This summer, a team from North America traveled to Indonesia to witness the work on the field and to connect with teachers and students supported by Mustard Seed International.
One of their most unforgettable visits was to a small village school in Ngadulanggi, tucked high in the hills of Sumba Island. The journey to reach it was no small feat. It took over four hours of driving through rough, unpaved roads that twisted through steep terrain and sharp turns. Some members of the team experienced carsickness, but they pressed on, believing something meaningful awaited them at the top.
What they found at the top of the hill was a weathered but resilient bamboo school, held together by tin roofing and faithful hearts. Inside, around forty children sat quietly in plastic chairs-some curious, some unsure, some tired. The team noticed that many of the children were barefoot. Their small feet hung above the cracked cement floor. Four local teachers stood nearby with welcoming smiles. Their presence brought a sense of calm and care to the room.
The teachers in Ngadulanggi serve faithfully each day, despite limited facilities: no electricity, few teaching materials, and ongoing food insecurity.
The visit was filled with joy. The children played games, sang songs, and received gifts to improve their writing lessons. One brave student stood up to share a poem she had written. Laughter echoed across the hillside.
Before leaving, the team gave each child a piece of paper and asked them to trace their hand on it. Inside the outline, they were invited to answer a simple question: "What makes you feel sad, and how can we pray for you?”
The children wrote slowly and quietly. Some paused, staring at their paper for a long time, unsure of how to begin. Their teachers gently stepped in, kneeling beside them and speaking in the local language-a voice the children understood with ease. With patience, the teachers helped them put their feelings into words.
"My throat hurts," she wrote.
When they were finished, the team asked them to hold the papers between their hands. Together, they prayed. Asking Jesus to hold their sadness, to comfort their hearts, and to bring healing where it was needed most.
At the end of the prayer, one by one, the children walked forward and handed over their papers. These weren't just notes. They were glimpses into lives shaped by poverty, isolation, and resilience.
“I’m hungry.”
“My throat hurts.”
“I don’t have shoes.”
"My mom is sick"
“I’m tired of walking.”
“I can’t do math.”
“I feel sad when my mom hits me.”
A child named Sandro wrote, "I am hungry."
There were no easy answers that day. Yet, in that little bamboo school, the team saw something powerful: faith. The kind that grows in places far from the spotlight. The kind nurtured by teachers who keep showing up. The kind planted when someone takes the time to listen to a child’s heart.
Thanks to generous supporters, Mustard Seed is able to reach communities like Ngadulanggi and remind these little ones that they are not alone.
Please pray and consider supporting schools like Ngadulanggi Bamboo School through the Go the Distance Challange.
Every gift will be matched dollar to dollar!
Watch the video of the recent visit to Ngadulanggi School, Sumba below:
