The Asian Age School
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for speech and
hearing in Kollegal, India
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is very special for Asian Aid.
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Here, these
special needs children
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are given opportunities,
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opportunities to
learn, acquire skills
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and are given a chance
to transform their lives.
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In this episode
of "Hope In Motion"
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we see how Asian Aid sponsors
are helping this special school
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transform the lives
of disabled children
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like Lakshmi and Sita Raju.
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I wish the
sponsors could be here.
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I wish the
sponsors could really see
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beyond the
difference they are making.
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Without the sponsors
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this simply wouldn't happen.
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It's bigger
than their education.
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It's bigger than
the child at the desk.
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It's giving these
kids a delight in life
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and that's what I
see when I come here.
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We meet Jacob and his wife Shiny
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and see how
working with these children
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has been a life-changing
experience for them.
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I myself was Asian
Aid child, sponsored child
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and Asian Aid gave me
love and gave me hope.
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If it is for Asian Aid,
I would have not been here.
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It's because of
the Asian Aid help
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I'm here as a teacher for
this special children here.
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And we travel with Carl Ginger
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as he discovers firsthand
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how Asian Aid is
spreading hope and light
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to these disabled children
and the community at large.
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Asian Aid is an
organization giving hope,
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an organization fostering
permanent positive change
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in the lives of
disadvantaged children
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and their communities,
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an organization
that is committed
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to making a difference
in the lives of children
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and those who are in need.
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Serving communities
in Nepal, Bangladesh,
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Sri Lanka, Myanmar and India.
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For the last 40 years,
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Asian Aid has invested
in the futures of people
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and their investment
has proven infinite returns
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driven by their
dedication to helping those
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who have the least.
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Asian Aid is an organization
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focused on the
welfare of children,
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implementing
diverse development projects
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and sponsoring
thousands of children.
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Their outreach spans
from child rescue operations
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to providing an
education for orphans,
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deaf and the blind children.
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Giving them a
sense of place, ahome
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but above all
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Asian Aid is an
organization giving hope,
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giving hope to children,
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giving hope to communities,
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giving hope to the
ones who needed the most.
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This is "Hope In Motion."
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Carl Ginger's
involvement with Asian Aid
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as one of its board members
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has taken him to
India many times.
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The vibrancy of life in India
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is something that
has captivated him
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and it's a place to
experience and appreciate life.
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For Carl, this was
one such opportunity.
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He is traveling with Jim Rennie,
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CEO of Asian Aid USA
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and his fellow
board member and friend
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Dittu Abraham
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to the Asian Aid
school for speech and hearing
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in Kollegal.
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As they drive
down into the campus,
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the children appear
from nowhere to greet them.
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Their smiling faces
and their warm welcome
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was rewarding for the visitors.
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The children were well
groomed and ready for church.
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I'm here at a church
service with these children
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and getting their responses
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to the questions we
ask about Jesus Christ.
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The energy they have,
the commitment they have,
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the pleasure in being
part of a church service
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it truly is amazing.
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This is something
we can give these kids
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that they would never have.
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Never have had the opportunity
of knowing Jesus Christ
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and we are going to
see results for eternity.
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For Carl,
attending church service
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with these children
with hearing disability
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was an opportunity to grow
and expand his understanding
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of the
differences between people
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the gift of communication
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and the
privilege of being human.
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Being created
in the image of God
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binds us as one,
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multiplies our
understanding of being human
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and the many gifts we have.
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These children were
demonstrating that gift
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on this beautiful Sabbath day.
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This school has
a far wider impact
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for the church in this country.
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Asian Aid is very excited
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to partner with the
church at the school.
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And so when we see the children
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singing songs and
learning about Jesus
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it not only has an
impact on their life
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but it has an impact
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on the community
that they return to,
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it has an impact
on where they go,
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but also the community see
the work the school that is--
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that this school is doing
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and it really lifts
the presence of the church
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in a very unique way.
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The church service
was an amazing experience
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that changed some of Carl's
unconscious preconceptions.
