.

Emily Khouw (Grade 10.1)I learned so much from Service Week because it isn’t all about the concrete work that a person does. Service can also be building relationships and spending time with a person. Other than that, we all bonded really well. We all left Semarang knowing each other more than before because of all the experiences and memories we all got to share. Service week expanded my knowledge—both in the meaning of service and in my relationships with others.

Jane Natasha (Grade 10.1)Service Week has impacted my paradigms of life and happiness. After spending time with the children in Semarang, I realized that the key to happiness isn’t necessarily always money. These children had next to nothing, some were even orphans, but they always had a smile on their faces. Spending time with them and getting to know them was such a privilege because not only did I have the joy of serving them, but I had the chance to build relationships with children I never thought I would and learnt many valuable life lessons—to always have a smile on my face and to appreciate everything that I have.

Esmeralda Rachel (Grade 10.1)At first it was awkward, but the next thing I knew we were like old friends. They were grateful about the smallest things possible and it was something I need to learn. It was a good experience because I was glad God could give them His blessings through all of us. It was a good experience because seeing the smiles on their faces brought a smile to my face and it was a good experience because we were all wholeheartedly there to bless, not to impress. A meaningful experience happened on the first day. I was at the elders’ home and a lady sang about how she loves Jesus in all her life, through thick and thin. It touched my heart because even with less she didn’t blame God at all, she loved Him. And it was a huge lesson for my life.

Anthony Kartono (Grade 10.1)Service Week has taught us to place others before ourselves in our priorities. It has taught us to set aside our ego to help others in need. It has also taught us to view everyone the same, regardless of their financial state.

Assessment Objective

Be actively engaged in biblical leadership and

service*Learning Outcome 1 The student will produce and

present projects to depict the value of the Bible for Godly living

Learning Outcome 2 Students will actively lead and serve others in a biblical manner

Seung Hee Yang (Grade 10.1)After I finished painting the wall and decorating the classroom, all the students were smiling at our work. They looked so happy that I was really happy too. This Service Week also changed my perspective when I saw people in Semarang and also at the orphanage, I felt really bad. Even though, they are living in worse conditions than me, they were really happy. I always complain everyday even though my conditions are much better than people in Semarang. That changed my perspective. I should feel really thankful to God that I am in a good condition.

Biblical Studies Curriculum (Kemang Village):

BY: PRYANKA MULIA (6.2)

AT the end of November, SPH International Kemang Village suspended all regular schedules to

focus on an entire week of service learning. The purpose of SLW (Service Learning Week) is to show God’s love to others and also reminds us about all the blessings and resources we have been given. If we don’t use them wisely, God can just take them away because they belong to Him. In SLW we also had the opportunity to be humble and to serve others as Jesus did. By doing that, we can show ourselves to be salt and light of the earth.

During SLW Grade 6 did many community service activities. First we packed packages of food for families at Ciliwung who don’t have access to many of the resources that we do. The next day we delivered the packages and visited the people at Ciliwung. An organization called Gerakan Kepedulian (GK) volunteer to help disadvantaged communities throughout Indonesia. They also help the communities along the Ciliwung River. We gave the families the packages and interviewed them, learning more about their lives.

On Thursday we visited a retirement home called Karya Kasih. There we played games with the Omas and finished the day with some pampering of nails and massages. On our last day of SLW we invited the Kampung Kemang VI children to come to SPH International Kemang Village to play. It was an amazing experience.

There are many areas of SLW where I felt very challenged. One of them was when we went to the village at Ciliwung. Since I am used to big, clean houses, I was very surprised to see how much poverty there is right in front of our eyes. They had very small houses. Even my room is bigger. I was able to see firsthand how other people in our society live.In the end, I really think we should do SLW more often. I think everyone should have an opportunity like that.

