Just when I
thought I had seen it all,
00:00:15.38\00:00:17.55
my whirlwind trip
to India opens my eyes
00:00:17.58\00:00:20.48
to a whole new
world of realities.
00:00:20.52\00:00:23.02
I saw children who are hopeful
in spite of their condition,
00:00:23.05\00:00:26.96
met inspiring people, who
gave heed to God's calling.
00:00:26.99\00:00:31.53
And Jesus Christ said,
"Inasmuch as ye have done
00:00:31.56\00:00:34.20
unto the least of
these my brethren,
00:00:34.23\00:00:36.10
ye have done it unto me."
00:00:36.13\00:00:37.53
And witness an organization
that is making a difference
00:00:37.57\00:00:40.10
in the lives of
thousands of children in India.
00:00:40.14\00:00:43.20
Well, I think the
big difference we've made
00:00:43.24\00:00:45.41
is that we've been able
to give so many children
00:00:45.44\00:00:49.24
a chance of Christian education.
00:00:49.28\00:00:52.25
Come and join me in
this extraordinary journey
00:00:52.28\00:00:55.05
to this extraordinary land.
00:00:55.08\00:00:57.29
Asian Aid is an
organization giving hope,
00:01:09.93\00:01:13.00
an organization fostering
permanent positive change
00:01:13.03\00:01:16.17
in the lives of disadvantage
children and their communities.
00:01:16.20\00:01:20.08
An organization
that is committed
00:01:20.11\00:01:21.78
to making a difference
in the lives of children
00:01:21.81\00:01:24.25
and those who are in need,
serving communities in Nepal,
00:01:24.28\00:01:27.92
Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka, Myanmar, and India.
00:01:27.95\00:01:32.95
For the last 40
years, Asian Aid has invested
00:01:39.63\00:01:42.96
in the futures of
people and their investment
00:01:43.00\00:01:45.40
has proven infinite returns.
00:01:45.43\00:01:48.57
Driven by their
dedication to helping those
00:01:48.60\00:01:51.14
who have the least,
Asian Aid is an organization
00:01:51.17\00:01:54.48
focused on the
welfare of children,
00:01:54.51\00:01:56.95
implementing
diverse development projects
00:01:56.98\00:01:59.71
and sponsoring
thousands of children.
00:01:59.75\00:02:02.45
Their outreach spans
from child rescue operations
00:02:02.48\00:02:05.79
to providing an
education for orphans, deaf,
00:02:05.82\00:02:08.92
and the blind children.
00:02:08.96\00:02:10.89
Giving them a sense of
place, a home, but above all,
00:02:10.93\00:02:15.06
Asian Aid is an
organization giving hope,
00:02:15.10\00:02:18.27
giving hope to children,
giving hope to communities,
00:02:18.30\00:02:21.67
giving hope to the
ones who need it the most.
00:02:21.70\00:02:25.54
This is Hope In Motion.
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Two days of traveling,
almost 10,000 miles away,
00:02:52.70\00:02:56.30
we finally arrived
in Bangalore, India,
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only to take another
one-hour flight to the city
00:02:58.84\00:03:01.74
of Vishakhapatnam on the
shores of the Bay of Bengal.
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It was hard to
imagine what we would see
00:03:11.89\00:03:14.19
when we finally
arrived in India.
00:03:14.22\00:03:16.39
It was also hard to imagine
that the weather would be
00:03:16.42\00:03:18.96
so hot and humid.
00:03:18.99\00:03:21.36
Exhausted from our
travel, we met Jim Rennie,
00:03:21.40\00:03:23.60
the CEO of Asian Aid, USA,
00:03:23.63\00:03:25.73
and our production
team at the airport.
00:03:25.77\00:03:28.34
Driving through the
streets of Vishakhapatnam
00:03:35.68\00:03:37.85
was an experience in itself.
00:03:37.88\00:03:40.45
I heard a lot
about driving in India,
00:03:40.48\00:03:42.05
but now I was able
to see for myself that
00:03:42.08\00:03:45.29
this was a city of
synchronized chaos.
00:03:45.32\00:03:49.19
I thought being raised
in New York City prepared me
00:03:49.22\00:03:51.49
for anything, but I
was about to be introduced
00:03:51.53\00:03:54.76
to quite a different world.
00:03:54.80\00:03:57.07
In a caravan of
cars, we made our way
00:03:57.10\00:03:59.03
through the
chaotic streets of the city
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until we
arrived at a very dingy,
00:04:00.97\00:04:03.30
narrow street, where
Jim said, "This is it."
00:04:03.34\00:04:07.01
Yeah.
00:04:07.04\00:04:08.38
Intermingling of
smiles and bright,
00:04:15.88\00:04:17.75
colorful native outfits on that
narrow alley with the sights
00:04:17.79\00:04:21.56
and smells of
despair and hopelessness,
00:04:21.59\00:04:24.79
a slum settlement in the city,
and it was quite a challenge
00:04:24.83\00:04:28.76
taking it all in
as we made our way
00:04:28.80\00:04:30.37
to the slum school,
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a developing project
undertaken by Asian Aid.
