Participants: Narrator: Jean Boonstra
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000049A
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00:04 A little over a year ago,
00:05 when my husband Shawn and I 00:07 decided to sponsor a child through Asian Aid, 00:10 I never would have imagined 00:11 that I would end up meeting our sponsored child in India. 00:15 I'm thinking I want to become nurse. 00:18 It was an experience made more incredible and exciting 00:22 because this was also our daughter's 00:24 first trip outside of North America. 00:27 Well, I was super excited about coming. 00:29 I mean, I knew it would be a life-changing experience, 00:31 and it has been so far. 00:33 Together, we discovered a land full of color and contrast. 00:37 We met Sheila, our sponsored daughter, 00:39 rode on a school bus with her, and in doing all this, 00:43 I came across people who put their lives in danger 00:46 to rescue girls in peril. 00:49 The risk is huge. 00:50 I've always known that there is a risk in this 00:52 of being involved. 00:54 But I think... 00:55 I don't think we can sit quiet about it either. 00:58 And witness the wondrous work being carried out in the slums. 01:03 We experienced firsthand 01:05 the transformation Asian Aid is making 01:07 in the lives of thousands of children across India. 01:25 Asian Aid is an organization giving hope, 01:28 an organization fostering permanent positive change 01:31 in the lives of disadvantaged children 01:33 and their communities. 01:35 An organization that is committed 01:37 to making a difference in the lives of children 01:39 and those who are in need, 01:41 serving communities in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, 01:45 Myanmar, and India. 01:55 For the last 40 years, 01:57 Asian Aid has invested in the futures of people 01:59 and their investment has proven infinite returns. 02:04 Driven by their dedication to helping those 02:06 who have the least, 02:08 Asian Aid is an organization 02:10 focused on the welfare of children, 02:12 implementing diverse development projects, 02:15 and sponsoring thousands of children. 02:17 Their outreach spans from child rescue operations, 02:21 to providing an education for orphans, 02:23 deaf and the blind children. 02:26 Giving them a sense of place, a home, 02:29 but above all, 02:30 Asian Aid is an organization giving hope, 02:33 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 02:37 giving hope to the ones who needed the most. 02:41 This is Hope in Motion. 03:11 We arrive at Bangalore, India, 03:13 late at night on the 2nd of July. 03:17 A day's rest and some shopping did us good 03:19 and rejuvenates us for the long trip ahead. 03:23 We are ready for our Indian adventure. 03:27 Has this city always been busy like this? 03:30 No, this city has changed. 03:32 I've lived in this city now for 17 years. 03:35 And the last 10 years, I would say, 03:38 the city has really changed. 03:39 I think there's been an influx of people. 03:42 This city is the IT hub of India. 03:45 And I think in the last 10 years, 03:48 every major multinational 03:51 has moved an office to Bangalore. 03:53 The following day, we meet with Anita at Oasis. 03:57 Now Oasis's office is tucked behind a gate 04:00 with only a small, nondescript sign 04:02 indicating its presence. 04:04 We slip upstairs and meet Anita and her team, 04:07 a group of about 10 people. 04:13 Oasis is a rescue operation, 04:15 rescuing girls from human trafficking. 04:18 Young girls are trafficked, confined, and raped, 04:21 then forced into the prostitution trade. 04:24 Jim and I meet Anita in her office. 04:27 She tells us that corruption and lack of manpower 04:30 in the enforcement agencies 04:32 has made this a rampant problem in big cities like Bangalore. 04:37 It is a huge problem in India. 04:39 I think the US puts the figures at about 100 million, 04:42 but the actual figures will be much, much higher 04:45 because these figures are from about four years ago. 04:50 I think the people on the ground 04:52 see for themselves 04:54 the number of people being rescued. 04:55 So in this last six months, we've had 42 girls 04:59 from Bangladesh alone rescued in one district in Bangalore. 05:04 So you can imagine the numbers 05:07 that are coming in from Bangladesh, from Nepal. 05:09 But the numbers trafficked within India are huge as well. 05:13 The primary motive at Oasis 05:15 is to rescue these trafficked girls, 05:18 but it's not as easy as it sounds. 05:21 There is a lot of planning, networking, 05:23 and in almost all cases, 05:25 this involves undercover operations. 05:35 The risk is huge and the situation is delicate 05:38 and complicated. 