6.2 Excerpts:

“This whole week of community service really made me think of everything I have and also the things that I don’t need. Thinking about it showed me how much the rich and poor can bond and need each other. I was willing to step out of my comfort zone and dedicate my time to serve others ... we were astonished by the villagers being too ashamed to even let us students come into their living quarters.”[ Casey Weller ]

“The purpose of this week is to serve others like Jesus did. To know that God places us here for a reason; to teach God’s Word and to love other people.”

[ Francine Bacud ]

“I think that a big part of service week is to give us an example; the example of Jesus, coming down to earth as a man and serving and being humble. It just makes me think that I should be a sunbeam to this dark world, and let my light shine so that people can see Jesus through me and repent from their sins ... it also reminds me about the fact that each of us has a purpose in this world and that all of us are equal, because we are created in God’s image.”[ Cassia Tandiono ]

“Being salt and light of the earth is really important; not only in service week but every single day.”

[ Helen Mak ]

“What challenged me most in SLW was that is was difficult for me to do something that was out of my comfort zone. I think that it was a good experience to try something I have never done before and learn something from it. SLW was a great time to learn and understand new things; it was an enjoyable experience.”[ Abigail Effendi ]

“I personally had a very fun time interacting with the Ciliwung families and the Omas who were very funny and made me laugh. Playing with the Kemang VI kids was definitely the most fun. When the parents at Ciliwung spoke to us about their daily lives, it was breath-taking. I definitely realized that I am very blessed and should be more grateful for what I have. I think the best thing that I learnt was that the world isn’t as we think it is. My closing remarks are only to say thank you to the SPH International community for letting students just like me have this opportunity to serve those who are less fortunate.”

[ Jason Krickelberg ]

6 e x a m p l e s

Grade 6 Service Learning Week REFLECTIONSPH International Kemang Village

BY: CHLOE NICOLE TAN (6.1)

I think that service week is all about serving others. We have to appreciate and be thankful for what we have because not

everyone has the things we do. When we met the Omas they looked very happy. Some were having a good time and some were just being really awkward and sitting there with nothing to do. I saw all the Omas smile, none of them didn’t!

The next day we went to Ciliwung. It was fun. People say that it was uncomfortable but you know what—things may be uncomfortable but you just have to deal with it. I was smiling and I sometimes talked to some of them and I was just trying to show that helping is important. I was just really scared because some wanted to take photos with me and I just didn’t want them to take pictures. So that was very awkward.

On Friday Kemang VI kids came to our school. It was fun doing games with them and I really think that we should invite them again. I thought that service week was fun and a great opportunity to serve some people. I had fun and am very grateful. I want to remind people that all people, everyone, EVERYONE, is created in God’s image and has a godly character. All resources are God’s resources. That’s why we have to share and serve others. We should build relationships with others. Service week was fun and I really do hope we can do it again.

6.1 Excerpts:

“SLW was a big thumbs up this year. We should do it regularly. I stepped out from my shell, my comfort zone.”[ Tori Bjorg Oriel Trapnes ]

“I had trouble playing with the Omas because some of them didn’t want to play and some of them didn’t want to talk to me. Then we went to Ciliwung, a village that floods constantly. We got to interview them and to imagine what it would be like if we lived there. It was very shocking when I heard that people there lived under bridges and called it their home.”

[ Rio McKen ]

“From my experience, I think I have to be more thankful for my resources and also I think that serving others isn't that easy. Also, it wasn’t easy to love my neighbours. I thought it was hard to know what is the purpose of God for our neighbours who have hard lives ... it was a very good time to be with neighbours and learn service.”[ (Amy) Hi Song Jeong ]

“When we went to the Omas it was hard to communicate, but we worked together, sat together and helped each other. We gave the Omas love.”

[ (Sara) Seo Yeon Jeong ]

“I thought about the purpose of SLW and finally I got it. I think I have to love others as I love myself and I do this to be humble. I also think that God wants me to serve and love others. I want to do my best to do what God asks me to do. Also, I appreciate and am thankful for the small things that I have and to understand the purpose God has given me.”[ Won Kyung Song ]

“Remember, it’s Service LEARNING Week. We just need to sand down some rough edges and it’s smooth sailing. Next year I think we, specifically me, need to overcome our shyness and just go for it. I was uncomfortable and that’s good. I need to step out of my comfort zone to help others.”