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These disabled children
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clearly demonstrated
their ability to praise God
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or be it in their own way
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but it also
demonstrated the role we play
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as an institution and a church
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in reaching out
to this community.
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When I look at
this place I'm convinced
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that this is
exactly what God wants us
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to be doing as a church
that working with the children
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who otherwise in
society would be rejected
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and cast aside
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and not provided the
means to an education.
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I think this is what
the church should be doing
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as part of its gospel outreach.
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This is a testimony to
the love of Jesus Christ
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for the most rejected
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for the most...
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ignored part of society
and these children are just
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the type of people
we should be serving.
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Children like this are
often seen as a liability
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by the family
and by the community.
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This school changes that.
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This school gives them hope.
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This school
gives them an education
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which in most cases
enables them to have a job
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and to have a future.
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And then many of these children
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assist in funding or
supporting their family--
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their family or village.
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This school makes a difference
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far beyond the
child that attends here.
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This type of disability
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where children are born deaf
is quite common in this area
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and Carl was determined
to know the reason behind it.
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He was disturbed to
learn some social practices
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that is prevalent here
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that results in
children being born deaf.
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One of the reasons he discovered
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is that people in
villages around here
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marry within close relations.
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Here in this
village it's a custom
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that they marry
within the relation
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you know, to say
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sometimes when
they are small itself
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they say okay,
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this child should
marry that uncle's son
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or that child should marry this.
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So it's more of relation here.
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It's a custom and tradition
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that they're
following for many years.
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But when they
get a disabled child
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they bring them here
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and we cannot
change the community,
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we cannot go there and tell them
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because it's their tradition
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that they are
following for many years
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but when the children come here
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we give them a
lending hand to help them
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so the children
get good education
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and the children here
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are all aware of
the relation marriage
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and the problems that
comes along with that.
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However unconventional
and disturbing it may seem
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we cannot change
society's customs
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and traditions nor
change their ways of living.
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Traditions are deep-rooted
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but what we can do
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is to sow the seed of
opportunities for people
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affected by society's
actions especially the children.
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Carl was introducedto Sita Raju
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a cheerful boy
whose teaching him
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how to sign his name.
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He was born deaf.
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Sita Raju's mother passed
away when he was still a child
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and soon after her
death his father remarried.
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His new wife didn't
take kindly to Sita Raju
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and despised his
very presence at home.
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Him being deaf
only made matters worse
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but his father loved him
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and wanted the best
for his disabled son.
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With the help of a
local schoolteacher
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Sita Raju was brought
to the Asian Aid School
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for speech and hearing.
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So when the children come here
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we as a team here
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we encourage the
child to be independent
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and we give
them a second chance.
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We try to tell the children
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that just
because you're disabled
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it doesn't mean they
are lower than the normal.
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They are very smart
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that they can move
forward in their life.
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So that's what
we're training them.
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We're giving them
the second chance.
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They may not-- you know as
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we may not say that
they can become a doctor
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or they can be an engineer
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but they can become
someone great in future
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like we have a girl who
is expected in electronics.
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The child, if she
would have been at home,
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should have been taking
care of house activities,
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maybe married, had
kids, washing the vessels,
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taking care of
the child, that's it.
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But because she was here
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now she is an
expert in electronics.
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She is working in a company
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where they all
appreciate her work.
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So it's a same hope we
are giving the children here
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a second chance in their life
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and they say this
is their second home.
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I like the slogan of Asian Aid,
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"Give Hope Today"
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and for the past 40 years
Asian Aid has been involved
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with the giving a hope
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and a great education
for the less fortunate ones.
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And I think Asian
Aid's work with the deaf
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and with the blind
in these last 40 years
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has been a blessing
and a meaningful one,
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giving hope and
giving future and life
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for the less fortunate ones.
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If it was not for these schools
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I'm sure these deaf children
would be back in their homes
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working along with the parents
and maybe even being abused.
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The school for
speech and hearing
00:11:02.59\00:11:03.93
is what Asian Aid is all about,
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helping children in need
and giving them an opportunity
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to look beyond
their disabilities.
