One day, Jesus sat down on the ground and called for his disciples to gather near him. “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all,” he told them. Jesus then brought a little child into the circle. With the child in his arms he told his disciples, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me. (Mark 9: 35-37)
Each year, the Associated Students of Walla Walla University strive to live up to Christ’s call to servanthood with a Global Service Project. Previous projects include Mission Mozambique, an effort that raised $86,000 for new and sustainable water sources in the southern African nation of Mozambique, and To Build A home, which raised $100,000 to build an orphanage in Uganda where WWU students currently serve as missionaries.
This year’s project is called One of These, a reference to Jesus’ instruction to his disciples in Mark 9 to embrace the children of the world. One of the most profound gifts a child can receive is an education, and that is what ASWWU Global Service is working to give the children of Bangka Island in Indonesia.
Bangka Island, just north of Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta, has about one million residents and is one of the largest producers of tin in the world. One of the problems the Southeast Asian island faces is limited access to education. For this project, ASWWU Global Service seeks to enable the local Adventist mission on the island to open Bangka Island Adventist School. The school will be self-supporting and National-Plus accredited—a status achieved by Indonesian schools that teach English in addition to meeting the country-wide curricular standards. Students who are given a multilingual foundation have a broader range of career opportunities.
ASWWU Global Service has a goal of raising $35,000 for the opening and initial operation of the school. This includes facility expenses, teacher salaries, utilities, renovations, and school supplies. Just $10 can provide a day of education for a child on Bangka Island.
“This project will not only provide opportunities through education, but it will also introduce these students to Jesus Christ and the love He has for them,” said Justin Mock, ASWWU Global Service Director and senior business administration and health science major.
Mock also described the way that these global service initiatives can enrich campus life. “We really believe in the importance of providing the student body with ways in which they can exercise one of WWU’s core values—generosity in service,” Mock continued. “Projects like these are great because they unify the campus through collaboration and cooperation. Clubs, classes, and other groups all come together to reach the common goal. By developing a dedication to service here at WWU, we hope to create in people a desire to serve throughout their lifetimes.”
To learn more about how to get involved, watch the ASWWU One of These video at wallawalla.edu/ASWWUGlobalService or send an email to ASWWU.GlobalService@wallawalla.edu. For instructions on how to donate, visit the Global Service page on the ASWWU website.
Posted Feb. 25, 2016
