Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000030
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00:01 Not 24 hour ago I was standing overlooking
00:04 the Pacific Ocean and then I flew 00:07 and I crossed the Atlantic Ocean 00:08 and now I find myself 00:10 at the Bay of Bengal part of the Indian Ocean. 00:13 It maybe think about the fact that the ocean 00:16 separates and divides us however hope unites us. 00:20 And I'm here in the great country of India 00:22 on a journey to find out how it is that Asian Aid 00:26 is changing the lives of people, 00:28 particularly the lives of needy children. 00:49 Asian Aid is an organization giving hope, 00:52 an organization fostering permanent positive change 00:55 in the lives of disadvantage children 00:57 and their communities. 00:59 An organization that is committed 01:00 to making a difference in the lives of children 01:03 and those who are in need. 01:05 Serving communities in Nepal, Bangladesh, 01:08 Sri Lanka, Myanmar and India. 01:18 For the last 40 years Asian Aid has invested 01:22 in the futures of people 01:23 and their investment has proven infinite returns. 01:27 Driven by their dedication 01:29 to helping those who have the least 01:31 Asian Aid is an organization 01:33 focused on the welfare of children, 01:36 implementing diverse development projects 01:38 and sponsoring thousands of children. 01:41 Their outreach spans from child rescue operations 01:44 to providing an education for orphans, 01:47 deaf and the blind children. 01:50 Giving them a sense of place, a home 01:52 but above all Asian Aid is an organization giving hope, 01:57 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 02:00 giving hope to the ones who needed the most. 02:04 This is Hope in Motion. 02:33 My introduction to India was one of extreme contrast. 02:38 Here I was exhausted 02:40 after a set of flights that lasted 30 hours 02:43 and now resting in the comforts 02:44 of a fine hotel room 02:46 over looking the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal. 02:50 And the next moment 02:51 I was being driven along chaotic traffic to witness 02:54 the communit living in squalid conditions. 02:58 A slum community right in the middle 03:00 of a bustling city. 03:06 I was told about a school 03:08 sponsored and operated by Asian Aid USA in this slum. 03:13 As Jim, CEO of Asian Aid USA led me to the school 03:17 we stopped by on the street side 03:19 to say hello to Romani. 03:21 Well, this is Mr. George. 03:22 How are you, sir? 03:24 Jim introduced me to her and I learned 03:26 she was one of the graduates of the school 03:28 established right here in the slum. 03:31 As we continued to make our way 03:33 towards to the school my heart was troubled. 03:36 Just an hour ago everything was normal 03:39 but now it wasn't. 03:42 It was like I was being transported 03:44 into another world. 03:51 When we arrived at the school 03:53 I saw a glimpse of hope in this neighborhood. 03:57 I was introduced to Naomi the school teacher in-charge 04:00 and I saw precious small children 04:02 sitting on small benches and on the floor. 04:06 They were learning. 04:07 The children were indeed happy to see us 04:10 and they welcomed us clambering to shake our hands. 04:14 I was given a brief tour of the school premises 04:16 and then all the children gathered on the roof top 04:19 to sing songs for us. 04:21 I was able to tell them about what I did for a living 04:24 and I played some violin for them. 04:40 I had the opportunity to speak with Naomi. 04:43 She struck me as a passionate servant. 04:46 Now we have 120 students, sir. 04:49 Wow. 04:50 All are coming from a poor background 04:52 and they all stay here only in this street. 04:55 Just right here. 04:56 And they really need the help of the sponsors 04:59 because it's a great help for them 05:01 Yes. 05:02 It's a great benefit to educate these children in this school. 05:05 They are coming from poor background here 05:07 and they are much benefited by this school here. 05:10 What do you think this area, this street, this slum 05:15 would be like without this school right here? 05:18 Now there is lot of change 05:19 after the school was established since 17 years. 05:23 Since 17 years this school is here 05:26 and there is lot of change. 05:27 The parents understood then they changed their lives 05:31 and they are ready to send their children 05:33 and now lot of change has taken place 05:36 because of this school. 