If a picture is
worth a thousand words,
00:00:01.06\00:00:03.20
an experience is
worth a thousand pictures.
00:00:03.23\00:00:06.36
In today's
episode of Hope in Motion,
00:00:06.39\00:00:09.25
we meet, Deborah Huong,
00:00:09.28\00:00:10.83
Asian Aid, U.S.A
sponsorship manager
00:00:10.86\00:00:13.62
as she travels to Asian
Aid supported schools in India.
00:00:13.65\00:00:17.92
Coming here to
India, seeing the need,
00:00:17.95\00:00:21.56
seeing what Asian Aid is
doing as part of the solution
00:00:21.59\00:00:25.34
and seeing the results
has helped me to really see
00:00:25.37\00:00:29.23
that I have a part to play,
00:00:29.26\00:00:30.84
that there is
something that I can do.
00:00:30.87\00:00:33.13
We travel with, Deborah,
00:00:33.16\00:00:34.43
to the Seventh-day Adventist
school at Vizianagaram,
00:00:34.46\00:00:37.43
as she
witnesses the inauguration
00:00:37.46\00:00:39.37
of a brand new boy's dormitory,
00:00:39.40\00:00:41.33
and see how this new
facility is adding value
00:00:41.36\00:00:44.21
to this very needy school.
00:00:44.24\00:00:46.38
By seeing this
building and this prosperity,
00:00:46.41\00:00:49.05
we really excited.
00:00:49.08\00:00:51.29
We are really happy to see such
a useful building for the boys.
00:00:51.32\00:00:56.32
And we meet Felix Olive,
00:00:56.35\00:00:57.81
experiencing the joy
of sponsorship first hand,
00:00:57.84\00:01:00.63
as he meets his
sponsored child, Manohar.
00:01:00.66\00:01:04.16
I think we can give
hope to the hopeless.
00:01:04.19\00:01:08.94
And seeing now
Manohar, nicely dressed
00:01:08.97\00:01:13.69
and with a meal, three meals
every day, it's indescribable.
00:01:13.72\00:01:21.47
Asian Aid is an
organization giving hope.
00:01:35.35\00:01:38.38
An organization fostering
permanent positive change
00:01:38.41\00:01:41.53
in the lives of
disadvantaged children
00:01:41.56\00:01:43.57
and their communities.
00:01:43.60\00:01:45.42
An organization
that is committed
00:01:45.45\00:01:47.14
to making a difference
in the lives of children
00:01:47.17\00:01:49.61
and those who are in need.
00:01:49.64\00:01:51.36
Serving communities
in Nepal, Bangladesh,
00:01:51.39\00:01:54.26
Sri Lanka, Myanmar and India.
00:01:54.29\00:01:57.58
For the last 40 years,
00:02:05.14\00:02:06.97
Asian Aid has invented
in the futures of people
00:02:07.00\00:02:09.84
and their investment
has proven infinite returns.
00:02:09.87\00:02:13.99
Driven by their
dedication to helping those
00:02:14.02\00:02:16.59
who have the least,
00:02:16.62\00:02:18.09
Asian Aid is an organization
00:02:18.12\00:02:19.86
focused on the
welfare of children,
00:02:19.89\00:02:22.36
implementing
diverse development projects
00:02:22.39\00:02:25.15
and sponsoring
thousands of children.
00:02:25.18\00:02:27.79
Their outreached spans
from child rescue operations,
00:02:27.82\00:02:31.21
to providing an
education for orphans,
00:02:31.24\00:02:33.67
deaf, and the blind children.
00:02:33.70\00:02:36.26
Giving them a
sense of place, a home.
00:02:36.29\00:02:39.08
But above all, Asian Aid is
an organization giving hope,
00:02:39.11\00:02:43.66
giving hope to children,
giving hope to communities,
00:02:43.69\00:02:47.23
giving hope to the
ones who need it the most.
00:02:47.26\00:02:51.04
This is Hope in Motion.
00:02:51.07\00:02:53.58
As the sponsorship
manager for Asian Aid U.S.A,
00:03:15.47\00:03:18.93
Deborah Huong, as a liaison
between the child, his sponsor,
00:03:18.96\00:03:22.96
and the Asian Aid
supported schools in South Asia.
00:03:22.99\00:03:26.87
Recently when Jim
Rennie, C.E.O of Asian Aid U.S.A
00:03:26.90\00:03:31.25
offered her the chance
to travel with him to India,
00:03:31.28\00:03:34.03
she had mixed feelings,
00:03:34.06\00:03:35.55
clueless as to
what she would expect
00:03:35.58\00:03:37.41
and encounter from
her first trip to India.
00:03:37.44\00:03:40.64
It's very important that
our key staff come to the field
00:03:40.67\00:03:43.67
because it gives them a
much deeper understanding.
00:03:43.70\00:03:47.30
It allows them to
see how the system works,
00:03:47.33\00:03:50.53
it allows them to
interact with the field staff.