00:11:08.66\00:11:10.97
Rejected by their
family and society
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they would have lost all hope
00:11:13.50\00:11:14.90
but this school
has given them hope.
00:11:14.94\00:11:17.67
It has given them a future
00:11:17.71\00:11:19.04
and for boys likes Sita Raju
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it has given them a
place they can call home.
00:11:20.91\00:11:24.21
This is also having an
impact on their family,
00:11:24.25\00:11:26.88
their immediate
family can now be proud,
00:11:26.92\00:11:29.18
proud that their
child can achieve something
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and have a job.
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The school is
making a difference
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far beyond the education
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the child
receives at the school.
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When we say reaching
out to the least of these
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this is what we mean.
00:11:41.53\00:11:43.13
This school and
what happens here
00:11:43.16\00:11:46.10
is reaching out
to the least of these
00:11:46.13\00:11:48.40
who would have been
rejected by their society,
00:11:48.44\00:11:51.94
their family and have no hope.
00:11:51.97\00:11:53.91
This school has
made a difference
00:11:53.94\00:11:56.04
and so they've gone
from being the least of these
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to being
something to having a career
00:11:58.75\00:12:01.45
and then actually impacting
00:12:01.48\00:12:03.52
on their village
or with their family.
00:12:03.55\00:12:05.92
This Asian Aid school
00:12:07.39\00:12:08.72
for speech and
hearing in Kollegal
00:12:08.76\00:12:10.53
is standing as a
testimony for Christ
00:12:10.56\00:12:12.96
and what He represented
why He was on this earth.
00:12:12.99\00:12:16.46
When we come back
00:12:16.50\00:12:17.83
we meet with Jacob and Shiny
00:12:17.87\00:12:19.20
and see how they are being used
00:12:19.23\00:12:20.64
as an
instrument in God's service
00:12:20.67\00:12:22.47
and meet Lakshmi and her family
00:12:22.50\00:12:24.61
and witness how
Asian Aid is helping them
00:12:24.64\00:12:26.74
overcome their difficulties.
00:12:26.78\00:12:28.71
Lakshmi's mother
00:12:30.08\00:12:32.35
was also got
married at a very young age
00:12:32.38\00:12:35.65
and that's the same
thing that she did with her...
00:12:35.68\00:12:38.59
elder daughter
00:12:38.62\00:12:39.95
and we are hoping
that the same thing
00:12:39.99\00:12:41.32
doesn't happen to Lakshmi.
00:12:41.36\00:12:43.59
That she will be able
to finish her studies,
00:12:43.63\00:12:45.39
her college and
then get into a good job
00:12:45.43\00:12:47.40
and then look for
getting married to someone.
00:12:47.43\00:12:50.10
We hope that that will happen.
00:12:50.13\00:12:51.53
My wife Angela and I are
here in Andhra Pradesh, India
00:13:04.15\00:13:07.68
visiting some of
the Asian Aid projects
00:13:07.72\00:13:09.48
to see for ourselves
00:13:09.52\00:13:11.02
how the work that
is being done here
00:13:11.05\00:13:12.55
is transforming lives,
00:13:12.59\00:13:14.49
especially lives
of orphaned children
00:13:14.52\00:13:17.26
and abandoned children,
00:13:17.29\00:13:18.66
children from the
tribal communities.
00:13:18.69\00:13:21.30
And we've discovered that
because of sponsors like you
00:13:21.33\00:13:23.77
they now have a place
that they can call home,
00:13:23.80\00:13:26.17
they have wonderful clothing,
00:13:26.20\00:13:27.70
nutritious food and
they are being prepared
00:13:27.74\00:13:30.71
to propel
themselves into the future
00:13:30.74\00:13:32.64
for a promising career.
00:13:32.67\00:13:34.71
But above all that
00:13:34.74\00:13:36.28
because of sponsors like you
00:13:36.31\00:13:37.85
they now have hope,
hope for a better future.
00:13:37.88\00:13:41.35
Well, I am here in
Sunrise Home with Sheela.