05:40 Anita and her team have been threatened physically. 05:43 There're tremendous sums of money involved. 05:46 The risk is huge. 05:47 I've always known that there is a risk in this 05:50 of being involved. 05:51 But I think... 05:53 I don't think we can sit quiet about it either 05:55 being an Indian woman myself. 05:57 And having seen what happens and having seen the fact that 06:01 people do not want to get involved 06:03 in really high risk things. 06:07 When the girls are rescued, 06:08 it does not necessarily mean freedom. 06:11 They face a lot of emotional and physical challenges. 06:15 They are, understandably, afraid and ashamed. 06:19 They're cut off from any support from family. 06:22 The physical abuse these girls undergo 06:25 during captivity is appalling. 06:28 I think if I have to speak 06:30 about the worst kind of cases I've seen, 06:33 I saw a 2.5-year-old girl 06:35 who had been slashed many times around her waist 06:40 and her bottom 06:42 and had been burnt with cigarette butts. 06:45 All around... 06:47 Yeah, all around her private parts. 06:49 I think that was one of the worst... 06:51 The level of abuse sometimes is just huge and horrid. 06:55 When they're first brought in, and they're broken, 06:58 you know, the will to do this is broken. 07:01 They're abused very, very badly by the pimps. 07:04 And so, during that time they're chained, 07:06 they're beaten, they're starved, 07:08 and physically very badly abused. 07:15 Asian Aid, with its Operation Child Rescue program 07:18 has joined hands with Oasis, 07:21 supporting them with funds 07:22 necessary to facilitate this rescue effort 07:25 and the crucial rehabilitation for the children. 07:29 Sitting and talking to Anita, I'm made aware of the huge risk 07:33 that she is taking 07:35 and the dedication and courage she has 07:37 to undertake this dangerous mission. 07:40 I think if I wasn't doing this 07:42 and if I wasn't being involved in this, 07:47 I don't think my heart would be silent on this. 07:50 Yeah, I think I choose to have the courage to do this. 07:55 Anita's motives are purely Christian. 07:58 She knows that the only hope for these girls 08:00 to recover from the abuse they've suffered 08:03 is the hope that Christ can give. 08:06 Oasis doesn't have its own rehab home 08:08 and currently, relies on government facilities. 08:11 Anita's goal is to have a home of their own. 08:15 Sadly, many of the girls rescued 08:17 cannot overcome the pain or the shame. 08:20 Some return to the lifestyle willingly 08:23 and rehabilitation is a crucial step. 08:27 Coming out of the meeting with Anita, 08:29 I am full of hope and encouragement 08:31 for what she and her team are doing, 08:34 at the same time, my heart is troubled 08:37 as I try to comprehend 08:38 the problems faced by innocent young girls in India. 08:42 This is not the sort of beginning I had in mind 08:45 when I first set out for India. 08:53 On the plane ride from Bangalore to Vishakhapatnam 08:56 on the east coast of the Indian peninsula, 08:59 I have enough time to reflect on my meeting with Anita. 09:03 I wonder what we'll experience on the rest of our journey. 09:07 Slowly, the unsettled feeling fades, 09:09 and I focus on the exciting next step. 09:21 Vishakhapatnam, or Vizag as it's commonly known, 09:24 is hot and humid. 09:26 From the airport, we are driven straight to a slum settlement 09:30 in the center of the city. 09:32 Just walking through its narrow alley 09:34 is an experience in itself. 09:37 We're guided to a freshly painted building. 09:40 It's an Adventist school in the heart of the slum. 09:43 This was unexpected. 09:45 We are introduced to Naomi, the school principal, 09:48 and we get to meet the kids in her classrooms. 10:02 Gathered on the rooftop, the pleasant breeze 10:05 is a welcome relief. 10:10 We're here in Vizag, 10:11 and we've just visited slum school 10:14 that's been recently renovated. 10:16 They've done a lot of renovations 10:18 particularly up here 10:19 where we're gathered with the children 10:21 here on the roof. 10:22 This is an amazing experience to see the area 10:26 that these kids live in that surrounds the school here. 10:29 It's been great to be here. 10:31 We get to come back in a few days. 10:32 We're going to have the dedication 10:33 for this newly renovated slum school. 10:40 After spending a couple of hours 10:42 at the slum school, we head out to Bobbili. 10:55 Arriving at the Asian Aid School 10:57 for the Blind in Bobbili, we receive a warm welcome. 11:02 Boys and girls on each side of the entrance way 11:04 greet us with flowers and handshakes. 11:07 I am surprised by how many more boys there are than girls. 11:11 There are about 50 girls and 120 boys 11:15 that live here at the school. 