Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000110A
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00:10 Our television series,
00:12 Hope in Motion 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. 00:46 Child Impact International is an organization giving hope, 00:50 previously called Asian Aid. 00:52 Child Impact International is an organization 00:55 fostering permanent positive change 00:57 in the lives of disadvantaged children 00:59 and their communities. 01:01 Child Impact is committed to making a difference 01:03 in the lives of children, and those who are in need, 01:06 serving communities in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, 01:09 Sri Lanka, Myanmar, 01:11 and will soon expand to other countries. 01:14 For the last 50 years, Child Impact has invested 01:17 in the futures of people, 01:18 and their investment has proven infinite returns. 01:21 Driven by the dedication 01:22 to helping those who have the least, 01:24 Child Impact is an organization 01:26 focused on the welfare of children, 01:29 implementing diverse development projects, 01:31 and sponsoring thousands of children. 01:33 Their outreach spans from child rescue operations 01:36 to providing an education for orphans, deaf 01:39 and the blind children, 01:41 giving them a sense of place, a home. 01:43 But above all, Child Impact is an organization giving hope. 01:47 Giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 01:51 giving hope to the ones who need it the most. 01:53 This is Hope in Motion. 02:33 I always remember my first day in India, 02:36 here I was thousands of miles away from home 02:38 walking into a slum, 02:40 in the middle of Vishakhapatnam. 02:42 Anxiously as showed into its narrow alley 02:44 is my colleague Shauna and I 02:46 were led to a non-descript building. 02:48 A community school project run by Asian Aid, 02:51 situated right in the middle of the slum. 02:56 This trip was a chance for Shauna and me 02:58 to experience firsthand how Asian Aid's projects 03:01 and its sponsorship program are having a positive impact 03:04 on the underprivileged children in India and Myanmar. 03:08 For me, the impact was very evident here in the slum, 03:11 as I saw bright bubbly children sitting in their classrooms. 03:15 Even though learning conditions were not 03:16 what I was used to seeing, 03:18 these children were being given an opportunity 03:20 to get an education in a very unlikely place. 03:23 This school is an oasis 03:25 in the midst of extreme hardship. 03:30 Asian Aid involvement is very important 03:31 here in this slum area. 03:33 The children need education. 03:36 There previously no school here. 03:39 All children are working for the shops 03:41 as a daily laborers and the child laborers. 03:43 After Asian Aid started this school, 03:45 all the children are going to the school, 03:47 getting very good education, and getting good food, 03:51 and the parents are happy, community is happy, 03:55 children are so happy 03:57 and enjoying their daily activities. 04:00 Talking to Naomi, the headmistress, 04:02 I was able to better understand 04:04 how important this school is to the children 04:06 who live in the slum, and how Asian Aid sponsors 04:09 and well wishers are making a difference 04:11 in the lives of children like Kavya. 04:17 That's nice. 04:18 This is Kavya, 04:20 she's in the second standard here 04:22 in this school here that Asian Aid is providing. 04:24 She is one of the students at the school 04:27 who does not have a sponsor, 04:29 but because of the people who provide money 04:31 for the un-sponsored children, 04:33 she's able to attend the school. 04:35 Her father collects coal alongside the train track 04:38 that runs right past the school, 04:41 her mother sweeps the grounds and the roads, 04:43 but neither of these jobs are permanent. 04:45 They don't bring in money at all hardly. 04:48 And sometimes the families who are in the area 04:51 have to provide food for them. 04:53 But because of Asian Aid, because of your support, 04:56 she gets fed here at school, she gets an education, 04:59 and she's going to be able to go on to become something 05:03 more than what her parents have done with themselves. 05:07 Just like you would want 05:08 something better for your children, 05:09 they want something better for their children too. 05:12 And Asian Aid helps that to happen. 05:14 And the community is very happy 05:16 to have this school in their midst. 05:18 So thank you for being a part of Asian Aid, 05:21 and helping Kavya come to school here. 05:27 The heat and humidity were stifling, 05:29 but meeting these lovely children 05:31 and the staff of the slum school energized me. 05:34 And I was looking forward to more experiences 05:36 as we headed toward Bobbili. 05:53 I've always wanted to ride on one of these. 