00:13:55.26\00:13:58.03
Now my family and I
have been sponsoring Sheela
00:13:58.07\00:14:00.60
for just about a year now
00:14:00.64\00:14:02.10
and I can tell you, being
here and spending time with her
00:14:02.14\00:14:05.07
I can see the difference
00:14:05.11\00:14:06.44
that sponsorship
is making in her life.
00:14:06.47\00:14:08.74
She now has plenty of food,
00:14:08.78\00:14:10.48
she has a beautiful
place to sleep each night,
00:14:10.51\00:14:12.78
she has clothes,
she has a school uniform
00:14:12.81\00:14:15.42
and an excellent education.
00:14:15.45\00:14:17.15
I can tell you
00:14:17.19\00:14:18.52
it's made a
difference in her life
00:14:18.55\00:14:20.32
and it's made a
difference in our lives too.
00:14:20.36\00:14:22.82
Now through sponsorship
00:14:22.86\00:14:24.33
you too can make a difference
00:14:24.36\00:14:25.96
in the life of
a child every day.
00:14:25.99\00:14:28.33
That morning,
00:15:03.73\00:15:05.07
Carl drove back to
the Asian Aid School
00:15:05.10\00:15:06.87
for speech and
hearing and found the children
00:15:06.90\00:15:09.00
spread out on the
verandas doing their homework.
00:15:09.04\00:15:11.91
Later he learned they
were actually studying
00:15:11.94\00:15:13.98
for their final
exams the next day.
00:15:14.01\00:15:16.18
This was critical
in his understanding
00:15:16.21\00:15:18.01
of Asian Aid's
work here for the deaf.
00:15:18.05\00:15:20.38
Asian Aid has
not just giving them
00:15:20.42\00:15:22.02
three meals a day
or given them shelter
00:15:22.05\00:15:24.75
but it is giving
them an opportunity
00:15:24.79\00:15:26.69
to prepare for
the world outside.
00:15:26.72\00:15:28.82
Asian Aid has
provided the support here
00:15:30.36\00:15:34.53
to these children
00:15:34.56\00:15:36.06
and I think
there's a lot of lessons
00:15:36.10\00:15:37.43
that people can learn
from what is happening here.
00:15:37.47\00:15:40.40
There must be so many
places around the world
00:15:40.44\00:15:42.57
where children need an education
00:15:42.60\00:15:45.71
and the governments
don't have the funds
00:15:45.74\00:15:47.91
but the people can
come together and support
00:15:47.94\00:15:50.28
the work that we do.
00:15:50.31\00:15:51.65
It's not just the
regular kids of society
00:15:51.68\00:15:53.15
who should be
getting an education.
00:15:53.18\00:15:54.92
I think it is even
those who are marginalized
00:15:54.95\00:15:57.12
or ignored or
set aside or just...
00:15:57.15\00:15:59.82
where children
cannot get into a school
00:16:01.06\00:16:03.16
because they can't
hear, they can't speak.
00:16:03.19\00:16:05.36
But this is where I see them
00:16:05.39\00:16:07.36
finding an outlet
00:16:07.40\00:16:09.63
for their talents, their
emotions and their skills
00:16:09.66\00:16:13.20
and even though you
don't hear what they're saying
00:16:13.23\00:16:16.50
they hear you loud and clear
00:16:16.54\00:16:18.17
from your face,
from your gestures
00:16:18.21\00:16:20.11
and that is
turning their lives around.
00:16:20.14\00:16:22.64
The education that
this school provides here
00:16:25.01\00:16:27.18
through qualified
teachers, skilled teachers,
00:16:27.22\00:16:29.78
teachers who know exactly
how to impact their lives
00:16:29.82\00:16:32.22
through sign
language and other methods
00:16:32.25\00:16:34.26
helps them to
contribute to society
00:16:34.29\00:16:36.16
just like any one of us can
00:16:36.19\00:16:37.83
and not be a liability
00:16:37.86\00:16:39.19
or burden to their
parents and society.
