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Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000106A
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00:10 Our television series Hope In Motion
00:13 has been a big success 00:15 and we want to continue to share with you 00:17 some of the field stories 00:19 that we have filmed over the years. 00:21 So just from time to time, it may refer to Asian Aid, 00:26 as we reflect on these great stories 00:29 as we share them with you. 00:34 In this episode of Hope In Motion, 00:37 we go to Sri Lanka to see how Child Impact International 00:40 is helping the Adventist mission 00:42 in this island nation. 00:44 It makes a huge difference 00:45 when individuals and organizations 00:47 from around the world give support to us 00:50 here at Lakpahana. 00:52 We visited Lakpahana College and Seminary, 00:54 an Adventist institution 00:56 that is preparing soldiers for Christ. 00:58 This school, Lakpahana College and Seminary 01:01 means a lot to our mission 01:04 because this is where we train most of our workers. 01:09 And witness how Child Impact sponsorship 01:11 is helping a young sibling overcome a tragic past. 01:32 Child Impact International is an organization giving hope. 01:36 Previously called Asian Aid, 01:38 Child Impact International 01:40 is an organization fostering permanent positive change 01:43 in the lives of disadvantaged children 01:45 and their communities. 01:47 Child Impact is committed to making a difference 01:49 in the lives of children and those who are in need, 01:52 serving communities in India, Nepal, 01:55 Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, 01:57 and will soon expand to other countries. 02:00 For the last 50 years, 02:01 Child Impact has invested in the futures of people, 02:04 and their investment has proven infinite returns. 02:07 Driven by the dedication to helping those 02:09 who have the least, 02:11 Child Impact is an organization focused 02:13 on the welfare of children, 02:15 implementing diverse development projects, 02:17 and sponsoring thousands of children. 02:19 Their outreach spans from child rescue operations 02:22 to providing an education 02:24 for orphans, deaf, and the blind children, 02:27 giving them a sense of place, a home, 02:30 but above all, Child Impact is an organization giving hope, 02:34 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 02:37 giving hope to the ones who need it the most. 02:40 This is Hope In Motion. 03:05 Sri Lanka is an island nation 03:07 located just a few miles from the southern tip of India. 03:11 Because of its natural beauty and location, 03:13 it is commonly known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. 03:18 Until 1972, 03:20 it was called by its Portuguese derived name Ceylon. 03:23 Like its neighbor India, Sri Lanka is a diverse country, 03:27 home to many religious ethnicities and languages, 03:30 but it's predominantly a Buddhist nation 03:32 with a rich Buddhist heritage. 03:35 Although the Seventh-day Adventist Church mission 03:38 was organized here in 1950, 03:40 the church membership is only around 4,000. 03:43 This is why Lakpahana Adventist College and Seminary 03:46 was established in Kandy 03:48 to meet the challenges 03:49 of the Adventist mission in Sri Lanka. 03:51 This school Lakpahana College and Seminary 03:55 means a lot to our mission 03:57 because this is where we train most of our workers. 04:01 Right from the inception of this school, 04:04 it has trained many workers 04:06 who are serving here in Sri Lanka, 04:10 as well as in other countries. 04:12 So we really respect, and we value the school 04:17 because it's a great service 04:20 to the community and to our church. 04:26 Established just outside Sri Lanka's second largest city 04:29 Kandy, Lakpahana, over the decades 04:32 has produced many workers for the mission field. 04:34 We're providing the future really of the church. 04:40 If you were to go around Sri Lanka today 04:44 and look at most of the pastors 04:46 and the leadership of the Church, 04:48 they're all products of Lakpahana. 04:51 And even if you look at some of the leading businessmen 04:53 around the country, 04:54 they're all products of Lakpahana. 04:56 Lakpahana has played a huge role 04:58 in the work of the church here in Sri Lanka. 05:02 Being the only Adventist institution 05:04 for higher education in Sri Lanka, 05:06 the demand for admission is high 05:08 among Adventist community. 05:10 Children also come from 05:11 different socio-economic backgrounds 05:13 and from various parts of Sri Lanka 05:15 and are exposed to the Christian environment 05:17 and to a Christian education and lifestyle 05:20 in this predominantly Buddhist culture. 