05:55 We're in Bobbili. 05:56 And Bobbili holds a special place in our hearts 05:59 because our school for the blind 06:00 and Sunrise children's home are located here. 06:04 Through our work these two very important institutions 06:07 are demonstrating God's love to the people in this... 06:10 In Bobbili and the surrounding area. 06:13 Here we are witnessing for the Lord in heaven 06:15 and mighty impact on the lives of people, 06:18 especially the children. 06:21 The Asian Aid School for the blind 06:23 is a beautiful campus surrounded by paddy fields, 06:25 just outside Bobbili town. 06:28 This special need school cares 06:29 for the visually challenged children 06:31 through specially designed programs 06:32 that not only provides them with an education 06:35 but also helps a blind child build self-esteem 06:38 and gives them hope for a future. 06:40 In the society where physical disability 06:42 is considered a curse, 06:44 the school for the blind 06:45 plays an important role in dispersing 06:47 these unfortunate notions in the community. 06:53 It's type of, you know, cultural thing that 06:56 if my child go outside, people will point out, 06:59 "See, this man was cursed by God. 07:01 That's the reason this boy was, 07:02 you know, born with blindness or this girl was born blind." 07:07 So that's how they hide things. 07:10 So they don't let their children 07:11 to have education or anything, you know. 07:15 So this school plays a key role 07:19 in motivating such kind of parents. 07:22 And tell them that this is not correct, 07:24 this is not the correct way of thinking. 07:26 You send your child to our school, 07:28 and we will teach them how differently abled they are. 07:33 And we tell them that they can learn 07:35 and they can be competitive along with the normal children. 07:39 So we teach them everything. 07:42 The Asian Aid School for the blind in Bobbili 07:44 is very important on a number of levels 07:47 for Asian Aid and the community. 07:49 First of all, the children that come to our school are 07:52 from very, very, poor villages. 07:55 Quite often these children are rejected by society. 07:59 Quite often the parents are in a real dilemma, 08:02 what to do with their child? 08:04 Sometimes they hide their child. 08:05 Sometimes they lock their child away. 08:08 So first of all, 08:10 it gives the parents huge satisfaction 08:13 and a sense of worth that their child can go to school. 08:17 Secondly, it gives the child an education 08:20 that they would have never had. 08:22 And thirdly, it gives them chance for work, 08:26 and it gives them self-worth. 08:28 And I might say, family feel very proud. 08:34 As I was given a tour of the campus, I met Poliah. 08:37 Poliah is a tenth grade student. 08:39 And like the majority of the students at the school, 08:41 he was born blind. 08:44 My parents are working as farmers. 08:50 When I was born my mother passed away. 08:59 I had a grandmother. 09:01 She used to take care of me 09:03 and my father used to go to farm and work. 09:07 And after few years he married again, 09:14 I have a one step-mother. 09:21 Poliah comes from a small village about 09:23 one hour's drive from the school. 09:25 Having already lost their first born son at childbirth, 09:28 Poliah parents are looking forward 09:29 to the birth of their second son. 09:53 Before Poliah's father and his family can recover 09:55 from the shock of him being born blind, 09:57 his mother died within a few days. 09:59 The responsibility of caring for him 10:01 fell on his grandmother. 10:03 But while he was still young, 10:04 his grandmother too passed away. 10:07 Poliah's father remarried just so he would have 10:09 somebody to take care of his son 10:11 while he was away working in the fields. 10:13 Taking care of a blind child for a farmer's family 10:15 can be a big burden. 10:17 Even though they love their son in spite of his disability, 10:20 they cannot always provide for special needs. 10:23 Fortunately for Poliah, 10:25 a headmaster of the local village school 10:27 informed Poliah's family about 10:28 Asian Aid school for the blind in Bobbili, 10:31 and convinced them to take him to the school. 10:34 Thanks to Asian Aid sponsorship program, 10:36 Poliah now aims to complete his education, 10:38 and become an employee of the Indian Railways. 10:44 We want to study because we are blind 10:49 and we want to stay like a sighted person. 10:55 We want to be like them 10:59 and we want to achieve something in our lives. 11:05 So you've had a tremendous story, 11:08 I have really enjoyed listening to your experience. 