00:16:39.26\00:16:41.96
This education
is crucial for them
00:16:42.00\00:16:43.80
to go out into
society, get a job
00:16:43.83\00:16:46.03
and to be able to impact
other children just like them.
00:16:46.07\00:16:48.74
Teaching to a group of children
00:16:50.01\00:16:51.41
with hearing
disabilities is not easy.
00:16:51.44\00:16:53.64
Even though all
of these children
00:16:53.68\00:16:55.01
are so eager to
learn and grasp everything
00:16:55.04\00:16:57.15
that is being taught to them
00:16:57.18\00:16:58.58
it takes an extra effort
from the part of teachers
00:16:58.61\00:17:01.08
and those who care for them.
00:17:01.12\00:17:02.45
Jacob Bhaggen is the
principal of the school.
00:17:05.69\00:17:08.32
He along with his wife Shiny
00:17:08.36\00:17:10.29
look after these children
like they are their own.
00:17:10.33\00:17:12.66
When I joined to
work here in the year 2008
00:17:14.30\00:17:17.57
I came to work
here as a chaplain
00:17:17.60\00:17:19.57
and I enjoy doing that even now
00:17:19.60\00:17:23.14
taking the weekend services,
00:17:23.17\00:17:25.47
sitting with the children
00:17:25.51\00:17:26.84
in their morning
and evening worship,
00:17:26.88\00:17:28.24
singing along with them
00:17:28.28\00:17:29.61
and listening to
them tell stories
00:17:29.64\00:17:31.68
and sometimes involving myself
in telling them some stories
00:17:31.71\00:17:35.32
has been a great experience
00:17:35.35\00:17:38.25
not only for the
children but for me
00:17:38.29\00:17:40.26
equally, spiritual
growth for me as well.
00:17:40.29\00:17:42.26
After being here
for past 10 years
00:17:43.49\00:17:46.76
it's not
difficult for me to be here
00:17:46.80\00:17:51.43
simply because
every day you wake up
00:17:51.47\00:17:54.50
you know that
00:17:54.54\00:17:56.07
there are so many kids
00:17:56.10\00:17:58.04
who are ready to give you love.
00:17:58.07\00:18:00.88
And this children
love very, very genuine.
00:18:00.91\00:18:04.28
I don't know where
will I find this love.
00:18:04.31\00:18:08.28
You cannot get 70, 80
children love at one time
00:18:08.32\00:18:13.09
and this is a
wonderful place to really work.
00:18:13.12\00:18:17.83
Of course we get,
00:18:17.86\00:18:19.36
we may face problem
from the outside source
00:18:19.39\00:18:22.83
but the children love
just make you stand firm.
00:18:22.86\00:18:27.57
And every day you wake up,
00:18:27.60\00:18:29.74
you wake up with the energy,
00:18:29.77\00:18:31.41
you go to them
00:18:31.44\00:18:32.77
and you feel you
need to teach them more
00:18:32.81\00:18:34.71
and they give you more love.
00:18:34.74\00:18:36.31
That's what you need
and you get it from them.
00:18:36.34\00:18:38.85
Shiny has a special
attachment to these children
00:18:40.82\00:18:43.42
and the children
are very found of her.
00:18:43.45\00:18:45.35
Shiny was an Asian
Aid sponsored child.
00:18:45.39\00:18:48.46
I myself was Asian Aid child,
00:18:48.49\00:18:51.03
a sponsored child
00:18:51.06\00:18:52.69
and Asian Aid gave me
love and gave me hope.
00:18:52.73\00:18:57.80
If it is not for Asian Aid
00:18:57.83\00:18:59.87
I would have not been here.
00:18:59.90\00:19:01.90
It's because of
the Asian Aid help
00:19:01.94\00:19:04.94
I'm here as a teacher for
this special children here.
00:19:04.97\00:19:09.08
Shiny owes her success
00:19:09.11\00:19:10.45
to becoming a
special educator to Asian Aid
00:19:10.48\00:19:13.08
and she hopes that
it will continue to help
00:19:13.11\00:19:14.92
many more
children to be successful
00:19:14.95\00:19:17.09
and continue to spread hope,
00:19:17.12\00:19:18.69
especially for
children with disabilities
00:19:18.72\00:19:20.92
who are victims of
neglect and abandonment.
