Habitat for Humanity---Indonesia

During spring break, while the rest of our family was busy touring and playing hard in Bali, Indonesia, Bracken along with other SAS schoolmates, spent their entire week working hard to build homes in a very impoverished community in Manado, another region of Indonesia.  Before he left, I handed him a camera, and made him promise to take loads of pictures of the group's work and accomplishments.  When I first started downloading the pictures from his camera, I was a bit surprised to find close to 200 completely unrelated pics to Habitat! 

Like this......

 or these......

However,  relieved, I also downloaded close to another 150 photos of a very thorough week of amazing photos, and immediately understood why Bracken had absolutely loved his experience---this fabulous group of high school students had worked incredibly hard, but at the same time, laughed and enjoyed working together for a great cause.

Upon arrival in Manado, the students were able to visit the community and see the current living conditions of the people for whom they would be building new homes, and a community.

The local children had waited anxiously to meet the foreigners who would be helping to build them a new community.......the high schoolers became instant celebrities!!

The group was then taken to the new location where the community would be built, and each student was given a specific job.

Bracken's job was to help make the concrete blocks.  He spent hours each day molding and working hard to make sure the delicate blocks were complete without any breaks.

Every day, all day long, the local children watched the students build their future homes, and were thrilled when the students stopped to give them a few minutes of their time.

 

 

The clothes alone are evidence of some long hard work days from the students!!

After their week of building homes came to an end, the entire community showed up to give thanks to the students.  A local reporter surprised them for pictures and a write up in the local newspaper.

When we finally were able to meet up with Bracken after spring break, we enjoyed the detailed week  summary he gave us.  It was a refreshing feeling to realize that high school students could spend their entire spring break in service---and want to do it again!!  I never want to forget this unselfish service from these teens, or the text I received from Bracken while he was away---"Mom, I am doing great here.  Working on Habitat is Awesome!!"  For parents, these are the teaching moments that will always be treasured!