[ Nadja Alexandra (Alex) ]

e x a m p l e s 7Grade 6 Service Learning Week REFLECTIONSPH International Kemang Village

WE flew with MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) aircraft for one hour from Sentani, Jayapura. The runway

in Mamit is not a regular runway but made of paved rocks. It is a place which has no access and most of the people in Mamit do not have an education.

Yayasan Pelita Harapan is keen to build hope in Mamit. Hundreds of school age children in Mamit, Tolikara, Papua have never had a formal education although the local government has built a school building but many teachers run away from their duties. The health services in Mamit is also poor with targeted distribution of medicine being one of the hurdles.

Indonesia has been independent for more than 65 years, but there are many places untouched by the national development program. Mamit needs infrastructure and attention in education. It needs us who are willing to reach out our hands. This year, we are targeting 60 students in kindergarten and Grade 1. Teachers in this location will become

a locomotive to push the students being not only a teacher but also a spiritual mentor even becoming a helper when they are sick. During the pregnancy period, the mortality rate reaches 60–70%. A Siloam Clinic will be built with doctors and nurses rotated every three months to help.

To improve the communication and education in Papua, Lippo Star Satellite and Sky Perfect JSAT Corporation has provided basic infrastructure to enhance the education in Papua. JSAT owns 16 satellites in Asia, where the Lippo Group is working in cooperation in the satellite development in Indonesia under Lippo Star.

This good news has arrived in Sekolah Papua Harapan. Satellite and Big TV broadcasts can be accessed and in the near future, students of Sekolah Papua Harapan can access the internet, various sites, students can watch the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and other educational broadcasts.

SLH Kampung Harapan at Sentani district Papua School at Doyo Baru Village, Jayapura and SLH Mamit at Tolikara has become a pilot project in the joint program to build an access network for our brothers and sisters in Papua to understand technology information.Not only access networking, hydro electric power will be built in Mamit, that can produce 20 KW for household lighting, because Mamits are afraid of darkness and with the presence of electricity

Six hours travel to Jayapura, Papua where a mountainous view welcomed us before setting our feet on this green land. Located at the far east end of the Indonesian archipelago. With a population of fewer than five million, Papua still has difficulty accessing communication and education.

s p e c i a l r e p o r t8

Journey to MamitBy Mamit Team

they don’t need to be afraid anymore, but the most important thing is to let them understand that the light of Jesus is the true light of heart, mind and soul.

SINJI TAKADA (President and CEO of Sky Perfect JSAT Corporation)I have been able to visit Papua recently.I also had an opportunity to fly over Mamit to see the situation and we also saw the satellite launch. It is going to be used in order to serve those people as well as the Lippo Group is going to provide satellite broadcasting and communication. I hope that through this satellite next year we will be able to come to Papua and to see this working in the schools.

JAMES T. RIADY (Founder of Yayasan Pendidikan Pelita Harapan)To help Papua specifically to install VSAT for schools in the remote areas so they can have access to Internet and so on also the best educational programs from the world can be seen by the students.

PAUL WETIPO (Principal of Sekolah Papua Harapan)Our point is to see a Papua Generation better than today and that starts from a good education. I think a good education creates

a good generation and that develops a good citizen that can be proud of Indonesia.Students do not have to worry about their health, nurses and medical staff at the school clinics are ready to assist teachers and students.

ALONIKA GOBAY (Clinical Staff of Sekolah Papua Harapan)We take care of students who have common illness like scratches or feve; we normally contact their parents when they need special treatment in the hospital. We plan to set up a program to have hearing tests every year and vision tests quarterly. We do this preventive program for every student, members of staff and teachers.

PUTU (Teacher of Sekolah Lentera Harapan Mamit)Putu is one of the teachers who has a heart for Papua; teaching and serving are her “calling”. Mamit is God’s calling on her life, so that the students in Mamit will come to know Christ.

