May 17, 2024, marks the third day of Stepping Stone International Academy's (SIA) annual retreat, a day filled with inspiration, reflection, and fun. The day began with a brief time of worship, followed by a short devotion led by Teacher Christine. She shared a valuable lesson about the "Ocean," encouraging everyone to be brave as we face the big waves of our lives. Teacher Christine emphasized that we should not be afraid but instead put our faith in Christ, for He is with us no matter what.
After the devotion, groups gathered to discuss and reflect on previous topics, guided by questions designed to foster deep and personal conversations. This reflective time was followed by the final session of the retreat, delivered by Mr. Joe, the school principal. The theme of his session, “Ascending Heights: Navigating Personal Peaks,” empowered students to overcome internal obstacles and reach new heights in their personal growth journeys. Mr. Joe provided strategies for building resilience, cultivating self-confidence, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth. He encouraged everyone to climb their personal mountains, conquer their fears, and emerge stronger and more resilient.
Following Mr. Joe's inspiring session, groups prepared presentations summarizing the topics covered throughout the retreat. These presentations, emphasizing conquering mountains and highlighting the principles and strategies discussed, could be performed through a song, role play, or dance number.
Performance Highlights:
1. Teacher Star's Group: Presented an interpretative dance depicting how temptations lead to sin and how Christ helps us stand up from our falls, emphasizing His constant presence and support.
2. Teacher Jewel's Group: Performed a role play showing that everyone has struggles but there is always hope, highlighting that God is our hope and He will use someone or something to help us rise again.
3. Seniors Led by Mr. Joe: Gave an informative depiction of mental health issues like anxiety and depression, rooted in social media, and proposed solutions emphasizing the need for the right support, prayer, and the Bible.
4. Teacher Christine's Group: Presented a dance performance to the song "Battle Belongs" by Phil Wickham, symbolizing spiritual warfare and victory through Christ.
5. Grades 10-11 Led by Mr. Jef: Performed a role play depicting a rise from slavery to kingship, achievable through hard work, dedication, the right mindset, and God's help, emphasizing that nothing is impossible with God.
6. Mr. Chea's Group: Presented a short skit highlighting how various problems and difficulties burden us, but with hope in Christ, we can conquer our mountainous problems.
After the performances, everyone returned to the hotel for lunch and took an hour of rest to prepare for the afternoon activities. At around 1:50 PM, the group headed to ICF for a fun-filled time at the water park. The weather was perfect, and everyone enjoyed swimming and the various attractions at the park.
Following the water park, the group returned to the hotel to refresh and prepare for dinner. Dinner was held at the renowned Red Piano on Pub Street, where Angelina Jolie once dined. After a delightful meal, everyone had free time to explore the vibrant and glimmering lights of Pub Street.
The day concluded with the final worship session of this year's retreat. Everyone poured their hearts and energy into singing praises to the Lord. The night ended on a high note with a pool party at the hotel, where everyone enjoyed fun times in the pool accompanied by snacks provided by the hotel.
This memorable day at the Stepping Stone International Academy retreat was filled with inspiration and reflection, leaving everyone looking forward to the growth and rightly overcoming challenges ahead.
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