00:04:31.87\00:04:36.97
Well, welcome to
the small city of Vizag
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here in the slums of India.
00:04:39.94\00:04:42.38
This is one of many cities
around the country of India
00:04:42.41\00:04:45.95
and people come here
gathering looking for work,
00:04:45.98\00:04:48.18
looking for hope,
looking for employment.
00:04:48.22\00:04:50.59
Often disappointed,
often not finding anything
00:04:50.62\00:04:53.29
beyond their daily
wages and daily labor jobs.
00:04:53.32\00:04:57.69
However, we've come
here to let you know
00:04:57.73\00:04:59.13
that there is an
answer, and Asian Aid
00:04:59.16\00:05:00.83
has found the answer
to situations like this
00:05:00.86\00:05:03.93
in the slums of this country
and that is to build a school.
00:05:03.97\00:05:07.44
The room was filled
with little children
00:05:16.11\00:05:18.35
and very bright smiles.
00:05:18.38\00:05:20.25
As I tried to put the
entire scene together,
00:05:20.28\00:05:22.92
I was told that
many of these children
00:05:22.95\00:05:25.02
were the children
from this slum community.
00:05:25.05\00:05:28.22
The children sat
on the dusty ground
00:05:34.50\00:05:36.23
uncomfortably close together.
00:05:36.26\00:05:38.40
It was such a joy
to hear them sing.
00:05:38.43\00:05:40.90
I was able to share
stories to let them know
00:05:40.94\00:05:43.34
that Jesus cared
about each of their lives.
00:05:43.37\00:05:46.41
How many of you want to be
in the King's Castle one day?
00:05:46.44\00:05:50.61
Naomi, as I later discovered,
00:05:50.65\00:05:52.11
is the principal
of the small school.
00:05:52.15\00:05:54.42
And after looking
around, I realized that God
00:05:54.45\00:05:57.82
had called her and her
team to a special work.
00:05:57.85\00:06:01.42
God was doing something
special here through Asian Aid.
00:06:01.46\00:06:06.26
Jesus told us to go into
the highways and the hedges
00:06:06.29\00:06:10.17
and to invite all to come.
00:06:10.20\00:06:12.80
After we saw the
people that are being reached
00:06:12.83\00:06:14.84
in spite of how
terrible things looked,
00:06:14.87\00:06:17.34
we then realized that Asian Aid
00:06:17.37\00:06:20.01
was serious
about that commission.
00:06:20.04\00:06:23.01
I'm just in awe of what I see
when I passed the slum areas,
00:06:23.04\00:06:29.58
and to see, "Lord, you have
to reach them 'cause we know
00:06:29.62\00:06:33.49
we're told in the
Bible that this Gospel
00:06:33.52\00:06:36.12
will be preached into all
of the world as a witness,
00:06:36.16\00:06:39.33
then shall the end come."
00:06:39.36\00:06:42.13
And the way it's preached
is through your actions,
00:06:42.16\00:06:46.00
what you can do for others,
not just preaching to them,
00:06:46.03\00:06:49.47
it's doing for them.
00:06:49.50\00:06:51.11
And so this is what
these facilities are doing.
00:06:51.14\00:06:55.48
They're
providing the necessities
00:06:55.51\00:06:57.65
for these children.
00:06:57.68\00:06:59.88
Had it not been for the
dedication of Asian Aid,
00:06:59.91\00:07:02.78
the Gospel might pass
through this community.
00:07:02.82\00:07:06.02
It was not just the
buildings in that community
00:07:06.05\00:07:08.02
that were being transformed
00:07:08.06\00:07:09.86
but also the lives of
every one that lived there.
00:07:09.89\00:07:14.50
Later that
afternoon, we were taken
00:07:14.53\00:07:16.20
to the local conference office,
00:07:16.23\00:07:17.57
where we met with
pastors and Bible workers.
00:07:17.60\00:07:20.67
It was a humbling
experience for me to realize
00:07:20.70\00:07:23.84
that I was meeting
with people who are driven
00:07:23.87\00:07:25.97
by the same faith as I have,
00:07:26.01\00:07:28.74
people who are
bringing God's message
00:07:28.78\00:07:31.51
to this part of the world.
00:07:31.55\00:07:33.42
Christ's return
would be hastened
00:07:33.45\00:07:35.85
because of people like this.
00:07:35.88\00:07:38.09
Before we left, we had
a wonderful time of prayer
00:07:38.12\00:07:40.49
and encouragement.
00:07:40.52\00:07:41.92
Our first day with Asian
Aid was a day of incessant
00:07:41.96\00:07:44.99
and frantic activity.
