Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000031
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00:02 In this episode of Hope in Motion
00:05 we go to Sri Lanka to see how Asian Aid is helping 00:08 the Adventist Mission in this island nation. 00:11 It makes a huge difference when individuals 00:13 and organizations from around the world 00:16 give support to us here at Lakpahana. 00:19 We visit Lakpahana College and Seminary, 00:21 an Adventist institution 00:23 that is preparing soldiers for Christ. 00:25 This school, Lakpahana College 00:28 and Seminary means a lot to our mission 00:31 because this is where we train most of our workers. 00:36 And witness how Asian Aid's sponsorship 00:38 is helping a young sibling overcome a tragic past. 00:57 Asian Aid is an organization giving hope, 01:00 an organization fostering permanent positive change 01:03 in the lives of disadvantage children 01:05 and their communities. 01:07 An organization that is committed 01:09 to making a difference in the lives of children 01:11 and those who are in need. 01:13 Serving communities in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, 01:17 Myanmar and India. 01:27 For the last 40 years 01:29 Asian Aid has invested in the futures of people 01:31 and their investment has proven infinite returns. 01:36 Driven by their dedication to helping those 01:38 who have the least Asian Aid is an organization 01:42 focused on the welfare of children, 01:44 implementing diverse development projects 01:47 and sponsoring thousands of children. 01:49 Their outreach spans from child rescue operations 01:53 to providing an education for orphans, 01:55 deaf and the blind children. 01:58 Giving them a sense of place, a home but above all 02:02 Asian Aid is an organization giving hope, 02:05 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 02:09 giving hope to the ones who needed the most. 02:13 This is Hope in Motion. 02:46 Sri Lanka is an island nation located 02:48 just a few miles from the southern tip of India. 02:51 Because of its natural beauty and location 02:53 it is commonly known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. 02:58 Until 1972 03:00 it was called by its Portuguese derived name Ceylon. 03:04 Like its neighbor India, Sri Lanka is a diverse country, 03:07 home to many religious ethnicities and languages 03:10 but it's predominately a Buddhist nation 03:12 with a rich Buddhist heritage. 03:16 Although the Seventh-day Adventist church mission 03:18 was organized here in 1950 03:21 the church membership is only around 4,000. 03:23 This is why Lakpahana Adventist College and Seminary 03:26 was established in Kandy to meet the challenges 03:29 of the Adventist mission in Sri Lanka. 03:32 This school, Lakpahana College 03:34 and Seminary means a lot to our mission 03:37 because this is where we train most of our workers. 03:42 Right from the inception of this school 03:44 it has trained many workers 03:47 who are serving here in Sri Lanka 03:50 as well as in other countries. 03:53 So we really respect and we value this school 03:57 because its great service to the community 04:02 and to our church. 04:06 Established just outside 04:08 Sri Lanka's second largest city Kandy, 04:10 Lakpahana over the decades has produced many workers 04:13 for the mission field. 04:15 We are providing the future really of the church. 04:21 If you are to go around Sri Lanka today 04:25 and look at most of the pastors 04:27 and the leadership of the church 04:28 they are all products of Lakpahana. 04:31 And even if you look at 04:32 some of the leading businessmen around the country 04:34 they are all products of Lakpahana. 04:36 Lakpahana has played a huge role 04:39 in the work of the church here in Sri Lanka. 04:43 Being the only Adventist institution 04:45 for higher education in Sri Lanka 04:47 the demand for admission is high 04:49 among the Adventist community. 04:51 Children also come from different 04:52 socioeconomic background 04:54 and from various parts of Sri Lanka 04:56 and are exposed to the Christian environment 04:58 and to a Christian education and lifestyle 05:00 in this predominantly Buddhist culture. 05:03 But many students in Lakpahana 05:04 like Adventist schools in other south Asian countries 05:07 come from rural and poor backgrounds 05:09 and are enabled to pay basic tuition fees required to attend 05:12 a boarding school like Lakpahana. 