Day 6: So Long, And Thank You For All the Love

The team woke up earlier than usual today, for we had to travel to the airport to catch our flight. But the sun rises early in Indonesia, and even then we were greeted with the bright sunlight over the cityscape we had grown used to seeing every morning. Time seemed slower as we packed our bags and met downstairs for breakfast before boarding the bus.

On the way to the airport, our tour guide Soni gave us a parting gift by singing Indonesia’s anthem to us. Apart from his strong voice there was the morning silence and the low rumble of the engine. It was an unfamiliar tune but the passion and pride within still resonated with us. We then gave Soni and our bus drivers thank you cards for telling us many interesting stories of Jogja, and for taking us safely around the city and beyond.

At the airport, we had some spare time to walk around. Some of us bought Indonesian pastries for our families, others purchased novels to read on the plane.

Landing in Changi airport, we gathered one more time in the corridors between the plane and the luggage claim area, where team member Desiree Cho gave us our final devotions for the trip. In her devotions, she reflected on our tiredness getting in the way of giving as much as we wanted to, and urged us all to channel the gratitude we felt from the trip into caring for and blessing others, even as this trip came to a close.

Then the final parting of ways: a bittersweet moment for all we had to leave behind yet a joyful one for what we had experienced, with the gratitude of knowing that we were all the better for what we had gone through together.

Team MOOvement would like to thank:

1. The students, staff, and principal of Bina Putra: for their warm welcome and immense love shown to us throughout our time there;

2. Our guide Soni and bus drivers for taking us around the city safely and showing us wonderful hospitality, teaching us about Jogja and Indonesia;

3. Our teachers Mr Jarett Kan, Mr Yusof Hafiz, and Mrs Elaine Lui for taking care of us throughout the trip, for facilitating reflections and doing so much more;

4. Our parents for their love and support;

5. Everyone who has supported our fundraising efforts and our AIA as a whole;

6. ACSI for the opportunity to embark on the AIA in the first place;

7. And last but not least God for his endless love and mercies, for without whom none of this would have been possible.