00:07:45.03\00:07:46.76
It was a small peek into
what was in store for us.
00:07:46.80\00:07:50.60
The next day, we
drove along the coast
00:07:58.94\00:08:00.98
toward Asian Aid School
for the Blind in Bobbili,
00:08:01.01\00:08:03.75
about three
hours drive from Vizag.
00:08:03.78\00:08:06.75
As it always
happens during missions,
00:08:06.78\00:08:08.88
you expect the unexpected.
00:08:08.92\00:08:11.35
As we reached the
small town of Vizianagaram,
00:08:11.39\00:08:13.79
we took a detour to visit
an Adventist school campus.
00:08:13.82\00:08:17.86
As I spoke to
Rukhma, the school principal,
00:08:17.89\00:08:20.40
I learned the
precarious condition
00:08:20.43\00:08:22.56
she and her staff had
to manage the school with.
00:08:22.60\00:08:27.47
Well, here I am sitting
in one of the classrooms
00:08:27.50\00:08:30.11
in Vizianagaram in
India, on a relatively hot day
00:08:30.14\00:08:34.78
and it's not even summer yet.
00:08:34.81\00:08:36.98
I'm sitting in a facility
that many of you watching
00:08:37.01\00:08:39.08
this program will never
have the experience of sitting
00:08:39.11\00:08:41.78
in desks that are old,
floors that are not carpeted
00:08:41.82\00:08:45.89
or covered with
any kind of wood,
00:08:45.92\00:08:48.09
and the ceilings are very hot
and it's not even summer yet.
00:08:48.12\00:08:52.69
When it rains,
the rain comes in,
00:08:52.73\00:08:55.03
when it is hot, the
sun and its heat comes in.
00:08:55.06\00:08:58.27
And these are the conditions
under which the students
00:08:58.30\00:09:00.47
are learning day by day
quite unlike the way it is
00:09:00.50\00:09:04.21
in the United States
00:09:04.24\00:09:05.57
and many other
parts of the world.
00:09:05.61\00:09:07.41
However, there are
some plans in place,
00:09:07.44\00:09:09.74
actually we're
looking for a brighter future.
00:09:09.78\00:09:12.21
Asian Aid along
with its sponsors
00:09:12.25\00:09:13.88
that partnered with it are going
00:09:13.92\00:09:15.95
to make a
difference in this community.
00:09:15.98\00:09:17.92
This is a large campus.
00:09:17.95\00:09:19.39
These conditions are repeated
from classroom to classroom,
00:09:19.42\00:09:22.96
but there is hope
along with sponsorship
00:09:22.99\00:09:25.53
and those who
stand with Asian Aid,
00:09:25.56\00:09:27.13
there are plans, and
we are looking forward
00:09:27.16\00:09:29.40
to building a new
campus, hopefully two stories,
00:09:29.43\00:09:33.13
and it's going to be
built right over there.
00:09:33.17\00:09:35.47
Now this is a Christian campus,
00:09:41.21\00:09:43.28
how does that fit
with the community?
00:09:43.31\00:09:47.25
Rukhma explains to me
that people send their kids
00:09:47.28\00:09:50.12
here even though
it's a Christian school,
00:09:50.15\00:09:52.49
but lack of facilities
is deterring many of them
00:09:52.52\00:09:55.52
from sending them here.
00:09:55.56\00:09:57.13
...place where
the boys are staying.
00:09:57.16\00:09:59.06
Wow. This is our church.
00:09:59.09\00:10:00.70
Since we don't have place
we are keeping all the boys
00:10:00.73\00:10:05.73
in the church.
00:10:05.77\00:10:07.30
They are studying here,
and they are sleeping here...
00:10:07.34\00:10:10.97
And they worship here.
00:10:11.01\00:10:12.34
They worship here. Okay.
00:10:12.37\00:10:13.71
When Saturday comes we
pack up all the things aside,
00:10:13.74\00:10:16.14
then we put chairs...
00:10:16.18\00:10:19.48
Good afternoon, children.
00:10:19.51\00:10:20.88
Good afternoon. Good afternoon.
00:10:20.92\00:10:23.02
How are you? Fine, thank you.
00:10:23.05\00:10:25.45
Good. Good. Wow.
00:10:25.49\00:10:28.02
Well, show us some of their beds
00:10:28.06\00:10:29.39
where they lay down each night.
00:10:29.42\00:10:30.76
Actually, they
don't have proper beds.
00:10:30.79\00:10:32.39
They'll only
sleep on mats there.
00:10:32.43\00:10:35.56
So they sleep...
This is where they sleep.
00:10:35.60\00:10:37.37
This is some of
their sleeping quarters.
00:10:37.40\00:10:39.37
So this is one of
their beds right here?
00:10:39.40\00:10:40.87
Yes. Yes, sir.
00:10:40.90\00:10:42.24
So where's this...
Do they have a pillow?