05:14 This is where Asian Aid plays a crucial role 05:17 in giving that opportunity for those children 05:19 who are from an under privileged background. 05:22 We are very happy that they are sponsoring 05:24 organizations such as Asian Aid 05:27 who has come forward to sponsor 05:31 about 80 or 90 even more students 05:36 and because of their assistance 05:39 we are able to educate this children 05:42 and run this school without much problem. 05:48 Our church work is very dependent 05:52 on Asian Aid children and its workforce. 05:57 And so the-- it's not only the development of their child 06:01 its where their child goes 06:03 and they go in so many directions 06:05 where they are having an impact 06:07 not only on them but on their community. 06:11 And the other thing is too 06:13 they have a big impact on the immediate family. 06:16 So they impact on their parents, 06:19 their uncles and aunts and in their local community. 06:23 We are creating a future for those 06:25 who really are left behind 06:27 and need someone to give them 06:29 a hand up never a hand out. 06:32 Because by giving an education it's a hand up. 06:36 They can help themselves. 06:38 They don't have to rely on people forever. 06:41 Its not a welfare issue, 06:44 its creating a new possibility for children and the kids 06:48 that are sponsored really, really do benefit. 06:54 But not all are lucky to get this benefit. 06:56 The school administration is under pressure 06:59 to secure sponsorship 07:00 for the regular inflow of students 07:02 that come for admission each year. 07:04 Basically all of our students are sponsored 07:08 and with the growing enrolment that means 07:10 we need a growing base of sponsors. 07:13 At the beginning of the year which is January 07:17 we made a faith decision 07:19 and that was if you came from Adventist parents 07:23 or you are an Adventist you could come here 07:26 and we would find a sponsor. 07:28 Now that was a real faith for them 07:30 and the Lord has blessed us immensely. 07:33 But with all of our students are not sponsored 07:36 and I have a huge waiting list of students on my desk 07:41 who want to come to Lakpahana, 07:43 they are from Adventist background 07:45 but we just do not have the sponsorship. 07:48 Asian Aid has been a part of Lakpahana 07:50 for a number of years, 07:52 mainly through its sponsorship program. 07:54 Presently over 90 students are sponsored by Asian Aid 07:57 this playing an important role 07:59 in the development of Lakpahana. 08:01 If you haven't been in mission field 08:04 in a third world country 08:06 economics are so different 08:07 than they are in the United States. 08:09 And the sponsorship of a student is just 08:14 I don't even know how to describe 08:15 how important it is. 08:16 It's just-- its our life blood. 08:20 How are you? Welcome back. 08:21 Very, very glad sir. Good to see you again. 08:22 How are you? 08:25 Pastor Brooke Sadler is a retired 08:26 school administrator from Tennessee 08:28 who served as principal of Lakpahana in the 1970s. 08:32 I was comfortably in retirement in northeast Tennessee 08:36 enjoying sitting on the couch looking at the mountain 08:39 and I kept getting emails 08:43 that the school here needed some help. 08:47 And so I actually came over on a visit 08:49 and looked at it and realized 08:52 it should get-- it did need help. 08:54 Went home with no intention of coming back 08:58 and then people started talking to me 09:01 and said well, why don't you go back? 09:04 And I said, I'm 71 years old, should I be a principal again? 09:09 And so anyway make a long story short 09:12 my wife and I prayed about it, 09:13 we came back and I'm principal 09:16 and we've been here 10 months 09:17 and the Lord has blessed immensely 09:19 and we'll be here as long as the Lord wants us to be. 09:24 We were able to get his service back here in Lakpahana 09:29 although he is now retired 09:31 but still he has very graciously 09:34 volunteered to come and serve Lakpahana 09:37 and try to do his best to revive Lakpahana 09:42 and bring it to what it was during that golden era. 09:46 See you again. All right. 