00:03:50.56\00:03:53.40
But most important,
00:03:53.43\00:03:54.46
it builds their confidence
on what they're doing,
00:03:54.49\00:03:56.75
so when they're
talking to donors,
00:03:56.78\00:03:58.90
when they're
talking to sponsors,
00:03:58.93\00:04:00.58
they can say I've been to
the school where your child was,
00:04:00.61\00:04:04.22
and it's just a key
part of them understanding,
00:04:04.25\00:04:08.72
what Asian Aid does
00:04:08.75\00:04:10.48
because everyday we're
talking to sponsors and donors.
00:04:10.51\00:04:15.72
It is important for any
charitable organization,
00:04:15.75\00:04:18.42
that their staff
visit the mission field
00:04:18.45\00:04:20.70
because they can relate
their experiences to the donors
00:04:20.73\00:04:23.64
and this in turn
engenders more confidence
00:04:23.67\00:04:26.00
for the donors and the
sponsors in the organization
00:04:26.03\00:04:29.23
and the projects
they are supporting.
00:04:29.26\00:04:30.95
Soon after arriving in India,
00:04:43.13\00:04:45.11
Deborah began her whirlwind trip
00:04:45.14\00:04:47.03
with a visit to the
Seventh-day Adventist school
00:04:47.06\00:04:49.39
in Vizianagaram,
00:04:49.42\00:04:50.45
in a southern
state of Andhra Pradesh.
00:04:50.48\00:04:53.09
The school at Vizianagaram
00:04:53.12\00:04:54.47
has taken a pounding
from a severe storm recently
00:04:54.50\00:04:57.61
and the storm had battered
00:04:57.64\00:04:58.79
the already
dilapidated school complex.
00:04:58.82\00:05:02.08
And so when I walked
into the Vizianagaram campus,
00:05:02.11\00:05:04.33
I have, of course
I'd seen pictures,
00:05:04.36\00:05:07.11
so I'd seen, kind of,
what the classrooms look like,
00:05:07.14\00:05:09.85
kind of what state it was in,
you know, its different needs.
00:05:09.88\00:05:15.02
But somehow,
you know, of course,
00:05:15.05\00:05:17.71
you know, a picture is
worth a thousand words,
00:05:17.74\00:05:19.93
but I've like an experience
is worth a thousand pictures
00:05:19.96\00:05:23.43
and it was really like that for
me to, to see the classrooms,
00:05:23.46\00:05:28.31
to see the
condition they were in
00:05:28.34\00:05:31.68
but that the
children were still using them
00:05:31.71\00:05:34.41
and that they were
very happy and thankful
00:05:34.44\00:05:37.02
and you know I just feel that
there is a lot more to do there
00:05:37.05\00:05:41.03
and I'm still glad that we
can, be a part of doing that
00:05:41.06\00:05:44.11
and especially with the
new dorm that we've made.
00:05:44.14\00:05:46.80
That that's just a good
step towards more improvements
00:05:46.83\00:05:49.96
that that school can have.
00:05:49.99\00:05:53.34
When you walk
into the school campus,
00:05:53.37\00:05:55.46
the enormity of the need at
the school comes into full view.
00:05:55.49\00:05:58.92
Because of
financial difficulties,
00:05:58.95\00:06:00.95
the school fell into disrepair
00:06:00.98\00:06:02.95
and because of the
lack of facilities,
00:06:02.98\00:06:05.06
such as a decent dormitory,
00:06:05.09\00:06:06.73
the boys were housed
in the church building
00:06:06.76\00:06:08.76
inside the campus.
00:06:08.79\00:06:10.90
Since we don't have
place for the boys to stay,
00:06:10.93\00:06:14.08
we put them in the church.
00:06:14.11\00:06:17.02
As we Christians we know church
is a holy place for all of us.
00:06:17.05\00:06:21.33
But this is only
meant for praying.
00:06:21.36\00:06:24.55
But in the
beginning when we came
00:06:24.58\00:06:26.81
we really hesitated to
keep the boys in the church,
00:06:26.84\00:06:30.42
because that is a holy place.
00:06:30.45\00:06:32.47
But there is no
other way to keep the boys.
00:06:32.50\00:06:35.27
Then we all
thought, even we prayed,
00:06:35.30\00:06:38.41
God, please
forgive us, by doing this.
00:06:38.44\00:06:43.47
We're coming into the chapel,
which is also the boys' dorm,
00:06:43.50\00:06:48.46
which is also a classroom.
00:06:48.49\00:06:50.25
So these fellows, hi,
do you sleep in this house?
00:06:50.28\00:06:53.93
Yes, ma'am.
00:06:53.96\00:06:54.99
You sleep in God's house?
00:06:55.02\00:06:56.18
Yes, ma'am.
00:06:56.21\00:06:57.53
I think you do.
