On Saturday, June 20, our students departed for a new host family and a new setting to begin their Service Term, the second half of SST. Stay tuned for more updates about the communities in which the students are living and the volunteer work they're doing with nonprofits, community organizations, and municipal governments!
News
What is Service?
Mar 03 2022
Students left for their service placements on Saturday morning all arriving by the evening and greeted by their new host families. 🙂
We mentioned previously that last Thursday afternoon we spent some concentrated time discussing/reflecting/anticipating the upcoming transition to service assignments together as a group. We asked students to define service now and then we’ll see at the end of their experience how those concepts maybe change or evolve.
What is Service? (Here’s an accumulation of thoughts from that discussion Thursday)
- productivity isn’t necessarily the goal
- we are all members of christ’s body, everyone has a role to bring / gifts to share
- process of validating hurts, needs, voices and place of belonging in the world
- small lifts can be a helpful impact
- service can be a personal journey, a different mindset, seeking understanding
- sharing connection, culture and friendship
- not about being a savior… compliment and support the work already being done
- community connection
- service is “not my project”
- engagement with energy and interest
- strong listening and participation
- helping with current needs
Photos students sent upon their arrival:
Study AbroadBeginning Service Term in Ecuador
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Study AbroadSaying farewell (for now) to Quito
By Hillary Harder On Friday night, June 19, our group gathered at our Quito headquarters, La Casa de Espiritualidad, to mark the end of our Study period in Quito. We were joined by our host families, professors, and many community…