As each school year comes to a close, so too does the nigh on 13 year long education of the graduating year 12 students. It brings a profound experience of relief, joy and excitement (as I have experienced finishing year 12 this year). Schoolies for many is a great time to hang out with friends and experience the fun and freedom that comes with graduating. For other people it can become a harrowing experience with alcohol abuse, drugs and/or violence.
One may ask, what options are there for Christians who want to celebrate but don’t want a typical party setting?
Acacia went with a group of friends to Inverloch. They spent time playing games, watching movies, going to the beach and enjoying each other’s company. After the stress and work of the school year Acacia found the time away spiritually rejuvenating. As she said, “the lack of structure helped me get back into the rhythm of daily prayers, which I struggled with during the busyness of senior high school.” She also found that her prayers were different from the exam time prayers of “help me … give me strength” to more “spontaneous prayers of wonder and thankfulness.
Miranda was one of the people opting for an 'alternative schoolies’ experience. These aim to offer a "safe, fun, loving, and nurturing environment” as a contrast to typical schoolies antics. She joined a group of 13 young Christian students and 5 leaders from ‘The Camping Program’ to the Pacific island nation of Samoa in 2013.
Most of the time was spent in Apia, the capital of Samoa. Activities included swimming, snorkeling, shopping with locals, hiking up the surrounding mountains and playing lots of board games and sport. They also travelled to the nearby of Savaii, where they stayed in little huts called ‘falés.’ The locals organised a ‘Fia Fia’ cultural night with music, dancing and fire juggling. They also received demonstrations in climbing up coconut trees to pick coconuts. On Sunday, they went to a local church service, with boisterous and beautiful singing from the congregation.
An inland swim in Samoa
Going to Samoa also offered the opportunity to love and serve the locals and “sow back into the Samoan community.” The group visited a local high school and a victim support school, which helps educate young women who have suffered abuse. It was a touching experience for the group as, in Miranda’s words, "Through Christ, they have a joy that is absolutely beautiful and can overcome even the most hurting of pasts."
It was also spiritually nourishing for the participants with devotionals, prayer and the aforementioned church services. The benefits of the trips continued after the end, as they were able to be “encouraged in our faith, but [also] to make amazing, life-long friends who continue to encourage us in our faith and whom we can rely upon.”
On the other side of schoolies are the people giving their time to ensure that school leavers have a safe and enjoyable time. One such group of people are the Red Frogs, founded in 1997 by Andy Gourley. The Red Frogs aim to safeguard young people by providing a "positive peer presence in alcohol-fueled environments …, educate young people on safe partying behaviours, and promote and provide non-alcoholic and/or diversionary activities that engage young people in these environments."
Red Frogs Australia
Michelle recently volunteered with Red Frogs at Phillip Island. The Red Frogs well known activities include giving out free Allens Red Frogs (from which their name derives), cooking pancakes, walking/bussing people home and calling for medical assistance when necessary. They also provided a safety zone on the foreshore with bottles of water, first aid and a safe place for people to calm down and relax in an otherwise chaotic environment. The presence of Red Frogs is often critical in emergency situations with first aid being provided or an ambulance being called that saves lives. Even the simple things like giving out water or walking people home helps to keep party-goers in relatively good health. As Michelle says, “we so often find ourselves in the right place at the right time to quickly respond to people in need.”
Furthermore, a major part of the role is simply providing emotional support and having a reassuring presence. As Michelle describes “we get to connect with young people and show genuine care for and interest in them.” Some people are surprised at the care and interest Red Frogs volunteers have – “young people are astounded that we are willing to sacrifice sleep, time, and money to ensure their safety.”
The motivation to serve for many of the volunteers is the Christian praxis of loving one’s neighbor and being there to provide assistance. As Jesus said “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink …” (Matthew 25:35-6). Michelle describes her experience as a Christian: “This is my 4th year doing Red Frogs, and every year I come away with a greater sense of God's love for the vulnerable and of just how big He is… I'm also really grateful for the friendships I've made with other volunteers on Red Frogs who both support and challenge me as I navigate my walk with God. The week gets pretty tiring and intense, and I always find that I learn something new and unexpected as I'm forced to rely more and more on God for strength and energy.”
Amidst the chaos and drama of schoolies, there are many options for Christians who want to celebrate with friends and grow in their faith outside the typical party environment. There are also opportunities for Christians to volunteer and serve young people, such as with the Red Frogs, to help them have a safe and enjoyable experience.
For more information about The Camping Program Samoa program see:
http://www.thecampingprogram.org.au/sac-schoolies-in-samoa.html
For more information about the work and background of Red Frogs: http://au.redfrogs.com
Source: BUV News