00:06:57.56\00:06:59.77
Show me, show
me where you sleep.
00:06:59.80\00:07:06.52
Come, show me.
00:07:06.55\00:07:11.35
Sue Smith is a longtime
supporter of projects in India
00:07:11.38\00:07:14.53
and she along with her
church members at Bonita Valley
00:07:14.56\00:07:17.60
SDA church in
San Diego, California
00:07:17.63\00:07:20.31
has been involved in sponsoring
00:07:20.34\00:07:22.01
and taking care of
basic needs at the school
00:07:22.04\00:07:24.14
ever since she
first visited the school.
00:07:24.17\00:07:27.33
Well, I noticed what poor
condition the school was in,
00:07:27.36\00:07:31.22
I had been seeing
large schools built,
00:07:31.25\00:07:33.51
that were
beautiful, lovely facilities
00:07:33.54\00:07:36.62
and it was quite jarring
to see this small school,
00:07:36.65\00:07:41.07
where the children were
sleeping on classroom floors,
00:07:41.10\00:07:43.44
I said well let's buy
beds, we can buy beds,
00:07:43.47\00:07:46.80
and they said but
there is no room for beds,
00:07:46.83\00:07:48.40
they sleep in the classroom.
00:07:48.43\00:07:51.20
The boys were not only
sleeping on classroom floors
00:07:51.23\00:07:53.77
and living in the church,
00:07:53.80\00:07:55.37
but because of the
lack of proper classrooms,
00:07:55.40\00:07:57.81
the school
administration was forced
00:07:57.84\00:07:59.72
to conduct
classes in the church.
00:07:59.75\00:08:03.03
Moved by the
plight of the children
00:08:03.06\00:08:04.79
and the staff at the school,
00:08:04.82\00:08:06.49
Sue and her church
members at Bonita Valley
00:08:06.52\00:08:09.06
along with Asian Aid, U.S.A
00:08:09.09\00:08:11.18
realized the urgent need
to build a new boys dormitory
00:08:11.21\00:08:14.66
and their support
culminated in the inauguration
00:08:14.69\00:08:17.15
of a brand new boys'
dorm on November 6th 2014.
00:08:17.18\00:08:21.47
By seeing this
building and this prosperity,
00:08:34.43\00:08:37.13
we really excited.
00:08:37.16\00:08:39.37
By God's grace, through the
help of our members or donors,
00:08:39.40\00:08:44.39
we are really happy to see such
a useful building for the boys.
00:08:44.42\00:08:50.51
So now we're in
the new boys' dorm
00:08:50.54\00:08:52.14
of course it's very
exciting for us, for Asian Aid.
00:08:52.17\00:08:55.32
Something, a very important
step for the donors and those
00:08:55.35\00:08:58.80
who have given
towards that project.
00:08:58.83\00:09:01.41
But even more so for those boys
00:09:01.44\00:09:03.42
who've been
living in the church,
00:09:03.45\00:09:05.45
in very rough conditions.
00:09:05.48\00:09:07.71
Now they have this beautiful
home, they're so exited
00:09:07.74\00:09:11.53
and especially with the
storm that they recently had,
00:09:11.56\00:09:13.61
that did some
damage to that school.
00:09:13.64\00:09:16.58
They were living in different,
different parts of campus,
00:09:16.61\00:09:19.00
trying to find a dry place
00:09:19.03\00:09:20.19
and now they have
this beautiful dorm
00:09:20.22\00:09:22.66
and I know they're
very appreciative to those
00:09:22.69\00:09:24.37
who have given to this project.
00:09:24.40\00:09:27.08
Although
undertaking projects like this
00:09:27.11\00:09:29.55
is a small step for
Asian Aid and its supporters,
00:09:29.58\00:09:32.40
it makes a huge difference for
the children and their parents
00:09:32.43\00:09:35.78
who often come from
unimaginable living conditions
00:09:35.81\00:09:38.65
in their villages.
00:09:38.68\00:09:40.46
And when we see
Vizianagaram School,
00:09:40.49\00:09:42.57
school like Vizianagaram School,
00:09:42.60\00:09:44.38
we think, oh, my goodness.
00:09:44.41\00:09:46.27
But the kids don't complaint
00:09:46.30\00:09:47.81
because when you
go back to their homes
00:09:47.84\00:09:50.47
and see where they come from,
00:09:50.50\00:09:52.34
they are very
happy to be at school,
00:09:52.37\00:09:54.54
their parents are very
happy for them to be at school,
00:09:54.57\00:09:57.69
and so we want to do
more there and we will do more
00:09:57.72\00:10:01.48
and we want to plan classrooms,
00:10:01.51\00:10:04.83
we want to plan
to build that school
00:10:04.86\00:10:07.38
and, but the kids are grateful.
00:10:07.41\00:10:11.57
These children are
grateful for what they have
00:10:11.60\00:10:14.26
and it is this humility
in the midst of hardship
00:10:14.29\00:10:16.90
that brings back people
like Sue Smith to this campus.