00:10:42.27\00:10:43.87
No pillows, sir.
00:10:43.91\00:10:45.24
Could I lay down
here and try it out?
00:10:45.27\00:10:48.51
Could I try?
00:10:48.54\00:10:49.88
This is... Wow.
00:10:49.91\00:10:51.25
So this is like...
00:10:51.28\00:10:55.38
Now for me, this
would be camping,
00:10:55.42\00:10:59.05
but for the
students that live here,
00:10:59.09\00:11:01.62
this is what they sleep
on every day, a straw mat,
00:11:01.66\00:11:06.06
a blanket, and a hard floor.
00:11:06.09\00:11:09.33
When we think about education,
when we think about conditions
00:11:09.36\00:11:12.33
that are suitable for children,
this is not our ideal vision.
00:11:12.37\00:11:17.94
That's why Asian
Aid and your sponsorship
00:11:17.97\00:11:21.14
can make a difference,
not only in buildings
00:11:21.18\00:11:24.31
but in the ways
that the students learn
00:11:24.35\00:11:26.85
and sleep and live.
00:11:26.88\00:11:28.98
What an amazing
revolution we can start here
00:11:29.02\00:11:31.99
if we join hands together
and begin to impact the schools
00:11:32.02\00:11:35.59
in this region of the world.
00:11:35.62\00:11:38.13
Hey, I noticed
that you're writing
00:11:38.16\00:11:39.66
in English over here,
but then you're writing
00:11:39.69\00:11:42.50
in your own
language in other places,
00:11:42.53\00:11:44.87
isn't that amazing?
00:11:44.90\00:11:46.43
Wow.
00:11:46.47\00:11:48.24
You know, it's a
life-changing experience
00:11:48.27\00:11:50.54
when you come here to
schools like this in India,
00:11:50.57\00:11:53.81
and this is one
of many that have
00:11:53.84\00:11:56.21
some of the similar conditions.
00:11:56.24\00:11:57.91
We've showed you
where the children sleep,
00:11:57.95\00:11:59.81
where they study,
where they worship,
00:11:59.85\00:12:02.08
and for the boys, it's
in the very same facility.
00:12:02.12\00:12:04.45
This is school, this is
home, this is also their church,
00:12:04.49\00:12:08.86
but something
else that impressed me
00:12:08.89\00:12:10.26
is that we have so
much where we live,
00:12:10.29\00:12:12.63
we talk about technology,
there are no computers here,
00:12:12.66\00:12:15.96
we talk about iPads and iPods,
and even things that could help
00:12:16.00\00:12:20.60
enhance their learning skills,
00:12:20.64\00:12:22.74
but those are non-existent here.
00:12:22.77\00:12:24.77
Also, there are some students
like this one and this one,
00:12:24.81\00:12:27.84
this is David, and
what's your name again?
00:12:27.88\00:12:29.64
Srikanth.
00:12:29.68\00:12:31.01
And? Anudeep.
00:12:31.05\00:12:32.81
These young boys can learn like
any of our students in America
00:12:32.85\00:12:36.52
can learn or any
other part of the world,
00:12:36.55\00:12:38.62
but the advantages
that we have is something
00:12:38.65\00:12:41.22
that they're missing.
00:12:41.26\00:12:42.59
And there may be some of you
watching this program that say,
00:12:42.62\00:12:44.49
"Well, now how
can I experience this?
00:12:44.53\00:12:46.73
Or not only experience,
00:12:46.76\00:12:48.73
but how can I
make a difference?"
00:12:48.76\00:12:50.57
Well, they are learning English
but conversational English
00:12:50.60\00:12:53.94
is something quite different,
and you may think about
00:12:53.97\00:12:56.20
volunteering to come here
00:12:56.24\00:12:57.57
and help out in
the school facility
00:12:57.61\00:12:59.74
and maybe even being
part of the teaching staff
00:12:59.77\00:13:02.48
to teach these young men
00:13:02.51\00:13:04.11
and also the young
women conversational English.
00:13:04.15\00:13:07.35
What a difference can be
made in this part of the world
00:13:07.38\00:13:10.39
if we think about how the
Lord is impressing our lives
00:13:10.42\00:13:13.86
to go forth, not only
with the preached gospel,
00:13:13.89\00:13:16.59
but with the
gospel of experience
00:13:16.62\00:13:18.99
to transform these lives.
00:13:19.03\00:13:20.73
Oh, yeah.
00:13:27.10\00:13:28.57
This is the office building.
00:13:28.60\00:13:29.97
This is our
praying hall for office.
00:13:30.01\00:13:32.44
For time being, we
kept all these girls here,
00:13:32.47\00:13:35.14
28 girls are staying in this.
00:13:35.18\00:13:37.88
And they're all pretty.
00:13:37.91\00:13:40.72
Hi, girls.
00:13:40.75\00:13:42.38
Good morning, sir.
