Dear Bethany Girls of 2019,

It did not seem right that you had to write every single entry on this blog, and that we would end this trip without giving us a chance to have our say.

Yesterday when we did our final reflection and de-brief it was so lovely to hear you speak so warmly and fondly of your time at Bethany Home, and the thoughtful gifts you bought for us were so appreciated – not because Mr T could always use a new hat – but what they represented. We have thoroughly enjoyed spending the last two weeks getting to know you as people and being witness to your incredible journey.

 

Warning: Miss P wrote this, so it is going to get a bit soppy.

 

Asher – You have the sweetest heart, which melted one particular boy so much he made you a crown. It was well-deserved, and is testament to how kind you are, and the way you always consider the feelings of others. The way you genuinely connect with those you come in contact with is a reflection of the kind and friendly young lady that you are. I hope that you continue to see yourself as a leader who is thoughtful in her words and uses them to empower others. You wear your heart on your sleeve, and know even in a short time frame that you made a difference to those students in the physio room. I know that you will find ways to permeate this through your life back at home, at school, and wherever life takes you.

 

Bree – You may be the loudest in any conversation, but it is the way you use your voice to speak to and with those who may not be able to, which is truly a gift. Your ease with all the students, ability to make them feel comfortable so that they light up when you are talking to them, is something I enjoyed so much. Whether it is the students at Bethany Home or Reverend Eliezer’s son, you are unafraid of getting to know people for who they are. Thank you for keeping us laughing, for “the bants” and endless source of entertainment. Please never lose your unbridled enthusiasm for life, and I know you will channel this passion into ways to continue to be of service to others.

 

Caitlin – Your patience is a gift, and the way you used this to garner as much as you could out of every opportunity was a reflection on your character and the way you see every human interaction as important. You saw each student at Bethany as an individual who deserved your full attention. No job was too small and no task too menial, you saw the value in the experience and sought to get as much out of Bethany Home as you could. And even though you may not be there to see the long-term benefits, your help and time will cumulatively add to making each student you worked with a better person for having known you. Thank you for embracing every opportunity along the way, seeing the fun in the smallest of things, and procuring everything you could out of this trip, and our experience much more richer for having you be part of it.

 

Emma – You go about your day by making as little fuss as possible, but that does not mean you have less of an impact. Your moments are quieter and unassuming that they could go unnoticed, but they are still important. When you were working one-on-one with the students at Bethany they were captivated by you. And maybe it appeared that you took longer to warmer up to it all, you have created wonderful memories that you can hold on to and reflect on. You are a great advocate for getting done what needs to be done. Even when you are tired, or its early, you were always willing to show up and be involved. It is clear that you serve others so that they might reap the reward, not that you want to shout and make people notice what you have done. Continue to find ways to help others, and let people see the passion you have for making the world a better place. Enjoy the sleep in!

 

Emily – I adored seeing you in your element surrounded by gaggles of little kids. You were a natural with them; relaxed, comfortable, in control, and they genuinely enjoyed being in your company. You have a wonderful presence that the students willingly accept your help and want to be around you; whether that is in the classroom, at aerobics, or on the swings. Please continue to follow your passion for child care or primary teaching, as you will only develop more skills in this arena that will already harness the care you showed towards the students at Bethany Home.

 

Isobelle – You were an absolute bundle of joy and Mum to all. Thank you for always being up for anything and embracing every opportunity. But beyond just becoming familiar with the students at Bethany, you have a good heart for helping people. You have a warm smile which made the students light up. When you took their hand and guided them, they were comfortable with you and were happy to accept your help. Know that your encouragement made a difference. You were organised and reliable, and teachers know that if they set you with a student and a task that it will be done properly. I know you will walk away with some very special memories from this trip that will help guide your passions and future.

 

Jorja – You have such an open heart and so much love to give that it is no surprise that you had several favourite students within the first couple of days. You took the time to learn each ones name and story, and as much as you will remember them all fondly, they will also remember you. Thank you for your talents and being so willing to share them with everyone. You impressed me with the way you were open to every experience at Bethany and could also reflect on what each day meant and taught you. You think and care deeply about people, particularly those who may get ignored by everyone else. To have this core value of who you are, is a testament to your character and the potential you have to go out and make a difference on a personal level.

 

Meetal – You fit in so seamlessly with the whole team, that it’s like you were all friends all along. The tour would not have been the same without you. Your smile is infectious and the connections you made with the students were truly special. It was a joy to see you work with them, encourage them, guide them to make progress, even when they were finding things difficult. Take some time to reflect on this experience and what it means for your life and decisions moving forward. Continue to be open to the potential people have, and know that you have the capacity to make their lives better and more rich for being in it.

 

Sarah – Cool and quietly confident, thank you for being our go-to person when we didn’t know what was in the food. I still cannot understand why everyone always thought you were the Mafia, because you are so the opposite of that. You are so gentle and were always calm with the students, but were never a push-over. Your composure is a wonderful trait with the students always feeling comfortable around you, wanting to work with you, and I saw them always giving their best when they were with you. You show humility, never really making a fuss of the work you do, but that does not deplete its importance. You are reliable and that fills people with confidence, so when you go out into the world you will make your mark.

 

 

We hope you all can take your experiences from this trip to guide your future choices and the type of young adults you are growing up to be. You are kind, empathetic and ambassadors of the value of service. And the world is a bit short on all of these qualities right now.

You will get back to school and into your regular life, and pretty quickly this whole tour and Bethany Home will seem like a distant memory. But be assured that the relationships you made in those quiet moments of classrooms or in morning walks were real. That even though you were speaking a language that they may not have understood, by holding a hand or giving a reassuring smile or a thumbs up or encouraging high five, this made a difference and meant something to those individual students. They understood that you cared about them and were there to help.

Continue to smile at people who look different or have challenges to overcome, try to remember the patience you used and the understanding you showed when the days were long and you were feeling tired, and know that you have the capacity to make a difference.

Thank you for making our first Bethany Tour so memorable and special. It was so awesome to spend this time with you, and know that even though we won’t all be together like this again in the same way, it was so worth it and we would do it all again with you all in a heartbeat.

 

Get some rest, and we will catch up soon,

Jenny P & Jordy T

(aka Miss Prosser & Mr Torquato)