00:19:20.96\00:19:23.19
Lakshmi is a
12-year-old girl at the school.
00:19:31.57\00:19:34.10
Like Sita Raju she was born deaf
00:19:34.20\00:19:36.40
and has been at the school
00:19:36.44\00:19:37.77
when she was just
a two-year-old baby
00:19:37.81\00:19:39.34
and her mother was having
a hard time bringing her up
00:19:39.37\00:19:41.91
along with her
older sister and brother
00:19:41.94\00:19:43.75
who was also deaf.
00:19:43.78\00:19:45.15
Lakshmi is right now
doing her forth standard here
00:19:46.88\00:19:51.22
and we're
hoping that she will...
00:19:51.25\00:19:52.79
finish her
studies from our school.
00:19:52.82\00:19:54.39
We want to do
college just like her brother
00:19:54.42\00:19:57.09
and be able to earn a living.
00:19:57.13\00:19:59.09
Now the reason
why Lakshmi's mother
00:19:59.13\00:20:01.50
and father were separated
00:20:01.53\00:20:02.90
is because of some family issues
00:20:02.93\00:20:05.20
and they have been separated
for more than 10 years now.
00:20:05.23\00:20:09.20
The father lives with his mother
00:20:09.24\00:20:12.14
in another state
00:20:12.17\00:20:13.58
and the mother
00:20:13.61\00:20:15.88
brought up all
these three children
00:20:15.91\00:20:17.68
by working in a
factory that makes noodles.
00:20:17.71\00:20:21.42
And because he's not able to
00:20:21.45\00:20:22.92
give them a good education
00:20:22.95\00:20:24.55
she has put both her
00:20:24.59\00:20:26.32
hard of hearing
children well in our school.
00:20:26.35\00:20:28.56
Lakshmi's mother
married when she was just 16.
00:20:30.66\00:20:33.66
Although such
practice exists in rural India
00:20:33.70\00:20:36.20
since ancient times
00:20:36.23\00:20:37.60
it would be hard for someone
to assimilate this mentality,
00:20:37.63\00:20:40.70
especially for a first
time visitor to rural India.
00:20:40.74\00:20:44.47
Lakshmi's mother
00:20:44.51\00:20:46.68
was also got
married at a very young age
00:20:46.71\00:20:50.31
and that's the same
thing that she did with her...
00:20:50.35\00:20:53.01
elder daughter
00:20:53.05\00:20:54.38
and we are hoping
that the same thing
00:20:54.42\00:20:55.75
doesn't happen to Lakshmi.
00:20:55.78\00:20:58.02
That she will be able
to finish her studies,
00:20:58.05\00:20:59.85
her college and
then get into a good job
00:20:59.89\00:21:01.89
and then look for
getting married to someone.
00:21:01.92\00:21:04.76
We hope that that will happen.
00:21:04.79\00:21:06.23
One can only hope that Lakshmi
will have the opportunity
00:21:07.46\00:21:10.00
to break the shackles of
their long observed traditions
00:21:10.03\00:21:12.63
and compulsions and hope
that education will let her
00:21:12.67\00:21:15.57
have the freedom to
choose how she wants to live.
00:21:15.60\00:21:18.31
Lakshmi's family
lived in a nearby village
00:21:28.25\00:21:30.62
and Carl was
anxious to meet them.
00:21:30.65\00:21:33.02
Upon arriving at her village
00:21:33.09\00:21:34.66
it was clear
that Lakshmi's family
00:21:34.69\00:21:36.29
loved her very much
and she loved her family.
00:21:36.32\00:21:39.13
The home was
certainly minimalistic,
00:21:39.16\00:21:41.20
the hospitality was evident.
00:21:41.23\00:21:43.23
Seeing how contend
they are with what they have
00:21:43.26\00:21:45.80
is such a blessing
and a valuable lesson
00:21:45.83\00:21:47.70
to all addicted to consumerism.