09:49 Since Pastor Sadler's return 09:51 Lakpahana has undertaken the path to steady growth 09:54 but the going hasn't been easy. 09:57 There was all kinds of areas of need, 09:59 the physical plan to the classrooms 10:03 but Asian Aid USA has helped us with some funding, 10:08 others have helped us and we are making 10:10 huge progress in bringing the school 10:12 back to what it really should be. 10:15 We're just proud to be able to assist 10:19 with the redevelopment of Lakpahana 10:22 and but also to sponsor children there. 10:25 But our key role at the moment is assisting 10:29 in the development of the school. 10:31 This is the only Adventist College 10:34 or institution in Sri Lanka that is developing children 10:41 for college degree and college work. 10:43 So it has a very important role to fulfill in this country. 10:48 One of the great things about being 10:50 part of the Seventh-day Adventist church worldwide 10:52 is its support that it helps do. 10:54 It makes a huge difference when individuals 10:57 and organizations from around the world 10:59 give support to us here at Lakpahana. 11:03 Asian Aid USA has been a huge 11:05 part of the support system in Lakpahana. 11:08 The school under the leadership of Pastor Brooke Sadler 11:10 has taken a proactive approach in relying lesson sponsorship 11:14 and providing a recovering source of income for the school 11:17 by reviving and redeveloping some of its industries. 11:20 This is our dairy in which we have nine cows 11:24 and three calf's, two female. 11:27 We want to expand this very much. 11:30 We use the milk for the cafeteria, 11:31 we sell milk and we are making, starting to make curd. 11:35 If we make curd out of the milk 11:36 we make more money, so more income. 11:38 So we want this again as an income source for the school 11:41 but we also-- this is where the students work. 11:44 We don't have any help other than students. 11:46 All the milking everything is taken care of by the students. 11:49 They come morning and evening and milk them, 11:52 take care all of it. 11:53 They are great bunch of kids. 11:57 The poultry has been restarted since I came back. 12:00 We have about 600 chickens laying chickens 12:03 and we get about 550 eggs. 12:05 We use it to increase the nutrition at the school 12:09 so that children get eggs more often. 12:11 We also use it for bakery products 12:12 and we sell for income for the school. 12:15 And we hope to increase 12:17 the number of cows and chickens. 12:20 This is the very important part of what we are doing 12:22 and again all student labor. 12:24 It's all done by students. 12:26 Boys who are standing behind you 12:28 waiting to go to work. 12:34 The clinic has also become operational now. 12:37 Although small it is adequate 12:39 to meet the needs of his students. 12:43 We didn't have a functional clinic before. 12:46 After Pastor Sadler came back we have started his clinic. 12:51 So now we have facility to treat 12:53 minor aliments and wounds. 12:55 This clinic is a great help for children 12:58 and the staff here. 13:00 A clinic in a campus is essential 13:02 for a large boarding school like Lakpahana. 13:04 For if a child gets a small cut 13:06 they have to almost get that treated immediately 13:08 or it gets infected. 13:10 But they are blessed to have 13:11 Lakeside Adventist Hospital about 15 miles away. 13:14 So when a child needs extra attention 13:16 they are sent to Lakeside. 13:18 There is also plans to collaborate 13:19 with Lakeside Adventist Hospital, 13:21 to start vocational nursing programs at Lakpahana 13:25 so that the school can also provide Adventist nurses 13:27 in the hospital systems here in Sri Lanka. 13:34 The school has a large farm area 13:36 and with the help of student labor 13:38 fresh vegetables are cultivated 13:40 to meet the needs of the kitchen. 13:41 Work program is an intrical part of hostel life 13:44 in Adventist institutions throughout south Asia. 13:47 And in Lakpahana 13:48 students actively take part in its up keeping 13:51 and are encouraged to participate 13:53 and help in the various industries inside the campus. 13:56 This not only lead a disciple life in the campus 13:59 but it helps them acquire skills 14:00 needed for work in the future. 14:04 when we come back 14:05 we look at how key industry at Lakpahana was revived 14:08 since Pastor Sadler's return and meet Sachikala and Shaan 14:12 and witness how Asian Aid sponsorship 14:15 is helping them overcome a tragic past. 14:30 My wife Angela and I are here in Andhra Pradesh, India, 14:33 visiting some of the Asian Aid projects to see for ourselves 14:37 how the work that is being done here is transforming lives, 14:40 especially lives of orphaned children 14:43 and abandoned children, 14:44 children from the tribal communities. 