05:39 Hope is in this slum, hope is in this street, 05:42 hope is in this community because of this school. 05:45 Yes. Yes. 05:47 I couldn't help but look at all of these 05:49 precious children around me and wonder 05:52 how many doctors, engineers, teachers 05:55 and software professionals will come from this school. 05:58 Even though the school may not have the same features 06:01 and facilities like what we are used to back at home 06:04 it was right up there 06:05 and making a difference in the lives of this children 06:09 and in their community. 06:11 This school serves so many parts of the community. 06:16 First of all the parents are given hope. 06:19 Can you imagine living in despairingly situations 06:23 wanting the best for your child where not got nothing. 06:26 So now the first thing is it gives the children hope 06:30 which inspires the parents. 06:32 We are also gonna look at ways of expanding 06:34 into the community further by took medical follow up 06:38 and doing any vocational training that's our dream 06:42 but right now as you can see the community appreciative. 06:47 And we just so prayed of what the donor have done here. 06:51 Yes. 06:52 Asian Aid is prayed of what its done 06:54 but with the help of those people 06:55 that have supported and sponsored these children-- 06:58 Wouldn't be possible. 06:59 Wouldn't be possible, sponsorship, 07:01 this is one of the best example of sponsorship 07:05 not only educating the child 07:07 but making the difference beyond the child. 07:10 Now these parents are coming to know Jesus, 07:12 they are getting baptized, they are being converted. 07:13 Correct. 07:15 And the introduction to Jesus 07:17 is happening in a community 07:18 in the way that you couldn't achieve it any way. 07:21 That's right. 07:22 At that moment I realized that Asian Aid 07:26 is doing what Christ commissioned us to do 07:29 in a way that I hadn't imagined before. 07:32 Well, I've been in India for just over 24 hours 07:36 and I have seen reports on television, 07:39 I have seen magazine articles 07:42 but nothing could really prepare me 07:44 for visiting a slum right here, right now. 07:48 It is an amazing experience 07:51 and just as we were coming in I met a young lady 07:54 that almost seemed to be out of place. 07:57 We greeted her, she smiled and then we began to talk. 08:02 As it turns out right here in this slum 08:05 she attended this school. 08:07 She was able to break free of the path 08:10 that most people have which is a path to nowhere. 08:14 Her life has been turned around. 08:16 Her life has been totally different 08:19 than what she might be if she didn't have the hope 08:21 of attending the school right here in this slum. 08:24 The story of this young lady is exactly why I'm here 08:28 and why we are here. 08:30 Her story is the story of hope, 08:32 her story is the story of opportunity 08:36 which is what this school does for the children 08:39 and the young people that live in this slum. 08:45 From the slum we drove along the coast towards Bobbili. 08:50 Along the way we took a small detour 08:53 to visit another Seventh-day Adventist school. 08:56 By the time we arrived at the school 08:59 it was the middle of the afternoon. 09:01 But a new dorm is under construction 09:04 and excitement was in the air. 09:06 I'm in the town of Vizianagaram which is about an hours drive 09:10 from the city of Vizag and I'm standing 09:13 on what is part of the new girl's dormitory. 09:16 It is really a beautiful facility 09:18 as you can see. 09:20 Over here you can see the structure 09:23 that is going to be the new boy's dorm. 09:26 They've actually been sitting, sleeping, learning, 09:30 and eating in the church 09:32 but provision is being made by the grace of God 09:35 through the donors that support the work 09:38 that Asian Aid is doing so that this building 09:42 which will house 50 boys 09:44 will be erected here soon as you see it's on the way. 09:50 But we have to think about the future, 09:52 there are so much need 09:53 and there are so many young people 09:55 that are coming to us literally every day 09:57 and so we have set it up so that we can grow 10:00 and perhaps build the second floor 10:01 in the near future as you are able to help us 10:05 and make it possible 10:06 so that more young people can study here 10:09 and come to know Jesus Christ. 