11:17 Later, Pastor Paulson, the school principal, 11:19 takes us on the tour of the campus. 11:22 It's amazing to see 11:23 how the blind children are taught 11:26 and how they learn 11:27 with their specialized equipment. 11:29 The Blind School will be our home 11:31 for the rest of our stay in India. 11:34 So we're staying here at the Asian Aid School 11:36 for the Blind in Bobbili, and it's absolutely beautiful. 11:39 Everything's green this time of year, 11:41 the flowers are blooming, 11:43 we even got to eat some guava, 11:45 and even more beautiful are the students staying here. 11:48 We had the privilege this morning 11:50 of going through the school, 11:52 Pastor Paulson showed Natalie and Naomi around, 11:54 and the beautiful wide, open hallways 11:57 where the students can easily maneuver their way around. 12:00 We got to see where they live. 12:02 It was an incredible privilege to see the kids 12:05 doing their math using writing Braille, 12:08 using the Braille computers. 12:10 It was amazing. 12:12 And we're so thankful to be able to be here. 12:14 We're really close to where Sunrise Home is 12:16 and where Sheila lives. 12:18 And we're looking forward to getting to meet her soon, 12:20 and just incredibly blessed to be able to see 12:24 and stay at these amazing facilities 12:27 here at the Blind School. 12:36 On Sabbath morning, we attend church in Bobbili. 12:39 This is Sheila's church. 12:40 It's nice to see children form Sunrise Home there 12:44 and taking part in the Sabbath school program. 12:47 The girls and I greet Sheila warmly. 12:50 We can't talk much on this day, 12:52 but it's an incredible experience 12:54 to worship in Sheila's church with her. 12:57 I'm overwhelmed with emotion. 13:00 Change is possible. 13:17 In the afternoon, we visit the village of Karada. 13:21 The village is not far from Sunrise Home, 13:23 and on the edge of town, 13:25 there is a church built a few years ago 13:27 by Maranatha. 13:33 Well, I'm here in the village of Karada 13:35 which is real close to the new Sunrise Home 13:38 that we are just completing. 13:40 The exciting thing about this village is 13:43 that the children and staff from the Sunrise Home 13:45 become involved with this village 13:48 both in Sabbath school and church 13:50 and a church nearby that hasn't had any leadership 13:54 and also with community work with health training. 13:58 The great news is that the investment 14:00 that many donors made in the Sunrise 14:02 is now paying off in the wider community, 14:06 and we're real proud of that at Asian Aid. 14:10 And the next day, we go to Sunrise Home 14:12 to spend the day with Sheila, our sponsored daughter, 14:15 and to have some dedicated time with her. 14:18 This is the day we've been waiting so long for, 14:21 and we are excited. 14:23 We have so many questions about her day-to-day life, 14:26 and we can't wait to spend time at Sunrise Home. 14:41 Reaching Sunrise, we are greeted by Lalitha, 14:44 the director, and all the kids. 14:47 The girls all wear beautiful matching saris. 14:50 We enjoy a quick tour of the facility. 14:53 It's a very hot day. 14:55 And so, soon, all the kids go inside to rest and cool off. 14:59 And Natalie and Naomi are invited along, 15:01 and they gladly joined them. 15:03 This gives me an opportunity to talk with Lalitha. 15:08 So what was the old home like? 15:10 I mean, this is beautiful, you've got a lot of open space, 15:12 what was your old home like? 15:14 Old home is like congested. 15:17 Children eating in same place, drinking, eating, sleeping, 15:21 watching TV, prayer... 15:23 In the same room, 15:25 they used to conduct everything there only, 15:27 but after we came here, 15:29 children, they have a special prayer room, 15:31 they have special rooms to sleep, 15:34 and they have a special dining hall to eat. 15:37 So they have big playground, 15:40 and they are enjoying the facilities what we have. 15:43 Well, our sponsored daughter, Sheila, 15:45 we're so happy to meet here. 15:47 She is such a sweet, beautiful girl. 15:49 And my husband is so sad 15:51 he wasn't able to come and meet her. 15:53 But my daughters and I have loved meeting her. 15:56 We've written to her a few times, 15:57 and we've gotten to know her here, 15:59 but we don't know really a lot of her story. 16:02 Can you tell me a little bit about 16:03 how she ended up here? 16:05 Do you remember how it was when she arrived? 16:07 Yeah, I want to show her photo when she came here. 16:11 She was 9 years old, like 10 years old. 16:14 And she is having big stomach 16:17 and small, thin legs. 16:22 Was she malnourished? 16:23 Is that why... Malnutrition. 