The High School seniors at International Community School in Bangkok (ICS) work hard all year raising funds for
The Senior Trip held at the beginning of the second semester of their final year. From organizing a neighborhood carnival to raising funds by tutoring younger students, the final goal is to afford a four day and night retreat for the entire 'Class of 2014'.
Living in Thailand provides a lot of inexpensive get-away options. This year the resort of choice was on the island of
Koh Kood, approximately seven hours south of Bangkok by bus. So this past week we all traveled to the
Away Koh Kood resort. It was an excellent location for our group of over-80 students and 8 staff to relax and get to know one another outside of the school setting.
My duties as chaperone were relatively painless, not only because the seniors are an awesome group of kids but they were easy to patrol from various locations including the balcony of my second-tier bungalow and any of the seaside cabanas.
While students kept busy with activities such as kayaking, working on a senior video, hiking a nearby waterfall, snorkeling and karaoke, staff were able to relax if we didn't join in on the activity. Sometimes it was more fun just watching from the sidelines...
Our final evening culminated with an outdoor BBQ, some rounds of karaoke and watching an Island Flame-Thrower. After this, we settled down for a devotional and time of group sharing before heading back to our bungalows and calling it the day.
It was a privilege to share with the group on
"Our Need for God Even Though We Think We Have All the Resources We Need". I thought this was an appropriate topic as our students prepare to venture off to college and develop a life beyond school. In short, I shared how King David from Scripture realized his need for God even though he had all possible resources at his fingertips (such as armies, finances, prophets, craftsmen, relationships, education, etc). I trust this message hits home when our students encounter difficult times and realize their resources are limited at best. After all, what earthly resources are able to provide a genuine inner peace and life purpose, not to mention salvation and eternal life? As David writes in Psalm 16:
Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”
Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
This past week was exactly what the doctor ordered after an incredibly intense month at school, dealing with second semester schedules, a career fair and online preregistration for next year's courses of all High School students, among other counseling duties.
The resort bungalows, meals, facilities and incredibly friendly staff helped make our experience a true pleasure... so much so that I will make sure to arrange a return visit when possible.