00:13:42.42\00:13:43.89
This is Mr. Lomacang.
00:13:43.92\00:13:47.72
It's quite a huge
campus, and Asian Aid has dreams
00:13:47.76\00:13:51.36
for this campus to
put up facilities here
00:13:51.39\00:13:54.23
and usher them
towards self-growth,
00:13:54.26\00:13:57.07
but more importantly,
provide the children
00:13:57.10\00:13:59.37
with a dignified
place to live and study.
00:13:59.40\00:14:02.84
Back on the road,
we're headed towards Bobbili.
00:14:16.28\00:14:18.42
Thank you.
00:14:40.04\00:14:41.38
Good evening, sir.
00:14:41.41\00:14:42.74
Yes. Yes.
00:14:42.78\00:14:44.28
My name is Damodar.
00:14:44.31\00:14:46.31
And I'm John. Good to meet you.
00:14:46.35\00:14:47.78
And you are? How are you?
00:14:47.82\00:14:50.29
My name is Yogendra.
00:14:50.32\00:14:52.52
How are you doing? Fine, sir.
00:14:52.55\00:14:53.92
Are you also one
of the cricketers?
00:14:53.96\00:14:55.29
Good. Good afternoon, sir.
00:14:55.32\00:14:56.86
You're a tall one.
00:14:56.89\00:14:58.29
Well, here we are at
Asian Aid High School
00:14:58.33\00:15:01.00
for the Blind.
00:15:01.03\00:15:02.46
We had a welcome that,
I tell you, was so warm,
00:15:02.50\00:15:05.77
and it's
amazing, the percentage,
00:15:05.80\00:15:07.34
there's about 110 boy students
to about 60 girl students,
00:15:07.37\00:15:12.97
but the girls far
outweigh the guys when it comes
00:15:13.01\00:15:15.48
to beautiful outfits.
00:15:15.51\00:15:17.08
But we're going
to take you on a tour
00:15:17.11\00:15:18.45
of this wonderful
facility and let you know
00:15:18.48\00:15:19.95
what God is doing here in
India and what God is doing,
00:15:19.98\00:15:22.75
through the sponsors of
Asian Aid, stay with us.
00:15:22.78\00:15:25.85
The first time that I
visited India, which is now,
00:15:35.43\00:15:37.77
around 35 years ago,
there were two things
00:15:37.80\00:15:40.47
that especially impressed me.
00:15:40.50\00:15:42.27
One was the numbers of
children who were suffering
00:15:42.30\00:15:45.67
without enough food and clothing
00:15:45.71\00:15:47.78
and no proper housing or
parents to care for them.
00:15:47.81\00:15:52.05
And the other thing
was the amazing potential
00:15:52.08\00:15:55.18
in those children
to do something special
00:15:55.22\00:15:57.39
with their lives and
also to do something for God.
00:15:57.42\00:16:01.36
The thing that was really needed
00:16:01.39\00:16:03.19
and it's needed now
is sponsors like you
00:16:03.22\00:16:07.26
and to realize
what a huge difference
00:16:07.30\00:16:10.27
you can make in the
life of a child every day
00:16:10.30\00:16:13.13
through sponsorship.
00:16:13.17\00:16:14.50
Good evening, sir. Good evening.
00:16:27.42\00:16:29.52
And what's your name?
My name is Venkatesh, sir.
00:16:29.55\00:16:31.35
What is your
name, sir? I'm John.
00:16:31.39\00:16:33.32
A warm welcome awaited
us at the Asian Aid School
00:16:33.36\00:16:36.22
for the Blind, and here
the simple act of a handshake,
00:16:36.26\00:16:40.06
a simple gesture of
putting your hand on
00:16:40.10\00:16:42.26
somebody's shoulder gave
00:16:42.30\00:16:43.83
a whole
different meaning for me.
00:16:43.87\00:16:46.47
Touch was for them
a communication tool.
00:16:46.50\00:16:52.11
The School for
the Blind at Bobbili
00:16:52.14\00:16:53.78
is in a quiet location,
00:16:53.81\00:16:55.81
surrounded by
bright green rice fields,
00:16:55.84\00:16:58.55
an ideal location for learning
for those with disabilities.
00:16:58.58\00:17:04.05
I was glad to learn
from Pastor Paulson,
00:17:04.09\00:17:06.05
the school principal,
00:17:06.09\00:17:07.56
that there was no
preferential treatment
00:17:07.59\00:17:09.32
for admission.
00:17:09.36\00:17:10.69
Once they come into the
campus, they are all one.
00:17:10.73\00:17:15.50
And we make it very
clear, no religion, no caste,
00:17:15.53\00:17:21.90
or no family background,
nothing is going to stop them
00:17:21.94\00:17:26.11
from we giving them admission.
00:17:26.14\00:17:27.88
We take everyone.