16:25 Because she didn't have enough of food. 16:26 That's sad. 16:27 So after they came here, they will have a lot to eat. 16:31 So we will provide them whatever they want. 16:33 So she don't have mother, mother died. 16:37 Father was there, 16:39 and father again married another woman. 16:42 Oh, I see. 16:43 So stepmother, she won't take care of her. 16:45 She didn't take care of Sheila. 16:46 Oh, that breaks my heart. 16:48 So at that time, she came here. 16:50 Father himself... 16:51 And one of the pastors, they recommended here, 16:55 so she was brought here. 16:58 Aw, this is Sheila's file? 17:00 Yeah, this is Sheila when she came to Sunrise Home. 17:03 Oh, wow! 17:04 Here, you can see her small, very thin hands. 17:08 Oh, she looks like a different person. 17:10 Yeah. 17:11 This is the dress, when she came here, 17:13 I have bought for her. 17:14 You got a special dress for her? 17:16 Yeah, special dress, then this is the uniform. 17:17 Aw, 1990. 17:19 And you can see here... Aw, beautiful. 17:21 Yeah. 17:24 Yeah, she's changed a lot definitely. 17:26 Yeah, a lot. Yes, yes. 17:29 Sheila does look different from the first time 17:32 she was brought to Sunrise. 17:34 There is a kind of contentment that radiates from her face 17:37 when I talk to her. 17:39 I am so glad that my daughters and I could come and spend 17:42 a little bit of time with you and see where you live. 17:45 This is a beautiful room that you're in. 17:47 Do you like it here at Sunrise Home? 17:49 Yes. 17:50 You're happy? Yeah. 17:52 Great. 17:53 You seem very happy. 17:55 Your mommy seems very kind to you 17:57 and all of the children. 17:58 Yes, she is very kind. 18:00 Very good, very nice. 18:02 So you're studying in which standard now, 18:04 which grade? 18:05 Ninth grade. 18:07 What is your subject to study at school? 18:10 Biology. 18:12 Biology, okay. 18:13 And have you thought yet about 18:15 what you'd like to do in the future? 18:18 I'm thinking I want to become nurse. 18:20 Oh, I can see, you did. 18:22 Well, do you remember when you were young 18:24 and you first came to Sunrise Home? 18:26 Do you remember that very much? 18:29 I remember a little only. 18:31 Only a little bit. 18:32 Do you feel like your life is very different here 18:35 than it would have been if you hadn't come 18:36 to Sunrise home? 18:38 Yeah, it's very different. 18:41 Well, I'm glad. 18:43 I'm so pleased to spend time with you. 18:45 I'm so blessed to be with you. 18:47 I too. 18:49 Well, it's an incredible privilege 18:51 to be here with Sheila. 18:53 It's just a dream come true to meet her. 18:55 You know, it's one thing to see a picture but to see her, 18:58 see her smiling face, 18:59 how happy she is with all her sisters 19:01 and brothers here. 19:03 And just the spiritual level in this home 19:06 is just incredible. 19:07 And I'm so fortunate to be here 19:09 and to see what a difference sponsorship can make. 19:13 Indeed, sponsorship is making a difference. 19:17 The more time I spend with Sheila 19:19 and the more time I get to see 19:20 what's being done at Sunrise, 19:22 I'm glad that I have this association with it, 19:25 and that Sheila is an important part of our lives. 19:30 It's incredible to have my daughters 19:32 with me here at Sunrise Home. 19:34 They've been able to play with Sheila, 19:36 get to visit with her, 19:38 and just spend some time with other kids 19:40 doing what kids do. 19:42 I can't tell you 19:43 what a meaningful experience this is for them. 19:46 I'm so thankful that I've been able to have them here 19:49 and to have them share in this experience. 19:52 Well, I was super excited about coming. 19:54 I mean, I knew it would be a life-changing experience 19:57 and it has been so far. 19:58 It's a beautiful country, and I mean, 20:00 there are very poor areas, but it's just... 20:05 The people here, they do feel privileged 20:08 when they even get the smallest thing, 20:10 and I think we just need to really keep that in our heads 20:14 as we go through life. 20:28 Wow! 20:30 It's beautiful up here. 20:31 We're on the top of the water tower 20:33 looking down on Sunrise Home. 20:35 You can see the world, 20:37 beautiful green fields all around us. 20:39 The rainy season has just passed, 20:41 so it's gorgeous and green. 20:43 And from up here, it's wonderful, 20:45 you can see the almost brand new Sunrise campus, 20:47 it was just dedicated this fall. 20:49 I can see the bus, the staff quarters, 20:53 the boys' and girls' dorm, and the new girls' dorm 20:56 that they're building. 20:57 The kids are very excited about that. 20:59 It's been an amazing experiencing being here. 21:01 There are ducks, there are wild turkeys, 21:04 the kids are so happy, 21:05 the kids are just so happy here. 21:08 And they love to play in this field. 