One Starfish at a Time
Jesse Tan, P4 Finland
Gabriella Uzzle, P4 U.S.A.
Charlotte Whitten-Ooi, P4
Malaysia
“One day the sea washed thousands of starfish on the shore. A little boy saw this, and he started throwing starfish, one by one, back into the ocean, trying to make a difference,” said Emma Logan, a representative from the NGO Cambodia Love, to the high school chapel audience. “Although it seemed like his efforts were futile, he was making a difference for that one starfish.” “Each of us are too caught up in daily activities, which is why we tend to forget service. It’s a pity, because it’s actually in the act of service that the most important lessons in life are learnt,” said Hung Ching Song. With life filled to the brim with hectic activities, going the extra mile in service often got pushed down to a lower priority. People just didn’t have enough time to sit down and ponder on how to change the world and the passion to make a difference often simmered down before anyone ever took the first step. “Okay guys, we got this!” yelled Sam McIntyre, jumping on a tree and swinging an ax. Joe Merusi, in his effort to earn the Eagle badge of honor, organized a service project on Pearl
Rio Yamaguchi, P4 Japan
Janice Yap, P4
Malaysia
Sheryl Yap, P4
Malaysia
Teo Yoon, P4 Korea
Daniel Blom, P3 South Africa
Asha Cain, P3 Australia
Rachel Dewhirst, P3 U.S.A.
Ella Mignatti, P3 U.S.A.
Joshua Morf, P3 Switzerland
Jonathan Ooi, P3
Malaysia
Matthias Seevaratnam, P3 U.S.A.
Charles Swayne, P3 U.S.A.
Sean White, P3
CHARISSA TAN
ATIENTLY, David Tse explains the answer of a Precalculus question to Danae Frentz. Peer tutoring provided benefits to both parties as teaching integrated the concepts taught.
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∞ Pre-4 (Tan) – Pre-3 (White) 5 0th
W
HILE laughing at one of David Toh’s jokes, Marco Lee paints the upper edges of the wall. A group of students, led by Mr. Tom Miller, worked together to repaint Hillside Baptist Church.
W
ITH smiles on their faces, Mrs. Jill Girling, and her children Will, Hayden, and Julia run across the basketball court with their new made friends. Mrs. Girling organized a basketball camp open to local students every Saturday over several weekends.
CHARISSA TAN
P
it’s really not about how much you grow as a person, but about seeing other people grow and being a part of showing God to them.” “Although it’s often good to have major projects to make a difference and create an awareness, service doesn’t always have to come through huge events,” said Mrs. Girling. “Sometimes it just involves building relationships in our daily lives, reaching out and touching people around us, and walking by example. Sometimes that is truly the best service one can do for another.” Indeed, service did not come to those who only waited for opportunities to descend upon them, but it came to those who went out of their way to take the initiative. “And if we take the first step and start making a difference— like the little boy who threw one starfish in at a time,” Logan concluded, “others, too, will follow. Then, we can truly change the world.” —By Charissa Tan
CHARISSA TAN
U.S.A.
Hill with his peers. Together, they became involved with the local community, working together to clean bunkers, hack trees, and clear out a designated area to create the beginnings of a park. “Dwayne [Lourdes]! Hurry up and pass the paint!” yelled Jeffrey Hsiao. Lourdes and Hsiao worked together to repaint the staircase walls of the Hillside Baptist Church. Mr. Tom Miller led a group of students to repaint the church inside out. Although the task seemed relatively simple, it touched the lives of the locals. “My hope is to break down the boundaries between our community and the others in this country. It takes effort to learn their culture and their language, but it’s only through this that we can properly share Christ’s love with them,” said Mrs. Jill Girling who also taught several classes in local Malay schools. “AWANA, Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, stands to spread the truth of God. Every Saturday, I lead worship, teach Bible stories, and help the children memorize Bible verses. I love it because the children enjoy worshiping God; they sing only because they want to,” said David Tse. “In the end,
General Service
∞135 5 0th