10:13 Jim informed me that the new boy's dorm 10:15 would be ready in a few months time. 10:18 When he took me on a tour of the classroom 10:21 I realized that more still needs to be done. 10:25 I am sitting in a classroom 10:27 where more than 20 young students 10:29 are able to learn. 10:31 By their standards this place is quite a luxury 10:34 because their backgrounds are very disadvantaged 10:37 but the reality is we need a new place. 10:41 You saw the roof it has a hole in it. 10:43 Monsoon season is coming and it rains and it rains a lot 10:48 and they have to leave this building 10:50 to go to a very crowded place where they all sit together 10:54 and then try to learn. 10:57 It's also pretty warm in here. 10:59 I have been here for just a couple of minutes 11:01 and I have to wipe my face, my forehead 11:04 and my arms because it's so hot. 11:07 I want to see this change 11:08 and I'm thankful that Asian Aid is here 11:11 to be able to do something about it. 11:14 This is at Vizianagaram 11:16 is a part of our school development program. 11:20 We sponsor children in the school 11:22 but as you can see the conditions 11:24 of the classroom at the school are really not acceptable. 11:29 The classrooms, the roofs in disrepair, 11:32 there are holes in the roof 11:33 and as you can see there are of very basic construction. 11:38 We are looking forward to making the classrooms 11:41 apart of our ongoing development plan 11:44 and churches like Bonita Valley in California 11:47 have been very supportive of the school. 11:50 So we are working with donors 11:52 and churches like Bonita Valley to develop the school. 11:57 It was heartwarming to learn that 11:59 some churches back home are actively involved 12:02 in the development work of Asian Aid here in India 12:06 and I hope that their necessary funds 12:08 will be raised soon 12:10 to facilitate the building of a new classroom complex. 12:14 Back on the road we were headed towards 12:17 Asian Aid School for the blind in Bobbili. 12:22 When we arrived at the school for the blind 12:25 all the students were lined up on either side of the entrance. 12:29 It is a customary greeting for special visitors. 12:33 How are you? 12:34 Fine, sir. Welcome to our school. 12:35 Thank you so much. I'm excited to be here. 12:38 Welcome sir. Thanks. 12:39 Many of these children are shunned 12:41 and abandoned by their families because of their blindness 12:45 but here they are treated with love and kindness 12:49 and they flourish beautifully. 12:52 At the blind school the next day 12:54 Pastor Paulson principal of the school 12:57 showed me around and educated me 13:00 on how the children are taught. 13:02 I was surprised to find that these blind children 13:05 were taught how to use computers. 13:08 These children are being prepared 13:10 to face the challenges of the outside world. 13:14 And we do a great job here 13:17 training the children for the future 13:20 and we are always grateful to all the sponsors and donors 13:24 who have done their best 13:25 to make this big dream come true. 13:28 And the buildings are standard, built in such a way 13:33 that will benefit any new child that walks inside. 13:36 It just takes a walk once 13:38 and they feel that is their home. 13:41 And this structure I hope and pray 13:44 it will remain as a monument 13:46 and as a light for all the other villages 13:49 and town and the cities 13:52 and especially for the whole of India. 13:55 That evening I had the honor 13:57 of presenting a concert for them 13:59 and it was moving 14:01 just to seem them soaking up the music. 14:04 Although blind they sang along to my music 14:07 with such conviction and enthusiasm 14:10 it was a powerful moment. 14:47 I've been here at the blind school 14:49 for just a few hours 14:51 but in hearing them sing I have been moved to tears. 14:55 It had made me thing about how music brings us together 14:59 and you know, the music and the songs of praise Jesus 15:02 are the first exposure that many of these 15:05 young people have had to Jesus Christ. 15:09 They have amazing faith. 15:11 It's easy for me to see that 15:13 and it is wonderful to be in a place 15:15 where they are learning to develop 15:17 and dedicate their talents in lives 15:20 to use for God's honor and glory. 