SMW(recount text)

                               Saint Mary's Way

This year, the ninth graders of Santa Maria took part in a new cocurricular program called SMW, while the seventh and eighth graders went camping at Kampung Bamboo. Honestly, I really wanted to join the camping activity; however, I also had the responsibility to complete my cocurricular assignment. Fortunately, I was assigned to teach in the Sunday School program at HKBP Bandung Timur. During this experience, I learned many new things such as serving others, sharing love, being patient, and guiding younger children. I worked together with my partners, Maria and Debora, as a team.

On our first week of SMW, the three of us felt quite awkward because we honestly did not know exactly what to do. We were unsure about our responsibilities until the Sunday School teachers kindly guided us. Slowly, we began to understand our tasks and got used to the environment. We welcomed the Sunday School children and their parents with warm smiles and kindness. After welcoming them, we continued our duties by assisting the Sunday School teachers during the activities.

During the second week, we already knew what we had to do. We helped the children, listened to the sermon, assisted with the offering, and ended the service with joyful hearts. We also tried to show love and care to the children and our team members, making the experience even more meaningful.

The third week was a mixture of happiness and sadness because it was our last week of doing SMW. After finishing our service, we asked for signatures and took photos with the pastor for our SMW report documentation. We also gathered pictures from the Sunday School teachers to complete our report. Later, we presented our SMW experience in front of parents, friends, and teachers in the Santa Maria hall. Despite being nervous, we felt joyful and grateful for everything we had learned.

In the end, doing SMW was a beautiful and unforgettable experience. Although I could not join the camping activity, I gained something even more valuable—new lessons, new experiences, and the joy of serving others with sincerity. I completed SMW with happiness and a grateful heart.