00:17:27.91\00:17:29.74
Our stay at the blind
school was quite an eye-opener.
00:17:29.78\00:17:33.01
We noticed that
the boys and girls
00:17:33.05\00:17:34.75
really worked
very well together.
00:17:34.78\00:17:37.05
There was a
unity that I had hardly
00:17:37.09\00:17:39.39
seen among
people that have sight.
00:17:39.42\00:17:41.92
Just what I have noticed,
just like we see one bird
00:17:41.96\00:17:46.16
being hurt, there are
10 birds coming together.
00:17:46.19\00:17:50.40
This is what we see
in the natural world,
00:17:50.43\00:17:52.33
and I've noticed
somehow when one child cries,
00:17:52.37\00:17:56.34
all the other
children come together.
00:17:56.37\00:17:58.34
They catch hold of
him, tell him what it is,
00:17:58.37\00:18:01.34
what is it that made you to cry,
00:18:01.38\00:18:03.51
and they try to
comfort him as far as possible
00:18:03.55\00:18:06.18
and involve him and
tell him, "This is good,
00:18:06.21\00:18:09.75
and we will all stay together."
00:18:09.78\00:18:11.75
And they live together.
00:18:11.79\00:18:13.12
And this becomes their family?
And this becomes their family.
00:18:13.15\00:18:15.62
And Asian Aid and all the staff
00:18:15.66\00:18:17.09
become their
moms and their dads.
00:18:17.13\00:18:18.66
Yes. Yes.
00:18:18.69\00:18:20.30
In the two days
my wife Angela and I
00:18:20.33\00:18:22.50
spent at the blind school,
00:18:22.53\00:18:24.30
I learned a very
valuable phrase there.
00:18:24.33\00:18:27.14
A phrase that helps
and motivates people
00:18:27.17\00:18:29.30
like Pastor Paulson to
work for the blind children.
00:18:29.34\00:18:33.91
There's a phrase that you
used that really opened my eyes
00:18:33.94\00:18:36.75
because sometimes we use
the word disabled, but you say,
00:18:36.78\00:18:40.35
"They're not disabled."
00:18:40.38\00:18:41.75
What was the
phrase that you used?
00:18:41.78\00:18:43.92
We usually tell
them that these children
00:18:43.95\00:18:46.45
are differently abled.
00:18:46.49\00:18:48.29
Differently abled. Okay.
00:18:48.32\00:18:49.66
Differently abled,
that's how we look at them.
00:18:49.69\00:18:52.03
So they're able to learn
differently than we learn.
00:18:52.06\00:18:55.23
Yes.
00:18:55.26\00:18:56.60
All the body parts are
the same except the eyesight.
00:18:56.63\00:18:58.93
All right.
00:18:58.97\00:19:00.30
And we decide by
looking this is this,
00:19:00.34\00:19:02.44
but those children,
they tell the same thing
00:19:02.47\00:19:05.37
that we tell in a different
way since they cannot see.
00:19:05.41\00:19:09.61
Talking to
Pastor Paulson that day,
00:19:09.64\00:19:11.81
I noticed that it's not
just the lives of the children
00:19:11.85\00:19:14.72
that we're
transforming but we go through
00:19:14.75\00:19:17.22
a life-changing experience
too as Pastor Paulson found out.
00:19:17.25\00:19:22.46
And Jesus lived on this earth.
00:19:22.49\00:19:24.36
He likes such kind of children.
00:19:24.39\00:19:26.23
He likes such kind of
people who are rejected
00:19:26.26\00:19:28.96
by the community, so I thought,
00:19:29.00\00:19:32.17
"Jesus Christ has done
that, and why not I do it."
00:19:32.20\00:19:35.77
And maybe I thought
God gave me an opportunity
00:19:35.80\00:19:38.71
to serve such kind of children.
00:19:38.74\00:19:41.54
And Jesus Christ said,
"Inasmuch as ye have done
00:19:41.58\00:19:44.31
unto the least of
these my brethren,
00:19:44.35\00:19:46.11
ye have done it unto me."
00:19:46.15\00:19:47.95
As the children walk in
faith, I look at all of them,
00:19:47.98\00:19:50.89
observe them, and
talk with everyone.
00:19:50.92\00:19:52.95
I never neglect anyone,
even if there is a purpose,
00:19:52.99\00:19:56.66
if we got a
purpose, I talk to them,
00:19:56.69\00:19:58.19
make sure that I'm
in touch with them,
00:19:58.23\00:20:01.13
and they are in with me.
00:20:01.16\00:20:02.96
Sabbath in Bobbili
was a solemn experience.
00:20:21.12\00:20:24.19
Church was in the
town center on a terrace
00:20:24.22\00:20:26.39
of the Adventist
Day School in town.
00:20:26.42\00:20:29.22
Members from town
as well as children
00:20:29.26\00:20:31.06
from the Sunrise
Home attended the service.