14:47 And we've discovered that because of sponsors like you, 14:49 they now have a place that they can call home. 14:52 They have wonderful clothing, nutritious food 14:54 and they are being prepared to propel themselves 14:58 into the future for a promising career. 15:00 But above all that because of sponsors like you 15:04 they now have hope, hope for a better future. 15:20 My name is Sue Smith and I'm an Asian Aid sponsor. 15:23 I'm here in India visiting our sponsored children. 15:26 I've seen the difference 15:27 that Asian Aid makes in the life of a child. 15:30 It's a real change 15:32 and I appreciate the work that Asian Aid does here. 16:08 Lakpahana Adventist College and Seminary 16:10 is the only Adventist institution 16:12 in Sri Lanka for higher studies. 16:14 Since its inception in 1923 16:17 it has served a wonderful variety of students 16:19 from many cultures and religions 16:21 represented in Sri Lanka. 16:27 In a comfortable rural setting the college and seminary 16:30 provides both the quality Adventist education program 16:33 and vocational training program 16:35 to prepare the students for life after school. 16:38 Pastor Brooke Sadler is the principal of the school. 16:41 Since his return from retirement 16:43 the school has witnessed a revival. 16:48 One of the key industries that has been revived 16:51 since Pastor Sadler's return is the bakery. 16:54 We started this bakery project from last December. 16:57 Before that we have product only for the cafeteria 17:01 to deliver the bread for the students 17:03 but now we have a good demand in outside. 17:06 Per day we are making that 120 loaf 17:09 before the project start. 17:10 After the project starts 17:11 we will start to make 300 breads per day 17:14 and we don't have any vehicle facilities 17:16 before to deliver things outside 17:18 but now we have a new vehicle to delivery outside. 17:21 So we are making some profit for the school. 17:30 A large institution like Lakpahana Adventist College 17:33 and Seminary draws attention from all quarters 17:36 and it has to maintain its standards 17:38 and build on its reputation. 17:40 It has to have basic facilities 17:41 to attract a large number of paying students. 17:44 Let me start with the need about 17:46 telling my second day here. 17:47 I was sitting in my office 17:49 and I heard this horrible scraping sound. 17:52 And I discovered that students 17:55 came to the first period they captured a chair 17:58 and took it with them the rest of the day 18:00 because we didn't have chairs 18:01 and even seventy percent of those were broken. 18:04 And our-- the limitations right now for us 18:09 are sponsorships, number one, 18:13 and desk and chairs for the classrooms, 18:19 beds and mattresses for the hostels or dormitories, 18:23 those are really the critical needs. 18:25 We have the classroom space, 18:27 we really have the teaching staff. 18:29 Some of our classes are small 18:31 but we just don't have really the basic. 18:35 Every provision made and every development 18:37 envisioned at Lakpahana is student centric. 18:40 There is no question, when we invest in the child 18:43 whether it is through sponsorship 18:44 or investing facilities we endow them 18:47 with the ability to go through life 18:50 with more than just an education. 19:03 Today is a special day at Lakpahana. 19:05 We were fortunate to witness their annual preset day. 19:08 The chief guest Asanka Weerathunga 19:11 is a naval officer in the Sri Lankan Navy. 19:15 As a person called Asanka Weerathunga 19:19 was designed by this. 19:22 so now I'm proud, I came to here. 19:26 I came here 19:31 something like a mother give birth to a child. 19:35 Lakpahana gave birth to me. 19:39 Asanka is former student of Lakpahana. 19:41 Born into the Adventist family he was a sponsored student. 19:46 There is no question that we change lives 19:51 and sponsorship change lives. 19:53 Because these young people come, 19:54 they come from so many different varying backgrounds. 