15:24 We've got a lot done during my time here. 15:27 As exhausted as I was I couldn't stop my mind 15:31 from replaying the places I visited 15:33 and the things that I got to witness 15:35 as well as the work that Asian Aid is doing 15:38 to reach out to those in need. 15:40 And now at the school for the blind 15:43 I saw children not only receiving an education, 15:46 not just going out and serving, having a career 15:50 but also coming to know Jesus Christ. 15:53 Oh, but there's more to come when we come back 15:56 we'll go to a place I heard so much about. 15:59 Sunrise Children's Home 16:01 and we'll see how it witnessing for the Lord 16:04 to the community around here. 16:06 Don't go away we'll be right back. 16:23 My wife Angela and I are here in Andhra Pradesh, India, 16:26 visiting some of the Asian Aid projects 16:28 to see for ourselves 16:30 how the work that is being done here 16:31 is transforming lives, 16:33 especially lives of orphaned children 16:36 and abandoned children, 16:37 children from the tribal communities. 16:40 And we've discovered that 16:41 because of sponsors like you, they now have a place 16:43 that they can call home. 16:45 They have wonderful clothing, nutritious food 16:48 and they are being prepared to propel themselves 16:51 into the future for a promising career. 16:54 But above all that because of sponsors like you 16:57 they now have hope, hope for a better future. 17:18 Asian Aid USA has been involved in projects 17:21 in and around the Bobbili town for a number of years. 17:25 The school for the blind 17:26 is a fine example of their conviction, 17:28 a Christian organization that is committed 17:31 to providing opportunities for those in need. 17:37 Getting from one place to another requires 17:40 quite a bit of travel 17:42 and I use this time with Jim in the car 17:44 to learn a bit more about Asian Aid. 17:48 How did Asian Aid get started? 17:51 Well, Asian Aid started 40 years ago 17:55 by start of Australia. 17:57 Our cofounder Helen Eager actually came to India 18:03 where she met up with Dorothy Watts, 18:05 Pastor Watts was the division president on that time. 18:09 And the first orphanage 18:12 Sunshine Home started in Bangalore. 18:14 In fact, Mrs. Watts had the home in her house. 18:18 And then Helen saw the need for sponsorship 18:22 and it grew from there and now between us 18:27 and Asian Aid Australia there are about 18:30 just under 8,000 children than have sponsorship. 18:33 Wow, that's amazing. 18:34 Yeah. 18:37 That afternoon we stopped 18:39 by the Seventh-day Adventist school 18:41 in Bobbili town. 18:43 Asian Aid has undertaken 18:44 some development projects recently 18:47 and sponsors a number of students here. 18:51 I have just visited 18:52 a couple of the classrooms in this school. 18:55 This is a Seventh-day Adventist school 18:57 right in the middle of Bobbili town. 18:59 It's packed with kids that come here. 19:02 They are eager to learn, this is also the school 19:06 where the children from Sunrise Home 19:08 come to learn. 19:13 India is a large country 19:15 and traveling on projects here 19:17 involves quite a bit of sacrifice. 19:19 But despite all that I realized Jim and his team in India 19:23 are driven by a passion to work for the welfare of children 19:28 and the community at large. 19:34 We arrived the Sunrise Home and I immediately understood 19:38 why so many people were talking to me about it. 19:41 It is a beautiful campus surrounded by greenery. 19:45 Most of the children were at the school in town 19:48 and so only a handful of newcomers were there. 19:51 So I met with Lalitha Varma the director of the home 19:56 who showed me around and told me 19:58 how God truly blesses and protects them. 20:02 As a mother I feel great that 20:05 we have shelter, food, clothing. 20:09 And children if they don't have parents 20:13 they are birds without nest but it like a nest now. 20:19 What's your name? 20:20 My name is Vijay. 20:22 Okay. 20:23 How old are you? 20:26 And do you like to live here? 20:30 It's hard to imagine 20:33 that some of these very children 20:34 that are here around me have lived on the streets, 20:39 on the roads, their beds, 20:42 the pavement, the dirt, 20:45 because they have no parents, no family, no where to turn. 20:49 The work that we do, Jesus said, 20:51 if we do them for the little children 20:53 we have done that for Him. 20:57 We can all do something. 20:58 We can all make a difference in the lives 21:01 of some of these young people that we may never see 21:04 but are otherwise lost, stranded, hopeless, doomed. 