June 2026 - You Are Seen: Final Day of Celebration in Kamaila Community

Team members Sneha, Ashlee and Candy getting stuck into fellowship day activities with the kids.

Today we ran a Fellowship Day for the children and care workers of Kamaila Community.

Fellowship Day is designed by visiting teams as a time to connect with and to honour two groups of people who are at the very heart of this work...

the dedicated local care workers who give so much of themselves, and the vulnerable children who find belonging, safety, and love at the care point.

It was a day full of colour, laughter, and the kind of joy that is difficult to put into words.

We came with a range of activities designed to spark creativity and get everyone moving. One of the highlights was introducing the community to a few classic Australian dance songs the Nutbush, the Macarena, and the Hokey Pokey.

Some of the community threw themselves into every move, laughing at our questionable coordination just as much as they enjoyed learning the steps.

It was pure, uncomplicated fun.

The children were especially captivated by the paper plate necklace activity, using colourful markers, stickers, and glitter glue to create their own designs.

Watching them work was a joy in itself so focused, so detailed, their faces full of excitement.

It was a simple activity, but it gave each child the space to shine in their own creativity.

We also handed out love heart necklaces with Bible verses on the back to the care workers. The smiles on their faces when they received them were something we will not forget you could see in an instant how loved and valued they felt.

For the children, personalised name tags were given out, a small but meaningful gesture that seemed to give each child a quiet sense of belonging a reminder that they are known as individuals.

One of the most tender moments of the day came when two of our team members sat with the care workers and painted their nails.

What might seem like a small thing carried real warmth the care workers loved the company, the gentle conversation, and the chance simply to sit and be cared for themselves.

It was a moment worth keeping close to the heart.

We also finished painting the exterior of the care point today and it looks amazing.

What began earlier in the week as an unfinished project was brought to completion with everyone pitching in.

Community engagement was a 10 out of 10, with smiles everywhere and a real sense of shared ownership over the finished mural.

It was wonderful to see the whole community take part and take pride in it together.

Two of our team members brought the word and led a talk for the community based on Luke 15:1–7 — the parable of the lost sheep.

The message was simple and beautiful.

Jesus rejoices when lost people come home to Him.

Every person matters to God, and no matter what we have done or been through, He welcomes us and cares for us.

Even in the most difficult seasons of life, we are not forgotten.

When you feel lost, God still cares for you.

This was followed by a reflection on Proverbs 3:5–6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." 

Seeing this verse lived out so profoundly by the people of this community made it land differently.

Trusting God is not passive....It requires us to surrender our emotions, our logic, and our need to see the whole path ahead.

As one of our team members reflected, God doesn't always show us the full road, He shows us just enough for the next step.

And He remains good, continuing to provide far beyond what we could ask or imagine.

As Ephesians 3:20 reminds us, He is able to do "far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us."

Before we said our goodbyes, we were swept up in one final African dance with the whole community.

It was impossible not to feel the joy radiating from every person present.

The community shone brightly and it was clear that the light came from somewhere deeper than the celebration itself.

The last thing we did was hand out gifts to the care workers and children made possible not through our own effort or resources, but through the generosity of those who support Hands at Work, and ultimately, through Jesus.

While we came and played a small role in this community,

the real heroes are the care workers and the Hands at Work team the faithful, tireless people who show up week after week, long after visiting teams have gone home.

We leave knowing that Jesus is truly present here.

Thank you, Lord, for seeing every individual for who they truly are in You women, men, and children of God.

Saying goodbye was hard. We didn't want to leave.

Dear God,

thank you for everything you are doing in the Kamaila community.

May you continue to grow this community, keep their faith strong, and may they continue to be supported and sustained through generosity, love, Your word, and the prayers of many.

Amen.

As from the 11th of June 2026 the team is home safe in Australia and Indonesia and our hearts are full.

Thank you for your prayers and support throughout this journey.

We are now resting, reflecting, and seeking God about what comes next, watch this space, because we don't think this story is finished yet.

The contents of this media represent the sole views and opinions of the author, not of Hands at Work or any other groups or persons.