00:10:16.93\00:10:20.93
It's in my mind if people could
really see it here, themselves,
00:10:20.96\00:10:25.92
why wouldn't
everybody want to go?
00:10:25.95\00:10:27.45
This is such a fabulous place,
00:10:27.48\00:10:29.97
it's a hard place in a
way but it's so fulfilling,
00:10:30.00\00:10:33.40
it's enriching in
ways that I can hardly,
00:10:33.43\00:10:36.98
hardly have words for,
00:10:37.01\00:10:38.23
I come back with
better priorities,
00:10:38.26\00:10:40.63
when I come back to the States.
00:10:40.66\00:10:42.70
Everyone sleeps here? Yes ma'am.
00:10:42.73\00:10:44.67
All the girls
sleep here? Yes ma'am.
00:10:44.70\00:10:46.69
Over the last couple of years,
00:10:46.72\00:10:48.62
people like Sue Smith
and many more like her,
00:10:48.65\00:10:51.47
have realized the
needs of this school.
00:10:51.50\00:10:54.03
They want a place
that is safe and supportive
00:10:54.06\00:10:56.41
and want a place where children
could be given opportunities.
00:10:56.44\00:11:00.09
As a key personnel at
Asian Aid, Deborah Huong,
00:11:00.12\00:11:03.20
has seen many such needs
00:11:03.23\00:11:04.79
and many opportunities
given to these children.
00:11:04.82\00:11:08.13
She had seen donations come in
00:11:08.16\00:11:10.04
and received
pictures of the buildings
00:11:10.07\00:11:11.92
as it rose from the ground up.
00:11:11.95\00:11:14.16
But now to stand at the gate
of this beautiful new building
00:11:14.19\00:11:17.62
as the ribbon was cut.
00:11:17.65\00:11:19.48
See the excited faces of
the children and the staff alike
00:11:19.51\00:11:23.15
and the part
Asian Aid was playing
00:11:23.18\00:11:25.12
to see the
fulfillment of a dream in motion
00:11:25.15\00:11:27.83
was not something she
had experienced before.
00:11:27.86\00:11:30.24
It was a great
sense of fulfillment
00:11:30.27\00:11:32.38
to see first hand the
result of an accomplished,
00:11:32.41\00:11:35.45
truly worthwhile mission.
00:11:35.48\00:11:37.78
So the inauguration of the
Vizianagaram new boys' dorm,
00:11:37.81\00:11:40.71
there was this plaque and
when I was reading it said,
00:11:40.74\00:11:44.08
it was dedicated as I
mean, Ark for Gods children.
00:11:44.11\00:11:48.45
When you think of ark,
you think of something that,
00:11:48.48\00:11:50.58
in the storms of
life, in the difficulties,
00:11:50.61\00:11:53.06
it's a place that is safe.
00:11:53.09\00:11:54.76
It is a place where
you have, you're supported,
00:11:54.79\00:11:56.94
they can find a safe
place and I feel like
00:11:56.97\00:11:59.08
that is what this
school is for them
00:11:59.11\00:12:02.06
and is for many of our
other Asian Aid children.
00:12:02.09\00:12:06.52
This is what we want it to be,
00:12:06.55\00:12:07.67
is an ark where they
can feel safe and supported,
00:12:07.70\00:12:10.09
where they can be
given opportunities.
00:12:10.12\00:12:11.73
They can feel
like, they can have,
00:12:11.76\00:12:14.19
build a future for themselves
00:12:14.22\00:12:15.84
and they can be carried safely
to whatever destination it is
00:12:15.87\00:12:18.08
that God has for them.
00:12:18.11\00:12:24.69
Fourth grade student, Tagore,
00:12:24.72\00:12:26.66
comes from a small
village not far from the school.
00:12:26.69\00:12:29.81
Tagore joined the
school three years ago
00:12:29.84\00:12:32.21
and Asian Aid sponsorship
has given him an opportunity
00:12:32.24\00:12:35.48
to build his own future.
00:12:35.51\00:12:38.35
At a very early age
00:12:38.38\00:12:39.90
Tagore's father abandoned
him and his mother Gauri.
00:12:39.93\00:12:43.17
As marital issues
developed at home,
00:12:43.20\00:12:45.59
his father, an alcoholic,
physically abused his mother
00:12:45.62\00:12:49.32
and on one occasion
pushed her against the wall
00:12:49.35\00:12:52.14
and she damaged her back.
00:12:52.17\00:12:54.07
This rendered her
incapable of doing any work.
00:12:54.10\00:12:57.42
Having moved in
with another woman,
00:12:57.45\00:12:59.57
he went into a state of
unhappiness and despondency,
00:12:59.60\00:13:02.87
and he killed
himself by hanging.