The challenge here in the school is the language, most of the children do not understand Bahasa Indonesia, but they are quite smart in life skills and quick to learn procedure. A lot of funny things happen when teaching them. One of them is about liquid soap. When they were taught to wash their hands after the toilet, they kept going back to the toilet. One day I followed them; they are playing with the soap because it smells nice! They are all good and sweet children and I have been blessed to teach them here.

I prayed for Papua from the beginning and felt called to teach students who have nowhere else to go for study. Perhaps there is another school but the teachers are all in the city, these children really need education. Perhaps to all my friends who are out there I should like to say, 'Don’t be afraid to come to Mamit or other remote areas, the kids need education. Don’t be afraid, it’s quiet and safe here. So don’t be afraid of anything, the Lord provides all.'

DOMINIC is a young German who is a teacher and the administrator of SLH in Mamit.I started teaching in Sekolah Papua Harapan

but joined Mamit Lentera Harapan recently. After completing school, I wanted to study in Bahasa. I studied Indonesian literature and learned about Papua. I grew a longing for Papua. When I came to Sekolah Papua Harapan it was only for two months and that was a great two months. Now I have returned to Papua and I know it is God’s Plan.

Since 1977 a missionary named Wesley dedicated his life for 35 years in Papua. Wesley was an Australian but was born in Papua New Guinea. Wesley taught Bible clasess in the local Mamit language daily. Maranatha Bible School provides Bible classes for men and women. Wesley was encouraged that there is an increasing number of families studying the Bible this year.

WESLEY (Australian Missionary)My father was a missionary, he went to Ninia after Mamit to preach the Gospel and evangelize to the locals. One day when he was walking from Corbu to Ninia with a fellow missionary, they were attacked and murdered.I decided not to hate but to love because of God’s nature. I came back to Mamit to translate the Bible to their language.

I was 16 years old at that time and I had two choices, I could get bitter towards them and kill them or I could forgive them. I read in the Bible

that to forgive is God’s nature and because I am God’s child I followed what God wants in my life and saw that the Bible was translated in the local language so I came back to assist the translator team.

Isaiah 6:8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

1 Peter 5:2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;

Whatever the reasons are, we will never be able to run away from God’s calling—try hard, be content, don’t be afraid because the Lord is with us and will never leave us.

s p e c i a l r e p o r t 9

SOAR! stands for Student Organized Activities Rock! and it is the student leadership model at SPH International Kemang Village. It was designed to help students get involved in the activities and events in and around the school, and to help develop leadership skills in our students in grades seven through twelve.

S.O.A.R!By Marc BergenIB Diploma CoordinatorSPH International Kemang Village

THE program runs after school on Mondays, but events, activities and clubs happen all through the week. The students in the program are divided

into three groups, and each of these groups is responsible for a certain type of activity or event.

Cheering is responsible for school spirit events, and the students in this group plan bi-weekly lunch time activities. They also organize cheer teams and school spirit groups who cheer on our teams during athletics events, and keep track of house points.

Deepening is responsible for helping students make a stronger connection to their faith in Jesus. The students in this group are planning Bible studies, prayer groups, and peer-to-peer support groups.

Reaching is responsible for making connections inside and outside of the school. The students in Reaching have been working on random acts of kindness, as well as finding ways to celebrate their fellow students’ achievements within the school. After completing three months of work in one group, the students are rotated to another group so that they may work in all three groups before the end of the school year.

The goal of SOAR! is to develop Godly, caring, enthusiastic, well-rounded, servant leaders who wish to leave this school better than they found it. SOAR! would be nothing without its helpful teacher sponsors. Special thanks go out to Mrs Madison, Mr Stephen, Mrs Kristine, Mrs Bless, Mr Trent, and Mrs Kari.

Oreo Competition

Cheering

President University's Precedent English Competition, SPH International Sentul City team won first place. The first photo is when they were accepting their award, and the second photo shows the first place team from our school.Left to right are Jennifer Sanantha, Tiffany Valeska Kristianto, and Sherni Makhijani.

