Our Carmel boarding house family
“My kids are fifth generation Carmel students. My youngest went to Landsdale. There was never any doubt in my mind where they were going to go,” says Lo-Anne Jenke, Aboriginal Liason Officer and Boarding House Manager at Carmel Adventist College. “The difference [in our Adventist schools] is God is the focus. I know that the person drawing on the board believes the same thing that I do”
Recently a teaching student, Luke Duncan, on a practical at Carmel had an assessor enter the reception area, look out into the beautiful valley and say, “Oh my!” As soon as he stepped thorugh the doors, the kids said “Hi” (which is unusual). He continued to remark that our school felt like family. (Of course, we know the difference is God!)
Our school is smaller than others so we connect with these kids. One of our boarders recently asked, “Miss! Do you think Pr Miranda can do bible studies with me?” Another has asked, “Do you think Pr Marcos can come talk with us?”
Many of our boarders come from remote Aboriginal communities all over Australia, including Northern Territory, Queensland and the southwest of WA. Some as young as 11 will come with homesickness, different cultural needs and different physical needs to white fellas. For example, cheesy and creamy plane food on their first trip via aeroplane can make their tummies feel sick. So we make sure to cook plain foods like fresh veggies and rice for them when they arrive. Young kids are often used to sleeping in a room full of relatives on the floor (one grandmother and 13 grandkids is not unusual!), so they’ll often pull their mattresses on the floor. One of the ways we make them feel more at home is an all-boys sleepover in the common room once a week. Structured time can be really hard for them too, so we make sure we plan unstructured outdoor fun on the weekends with picnics and swimming in the creek. Sometimes things as simple as the weather being cold can be a big adjustment. Some kids have never heard of—let alone seen—hail before they’ve come to Carmel!
Kids will often come with family. In some cases, we’ve had multiple generations of families come through our school.
Some students are sent to Carmel because it’s physically safer for them than in their home towns. Parents might send police reports sighting domestic abuse, or they may be facing food scarcity in their area (for example one tomato might cost $5!). Above and beyond Christian education, it’s our job in the boarding house to give these kids consistency, a sense of safety and real hope.
Some have never attended church, so we try to make it fun for them. We find that they love listening to their friends play in the band at Easter Camp in the Teen Shed, or listening to the music (especially the drums) at Carmel Seventh-day Adventist Church. Pr Miranda’s Narnia theme at ANCHOR Week last year was a real hit as they walked back and forward through the wardrobe coats. They were so excited! Our boarders also love coming up with their own worship ideas. They do their own research in the World Changers bibles. It’s heartening to see them fighting for first dibs to read from the bible when we meet for bible study!
It’s the best feeling to see them talking and laughing on the way back from church. Some are so hooked on Jesus, straight away. One of our girls has started writing poems about Jesus.
Our house parents often read through scripture with them. When one of our boarding parents, Taryn Turner, calls the kids for opening Sabbath, they know its “time for family time.”
That’s what makes Carmel special. We are a family. We stick together.