21:11 But there is hope, 21:12 lives are being changed right here in this place. 21:24 Sabbath morning was a celebration. 21:27 A huge tent was erected 21:29 right in the middle of Sunrise Home 21:32 and church members from nearby villages 21:34 and towns are invited. 21:36 I was fortunate to share a bit of my life testimony 21:40 and play some music for them. 21:42 After the service scores of people came 21:45 asking for me to pray for them. 21:48 It was very humbling. 21:50 Who am I to bless them, I wondered? 21:53 But I made me realize I'm a servant of God 21:57 and I was there to glorify His name 21:59 through my testimony and music. 22:05 Our service this morning at Sunrise Home 22:08 has been an absolute blessing. 22:10 It was a blessing for me personally. 22:12 We started out and people just kept coming and coming. 22:16 We had set up 600 chairs 22:18 and even in a rain people kept on coming. 22:22 We had to set out another 200 chairs. 22:25 When I made an appeal 22:27 for people to give their hearts to Jesus 22:29 and rededicate their lives 22:31 so many folks stood up, it was unbelievable. 22:34 And then afterwards as we prayed 22:36 people were crying and you could sense 22:39 that the Holy Spirit was moving in a very powerful way. 22:42 People from all over the community have come 22:45 and keep on coming to Sunrise Home. 22:48 There are folks from around the area, 22:50 the villages that are here, this place is a blessing. 22:54 That's what Sunrise Home is about, 22:56 its about reaching people 22:58 and bringing those that are around, 23:00 that are in the darkness into the light. 23:03 Sunrise Home, praise God. 23:08 That afternoon I was given the honor 23:11 of opening and dedicating 23:12 the new boy's dorm at Sunrise Home. 23:16 Praise God for Sunrise Home 23:19 for the work that they are doing. 23:21 May God continue to bless Sunrise Home 23:24 and praise God for the work that Asian Aid USA is doing. 23:28 And so it is my great privilege right now 23:32 to cut the ribbon. 23:37 The inauguration of the boy's dorm that afternoon 23:40 was a moving experience for me. 23:43 This was an underserved honor but it was gratifying to see 23:48 that positive impact this dorm is already making 23:52 in the lives of this children that are living here. 24:02 Sunrise Children Home, boy's dormitory 24:05 inaugurated by Elder Jaime Jorge, 24:08 Asian Aid USA ambassador on August second 2014. 24:26 I'm here overlooking 24:27 the beautiful campus of Sunrise Home, 24:30 a place in the middle of nowhere in Karada village. 24:35 You know, when I was growing up I had a wonderful family, 24:39 I had parents that taught me to love 24:40 and serve Jesus 24:42 but there was something I didn't have, 24:45 the opportunity to go to a Christian school. 24:48 The orphans that are here don't have a lot of things 24:52 but they do have the opportunity 24:55 and the privilege to learn about Jesus Christ 24:58 from the moment that they arrive. 25:00 Sunrise Home is a place that gives young people 25:05 the opportunity to have hope and light 25:08 from the moment that they walk in 25:10 through the front gate. 25:19 Stepping down from the water tower that day 25:22 I realized how we can all make a difference in this world. 25:29 We have the opportunity to give hope. 25:31 We have the opportunity to show Jesus 25:34 to those who don't know him. 25:36 And we have the opportunity 25:38 to make a difference in people's lives. 25:42 I'm grateful that I had that opportunity. 25:47 Well, this is the end of my trip here in India. 25:50 Over the last few days we have visited places 25:53 and I have seen things 25:54 that I never imagined ever existed. 25:56 We went to a slum school, 25:59 then we ventured off into the country 26:01 to visit a school that is being remodeled and rebuilt 26:04 so that its students can learn properly. 26:07 And then we had the opportunity to go to a beautiful orphanage 26:10 as well as the blind school. 26:12 I was told that my visit here 26:14 would be a blessing and joy to people 26:16 but in reality I have been the one 26:18 who has been blessed and touched. 26:20 You see, I'm seeing hope in the eyes 26:23 of the precious young people that are in these schools. 26:26 Without the help of Asian Aid USA, 26:29 its donors and sponsors this would not be possible. 26:33 But now so many children have hope and assurance. |
Revised 2015-01-01