11:14 Meeting Poliah has been a tremendous blessing to me, 11:18 and I'm looking so forward to hearing more about him 11:22 as time, as the years go by, 11:24 and I'm especially looking forward to the day 11:28 when I can meet him in heaven, 11:31 and we can talk, and he can tell me, 11:33 and we can meet together with his sponsor, 11:36 and we can tell each other the stories 11:39 of how God has worked in his life. 11:42 And we can see everything come together, 11:45 and Poliah can hold hands with his sponsor, 11:49 and we can make it... 11:52 It will be an amazing day 11:55 when we're all together in heaven. 11:58 The Bible tells us that one day we'll meet in heaven, 12:00 and I'm looking forward to that day 12:02 when Poliah will be made perfect, 12:07 and will be able to spend eternity with Our Father. 12:11 Poliah, you are perfect as you are. 12:14 You may not be able to see as I can see, 12:18 but you can see better than I can see 12:19 because you have abilities that I don't have. 12:24 Your vision is better than my vision in different ways. 12:31 And I'm just so looking forward to learning from you, 12:35 and I think that we can all learn from each other, 12:37 and know that we all have different abilities. 12:41 Poliah is not disabled, he's differently abled. 12:46 And that's what makes you unique 12:48 and special in the eyes of God. 13:19 The next day, we drove through mountainous terrain 13:21 to the town of Jajpur, 13:23 where lies Immanuel English medium school, 13:25 an Asian Aid supported school in the state of Odisha. 13:29 The school as I was told is situated in a tribal region, 13:32 and the children that attend this boarding school 13:34 are from these poor tribal areas. 13:37 Thanks to sponsorship, these children 13:39 from Adventists and non Adventist backgrounds 13:42 have the opportunity to attend a school like this 13:44 and receive quality education. 13:46 And for someone like Ruth attending school here 13:49 has had a personal impact on her life. 13:52 She has learned much more than 13:53 what is taught in the classroom. 13:54 Are you ready for this? I have... 13:56 I learned about the Moses. 13:58 Again, in 10th class, I learned about true Sabbath day, again, 14:04 how we will prove that true Sabbath day, 14:06 Saturday is the true Sabbath day. 14:10 Again, I learn about crucifixion, 14:12 my tears roll down. 14:16 Again, I told my father that one about the crucifixion, 14:20 and I told to my grandmother also. 14:23 She was non Christian. 14:25 After I told, she accepted as a personal savior, 14:29 my grandmother. 14:34 It's amazing what you're doing, when you sponsor Ruth, 14:38 you're not just sponsoring for her education, 14:41 you're providing evangelism, true evangelism. 14:46 Ruth, I think it's just amazing what you were able to go home 14:49 and share this message with your father 14:51 and your friends as well. 14:53 I'm just looking forward to the day 14:55 to be able to hear more about you, 14:57 and to see you when you become a nurse, 14:59 and maybe I'll be hurt someday, 15:01 and you can be my nurse and my doctors. 15:04 And I would be proud and to know that 15:06 Asian Aid had a part with this, 15:08 and that I could really have a part to help you 15:12 learn about Christ, and to learn to be evangelists, 15:17 as you went home and did that with your family. 15:21 Ruth and her friends, Anjali and Mimi 15:24 consider a privilege to live and attend school here. 15:29 For someone like Ruth, sponsorship is very important. 15:34 Without sponsorship she would not be privileged 15:38 to study over here. 15:40 And it is because of this sponsorship 15:42 that she could complete her studies 15:48 she is going to complete this year. 15:51 And after that, she is planning for a bright career ahead. 15:56 Without sponsorship she would have remained in her village, 15:59 and by now she would be married, 16:02 and she might be settled like any other child in this area. 16:08 So the education here has made a difference, 16:11 and she is hoping for a bright future 16:13 because of sponsorship. 16:16 The girl's hostel. Okay. 16:18 The center is the dining hall and kitchen. 16:20 Okay. 16:21 And staff quarters around there. 16:23 Okay. Wow! 16:26 Mr. Panda is the principal here, 16:28 and he told me that it was a beautiful sight 16:30 to climb up on this hill 16:32 and look over this beautiful school, 16:34 the beautiful buildings. 16:36 But what good is a beautiful campus without students? 16:40 Over 900 students come to school here 16:43 because of the sponsor who makes it possible. 16:46 Earlier today, I talked with Ruth. 16:49 And Ruth told me her story how she is learned about 16:52 Christ coming to school here. 16:54 She went home and told her father 16:56 in this area which is very much 16:58 a very orthodox Hindu area. 17:02 Her father has begun to accept Christ, 17:05 and it changed the family dynamics. 17:08 Not just education is happening here 17:10 but evangelism as well. 17:12 This beautiful campus, these wonderful students 17:15 because of the sponsor. 