Following a request from the local government to set up a model of Christian education, a team of educators were dispatched to this region in July. For the past three months, they have been working together to strategize while ministering to children and helping local teachers.
Faithful Footprints
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Latest News from Northeastern Archipelago
Watch the Northeastern Team in Action
Facts & Figures
Click on the pictures above to see the Northeastern Team ministering to children
Click above to see the initial meetings with the Regent and the Education Board of the District
About the Northeastern Team
The Northeastern Archipelago team consists of five educators. Dean & Jita are the MSI Site Leaders. Before moving to this island, Dean previously served as TfN's program Director. Xavier is a TfN alumni who now serves on staff with Mustard Seed. Elisa and Michael graduated from TfN this past July.
They all come from different islands with various ethnicities: Dean is a Javanese; his wife Jita, comes from Moluccas Island; Xavier is Timorese; Elisa comes from Dayak tribe in Kalimantan; while Michael's tribe lives in highlands of Papua.
Although they are from different backgrounds, they are united in one vision: to serve the children of Northeastern Archipelago.
About the Island
The Northeastern Archipelago is located at the northern part of Papua. The area is famous for its epic landscape and fishing industry.
In the district where MSI teachers are serving, there's approximately 108,000 people living there. Most of them depend on farming and fishing. Almost 30% of the population lives in poverty, with almost 5,000 people struggling with illiteracy. Only 47% of males complete their high school education, while the rate is even lower for females (40%).
Things to Discuss
1. From talking lively in front of children to negotiating formally in front of high officials, MSI's teachers are required to possess many skills as frontline workers. What kind of skills and character do you think that the frontline workers should have?
2. What do you think about the local government requesting help and support from Mustard Seed?
3. What kind of changes would you like to see in the lives of children in the North-eastern Archipelago and how can you be a part of those changes?
4. Are there any questions you have about the work? What would you like to understand better?
Prayer Requests
This is how you can pray for The Northeastern Team and the children of Northeastern Archipelago
Prayer Requests
1. Please pray for the Northeastern Team in their first year of serving. May they adjust well with the children they serve, the local government, local teachers, and the community.
2. Please pray for the development of the boarding school initiated by the local government. May the model of Christian Education bring a positive change to the entire island.
3. Please pray for unity and peace amongst our partners, teachers, community, and the local government of the Archipelago, so they can put priority on serving and ministering to the children and their well-being.