00:13:02.90\00:13:09.45
Her health is
not well and moreover
00:13:09.48\00:13:12.80
and she cannot take care of him
00:13:12.83\00:13:14.32
also because she is
depend upon the brother.
00:13:14.35\00:13:19.17
What's the brother doing?
00:13:19.20\00:13:24.32
He went for the
agriculture work, daily basis.
00:13:24.35\00:13:29.60
After Gauri was rendered
00:13:29.63\00:13:30.85
physically
challenged to do any work,
00:13:30.88\00:13:33.05
she struggled to
provide for herself and her son.
00:13:33.08\00:13:36.11
Although her brother
was there to support her,
00:13:36.14\00:13:38.30
she was unable to
send him to school.
00:13:38.33\00:13:42.35
I'm working in this
village for the last 10 years
00:13:42.38\00:13:45.60
and 6 years back I met Gauri
00:13:45.63\00:13:48.38
and when I met her she
told me her family problems.
00:13:48.41\00:13:52.88
She told me about her struggles
00:13:52.91\00:13:54.89
and how her husband passed away.
00:13:54.92\00:13:57.90
I thought I must
do something for them
00:13:57.93\00:14:00.14
and I took her son to the
SDA School at Vizianagaram.
00:14:00.17\00:14:04.75
Afterwards through the, by
the pastor's information and all
00:14:04.78\00:14:09.10
we found this boy.
00:14:09.13\00:14:10.55
The pastor came and told
00:14:10.58\00:14:11.69
so and so such case is
there, one boy is there.
00:14:11.72\00:14:14.61
Can you, can we bring
here to our school like that.
00:14:14.64\00:14:17.44
So immediately
we brought that boy,
00:14:17.47\00:14:19.30
we put him in grade one.
00:14:19.33\00:14:21.95
He studied nicely then we
gave him double promotion.
00:14:21.98\00:14:25.09
Instead of going to
the second standard,
00:14:25.12\00:14:27.30
he went to third standard.
00:14:27.33\00:14:28.37
Now he is in grade fourth.
00:14:28.40\00:14:30.99
Giving a child a
double promotion is rare
00:14:31.02\00:14:33.50
in the Indian school system.
00:14:33.53\00:14:35.26
It is only given
to those children
00:14:35.29\00:14:37.12
who show
exceptional ability to learn.
00:14:37.15\00:14:39.78
One can only imagine a
bright young boy like Tagore
00:14:39.81\00:14:42.72
wasting his talents
00:14:42.75\00:14:43.93
and growing up in a
village without an education.
00:14:43.96\00:14:49.07
Tagore, what do you want
to become when you grow up?
00:14:49.10\00:14:54.42
Doctor.
00:14:54.45\00:14:55.61
Doctor? He wants
to become a doctor.
00:14:55.64\00:15:01.26
Tagore is a fine example
00:15:01.29\00:15:03.05
of what a simple
gesture of sponsorship can do.
00:15:03.08\00:15:06.16
Today, Asian Aid
sponsorship program
00:15:06.19\00:15:08.92
is not only giving
a new lease of life
00:15:08.95\00:15:10.96
and opportunity to
children like Tagore,
00:15:10.99\00:15:13.53
but it is giving the
parents and community
00:15:13.56\00:15:15.45
an opportunity to know Jesus.
00:15:15.48\00:15:19.16
What I'm thinking here,
may be this is a God's plan.
00:15:19.19\00:15:25.35
We do not know the sponsor,
00:15:25.38\00:15:27.04
the sponsor do
not know this boy.
00:15:27.07\00:15:29.39
This boy do not
know the sponsor.
00:15:29.42\00:15:31.76
She doesn't know
the church exactly,
00:15:31.79\00:15:34.95
but what church can do for her.
00:15:34.98\00:15:37.15
But this is
God's plan to come here
00:15:37.18\00:15:39.99
and through the pastor
00:15:40.02\00:15:41.59
and this lady
came to know the truth
00:15:41.62\00:15:43.58
and the truth and
God helped her son
00:15:43.61\00:15:47.54
to come to our
Adventist school in the church.
00:15:47.57\00:15:51.63
This all looks
like a God's agency
00:15:51.66\00:15:55.43
is from the
beginning to the end.
00:15:55.46\00:15:59.74
Coming here to India,
00:15:59.77\00:16:01.27
I really realized the
impact that sponsorship makes.
00:16:01.30\00:16:05.84
You know I deal with
it everyday in the office.
00:16:05.87\00:16:09.15
So somehow coming here
and seeing boys like Tagore,
00:16:09.18\00:16:12.54
who live in a village where,
they may not have a parent,
00:16:12.57\00:16:16.59
where maybe his
mother is unable to work,
00:16:16.62\00:16:19.74
but he is able to go to a school
00:16:19.77\00:16:21.45
and if he didn't have that
sponsorship, that opportunity,
00:16:21.48\00:16:24.87
who knows may be
in a couple of years
00:16:24.90\00:16:26.35
he would have to go to work,
00:16:26.38\00:16:28.44
be sent to work to
support the family.