SPH International Sentul’s Youth Camp: Living in Truth (September 25–27)By Deborah Wagler (English Teacher SPH International Sentul City)

WHAT happens when the Grade 7–12 student body and their teachers go on a spiritual retreat

AND the first year of House Teams is launched at said retreat? On September 25, five buses of excited and talkative people headed to Via Renata in Puncak, and on September 27 everyone returned exhausted and hoarse after three days of singing praise and worship songs, listening

to the Word of God, performing in the Variety Show, and cheering at the house team events.

Though the retreat was not physically restful, it was a chance to wrestle with the theme of Living in Truth. Mr Peter Wells challenged us to weigh the world’s views vs. the Bible’s views about identity, image, money, sex and power and to choose

Godly influences rather than worldly ones that cloud our vision. Pastor Chuck French spoke about the relational way God interacts with mankind, and reminded us to have clean hearts before God rather than to be false prophets proclaiming what we do not believe. Though the success of the camp was at first measureable by our levels of exhaustion, it is our prayer that the impact ripples into eternity.

BULAN BAHASA 2013By Lea Setyaningrum and Debora Sibarani (Bahasa Indonesia Teachers SPH International Lippo Village)

“Long live ... long live Pitung ... long live ... long live ... Pitung!” That line is one of the memories of Bulan Bahasa 2013 in SPH International Lippo Village. The beauty of the Indonesian Cultural Ambassadors’ parade, the gracefulness of the Balinese dancers, and the exuberant ending from Ja’i dancers were some of the “wow” moments. We bet the Senior School students still also remember the interactive Seminar from two amazing actors who have elevated Indonesian cinemas to a whole new level. Those were just glimpses of pieces which were new, fresh and unique from this past Bulan Bahasa.

SPH International Lippo Village has held Bulan Bahasa for almost ten years to encourage students to have a deeper

love and appreciation towards the Indonesian language and culture. In Bulan Bahasa, usually held during the month of October, there were competitions and events held for the Senior School students to explore their talents in the Indonesian language. The culmination of those activities was called “Puncak Acara” (Bulan Bahasa Highlight), which would show the richness of the Indonesian culture and appreciate the students’ participation during the whole month.

Each highlight was in line with the school

theme. The 2013 Bulan Bahasa’ theme was Elevating The Nation’s Pride Through Cultural and Language Integrity. With that particular theme, the committee tried to show wit integrity the enormous diversity of culture and language in Indonesia. Senior School

students performed a drama about Pitung, the hero from the Betawi tribe who was a Robin Hood character, but they also emphasized the fact that being good was not always the right thing.

Besides all the unique features above, it was a special occasion to have the Junior School students attend and teachers to participate. Both Junior and Senior School conducted

s p e c i a l r e p o r t16

competitions and events from October 1 until November 4. In the first week of October, Senior School had a satay cooking competition for Grade 7 and 8 and a Bahasa Indonesia spelling bee competition at the last week. In Grade 9 and 10, the students participated in the making of a public service advertisement video related to Indonesian culture. We also had a Bahasa Indonesia scrabble and poetry musicalization competition for Grade 11 and 12. Meanwhile, Junior School teachers provided competitions, such as: drawing, coloring and poster competitions.

For the Indonesian language focus, the committee provided the opportunity for students to know about Indonesian literature better through Bilik Sastra (literature booths) both in Junior School and Senior School. We worked together with our creative librarians and some senior school students to create an exhibition about Indonesian literature though some authors, such as: Clara Ng (in Junior School library) and Pramoedya Ananta Toer and Andrea Hirata (in Senior School Canteen).

The Parent Advisory Group (PAG) also created a traditional food bazaar for four days in both Canteens. There was a lot of traditional food vendors who came to SPH international and povided delicious traditional foods from all over Indonesia, such as: putu bamboo, kerak telor, soto, baso, leker, nasi kapau with rendang and many more.