21:10 They even have the river to go cool off in 21:13 and splash in on a hot day. 21:15 It's just an incredible experience to be here. 21:18 I am so blessed and so overwhelmed by it. 21:53 Well, it's Monday morning, 21:54 and we are on the Sunrise Home school bus, 21:57 and we are riding with Sheila and the other kids 21:59 to their school this morning. 22:02 I can tell you, you are never too old 22:04 to ride a school bus, and this is fun. 22:32 Well, this is Sheila's classroom, 22:34 she's going to be studying here today. 22:36 I talked to her on the school bus. 22:37 She has all subjects today. 22:39 Her favorite subject is biology. 22:41 She's studying physics, mathematics, 22:44 I can't tell you how that makes me feel 22:46 to see her here in her classroom 22:49 and to know that she's getting a good education. 22:52 She's getting an Adventist education. 22:54 She's being well-prepared 22:56 to go forward into high school, college. 22:59 She wants to be a nurse, and I can see here 23:01 that she's getting the preparation 23:05 that she needs to do that. 23:07 I can't tell you what a difference 23:08 that makes for me to see 23:11 that she's able to receive that through sponsorship. 23:20 While Sheila is at school, 23:22 I want to visit a nearby village 23:24 to see how life is for people there. 23:26 Raj Varma, Asian Aid field officer, 23:29 takes us to a village a few minutes drive 23:31 from Sunrise Home. 23:33 There we meet a Christian woman, Pentamma, 23:35 a gregarious, grey-haired woman. 23:38 She must be in her early 70s 23:41 and yet she tells me that she still works in the fields. 23:44 If you have had the chance as a girl to go to school, 23:47 would you have like that? 24:03 So I didn't have any opportunities in those days. 24:05 My mother didn't send me to school. 24:08 And in those days, there was no school in here. 24:10 So my mother used to take me to the field work, farm work. 24:13 To field work as a young girl. Okay. 24:15 Meeting Pentamma at her home, 24:17 I'm thankful for the opportunity Sheila has. 24:21 What would have happened to her if she was left in her village? 24:25 Would she be working in the fields, illiterate, 24:27 and with no hope? 24:29 I dare not imagine the scenario. 24:36 I have traveled to India with my husband Shawn 24:39 before in 2006, 24:41 but this trip with Asian Aid has opened my eyes 24:44 in a brand new way. 24:46 I am touched by what Asian Aid is doing, 24:49 and the need of the happy, beautiful children 24:52 moves me deeply. 24:54 My daughters feel it too. 24:56 And for that, I feel very thankful. 24:59 In the evening, we drive back to Vizag. 25:02 It is hard to leave. 25:04 It has been a life-changing week 25:05 for my daughters and me. 25:08 In Vizag, the next morning, we returned to the slum school 25:11 for its dedication ceremony. 25:14 Colorful banners are hanging and it's a high day. 25:17 Principal Naomi greets us, and we enjoy seeing 25:20 the now familiar faces of the kids. 25:23 At the dedication, we meet Ramini, 25:26 she lives just down the narrow alley way, 25:28 a little ways from the school. 25:30 And she attended this slum school as a child. 25:34 Now she's in a boarding school in Rajahmundry, 25:36 and she plans to be a physician. 25:39 I like this school very much. 25:41 This school is like my mother. 25:43 This school teach me everything. 25:45 Teachers also helped me so much. 25:48 Sponsors and donors also helped me so much to learn. 25:51 Because of their grace, I'm studying now. 25:54 Really, I would like to thank them. 25:55 I don't who they are also. 25:57 I doesn't see their face also. 26:00 It is an emotional experience to see the wondrous work 26:03 that's being carried out in the slums. 26:06 We see the change that has brought about in the community 26:09 and experience firsthand 26:11 the transformation Asian Aid is making 26:13 in the lives of thousands of children across India. 26:17 So not too long ago, 26:19 Shawn and I and our girls got involved with Asian Aid, 26:22 and it's been just over a year now 26:24 that we've had Sheila as our sponsored daughter. 26:27 I couldn't have ever imagined when we started that process 26:30 that we would end up here in India 26:32 actually getting to meet Sheila 26:34 and spend time with her, see where she lives, 26:37 meet the kids she lives with and shares her life with. 26:41 What an incredible experience it's been. 26:43 It's been an incredible privilege to be here, 26:46 I'm just so honored to be part of Asian Aid 26:49 and what they're doing, 26:50 and I don't think this would be our last trip to India. |
Revised 2018-05-02