19:57 We just had a special day called a preset day 20:00 which doesn't mean much in the US 20:02 but its where we have student leaders 20:04 and we had a ceremony for to the day and blessing 20:08 and the chief guest is, we have chief guest here 20:11 is a former student here and he is a naval officer. 20:15 And he will tell you, you know, 20:17 I came here and I was one person, 20:20 I left I was someone else 20:22 and I've been in the navy 15 years 20:23 and this has given me a life change. 20:28 Former students like Asanka are living testament 20:31 of the role Lakpahana has played in their lives 20:34 and bares witness to the impact 20:35 sponsorship can have on a child's future. 20:38 And we really have a family atmosphere here 20:42 that is wonderful for the kids 20:44 and gives them an opportunity to really find Christ 20:48 and to put purpose in their life 20:51 and that's something that we really, really, work hard. 20:56 Sachikala Nishadi is 10th grade student at the school. 21:00 She and her brother Shaan 21:01 come from a village next to Lakpahana. 21:04 Their father is a daily laborer 21:06 working in a small restaurant as a cleaner. 21:10 I'm a daily laborer 21:11 and I work as a cleaner in a restaurant. 21:14 I go to work at eight in the morning 21:17 and comeback late night. 21:18 I get a small amount doing that job 21:20 and I have difficult time take care of my children. 21:24 That's why I agreed to send my children to Lakpahana. 21:40 Although hesitant at first Shashikala confided to us 21:44 when asked about the where abouts of her mother. 21:46 Her mother had set fire to herself 21:48 and died a few years ago 21:49 and the memory of that fateful day 21:51 is still fresh in her mind. 21:57 When my son was six years old and my daughter nine years old 22:01 my wife set herself on fire and I went intervene 22:05 and I got burnt and I fainted 22:08 and I was admitted to the hospital. 22:11 When I regain consciousness 22:12 I learned my wife had passed away. 22:16 Confronted with his unexpected personal tragedy 22:19 and the burden of caring for his young children 22:22 Sujith Suranga was hoping for a miracle. 22:35 Every Sabbath we come in here and then I met this family. 22:41 I saw this little boy. 22:43 I don't know my heart got touched in. 22:47 I thought to take to Lakpahana, 22:49 then I asked father you like to put the children there. 22:53 I'm waiting, he said, 22:55 I'm waiting to put in Lakpahana. 22:59 Moureen de France, 23:00 kiddies corner in-charge of Lakpahana 23:03 was moved by the predicament of this family 23:05 and informed the school administration 23:07 about the children. 23:08 Although not from an Adventist background 23:10 Sachikala and Shaan were immediately 23:12 brought to Lakpahana 23:13 and enrolled with Asian Aid sponsorship program. 23:20 I like to study here because the school 23:22 has a good name in the community. 23:24 All the teachers are friendly and I have good friends here. 23:27 I'm very happy to be here with my brother. 23:32 The real joy is to give people the opportunity 23:35 to see a different future. 23:40 And by seeing it they can create a future 23:43 and they don't, they don't have to be trapped by their past. 23:47 That is so, so exciting. 23:51 Sachikala and Shaan today are in a place 23:54 where they can overcome their tragic past 23:56 and look forward to a long future 23:58 that lies ahead of them. 24:03 I want to study hard and complete my education 24:07 and I wish to be a teacher 24:09 and my brother wants to be an engineer. 24:13 God will bless those who are sponsoring my children. 24:16 I don't know who they are 24:18 but they are doing a selfless thing 24:20 and I pray to God that He will them 24:22 for what they are doing. 24:25 Today, Asian Aid sponsorship program 24:27 is spreading the light of hope to children in Sri Lanka 24:30 and education is transforming their lives. 24:33 This transformation is not just to give them an education 24:36 but give them an opportunity to make a choice for eternity. 24:40 An Adventist institutions like Lakpahana is giving them 24:43 that opportunity to make that choice 24:45 and provides them a chance to make a difference 24:48 in the church and in the community. 24:50 Lakpahana of course has the light of Lanka 24:53 and it was designed to educate students children facilities 24:59 and I wish that it will continue 25:02 to function in that manner 25:04 and it will educate our students, 25:06 our children to serve in Sri Lanka. |
Revised 2015-01-01