Language month has finished and we received good feedback. Many teachers said that it was a great opportunity for Junior school students to be involved in this event. However, the Indonesian teachers both in Senior and Junior School are looking forward to create an even more improved whole-school Bulan Bahasa in the future. Students also said that they really enjoyed this event. They could learn more about Indonesian language and cultures through the competition, seminars, and the highlight. Students were also really engaged with all the activities and hope for an even better event for next year.

It was an honour for the committee to work together with parents, staff and students to celebrate the Indonesian language and cultures through BulanBahasa event. We hope that this event will continue to bless the SPH International community not only by providing the students with a chance to explore their creativity and courage but also to remember and honor their own heritage.

WE may make all sorts of excuses about why they can’t go yet or at least why they can’t go without us.

“I am not ready!” “My child is not ready!”

But children are not really ours anyway. They are a gift from God given to parents who are then entrusted with the responsibility to train the children up in God’s ways. God has a purpose and a calling for our children in his Kingdom and we should prepare them for that not prevent them from fulfilling it.

So when are our children ready to leave home? When they have learnt some independence from us and are mature enough to handle the challenges of the world. Of course we always stand ready to support them when the challenges get too much. Of course, some children want to leave home because of a bad relationship with their parents, or because the parents are holding them back from leaving home or they may be willful and demanding independence too early. Remember the parable of the Prodigal Son!

Four things parents can do to build relationships with their teenagers:1. Acceptance

a. By the grace of Christ love them as they areb. Change ourselves without compromising what is right

2. Incarnationa. Be the love of Christ to themb. Be patient and forgiving of them

3. Emotiona. Begin to treat them more as equalsb. Don’t be defensive but responsive

4. Involvementa. Take time to communicate with themb. Recognise the issues so you can understand their response

By building a strong and close relationship with them, teenager will not want to escape you but be helped by you to move on to their new phase of greater independence.

The Characteristics of Maturity:Colossians 1:9–14

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you.

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Here Paul sets out a picture of the mature person— the sort of person we want our children to become.

Part of our role is to help our children be able to accept personal responsibility for their actions. They should do things not just for pleasure but for good. They should not do things just because they are bored or make excuses for wrong doing or feel threatened when confronted with responsibility. They

should be able to work and live unsupervised for periods of time and be able to maintain healthy relationships with a range of people.

We should help them grow in their faith. In doing so, they will be able to set moral limits for themselves. Not because of fear of punishment but because they properly fear God and want to serve him. They will be community builders and will not indulge in secret and wrong activities but live in the light.

As they grow we want to help them develop soft hearts towards God and others. Then they will be open to advice and want to talk to us about the important decisions of their lives. They will come to know themselves honestly as God has made them. This will give self-confidence without pride and they will not be easily influenced by others.

Our goal is to help them to be wise enough not to just blindly follow today’s cultural trends. We will have helped them move away from an immature, ‘I must have it all’ mentality and they will be grateful for relationships rather than objects. They will be trustworthy stewards.

So we need to be committed to letting them grow and letting them go. In this we will be like our heavenly father who was willing to let go of his only Son to come to earth to die for us even though we were his enemies.

Parents Seminar SPH International Lippo VillageLetting Go of Your ChildrenBeing a parent is not easy but it can be especially hard to let go of our children when the time comes for them to go away from our homes. This can happen at the end of their schooling if we send them overseas to College for example.

By Dra. Charlotte K. PriatnaParents Seminar Speaker

s p e c i a l r e p o r t18

Parents SeminarReflection

LETTING go is a responsibility in order to prepare our kids to find their identity; to mature in their

faith enough to know their calling which makes them able to persevere and be patient and give thanks in all things.

Letting go is a process to know that our kids are God's; for parents to enjoy and

cherish and to accept them as unique not to compare or use them as a way to achieve ego.

Patiently nurturing day by day until the time comes to let go to let their wings soar to accomplish God's will. We must keep our worries in our pockets as they are in the hands of God almighty who loves them dearly. Fendelina Suryadi – Parent of Kenzie (Grade 6) and Matthew (Grade 9)

PARENTING seminars have helped many parents in SPH International to be better parents.