17:18 This is just an amazing, amazing campus. 17:23 Asian Aid is proud to be associated with you here, 17:29 and we're so proud to have sponsors 17:31 help us make this happen for you. 17:35 This is just a wonderful campus. 17:37 I love it. 17:42 This has been a very emotional journey for me so far. 17:45 We've only been in India for a few days, 17:48 yet I'm already seeing changes in the lives of young people, 17:51 children that is. 17:53 I could see all the movies, I could read all the articles 17:56 but nothing prepared me for what I would feel inside 17:59 when I touch the hands of the children, 18:01 when I looked into their eyes 18:03 and saw the hope that's been given to them. 18:05 It just really made me realize how important Asian Aid is, 18:09 and how important you are to our ministry. 18:12 It makes me even more excited 18:13 when I think we're traveling to Myanmar, 18:15 and I'm going to see more projects, 18:17 and see more young people, more children 18:19 that I can look into their eyes, 18:21 and feel their hands and say, "We've made a difference." 18:30 A couple of years ago, my daughters and I 18:32 had a wonderful opportunity to travel to India. 18:36 And while we were there, 18:37 we met yet another part of our family. 18:39 That's our sponsor daughter Sheela. 18:41 We've had the privilege of sponsoring Sheela 18:44 through Child Impact International 18:45 for more than three years now. 18:48 And you know, while we were there 18:49 she shared with us 18:51 that her dream was to become a nurse. 18:54 Now, it's a wonderful privilege for us as a family to know the 18:58 she is fulfilling that dream. 19:01 Sheela is now studying to be a nurse. 19:03 She's in college, 19:05 and we could not be happier for her. 19:07 It's been wonderful to be part of that journey with her. 19:10 And, you know, sponsoring a child through Child Impact, 19:14 it's made an incredible difference for our family, 19:17 and I know that for you, sponsoring a child 19:19 can make a difference for you too. 19:21 But most importantly, it can make the difference 19:24 in the life of a child every day. 19:36 At Adventist mission schools like this one in Bangladesh, 19:39 Child Impact International sponsors hundreds of children. 19:43 We often think that sponsorship 19:45 only impacts on the life of the child, 19:48 but it's much wider than that. 19:50 It impacts on the parents, and on the community, 19:53 but more important, it impacts on the school. 19:57 It becomes valuable income for the school, 20:00 and then in turn, 20:01 it impacts on hundreds of other children. 20:04 I just ask that you would consider 20:06 sponsoring a child with Child Impact, 20:08 or supporting one of its valuable projects 20:11 that will improve education 20:13 and Adventist mission schools like this one right here. 20:54 Our journey took us to our next destination, Myanmar. 20:58 On a balmy Sabbath morning 21:00 we reached Myanmar Union Adventist seminary, 21:03 the only Adventist College in all of Myanmar. 21:06 How fortunate we are to belong to the family of God. 21:10 Here I am thousands of miles away from home 21:12 and yet I'm not a stranger. 21:14 Across the street from the colleges 21:16 and Adventist Academy, 21:17 and I was privileged to be part of the Sabbath services 21:20 with the children and the staff at the school. 21:33 We're in Myanmar now. 21:34 At Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary, 21:36 actually just across the street at one of its feeder schools, 21:39 where we've just completed worshipping, 21:42 even though on this beautiful Sabbath day, 21:44 I'm thousands of miles from home, 21:46 I felt that I was always part of a family of God. 21:49 The spirituality here is fantastic. 21:52 Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary 21:53 is the only Adventist College 21:55 in the entire country of Myanmar. 21:57 The students here are, will be preachers, 21:59 they'll be teachers, 22:01 and they'll be business people going out into Myanmar 22:03 spreading the gospel that they're learning here. 22:06 I'm so proud to be part of Asian Aid, 22:08 and I'm sure you are as well to know that 22:10 your sponsorship dollars are not just educating 22:13 but they are evangelizing, 22:15 and they are teaching the future leaders 22:16 of the Adventist Church. 22:18 These are the future of the entire Adventist church 22:21 is learning here at this one and only college 22:24 of the Adventist church in Myanmar. 22:33 Back at the college, I met Tin Tin, 22:35 and I've learned how attending college here 22:37 has had a profound impact on her life 22:39 and that of her family. 22:41 Her story reminded me of Ruth, back in India. 22:45 What is that you want to become? 22:47 I want to become a teacher. Okay. 22:51 I'm here with Tin Tin. 22:53 And she's been telling me her story. 