Indonesians don't do garage sales or thrift stores or Goodwill. Basically, they keep everything they have and use it until it has no possible use anymore. And then they still keep it because God forbid you throw something away. I, however, take after my mother in that I don't like having lots of useless stuff around. So I have a deal with my pembantu that anytime I don't want something, whether or not I think it is still usable, I give it to her and she will find someone who can use it.
Anyways, I digress. We have a tradition around here in which the seniors host a garage sale once a year during second semester. They sell their own things, and other people are welcome to donate unused items as well. The money goes to the senior class trip and/or other class functions. Tons of people turn out - foreigners and nationals alike. It's the one time a year you can buy used stuff for cheap.
It happened today. I got some good books and some clothes for Aswan that I am happy about. The seniors made $850 in 3 hours. Not bad. At all.
After I left the garage sale, I came home, ate some chicken and rice, then fell back asleep.
I woke up to a phone call from the seniors saying, "We still have some leftover stuff, and we want to give it to an orphanage, but we don't know where one is in Salatiga. Can you take us to an orphanage?"
You can't say no to that. So I went and helped them deliver 4 boxes of clothes, shoes, and other things to a very nearby orphanage that none of the students even knew existed.
The point of the story is that I'm so excited to see this class's heart of ministry. As they leave our school in May and find themselves in colleges all over the world, I know this group of kids will have an impact. And as sad as it will be to say my goodbyes, I am so excited to see how they will change the world. Because I know they will.
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