00:20:31.09\00:20:33.96
As I was mentally preparing
for the sermon I was to give,
00:20:34.00\00:20:37.47
I was moved by the
reverence of the local people,
00:20:37.50\00:20:40.94
especially the women.
00:20:40.97\00:20:42.84
Women covering their heads
bowed their heads to the ground
00:20:42.87\00:20:46.37
as they prayed.
00:20:46.41\00:20:48.21
In a more
unfamiliar twist of events,
00:20:48.24\00:20:50.75
someone brought a chicken
to church as an offering.
00:20:50.78\00:20:54.08
My wife and I were
worried about the faith
00:20:54.12\00:20:55.98
that would befall
the chicken then decided
00:20:56.02\00:20:57.82
to pay an
offering double the price.
00:20:57.85\00:21:00.66
It also provided me an
object lesson for my sermon.
00:21:00.69\00:21:04.83
That Sabbath
afternoon, we made our way
00:21:10.63\00:21:12.60
to the Sunrise Children's Home
00:21:12.63\00:21:14.87
about 10 miles
from Bobbili town.
00:21:14.90\00:21:18.01
When we reached there, boys
and girls were waiting for us
00:21:18.04\00:21:21.38
at the gate,
greeting us and showering us
00:21:21.41\00:21:24.25
with beautiful flowers as
we walked into the campus.
00:21:24.28\00:21:27.58
He said two times.
00:21:42.46\00:21:45.43
Hi.
00:21:45.47\00:21:48.04
This is me and my chicken.
00:21:48.07\00:21:51.37
I, officially, as the
CEO of Asian Aid, USA,
00:21:51.41\00:21:55.51
hereby name this
chicken John Lomacang.
00:21:55.54\00:22:00.12
I also instruct
Varma that this chicken
00:22:00.15\00:22:02.55
must be given VIP
status in the chicken coop.
00:22:02.58\00:22:06.49
That's right. That's
right. Thank you, sir.
00:22:06.52\00:22:09.12
He could be in
somebody's kitchen tonight,
00:22:09.16\00:22:11.26
but thanks to
him coming to church.
00:22:11.29\00:22:13.80
That's what happens
when you come to church.
00:22:13.83\00:22:16.00
He was saved,
and now he can sing
00:22:16.03\00:22:18.67
because he is happy.
00:22:18.70\00:22:20.70
He can sing because he is free.
00:22:20.74\00:22:24.91
Now make sure that you
take care of my chicken, okay?
00:22:24.94\00:22:28.01
Yes.
00:22:28.04\00:22:29.38
I don't want
anybody to eat my chicken.
00:22:29.41\00:22:33.08
And, girls, you make
sure that they take care
00:22:33.11\00:22:35.05
of my chicken, is that okay?
00:22:35.08\00:22:36.42
Okay. Wow.
00:22:36.45\00:22:37.79
See, I've gotten the
commitment out of the children
00:22:37.82\00:22:39.22
here at Sunrise Children's Home,
00:22:39.25\00:22:42.79
we just visited one of my
newest friends in my family,
00:22:42.82\00:22:46.13
a chicken that was
saved from church today.
00:22:46.16\00:22:48.46
But this home
has been saving lives
00:22:48.50\00:22:51.43
that are much more
valuable than chicken's.
00:22:51.47\00:22:53.90
This is truly where
the sunrises on the lives
00:22:53.94\00:22:56.87
of these boys and girls
every day, and what a blessing.
00:22:56.91\00:23:01.08
Thank you to those
of you who are standing
00:23:01.11\00:23:03.48
and praying for the
ministry of Asian Aid.
00:23:03.51\00:23:06.45
Look at the difference it's made
00:23:06.48\00:23:08.18
in these colorful
lives, these bright eyes,
00:23:08.22\00:23:11.35
and the future of the
church is in good hands
00:23:11.39\00:23:14.46
because of the
work that you're doing.
00:23:14.49\00:23:16.22
God bless you
for all that you do
00:23:16.26\00:23:18.23
for this wonderful ministry.
00:23:18.26\00:23:19.96
Raj Varma, who is
Asian Aid's field officer,
00:23:26.10\00:23:29.50
showed me
around this new campus.
00:23:29.54\00:23:31.81
So what you just showed
me is this is the quarters,
00:23:31.84\00:23:35.18
this is where the boys
and girls sleep right now.
00:23:35.21\00:23:37.81
Now compared to
where they used to,
00:23:37.85\00:23:39.81
this is a great improvement.
00:23:39.85\00:23:41.18
There are 15
rooms, and the boys occupy
00:23:41.22\00:23:44.22
10 of those, the
girls occupy 5 of those.
00:23:44.25\00:23:47.32
One of the greatest blessings
is at the old facility,
00:23:47.36\00:23:49.96
they only had four
toilets for 73 students,
00:23:49.99\00:23:54.70
but at this one, they have
25 toilets for 73 students.