05:22 But many students in Lakpahana 05:24 like Adventist schools in other South Asian countries 05:27 come from rural and poor backgrounds 05:29 and are unable to pay basic tuition fees 05:31 required to attend a boarding school 05:33 like Lakpahana. 05:35 This is where Child Impact plays a crucial role 05:37 in giving that opportunity for those children 05:39 who are from an underprivileged background. 05:42 We are very happy that there are sponsoring organizations 05:44 such as Asian Aid, 05:47 who has come forward to sponsor 05:51 about 80 or 90 or even more students. 05:55 And because of their assistance, 05:58 we are able to educate these children 06:01 and run this school without much problem. 06:07 Our church work is very dependent 06:11 on Asian Aid children and its workforce. 06:16 And so it's not only the development of that child, 06:21 it's where that child goes. 06:23 And they go in so many directions 06:25 without having an impact 06:27 not only on them but on their community. 06:31 And the other thing is too, 06:32 they have a big impact on their immediate family, 06:35 so they impact on their parents, 06:37 their mothers, their uncles and aunts, 06:40 and in their local community. 06:43 We are creating a future for those 06:45 who really are left behind 06:47 and need someone to give them a hand up, 06:50 never a hand out 06:52 because by giving an education, it's a hand up. 06:55 They can help themselves. 06:57 They don't have to rely on people forever. 07:01 It's not a welfare issue. 07:03 It's creating a new possibility for children. 07:07 And the kids that are sponsored really, really do benefit. 07:14 But not all are lucky to get this benefit. 07:16 The school administration is under pressure 07:19 to secure sponsorship 07:20 for the regular inflow of students 07:22 that come for admission each year. 07:24 Sixty percent of our students are sponsored, 07:27 and with a growing enrollment, 07:29 that means we need a growing base of sponsors. 07:33 At the beginning of the year, which is January, 07:36 we made a faith decision, 07:39 and that was if you came from Adventist parents 07:42 or you're an Adventist, 07:44 you could come here, and we would find a sponsor. 07:47 Now that was a real faith step. 07:49 And the Lord has blessed us immensely. 07:52 But with all of our students are not sponsored, 07:55 and I have a huge waiting list of students on my desk 08:01 who want to come to Lakpahana, 08:02 they're from Adventist backgrounds, 08:04 but we just do not have the sponsorships. 08:08 Child Impact has been a part of Lakpahana 08:10 for a number of years, 08:11 mainly through its sponsorship program. 08:14 Presently, over 90 students are sponsored by Child Impact, 08:17 thus playing an important role 08:19 in the development of Lakpahana. 08:21 If you haven't been in mission field 08:24 in a third world country, 08:26 economics are so different than they are in the United States. 08:29 And the sponsorship of a student is just... 08:33 I mean, I don't even know 08:34 how to describe how important it is. 08:36 It's just, it's our life blood. 08:39 How are you? Welcome back. 08:41 Good to see you again. 08:42 How are you? 08:44 Pastor Brooke Sadler is a retired 08:46 school administrator from Tennessee, 08:48 who served as principal of Lakpahana in the 1970s. 08:52 I was comfortably in retirement in Northeast Tennessee, 08:56 enjoying sitting on the couch, looking at the mountains. 08:59 And I kept getting emails 09:03 that the school here needed some help. 09:07 And so I actually came over on a visit 09:09 and looked at it and realized, yes, it did need help. 09:14 I went home with no intention of coming back. 09:18 And then people started talking to me, and said, 09:22 "Why don't you go back?" 09:24 And I said, "I'm 71 years old, should I be a principal again?" 09:29 And so anyway, make a long story short, 09:32 my wife and I prayed about it. 09:33 We came back, and I'm principal, 09:35 and we've been here 10 months, 09:37 and the Lord has blessed immensely, 09:39 and we'll be here 09:41 as long as the Lord wants us to be. 09:43 Now we were able to get his service 09:46 back here in Lakpahana. 09:49 Although he's now retired, 09:51 but still he has very graciously volunteered 09:54 to come and serve Lakpahana 09:57 and try to do his best to revive Lakpahana 10:00 and bring it to what it was during that golden era. 10:06 Good to see you again. 10:08 Since pastor Sadler's return, 10:10 Lakpahana has undertaken the path to steady growth 10:14 but the going hasn't been easy. 10:16 There were all kinds of areas of need, 10:19 the physical plant, the classrooms. 