22:55 She wants to become a teacher. 22:57 She wants to go back to her very poor environment, 23:01 where she's come from, 23:02 and teach the children not only to read, 23:04 and to write, and to do arithmetic, 23:07 but she also wants to teach them 23:09 the love of Christ that she's come to know. 23:12 The sponsorship program at Asian Aid 23:14 has enabled her to get an education, 23:17 and she wants to use that education to teach others. 23:20 The ripple effect has gone on, 23:22 it's beyond what you've given to her, 23:24 it's beyond what she's learned. 23:26 It's now going forward. 23:27 It's not just education, it's evangelism. 23:38 Meeting Tin Tin, and learning how attending 23:41 Adventist schools and colleges 23:43 bring these young girls and boys 23:44 closer to God was uplifting. 23:46 And as we move to our next destination, 23:48 it emphasized the important role 23:50 that Asian Aid and its sponsorship program 23:53 are playing in the mission 23:54 of the Adventist Church in Myanmar. 24:14 This is the farthest I've come so far. 24:16 We're in the central region of Myanmar now 24:19 at Mountain View Academy. 24:21 This afternoon I was able to tour 24:22 the grounds of the principal, 24:24 and he showed me the dormitories, 24:25 and the classrooms where the students learn. 24:28 All this is made possible because of donations. 24:30 Donations given by donors just like you. 24:34 But what really brought a smile to my face 24:36 was when I saw the students interacting with each other, 24:39 I saw them playing and laughing, 24:41 and it just brought joy to my heart, 24:43 realizing this is far more than a school, 24:46 this is their home. 25:14 Someone who has made this school her home is Mishar. 25:17 Mishar comes from a remote village 25:19 which is about a two day bus ride from the school. 25:22 Both her parents have gone through second marriages, 25:25 and they are uneducated. 25:27 They live a simple life tending to their small patch of land. 25:30 Mishar came to the school three years ago, 25:32 and has not gone home for the annual holidays, 25:35 and her parents have not come to see her either. 25:40 And your friends are kind 25:42 and you have good teachers here? 25:45 Yes. It's nice. 25:49 As a father, Mishar's story just astounds me, 25:52 and makes my heart ache when I think of all 25:55 that I've been able to learn about her. 25:58 She's 13 years old, she's in the fourth grade, 26:01 and she's not been home in over three years, why? 26:04 Because it cost $100 to travel two days to her home 26:08 where she came from. 26:11 A $100, and she could be able to see her family, 26:15 and her father, and her mother, but she's not able to go home. 26:19 Mishar is just one of 20 or so students at this school 26:23 who are not able to go home. 26:25 It just really breaks my heart to think that, 26:29 she's getting a great education, 26:30 that's a great thing, but the idea that 26:32 she's not able to go home, 26:34 and her parents are not able to see her. 26:37 As a father that just... 26:40 This just really tugs at my heart. 26:42 Really makes me long for my children, 26:46 and I see them all the time. 26:47 I can only imagine, I can only imagine 26:50 what her parents are going through 26:51 with her here away from home. 26:55 Although her story touched me deeply, 26:57 I took joy in the fact that I found her happy. 26:59 I'm hopeful this is a temporary separation from her family. 27:02 I'm hopeful she'll grow up to be a strong woman. 27:05 And with her sponsor's continued support, 27:07 I'm hopeful she'll have a bright future. 27:10 After all isn't this what sponsorship is all about? 27:17 What a trip this has been, a whirlwind trip. 27:20 I came to India and Myanmar, looking to see examples 27:23 of some of the hope that Asia Aid is bringing 27:26 to the children in this region. 27:28 But what I saw was far more than hope. 27:30 I saw lives being transformed, lives being transformed 27:34 by the people living right here, people who work 27:37 with these children on a daily basis, 27:40 with the children, with the abandoned, 27:42 with the orphans, with the truly needy, 27:45 these people are the real missionaries 27:47 in this real life mission field. 27:50 But what really touched my heart 27:51 was when I was able to visit 27:53 with some of the Asian Aid's sponsored children 27:56 to shake their hands, to sit with them, 27:58 and listen to their stories. 28:00 There was Poliah at the blind school, 28:02 and Ruth in Jajpur, 28:04 and Mishar who so far away from home 28:07 at Mountain View Academy. 28:09 I'm so proud to be a part of Asian Aid, 28:12 bringing smiles to these children, 28:14 bringing hope to them, working together 28:17 with sponsors like you, we can bring more smiles, 28:21 and more hope to these children as we work with them. |
Revised 2017-12-24