We are not perfect parents but we can always learn to become better ones through seminars.

In the beginning of the school year, together with the school, PAG set up the themes of this year parenting seminars. We see different needs in each grade level especially in the higher grade levels as they struggle with different issues.

This year we emphasized on problems faced in Senior School. We are trying to get more parents to attend the seminar by picking the right themes and the right speakers. The first seminar was "Letting Go of Your Teens". This theme was designed for Grade 11 and 12 parents who have anxiety when separated from their children.

We thought Ibu Charlotte was the right person to speak on this topic. We also changed the format of the seminar a little bit. We brought in parents to share, based on their experiences. We were happy to see many parents blessed by the seminar and hope there will be more parents coming to our seminars throughout the year. Devy Farial – Parent of Nathan (Grade 6)

THE seminar "Letting Go of Your Teen" was an inspirational

seminar for me combined with an exceptional speaker. We were also privileged to have Ibu Aileen and two mothers share their life experiences. I have attended many

parent seminars in SPH International and Dra Charlotte seminars always have been inspirational and always give me real life examples and practical theories which are in line with biblical teaching. This seminar especially gave me insightful stories and theories as the mother of a teen. In addition it gave me tips and recommendations to prepare my son to be an independent and responsible person. If I can prepare my son to have such character and capability, it gives me comfort at the end of the day when I have to let him go to study overseas.

Agustina – Parent of Jeremy (Grade 10)

WE often underestimate our children’s capabilities and maturity. That is why it is so difficult to let them go. They

can do greater things if we let them explore and make mistakes rather than taking charge of their responsiblities. Living in Indonesia exarcerbates it because we fear for their security. For example, we, parents are not so willing to let them travel alone for fear of their own safety. We mean good but never realise that they are being overly protected which in turn leads to immaturity. In essence, accepting the way they are and the way they mature in their own way and pace is critical. If not, we deprive them from developing independently. Ivan Hodiny – Parent of Joshua (Grade 11) and Nicole (Grade 12)

s p e c i a l r e p o r t 19

key messages we got from the seminar. As we showed them a video clip from the seminar, we could clearly see that their hearts were touched. At the same time, we also shared our next purpose to seriously prepare for their leaving one day in the future. We agreed to use both verbal and written communication in order to cater for

the short term and long term objective. We have a special book in which we usually write when we do family forum. We hope that this book will become a very valuable, tangible asset in our family life for our children and even our children’s children in the future.

These are their responses:

Crissy:Typically, I thought the video would be some kind of entertainment or maybe some usual motivation that would urge me to live a better life. But it was far from that. It challenged me to think about serious part of life where I was introduced to the highest state of gratitude. I never considered how hard my parents had been striving in order to prepare the best future for their daughters. No one can truly determine what the future will be, but as for my parents, they are making a great effort in preparing how the future goes.

Though I always feel overprotected and restricted in the things I call fun, I thank God that my parents are the ones who gently let me grow and faithfully discuss things together where every part of the family are continually given the chance to make mistakes, grow, and someday we will be ready to face the real world. They know that they will be forced to let go of their daughters and I am deeply thankful that they have made the best decision in their life to put us in God’s hands.

Grace:In the first few moments of the discussion, I, just like any other child would, feel disinterested and reluctant. Never have I talked about the future where I would leave the house. After all, my friends have always remarked on how strict their parents are. I always thought that my parents intended to keep us as long as they possibly could. It seemed like they never wanted to let us go.

Yet as the forum continued, I realized how wrong I have been. Our parents’ toughness on imposing rules could often reflect their greatest fears and anxiety. As dad and mom shared, I understand how they long to prepare me as well as possible to face the harsh world, how they want the very best for me. They know that they will have to let me go. But they will only do so when I am ready at the right time.