10:23 But Asian Aid USA has helped us 10:26 with some funding, others have helped us, 10:29 and we're making huge progress 10:31 in bringing this school back to what it really should be. 10:34 And we're just so proud to be able to assist 10:38 with the redevelopment of Lakpahana 10:42 but also to sponsor children there. 10:45 But our key role at the moment 10:47 is assisting in the development of the school. 10:50 This is the only 10:52 Adventist college or institution in Sri Lanka 10:57 that is developing children 10:59 for college degree and college work. 11:03 So it has a very important role to fulfill on this country. 11:08 One of the great things about 11:09 being part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide 11:12 is the support that it helps you. 11:14 And it makes a huge difference 11:15 when individuals and organizations 11:18 from around the world 11:19 give support to us here at Lakpahana. 11:22 Child Impact International 11:24 has been a huge part of this support system at Lakpahana. 11:27 The school under the leadership of Pastor Brooke Sadler 11:30 has taken a proactive approach in relying less on sponsorship 11:34 and providing a recovering source of income 11:36 for the school by reviving and redeveloping 11:39 some of its industries. 11:40 This is our dairy 11:42 in which we have nine cows and three calves, two females. 11:47 We want to expand this very much. 11:49 We use the milk for the cafeteria, 11:51 we sell milk, 11:52 and we're starting to make curd. 11:54 If we make curd out of the milk, 11:56 we make more money, so more income. 11:58 So we want this, again, 11:59 as an income source for the school 12:01 but we also... 12:02 This is where the students work, 12:04 we don't have any help other than students, all the milking, 12:07 everything is taken care of by the students. 12:09 They come morning and evening and milk 12:11 and take care all of it. 12:12 They're a great bunch of kids. 12:17 The poultry has been restarted since I came back. 12:19 We have about 600 chickens laying chickens 12:23 and we get about 558. 12:25 We use it to increase the nutrition at the school 12:28 so that children get eggs more often. 12:30 We also use it for bakery products 12:32 and we sell for income for the school. 12:35 And we hope to increase the number of cows and chickens 12:40 but this is a very important part of what we're doing. 12:41 And again our student labor, it's all done by students. 12:45 Boys who are standing behind you are waiting to go to work. 12:54 The clinic has also become operational now, 12:57 although small it is adequate 12:59 to meet the needs of the students. 13:03 We didn't have a functional clinic before. 13:06 After Pastor Sadler came back, we have started this clinic. 13:10 So now we have facility 13:12 to treat minor ailments and wounds. 13:15 This clinic is a great help 13:17 for children and the staff here. 13:19 A clinic in a campus is essential 13:21 for a large boarding school like Lakpahana. 13:23 For if a child gets a small cut, 13:26 they have to almost get that treated immediately 13:28 or it's gets infected, 13:29 but they are also blessed to have Lakeside 13:31 Adventist Hospital about 15 miles away. 13:34 So when a child needs extra attention, 13:36 they are sent to Lakeside. 13:38 There are also plans to collaborate 13:40 with Lakeside Adventist Hospital 13:41 to start a vocational nursing program at Lakpahana 13:44 so that the school can also provided 13:46 Adventist nurses in the hospital systems 13:48 here in Sri Lanka. 13:54 The school also has a large farm area. 13:56 And with the help of student labor, 13:58 fresh vegetables are cultivated 13:59 to meet the needs of the kitchen. 14:01 Work program is an integral part of hostel life. 14:04 In Adventist institutions throughout South Asia 14:07 and in Lakpahana, 14:08 students actively take part in its upkeeping 14:11 and are encouraged to participate 14:13 and help in the various industries 14:14 inside the campus. 14:16 This not only helps 14:17 lead a disciplined life in the campus 14:19 but it helps them acquire skills needed 14:21 for work in the future. 14:24 When we come back, we look at how a key industry in Lakpahana 14:27 was revived since Pastor Sadler's return. 14:30 And meet Sachikala and Shaan, 14:32 and witness how Child Impact's sponsorship 14:35 is helping them overcome a tragic past. 14:43 I just got a letter 14:44 from our sponsor daughter Sheila. 14:46 I've got to tell you, 14:47 there is nothing like getting one of these letters. 