00:16:28.47\00:16:30.74
He may not appreciate
or understand that now
00:16:30.77\00:16:33.23
but in a few years
maybe when he grows older,
00:16:33.26\00:16:37.22
he will look back and
realize the opportunities
00:16:37.25\00:16:38.99
that his sponsor
has given to him.
00:16:39.02\00:16:43.44
Meeting boys like Tagore,
00:16:43.47\00:16:45.04
learning about their background
00:16:45.07\00:16:46.72
and seeing the impact
00:16:46.75\00:16:47.90
Asian Aid was having
on these children's lives
00:16:47.93\00:16:50.63
was a rewarding
experience for Deborah.
00:16:50.66\00:16:52.85
Deborah's trip to
India wouldn't be complete
00:17:21.65\00:17:24.25
without a visit to the
Sunrise Children's Home.
00:17:24.28\00:17:26.97
Sunrise Home has
been a major project
00:17:27.00\00:17:29.27
for Asian Aid U.S.A in
the last couple of years,
00:17:29.30\00:17:32.36
and this was a place she
was looking forward to visiting
00:17:32.39\00:17:35.32
since the start of her trip.
00:17:35.35\00:17:37.88
Visiting the
children at Sunrise Home
00:17:37.91\00:17:39.50
was a very special experience.
00:17:39.53\00:17:41.40
Just looking into their faces,
00:17:41.43\00:17:42.70
you can see that these
children are just very happy.
00:17:42.73\00:17:45.72
They're free to run around,
00:17:45.75\00:17:47.74
they go and they
play in the river,
00:17:47.77\00:17:48.93
we played some games together,
00:17:48.96\00:17:51.34
and Lalitha, when showed
us some of there documents,
00:17:51.37\00:17:55.84
from when they first came
00:17:55.87\00:17:57.14
and the pictures of
them when they first arrived,
00:17:57.17\00:17:59.38
and to see that
versus what they are now,
00:17:59.41\00:18:02.12
such a huge contrast in how
these children have changed,
00:18:02.15\00:18:07.57
how they've grown, how they've
prospered in this environment
00:18:07.60\00:18:12.22
and I mean it's
such a blessing to see.
00:18:12.25\00:18:14.59
The new boy's dorm at Sunrise
Home was recently inaugurated
00:18:27.91\00:18:31.92
and the boys were
eager to show their new home
00:18:31.95\00:18:33.95
to Deborah and Felix.
00:18:33.98\00:18:36.22
Felix Olive is a
New York resident
00:18:36.25\00:18:38.58
and has been sponsoring a
child here in India since 2013.
00:18:38.61\00:18:42.74
When he was told about
this trip Asian Aid was making,
00:18:42.77\00:18:45.83
Felix was eager to join.
00:18:45.86\00:18:49.18
Well, I met Felix at
our regional ISI in New York
00:18:49.21\00:18:52.57
and he was really
excited about the ministry,
00:18:52.60\00:18:55.04
in fact he had sat down
and watched most of our videos,
00:18:55.07\00:18:58.30
he just about knew more
about the videos than I did,
00:18:58.33\00:19:01.57
and he asked me
if he could come,
00:19:01.60\00:19:03.63
so we're very excited that
Felix could come on this trip.
00:19:03.66\00:19:07.20
He is a sponsor, and
he just loves children,
00:19:07.23\00:19:11.12
and so not only as he meeting
00:19:11.15\00:19:12.84
the children at all the schools,
00:19:12.87\00:19:15.21
he is going to visit his
children at Ibrahimpatnam.
00:19:15.24\00:19:18.86
When I saw the work
that Asian Aid was doing
00:19:18.89\00:19:22.08
and I saw it
through their videos that,
00:19:22.11\00:19:26.17
were I found in the
site in the Asian Aid site
00:19:26.20\00:19:29.17
and as I saw their
work, I was deeply touched
00:19:29.20\00:19:31.88
and I said to my friends,
00:19:31.91\00:19:33.22
if you want to
watch these videos
00:19:33.25\00:19:35.07
you need a box of
Kleenex next to you
00:19:35.10\00:19:37.83
because it will break your heart
00:19:37.86\00:19:39.64
to see the stories of
all these different children
00:19:39.67\00:19:42.16
and their needs.
00:19:42.19\00:19:43.54
So I couldn't wait anymore,
00:19:43.57\00:19:47.05
I said I want to
sponsor one of these children.
00:19:47.08\00:19:50.31
So...
00:19:50.34\00:19:51.38
Moved by the stories he watched
00:19:51.41\00:19:53.08
from Asian Aid's
Hope in Motion series,
00:19:53.11\00:19:55.97
Felix, has been
sponsoring Manohar since 2013
00:19:56.00\00:19:59.72
and he was anxious to meet him
00:19:59.75\00:20:01.24
at the Seventh-day Adventist
school in Ibrahimpatnam.