00:21:47.74\00:21:49.87
Carl got to talk to
Kalavathi, Lakshmi's mother
00:21:52.54\00:21:55.51
through the help of Rajkumar
who was translating for them.
00:21:55.54\00:21:58.75
Okay.
00:22:03.18\00:22:04.52
And her wish is
00:22:04.55\00:22:06.15
her two children got
educated in this Asian Aid,
00:22:06.19\00:22:08.52
through Asian Aid,
00:22:08.56\00:22:09.89
sponsored through Asian Aid
00:22:09.92\00:22:11.26
and there are many
children in the villages
00:22:11.29\00:22:12.89
she also want them to
get educated same thing,
00:22:12.93\00:22:15.96
she want more
sponsors to come forward
00:22:16.00\00:22:17.80
so that many children
can get-- come to the light.
00:22:17.83\00:22:20.87
Although the
pain of life struggle
00:22:22.40\00:22:23.87
was deep within her
00:22:23.91\00:22:25.24
one could sense
how happy she was
00:22:25.27\00:22:26.71
knowing that
her daughter Lakshmi
00:22:26.74\00:22:28.34
was well taken care of
00:22:28.38\00:22:29.91
and she was
thankful for what we could do
00:22:29.94\00:22:31.68
as an organization.
00:22:31.71\00:22:33.78
Rajkumar, we just been
talking to Lakshmi's mother
00:22:33.82\00:22:37.35
and there must be
lots of other children
00:22:37.39\00:22:39.79
in these villages
who have disabilities.
00:22:39.82\00:22:44.96
What would be the
situation if there was no help?
00:22:44.99\00:22:49.83
If there is no outside help,
00:22:49.86\00:22:52.33
for example like Asian Aid,
00:22:52.37\00:22:54.10
the other NGOs in India
00:22:54.14\00:22:56.94
families like this
will suffer very much.
00:22:56.97\00:23:02.08
And the pathetic situation is
00:23:02.11\00:23:03.91
if there are no
NGOs coming forward
00:23:03.95\00:23:06.08
to help them like these kids
00:23:06.11\00:23:08.92
the society will be
dropping them to one corner.
00:23:08.95\00:23:13.05
They will not come out
and they can't get exposure.
00:23:13.09\00:23:17.73
If people, the
society from outside
00:23:17.76\00:23:22.60
comes and helps people in these,
00:23:22.63\00:23:24.53
like these small
villages, remote villages
00:23:24.57\00:23:27.40
children like Lakshmi
will come up much brighter.
00:23:27.44\00:23:31.11
Their future, they can read it
00:23:31.14\00:23:33.51
otherwise, their
future will be in debris.
00:23:33.54\00:23:36.21
You know, this is an
example of what can happen
00:23:39.88\00:23:43.69
if someone like
Asian Aid gets involved
00:23:43.72\00:23:46.45
and sponsors get
involved in a child's life.
00:23:46.49\00:23:49.36
They can transform the person,
00:23:49.39\00:23:52.03
give them a future,
00:23:52.06\00:23:53.63
create opportunities
for them to be themselves,
00:23:53.66\00:23:57.03
be what God intended them to be.
00:23:57.07\00:23:59.93
What a privileged to create
and generate and multiply hope.
00:23:59.97\00:24:05.87
For someone like Lakshmi
00:24:16.45\00:24:18.05
having a loving
family is a blessing
00:24:18.09\00:24:20.46
because their mother
wanted the best for her
00:24:20.49\00:24:22.42
she was willing to leave her
in schools boarding environment
00:24:22.46\00:24:25.39
just so she could
give her the education
00:24:25.43\00:24:27.33
she otherwise would
be unable to provide.
00:24:27.36\00:24:30.40
Most of these children
00:24:30.43\00:24:31.77
understand their
difficulties at home
00:24:31.80\00:24:33.30
and understand the opportunities
00:24:33.34\00:24:34.74
they've been
given by their sponsors
00:24:34.77\00:24:36.71
and are ever
thankful for the part
00:24:36.74\00:24:38.21
they are playing in their lives.
