Today’s post is written by Gavin Johnson, who is serving in Ungaran. He writes about revisiting our study setting in Yogyakarta. Study term was so much fun, from the language class and malls to the trips and the city of...
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Indonesia
This blog shares the experiences of Goshen College students during their Study-Service Term in Indonesia.
Over the semester, these students are living with host families, studying Bahasa Indonesian, and learning first-hand in one of the most culturally rich and diverse countries in the world — a place made up of thousands of islands and hundreds of distinct languages and traditions. Their time in Indonesia centers around the theme of peace and reconciliation, exploring how communities navigate cultural and religious diversity while engaging deeply with local partners. From urban study in Yogyakarta to service placements in rural areas, students are weaving together academic learning, language practice, and community-centered service. Through their reflections, readers are invited into the moments that have shaped this transformative journey across Indonesia’s vibrant landscapes and cultures.
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Revisiting old haunts
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My Time with Love Sumba
Today’s post was written by Jacob Stoltzfus, who is serving in Melolo, Sumba, an island in the eastern part of Indonesia. During the service portion of my SST, I was assigned to the Love Sumba organization stationed in Melolo, East...
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In it to win it
Today’s post was written by Carlos Lichty, who is doing his service at the Laboratory Middle School at Satya Wacana University in Salatiga. For my service assignment, I was placed at a local Christian Middle School named UKSW SMP here...
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Climbing Mountains in Central Java
Today’s post was written by Lindsey Daniels, who is serving with Wijna, a community organization in Salatiga. As we were coming up to our 10th week of SST, Carlos, Camila, and I decided that we wanted to explore a...
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Scouting friends
Today’s post is written by Peri Mast-Hochstedler. They are serving at Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana Laboratory High School in Salatiga. During my time in Saltiga, I have had the pleasure of observing classes and teaching English at the Satya Wacana...
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Classrooms, comfort zones, card games, and kindnesses
Today’s post is written Camila Perez-Diener. She is serving in the Satya Wacana Laboratory Elementary School in Salatiga, Central Java. I entered my service term expecting to assist the English teachers with their classes and maybe work in the library...
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Exploring Indonesia Through a New Lens
Today’s post is written by Evan King, who is doing his service in Yogyakarta. During service, I have not been given as much opportunity to interact with my host family because, during the week, I am living at Bumi Cendekia,...
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Am I in Italy or Indonesia?
Today’s blog is written by Jonathan Weaver, who is doing his service on the island of Sumba. I have been living with my host family in Sumba for close to four weeks now. During this time I have continued to...
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The tempe from here tastes the best!
Today’s post is written by Johanna Morford-Oberst, who is doing her service at UNDANA university in Kupang, Timor. On Tuesday, March 5th, Pak Dr. Niko, my supervisor, took Brenton, my service partner, and I to Susteran Alma Orphanage. This is...
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Susteran Alma Orphanage
This blog post was written by Johanna Morford-Oberst, who is serving at Undana University in the city of Kupang on the island of Timor in eastern Indonesia. On Tuesday, March 5th, Pak Dr. Niko, my supervisor, took Brenton, my service...
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I felt like I was seeing a completely different city
Today’s blog is written by Evan King, a junior who is doing his service in Yogyakarta in an Islamic boarding school. During service, I have not been given much opportunity to interact with my host family because, during the week,...
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Bagoyang-goyang
Today’s post was written by Brenton Pham. He is currently doing his service portion in Kupang on the island of Timor. It just so happened that, in the first week of service, the University Nusa Cendana in Kupang would be...
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The time has come…
Friends, I have never led SST before, so I do not know how unusual our experience in Yogyakarta was, but I have been astounded at every turn with the kindness and generosity of our host families, our teachers, the international...
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Ancient temples
To the east of Yogya is the Hindu temple of Prambanan and to the northwest of Yogya is the Buddhist temple of Borobudur. Borobudur is slightly older (build in 8th Century, while Prambanan was built in the 9th Century; both...
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Language classes and other university experiences
Friends, I will first confess that I am behind on blogging, but I fully intend to catch up in the next 24 hours. Watch for blogs on our visits to Prambanan and Borobudur Temples, as well as our final farewell...
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Batik!
While our theme for the 2024 Indonesia SST unity is “unity in diversity,” with a particular focus on inter-religious work, we have participated in a number of arts in Indonesia as well. Having these creative outlets over the last 5...
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Brati village and the environment
We journeyed forth on our environmental field trip this past week. Our destination was a traditional village that is working to address environmental and economic issues by reforestation with productive trees (mango and avocado) and development of environmental tourism to...
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Happy Lunar New Year!
This week we were privileged to see several new sides of Indonesian culture. Last Monday was opening day of the new semester of classes at the university in which we study (UKDW, here in Yogyakarta). We were invited to the...
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Future professional gamelan players in our midst?
Our first day with Ibu Kitsie and Pak Wakidi was so amazing, and there was more in store for us. They had arranged for our Goshen group to play the song that we had just learned in an actual wayang...
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Javanese arts in Solo
On Wednesday after class, students traveled by commuter train up to Solo: Quite the trip–standing room only! Luckily the train ride was just an hour, and everyone emerged (relatively) unscathed. The Setiawan family actually was on our way to Semarang...
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Week 2 in Indonesia!
It’s been a little too long since we updated the blog. We’ve been busy with language classes and becoming acquainted with the city of Yogyakarta. Students continue to amaze us with their willingness to be brave and try new things...
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Our first field trip day: rain!
During study, Thursdays are our day set aside for a full-day field trip. For this first day, we planned on visiting the Kraton here in Yogyakarta. Yogya is a “special district” and continues to have a living Sultan who rules...
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Settling into host families and a Yogyakarta routine
Has it really only been one week since the SSTer’s arrived? The first week of SST was brimming with new experiences: the first days of jet-lagged orientation, meeting host families, language class, bus trips, a lecture, new food…. Language class…
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From orientation to host families
Saturday was a full day of orientation. We started the morning with a walk to UKDW, the university where our language classes will take place. On the way we stopped at Ibu Ning and Ibu Martha’s home so students meet...
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