00:20:01.27\00:20:05.11
You know there
are lot of sponsors
00:20:05.14\00:20:06.37
would love to visit
their sponsored children.
00:20:06.40\00:20:09.12
They keep their photographs
each year, they pray for them.
00:20:09.15\00:20:12.90
But it's not
possible for many of them
00:20:12.93\00:20:14.38
to travel all the
way here to India.
00:20:14.41\00:20:16.96
So it's been a really
exciting to travel with Felix,
00:20:16.99\00:20:20.48
as we've been here to
see his mounting excitement
00:20:20.51\00:20:24.17
to see his sponsored child
00:20:24.20\00:20:25.73
and to be at
Ibrahimpatnam as he met him
00:20:25.76\00:20:28.84
and this is really what
sponsorship is all about.
00:20:28.87\00:20:32.16
The joy of seeing the person
who you have been able to help
00:20:32.19\00:20:37.20
and a lot of these
sponsors become our ambassadors,
00:20:37.23\00:20:39.77
our Asian Aid ambassadors.
00:20:39.80\00:20:41.61
They go out and tell
their friends and their family,
00:20:41.64\00:20:44.26
what the true joy
of sponsorship is.
00:20:44.29\00:20:47.86
Felix was able to experience
that true joy of sponsorship,
00:20:47.89\00:20:51.61
when he finally met his
sponsored child Manohar.
00:20:51.64\00:20:55.05
Yeah, during the
entire trip, I have to say,
00:20:55.08\00:20:58.31
I was expecting the culmination
00:20:58.34\00:21:00.26
when I will meet
my sponsored child.
00:21:00.29\00:21:02.88
I have seen his pictures
00:21:02.91\00:21:04.28
and I started to sponsor him
when he was in the third grade
00:21:04.31\00:21:09.01
and I'm very
pleased to, when I met him,
00:21:09.04\00:21:13.43
yes it was an emotional
experience to see this boy
00:21:13.46\00:21:16.53
and to see his background that
was described by Robbie before.
00:21:16.56\00:21:21.08
Manohar comes
from a nearby district
00:21:26.35\00:21:28.49
about 3 hours
from Ibrahimpatnam.
00:21:28.52\00:21:30.82
Having succumbed to a stroke
00:21:30.85\00:21:32.66
his father died
when he was very young
00:21:32.69\00:21:35.05
and his mother
struggled to bring him up
00:21:35.08\00:21:36.87
and his two older brothers.
00:21:36.90\00:21:38.90
Being pressured to remarry
00:21:38.93\00:21:40.23
by her relatives
and village elders,
00:21:40.26\00:21:42.63
she worried for her three boys.
00:21:42.66\00:21:44.73
Wanting a better
future for her children
00:21:44.76\00:21:47.00
she brought them to the school
00:21:47.03\00:21:48.72
and waited for two
days at the school gate
00:21:48.75\00:21:50.97
for someone to
lend her a helping hand.
00:21:51.00\00:21:53.56
Ravi, field
officer for Asian Aid
00:21:53.59\00:21:56.14
saw this woman
with her three boys
00:21:56.17\00:21:57.88
and approached her.
00:21:57.91\00:21:59.83
So when we heard
the lady's story,
00:21:59.86\00:22:02.14
Mummy, and I
00:22:02.17\00:22:03.78
immediately decided
that we need to put the,
00:22:03.81\00:22:06.49
that these children
needs sponsors immediately.
00:22:06.52\00:22:08.85
Then we put them, we accepted
them immediately to Asian Aid,
00:22:08.88\00:22:11.49
we put them in the school
00:22:11.52\00:22:12.84
and they were
there in the Asian Aid.
00:22:12.87\00:22:15.32
That's his brother Nagaraju.
00:22:15.35\00:22:17.27
Nagaraju.
00:22:17.30\00:22:19.97
Manohar and his brother Nagaraju
00:22:20.00\00:22:22.37
were taken into Asian
Aid sponsorship program
00:22:22.40\00:22:25.11
the very same day and
admitted at the school.
00:22:25.14\00:22:28.09
His elder brother
goes to a government school
00:22:28.12\00:22:30.30
in his village
00:22:30.33\00:22:31.36
and also takes
care of his mother.
00:22:31.39\00:22:34.22
Yes after I heard
the story of course,
00:22:34.25\00:22:37.43
I learned more about him
and I learned to loving more
00:22:37.46\00:22:42.13
but the thoughts that
came through my mind, John,
00:22:42.16\00:22:46.56
was one child is not enough.
00:22:46.59\00:22:49.53
There were so
many children in need.
