Road to Indonesia--OE (Outdoor Education)

 This morning 63 of our high school students and staff flew out of Sentani airport on MAF planes to a remote village in the highlands of Papua.  ALL tested negative for covid, which is quite a MIRACLE considering our surrounds.  There are only 3 students who, for various reasons, could not go.  I am kind of helping coordinate the work for these students who stayed back partially because I am the only full time hs teacher left behind. The OE trip is a working trip with HS anthropology credit attached to it.  Besides doing their Vacation Bible School, A.I.D.S. education, and extending airstrip work, the students also have assignments to interview villagers about their histories, belief systems, and learning some basic words in the language. When the students return they have to turn in a photo journal, a daily diary, and finally an 8 page research paper.  Rick and I will grade the research paper which is due right before Easter break. This is an intensive wor...

Road to Indonesia---MAF film: To the Ends of the Earth

 We are in the midst of omicron infections.  This past week grades 2, 5, 7, and 10 have been sent home at various times and for various periods.  So we are doing hybrid teaching, with part of the students online and half in front of us.  But next week we are going straight online.  This is a special preventive measure however. Our high school students are scheduled to go on their 2 weeks Outdoor Education (OE) starting February 28.  If we are all in school and one student tests postive, no one can get on the plane to go to the interior. However, if the students have been sheltering at home, and test positive, only the student that tests positive can't go.   The OE program is an integral and important experience at our school.  I would challenge any US school to have an equivalent. The students go to a remote mission station.  They fly in and then hike for hours and hours to get to even more remote villages.  They present Vacation Bi...