14:50 Our family has been able to sponsor her through 14:52 Child Impact International. 14:54 And because of that, 14:55 she's got a great place to live, 14:56 she's got good food, she's got great clothing. 14:59 Best of all, 15:01 I now found out she's in college, 15:03 she's in nursing school. 15:04 There's nothing like getting a letter like this. 15:08 You need to start getting these letters too. 15:10 Listen, through Child Impact, 15:11 you can make a huge difference in the life of a child. 15:15 And I promise you, 15:16 it's going to make a huge difference 15:18 in your life too. 15:29 At Adventist mission schools like this one on Bangladesh, 15:33 Child Impact International sponsors hundreds of children. 15:37 We often think that sponsorship 15:39 only impacts on the life of the child 15:42 but it's much wider than that. 15:44 It impacts on the parents and on the community. 15:47 But more important, it impacts on the school. 15:51 It becomes valuable income for this school, 15:54 and then in turn, 15:55 it impacts on hundreds of other the children. 15:57 I just asked that you would consider 16:00 sponsoring a child with Child Impact 16:02 or supporting one of its valuable projects 16:05 that will improve education and Adventist mission schools 16:09 like this one right here. 16:42 Lakpahana Adventist College and Seminary 16:45 is the only Adventist institution 16:47 in Sri Lanka for higher studies. 16:49 Since its inception in 1923, 16:51 it has served a wonderful variety of students 16:54 from many cultures and religions 16:56 represented in Sri Lanka. 17:01 In a comfortable rural setting, 17:03 the college and seminary provides 17:05 both a quality Adventist education program 17:07 and vocational training 17:09 to prepare the students for life after school. 17:12 Pastor Brooke saddler is the principal of the school. 17:15 Since his return from retirement, 17:17 the school has witnessed a revival. 17:22 One of the key industries that has been revived 17:25 since Pastor Sadler's return is the bakery. 17:28 We started this bakery project from last December. 17:32 Before that we have product only for the cafeteria 17:35 to deliver the breads for the students, 17:37 but now we have good demand outside. 17:40 Per day we were making 120 loaves 17:43 before the project starts. 17:44 After the project starts 17:46 we will start to make 300 breads per day. 17:48 And we don't have any vehicle facilities 17:50 before to deliver things outside 17:52 but now we have a new vehicle to deliver outside. 17:56 So we are making some profit for the school. 18:04 A large institution 18:05 like Lakpahana Adventist College and Seminary 18:08 draws attention from all quarters, 18:10 and if it has to maintain 18:11 its standards and build on its reputation, 18:14 it has to have basic facilities 18:16 to attract a large number of paying students. 18:19 Let me start with the need about telling 18:20 my second day here. 18:22 I was sitting in my office 18:23 and I heard these horrible scraping sounds, 18:26 and I discovered that the students 18:29 came the first period they captured a chair 18:32 and took it with him the rest of the day 18:34 because we didn't have enough chairs 18:35 and even 70% of those were broken. 18:38 And the limitations right now for us 18:43 are sponsorships number one, 18:48 and desks and chairs for the classrooms, 18:53 beds and mattresses for the hostels or dormitories, 18:58 those are really the critical needs. 18:59 We have the classroom space. 19:01 We really have the teaching staff, 19:04 some of our classes are small, 19:05 but we just don't have really the basics. 19:09 Every provision made 19:10 and every development envisioned at Lakpahana 19:13 is student-centric. 19:14 There is no question when we invest in a child 19:17 whether it is through sponsorship 19:18 or investing in facilities, 19:20 we endow them with the ability to go through life 19:23 with more than just an education. 19:37 Today is a special day at Lakpahana. 19:39 We are fortunate to witness their Annual Prefect day. 19:43 The chief guest Asanka Weerathunga 19:46 is a naval officer in the Sri Lankan Navy. 19:49 As a person called Asanka Weerathunga 19:53 was designed by this. 19:56 So now I'm proud 20:00 I came here. 20:03 Something like a mother gave a birth to a child, 20:09 Lakpahana gave birth to me. 20:13 Asanka is a former student of Lakpahana. 20:16 Born into an Adventist family, he was a sponsored student. 20:21 There's no question that we change lives, 20:25 and sponsorships change lives 20:27 because these young people come, 20:29 they come from so many different varying backgrounds. 