Henky Cahyadi – Parent of Gracesenia (Grade 9)

ON Wednesday, 23 October 2013, we attended a parents seminar “Letting Go of Your Children” presented by

Ibu Charlotte. Here are some key lessons we captured during the seminar: • “Letting go of your children” is a SURE

thing, therefore we must prepare for it well.

• Children belong to God and God has a specific purpose for each of them. It is our role as parents to help our children to discover, to grow and to be fruitful in that purpose.

• Maturity and the ability to manage self are two important factors for teens to face the real world.

• Responsibility, Discipline, Humility, Know Your Self, and Discretion are five area of development that we, as parents, need to help children to grow.

To me and my wife, the message about “letting go ..." had awakened something very important within our family life. In the past, we never thought that we had to make a conscious effort to prepare our children’s readiness to leave home in a more meaningful and beautiful way.

As usual after the seminar, my wife and I discussed about “what next?” and the discussion we had led us to one important DNA (Decision and Action), i.e. to refocus our current family forum(we called it as F2) as a regular medium to prepare our children’s future departure in a more structured and systematic way. To both of us, the seminar has given us a practical objective we had never thought of before. We decided that October 23, 2013 would become our starting point. We got excited and expected this to be a good inheritance to both of our daughters. That night, we talked to our two daughters, Crissy and Grace, and shared some of the

Parents SeminarReflection

A child's 'self image' is often

marred by their parents. When damaged it is very difficult to rebuild it. Therefore, do not look at a child from their failure,

because he/she is still in the process of maturing. A parent's acceptance that every child is unique will give them confirmation. It helps them to build the right identity. Siusan Hermawan – Parent of Audrey (Grade 8), Nadia (Grade 10) and Andari (Grade 12)

s p e c i a l r e p o r t20

Staff Retreat Reflection

AS a new member of the SPH International family, the last admin retreat was

my very first chance to join. It was an exciting and definitely unforgettable experience. Together with the other staff, I was personally reminded about God’s grace: How my life as a Christian starts with God’s grace and can only be lived through God’s grace.

Knowing, and always being reminded of this truth, affects

my action to be true in whatever things God has entrusted me. I was also

blessed with the fellowship we had with the other SPH Campuses. How they are committed to

their work and personal relationship with God encourages me to continuously work for Him as my Master! Evangeline Launy TambarikiHRD StaffSPH International Lippo Village

SHALOM, I am Chacha, Admission and PRP Staff at SPH International

Kemang Village. This is my first year in SPH and it has been a wonderful experience. We had an annually spiritual retreat from 16 to 18 October 2013 at Seruni Hotel, Cisarua. It was a good opportunity to pause our daily routines and being closer to God. The sermon from Rev. Agus Gunawan and Rev. Yung Tik Yuk remind us to have a balance of working and our relationship with God. May we reflect the love God through our job and our daily interactions.

During retreat, we had the chance to know fellow staff from other SPH campus. It is nice to finally meet people that we might only interact through emails or phone calls. We know each other better during sessions, especially the games and group performance. After retreat, I feel rejoice and enlightened.

Cakrawati (Chacha)Admission and PRP StaffSPH International Kemang Village

WHEN we go to a doctor, they check our vital signs to see how we are doing. As we drive along

a highway or street, we look at the signs to find the place we are seeking. We check the weather signs outside to determine what to wear. In life there are many signs we look at that have a great influence on our life. Praise the

Lord that Yayasan held “The Annual Spiritual Admin Staff Retreat” with the

theme “Spiritual Check Up” on 16–18 October 2013 at Hotel Seruni Cisarua, Bogor.

Through all the sermons brought by the guest speakers and also some activities conducted by the committee, we did “spiritual checkups” to see whether our spiritual life performs healthily or not. The health of our relationship with God will determine the overall health of our personal lives. We need to remember the sign that makes all the difference: The Sign of the Cross, the vital sign of our life that helps us to find ways to deepen and improve our walk with Jesus; our personal life and our relationship with others.

DekyawanHead of General AffairsSPH International Sentul City