00:22:49.56\00:22:52.23
I was happy when they asked,
00:22:52.26\00:22:54.19
how many children are
here sponsored by Asian Aid,
00:22:54.22\00:22:58.97
and a few raised their hands,
00:22:59.00\00:23:00.58
in some schools
there were a lot,
00:23:00.61\00:23:02.32
in some schools there were less,
00:23:02.35\00:23:04.73
but I was very
happy to talk to them
00:23:04.76\00:23:07.91
and also ask them,
have you seen your sponsor?
00:23:07.94\00:23:10.90
No, I haven't known my sponsor,
00:23:10.93\00:23:12.38
even Ravi, who
came from an orphanage
00:23:12.41\00:23:15.57
and now he is
working as a field worker,
00:23:15.60\00:23:19.48
he himself said I
never met my sponsor.
00:23:19.51\00:23:23.64
So, but the point that
I wanted to make is that,
00:23:23.67\00:23:30.68
my feelings was this is a time
when I want to be a millionaire
00:23:30.71\00:23:36.60
because there are too many needs
00:23:36.63\00:23:40.11
and too little
hands to do you know.
00:23:40.14\00:23:42.60
Not everyone is blessed
with the financial means
00:23:42.63\00:23:44.87
to support and sponsor
many children at a time.
00:23:44.90\00:23:47.47
But as Felix who found out,
00:23:47.50\00:23:49.22
we can with our unlimited
means impact one life at a time
00:23:49.25\00:23:53.88
and the children
are always grateful
00:23:53.91\00:23:55.58
for the impact these
sponsors have in their lives.
00:23:55.61\00:23:58.75
The most important people,
the donors and the sponsors
00:23:58.78\00:24:03.60
and the beneficiaries
are mainly children,
00:24:03.63\00:24:06.33
families, and communities.
00:24:06.36\00:24:08.36
But Asian Aid is just conduit
from the giver to the receiver.
00:24:08.39\00:24:14.88
Thank you for being the givers,
00:24:14.91\00:24:16.59
I can tell you, our
receivers always tell me
00:24:16.62\00:24:20.90
they're grateful for the givers.
00:24:20.93\00:24:25.00
I think we can give
hope to the hopeless
00:24:25.03\00:24:29.86
and seeing now
Manohar, nicely dressed
00:24:29.89\00:24:34.62
and with a meal, three meals
everyday it's indescribable.
00:24:34.65\00:24:42.27
As, Deborah,
witnessed this relationship grow
00:24:46.61\00:24:49.24
between Felix and his
sponsored child Manohar,
00:24:49.27\00:24:52.67
it gave her a new perspective
00:24:52.70\00:24:54.38
to her role as a
sponsorship manager.
00:24:54.41\00:24:57.12
It was no longer just
a job, it was a personal,
00:24:57.15\00:25:00.25
an experiential love for
God's work and for the children.
00:25:00.28\00:25:04.87
Coming here to
India, seeing the need,
00:25:04.90\00:25:08.60
seeing what Asian Aid is
doing as part of the solution
00:25:08.63\00:25:12.32
and seeing the results
has helped me to really see
00:25:12.35\00:25:16.21
that I have a part to play,
00:25:16.24\00:25:17.87
that there is
something that I can do.
00:25:17.90\00:25:19.92
You know the needs
only seem so great.
00:25:19.95\00:25:22.29
Yet when you go to a
school and you see a child,
00:25:22.32\00:25:25.82
a specific little girl
00:25:25.85\00:25:27.62
and you realize, you
know, these are individuals
00:25:27.65\00:25:30.63
and there is something
that I can do for this one.
00:25:30.66\00:25:34.93
Today, Asian Aid is giving
children in needy situations
00:25:34.96\00:25:38.77
an opportunity to
receive an education
00:25:38.80\00:25:41.87
and sponsors like
Felix and Sue Smith
00:25:41.90\00:25:44.67
and many more like them
are giving these children
00:25:44.70\00:25:47.34
the financial means
and emotional support
00:25:47.37\00:25:49.85
to follow their dreams.
00:25:49.88\00:25:52.00
Through Asian Aid
sponsorship program
00:25:52.03\00:25:54.43
they are not only giving
the hope for a better life
00:25:54.46\00:25:57.11
but giving them a
chance to know Jesus
00:25:57.14\00:25:59.72
and prepare them
for eternal life.
00:25:59.75\00:26:03.11
It's not just about,
00:26:03.14\00:26:04.17
our schools are not just
about reading and writing
00:26:04.20\00:26:06.22
and getting good at science,
00:26:06.25\00:26:07.76
otherwise
they'll go to any school,
00:26:07.79\00:26:09.16
it doesn't make any difference.
00:26:09.19\00:26:11.06
Again the analogy to the ark,
00:26:11.09\00:26:12.95
we want these children safe,
00:26:12.98\00:26:14.84
but we want them saved,
we want them for eternity
00:26:14.87\00:26:17.59
not just 30, 40, 50
years in this world.
00:26:17.62\00:26:20.91
We want them for eternity.
00:26:20.94\00:26:22.23