20:32 We just had a special day called a Prefect Day, 20:34 which doesn't mean much in the US, 20:36 but it's where we have student leaders, 20:39 and we had a ceremony for the day and blessing. 20:42 And the chief guest is... 20:44 We have chief guest here is a former student here, 20:47 and he's a naval officer. 20:49 And he will tell you, 20:51 "You know, I came here and I was one person. 20:54 I left I was someone else 20:56 and I've been in the Navy 15 years 20:58 and this has given me a life change." 21:02 Former Students like Asanka 21:04 are living Testaments of the role Lakpahana 21:07 has played in their lives 21:08 and bear witness to the impact sponsorship 21:10 can have on a child's future. 21:13 And we really have a family atmosphere here 21:16 that is wonderful for the kids 21:18 and gives them an opportunity 21:20 to really find Christ 21:22 and to put purpose in their life, 21:25 and that's something that we really, really work hard. 21:30 Sachikala Nishadi 21:32 is a tenth grade student at the school. 21:34 She and her brother Shaan 21:36 come from a village next to Lakpahana. 21:38 Their father is a daily laborer 21:40 working in a small restaurant as a cleaner. 21:44 I'm a daily laborer and I work as a cleaner in a restaurant. 21:49 I go to work at eight in the morning 21:51 and come back late night. 21:53 I get a small amount doing that job, 21:55 and I had difficult time taking care of my children. 21:58 That's why I agreed to send my children to Lakpahana. 22:14 Although hesitant at first, 22:16 Sachikala confided to us 22:18 when asked about the whereabouts of her mother. 22:20 Her mother had set fire to herself 22:22 and died a few years ago. 22:24 And the memory of that fateful day 22:26 is still fresh in her mind. 22:31 When my son was six years old 22:33 and my daughter, nine years old, 22:35 my wife set herself on fire and I went to intervene, 22:39 and I got burned and I fainted. 22:42 And I was admitted to the hospital. 22:45 When I regained consciousness, 22:47 I learnt my wife had passed away. 22:51 Confronted with this unexpected personal tragedy 22:54 and the burden of caring for his young children, 22:56 Sujith Suranga was hoping for a miracle. 23:09 Every Sabbath we came here and then I met this family. 23:15 I saw this little boy, I don't know... 23:18 My heart got touched in. 23:21 I thought I should take him to Lakpahana. 23:24 Then I asked father 23:25 you like to put the children there? 23:27 "I'm waiting", he said, 23:29 "I'm waiting to put them in Lakpahana." 23:33 Moureen de France Kitty's corner 23:34 in charge of Lakpahana 23:36 was moved by the predicament of this family, 23:39 and informed the school administration 23:40 about the children. 23:42 Although not from an Adventist background 23:44 Sachikala and Shaan 23:45 were immediately brought to Lakpahana 23:47 and enrolled with Child Impact's sponsorship program. 23:54 I like to study here because the school 23:56 has a good name in the community. 23:58 All the teachers are friendly and I have good friends here. 24:01 I'm very happy to be here with my brother. 24:06 The real joy is to give people the opportunity 24:10 to see a different future. 24:14 And by seeing it, they can create a future, 24:17 and they don't have to be trapped by their past. 24:21 That is so, so exciting. 24:26 Sachikala and Shaan today are in a place 24:28 where they can overcome their tragic past 24:31 and look forward to a long future 24:32 that lies ahead of them. 24:37 I want to study hard and complete my education. 24:41 And I wish to be a teacher, 24:43 and my brother wants to be an engineer. 24:47 God will bless those who are sponsoring my children. 24:50 I don't know who they are, 24:52 but they're doing a selfless thing, 24:54 and I pray to God that He will bless them 24:56 for what they are doing. 24:59 Today, Child Impact sponsorship program 25:02 is spreading the light of hope to children in Sri Lanka 25:05 and education is transforming their lives. 25:07 This transformation is not just to give them an education 25:10 but give them an opportunity to make a choice for eternity. 25:14 An Adventist institution like Lakpahana 25:16 is giving them that opportunity to make that choice 25:20 and provides them a chance to make a difference 25:22 in the church and the community. 25:24 Lakpahana, of course, as the light of Lanka, 25:27 and it was designed to educate students, 25:32 children for service. 25:34 And I wish 25:35 that it will continue to function in that manner, 25:38 and it will educate our students, our children 25:41 to serve in Sri Lanka. |
Revised 2018-05-17