00:24:38.24\00:24:40.01
I'm sure that this children
00:24:41.71\00:24:44.18
are very
thankful to their sponsors
00:24:44.21\00:24:46.45
and the sponsor should know this
00:24:46.48\00:24:48.88
that everyday the
children pray for them.
00:24:48.92\00:24:51.85
There is not a day that goes
00:24:51.89\00:24:53.66
without the child
praying for their sponsors
00:24:53.69\00:24:56.46
and they are very
thankful to the sponsors
00:24:56.49\00:24:59.46
and they know the
importance of sponsorship.
00:24:59.49\00:25:02.20
It's because of that
sponsorship that they are here
00:25:02.23\00:25:05.90
and they are having new friends,
00:25:05.93\00:25:09.07
a new life given to them.
00:25:09.10\00:25:10.67
For when I come to the school,
00:25:13.98\00:25:16.54
it's just touching.
00:25:16.58\00:25:18.25
I wish the
sponsors could be here.
00:25:18.28\00:25:20.12
I wish the
sponsors could really see
00:25:20.15\00:25:23.02
beyond the
difference they are making.
00:25:23.05\00:25:25.05
The kids are so happy.
00:25:25.09\00:25:26.62
The kids want to touch you,
00:25:26.65\00:25:27.99
they want to
communicate with you
00:25:28.02\00:25:30.13
and without the sponsors
this simply wouldn't happen.
00:25:30.16\00:25:34.03
It's bigger
than their education.
00:25:34.06\00:25:35.90
It's bigger than
the child at the desk.
00:25:35.93\00:25:38.03
It's giving these
kids a delight in life
00:25:38.07\00:25:40.90
and that's what I
see when I come here.
00:25:40.94\00:25:43.67
When Jesus was on the earth
00:25:44.94\00:25:46.57
He invited the
poor, the blind, the lane,
00:25:46.61\00:25:49.54
and the deaf into the temple
and had fellowship with them.
00:25:49.58\00:25:52.88
Jesus mentioned
that when we do service
00:25:52.91\00:25:54.88
to the least of these,
00:25:54.92\00:25:56.25
we are doing service to Him
00:25:56.28\00:25:58.05
and He commissioned us
to take care of the ones
00:25:58.09\00:26:00.46
who are less fortunate than us.
00:26:00.49\00:26:02.72
What a blessing it is
for us to be in His service.
00:26:02.76\00:26:06.33
Many times I
question myself asking,
00:26:06.36\00:26:09.16
"am I doing the
preaching work here
00:26:09.20\00:26:13.03
or am I doing
some kind of service?"
00:26:13.07\00:26:14.97
But then I want Jesus told
00:26:15.00\00:26:17.17
the true religion is to
take care of the orphans,
00:26:17.21\00:26:21.64
the widows, and the
less fortunate ones.
00:26:21.68\00:26:24.75
And then by seeing the lives
of these children transforming
00:26:24.78\00:26:28.48
it gives me hope and courage,
00:26:28.52\00:26:30.59
yes, what we are doing here
00:26:30.62\00:26:32.22
is any day the best
thing that we must be doing.
00:26:32.25\00:26:35.79
It's important that the church
has these services going on.
00:26:35.82\00:26:40.13
Today, this Asian Aid
School for speech and hearing
00:26:43.13\00:26:46.37
is a beacon for
Christ in this area.
00:26:46.40\00:26:49.20
With this school in Kollegal,
00:26:49.24\00:26:51.34
Asian Aid is not only
bringing hope to the children
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but also to the community
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as it sees practical
Christianity in action.
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The church could not have
scripted a better outcome,
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just being there
and demonstrating love
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on a consistent basis
reflects the image of God.
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These children are preparing
for their final exams tomorrow
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and it's clear
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that these children
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are being prepared
not just to survive
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but for a future tomorrow
and a future for eternity
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and for Asian Aid to be involved
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and creating these opportunities
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really warms my heart.
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It's helping me see
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what it is really to be human
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and I'm so glad
to be part of that.
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