00:23:54.73\00:23:59.83
But there is something
else still in the works
00:23:59.87\00:24:01.20
because they're planning on
00:24:01.24\00:24:02.57
building another
dorm to my right,
00:24:02.60\00:24:04.51
and it's going
to be for the girls.
00:24:04.54\00:24:08.58
And that dorm is in
the plans and in the works.
00:24:08.61\00:24:11.41
And right now, if you
look at this facility,
00:24:11.45\00:24:13.21
it's a great improvement
over what they used to sleep
00:24:13.25\00:24:16.52
in when they lived in the city,
and what a beautiful campus.
00:24:16.55\00:24:20.96
As Raj Varma was
showing me around,
00:24:29.76\00:24:32.20
I was constantly reminded
of the difference Asian Aid
00:24:32.23\00:24:35.10
is trying to make here
in this part of the world
00:24:35.14\00:24:38.24
for the children.
00:24:38.27\00:24:40.21
Well, I think the
big difference we've made
00:24:40.24\00:24:42.31
is that we have been
able to give so many children
00:24:42.34\00:24:46.15
a chance of Christian education,
00:24:46.18\00:24:49.02
and we take
children based on need
00:24:49.05\00:24:53.39
and sponsored by
a person at home.
00:24:53.42\00:24:56.39
And these people are making
a big difference in the lives
00:24:56.42\00:25:00.96
of the children that
you've seen every day.
00:25:01.00\00:25:04.40
This provision for
Christian education
00:25:04.43\00:25:06.84
was all the more
evident as we were taken down
00:25:06.87\00:25:09.67
to the riverside
beside the campus.
00:25:09.70\00:25:12.67
Hey, well, here we
are, down by the riverside
00:25:47.24\00:25:50.18
at the Sunrise Home
enjoying sundown worship
00:25:50.21\00:25:53.55
on a beautiful
Sabbath afternoon.
00:25:53.58\00:25:56.15
You know, as I'm
standing out here,
00:25:56.18\00:25:57.52
I realized why we've been
giving council to come out
00:25:57.55\00:26:00.62
in nature and enjoy what
God has all the natural beauty,
00:26:00.66\00:26:06.06
the singing of the children.
00:26:06.09\00:26:07.76
This is the place that
invites the presence of God
00:26:07.80\00:26:11.13
without any distractions
far away from the cities,
00:26:11.17\00:26:14.64
far away from the noise,
far away from the traffic,
00:26:14.67\00:26:18.31
what beautiful sounds to
hear nature speaking to us,
00:26:18.34\00:26:21.68
and the voice of the
children as the Sabbath sets,
00:26:21.71\00:26:25.25
this is worship at Sunrise Home.
00:26:25.28\00:26:28.58
On the way back
from Sunrise Home,
00:26:38.13\00:26:40.60
a thought kept
ringing in my mind,
00:26:40.63\00:26:43.00
what a change we can
bring about here in India
00:26:43.03\00:26:45.60
if there are more
schools like this.
00:26:45.63\00:26:48.37
There would be more lives
00:26:48.40\00:26:49.74
that would be changed and saved.
00:26:49.77\00:26:52.71
You know, here we
are, I'm sitting at the end
00:26:59.65\00:27:01.35
of a trip that has
really revolutionized
00:27:01.38\00:27:03.99
the way I look at Asian
Aid, revolutionized the way
00:27:04.02\00:27:06.19
I think of missions,
particularly in India.
00:27:06.22\00:27:09.62
For so often, I've sat
in my living room there
00:27:09.66\00:27:11.53
and watched Asian Aid
when it came on television,
00:27:11.56\00:27:14.00
but what a
difference to come here
00:27:14.03\00:27:15.93
and experience to see
the lives being changed.
00:27:15.96\00:27:18.73
The children of
the Blind School,
00:27:18.77\00:27:20.44
the school in Vizag,
the school in Bobbili,
00:27:20.47\00:27:23.44
Sunrise Home, to meet the staff,
00:27:23.47\00:27:26.41
to see that these individuals
are not here for the money,
00:27:26.44\00:27:29.74
but, boy, the payment is
far greater than anything
00:27:29.78\00:27:33.35
that we can write down on paper.
00:27:33.38\00:27:35.28
And I know by
personal experience
00:27:35.32\00:27:37.49
and by being here that Asian Aid
00:27:37.52\00:27:39.05
is not just a program,
not just a good broadcast,
00:27:39.09\00:27:42.42
but really, it is something
that's transforming lives.
00:27:42.46\00:27:45.19
And I've got to say, as
pastor, preaching and teaching,
00:27:45.23\00:27:48.10
this has really,
really blessed my life,
00:27:48.13\00:27:50.23
really I am
changed by this experience,
00:27:50.27\00:27:53.44
and I will really not be
the same after this trip.
00:27:53.47\00:27:55.94