Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000151A
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00:21 Children are our future.
00:24 They're full of dreams and desires. 00:27 But in a world of unspeakable despair 00:29 these ignited minds live in poverty and privation, 00:32 helpless, and hopeless. 00:37 Child Impact International is an organization giving hope. 00:41 It is an organization fostering permanent positive change 00:45 in the lives of disadvantaged children 00:47 and those who are in need. 00:49 Serving communities in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, 00:54 Myanmar, and beyond. 00:56 For the last 15 years, 00:58 Child Impact has invested in the futures of children, 01:01 and their investment has proven infinite returns, 01:04 driven by their dedication to helping those 01:07 who have the least. 01:08 Child Impact is an organization focused 01:11 on the welfare of children. 01:13 Implementing diverse development projects 01:15 and sponsoring thousands of children. 01:18 Their outreach expands from child rescue operations 01:21 to providing an education for orphans, deaf, 01:24 and the blind children, 01:26 giving them a sense of place, a home. 01:30 But above all, 01:31 Child Impact is an organization giving hope, 01:34 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 01:39 giving hope to the ones who needed the most. 01:46 This is Hope in Motion. 02:15 Welcome to Myanmar. 02:17 Child Impact International has been sponsoring 02:19 over 600 children in Adventist schools 02:22 all across the Southeast Asian nation. 02:28 Over 95% of the population here in Myanmar practices Buddhism. 02:32 In fact, Myanmar is one of the most religious 02:35 Buddhist countries in the world. 02:37 The Seventh-day Adventist mission 02:39 was established here 115 years ago 02:41 and Adventist education has played a central role 02:44 in spreading the gospel in Myanmar. 02:49 The challenge is that a decent education 02:51 is expensive. 02:52 Most people can't afford it. 02:54 This is where an organization, like Child Impact, 02:56 has such a great impact. 02:58 They're concerned and committed 03:00 to the welfare of children in need here. 03:04 Today, we join Jim Rennie 03:05 on a visit to Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary 03:08 and see what Child Impact is doing to bring hope, 03:11 salvation, and a future to needy children in Myanmar. 03:27 Well, I'm back here in Myanmar 03:28 and I've just had a four to five hour drive here 03:31 to the seminary. 03:32 And on this trip, we really want to meet 03:34 some of the students 03:36 that you have sponsored and see the difference 03:38 that we're making in their lives. 03:40 Come and join me on this trip as we meet these students 03:43 and see the impact on their lives 03:46 which is very real. 03:47 Come with me. 03:55 Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary 03:58 or MUAS as it is commonly known 04:00 is the only Adventist institution 04:02 of higher learning in Myanmar, 04:04 and it plays a very important role 04:06 in developing young minds 04:07 who are the future torchbearers of the church. 04:10 Presently, there are 600 students 04:12 at the college taking religion, education, 04:14 and business as their fields of study. 04:16 Most of them come from financially 04:18 difficult backgrounds, 04:20 and 160 students are sponsored by Child Impact. 04:24 These young people come from all over Myanmar 04:27 and Child Impact is making it possible 04:29 for them to be able to learn 04:31 and acquire skills needed for employment. 04:34 I'm here at Myanmar Adventist College 04:36 with our group of over 160 students 04:39 that are sponsored by Child Impact International. 04:43 And just meeting with them and just talking with them, 04:46 it's so exciting to see the real difference 04:49 that sponsorship is making in their lives. 04:51 Standing behind me of the future doctors, 04:54 the future dentists, the future nurses, 04:57 teachers and pastors, 04:59 and this will impact on their lives, 05:01 this will impact on their family's lives, 05:04 but most of important 05:05 have a big impact on the church in Myanmar. 05:08 Just looking at their faces, you can see the difference 05:11 that sponsorship is making, 05:13 not only in the lives of their children 05:16 but of their families, their community, 05:18 and the church 05:19 just shows the success of sponsorship. 05:23 For us in our union 05:26 the Child Impact International sponsorship is very important 05:32 because it is among the many sponsorship programs. 05:36 It is the big guest. 05:38 It's sponsored more than 05:42 600 students in our union. 05:46 We have more need 05:50 for the sponsorship. 05:54 The Child Impact International can sponsor more students, 06:00 more students can learn and more students can be, 06:05 what to say, in one or other way, 06:10 they can help the child 06:11 when they finish their education. 06:20 Education is vital in this country. 06:22 It is important education is subsidized 06:25 so that we can create the environment 06:26 in which children have an opportunity to learn 06:29 and achieve their dreams. 06:30 And the Adventist school system 06:32 not only helps children grow mentally and socially, 06:35 but they also have an opportunity 06:36 to grow spiritually. 06:38 Well, as we all know, 06:40 Seventh-day Adventist education 06:42 was prepared and launched 06:45 through very intensive information 06:49 that God gave through Ellen White 06:51 as to how Seventh-day Adventist education 06:54 ought to be different from other places. 06:57 It was to reach the head, the hand, and the heart. 07:02 It was to help people following in Christ's ministry, 07:05 helping children, young people, physically, mentally, socially, 07:09 and spiritually, helping them to become a whole person 07:13 so they can be sent from those schools 07:16 to be wonderful testimonies for the Lord. 07:19 Seventh-day Adventist education is unique and it is powerful 07:23 because it's from heaven. 07:26 To move forward with its focus in Myanmar, 07:29 Child Impact has established the Educate Myanmar fund. 07:32 The purpose of this fund is to help sponsor children 07:35 in Adventist mission schools here in Myanmar 07:37 and help with resources 07:39 and other needs such as classrooms. 07:42 The college has many needs. 07:43 And Child Impact also addressed 07:45 another important issue of congestion 07:47 in the dorms and other infrastructural needs. 07:50 Currently, it is helping the college in finishing 07:52 the building of classrooms for theology students. 08:07 Conn, it's quite exciting to see 08:09 what is happening in this building. 08:10 Yes. 08:11 I'm here with Dr. Connally who is the president 08:14 of the Myanmar Adventist Union College. 08:17 And in talking with him, I can now see 08:19 how important that the theology 08:22 and religious training is 08:24 from the Myanmar Adventist Union College. 08:27 It's the only source of Bible workers 08:30 and pastors for the country of Myanmar. 08:33 And so Child Impact International 08:35 is real excited 08:37 that with the help of our sponsors, 08:39 we can sponsor Bible students 08:41 and theology students but also, if possible, 08:45 we can help with the finishing 08:47 of this new theology department building. 08:51 So let's go in the dorm. 08:58 So how many boys you think there are in the college? 09:02 Only boys in the building. 09:10 The Educate Myanmar fund is fully committed 09:12 to helping Adventist schools in Myanmar. 09:15 But more importantly, it is committed to help 09:17 and give young boys and girls, from difficult backgrounds, 09:20 an opportunity to receive an education 09:23 through sponsorship. 09:25 I'm here in the boy's dormitory at Myanmar Adventist Seminary. 09:30 It's a large room 09:31 with over 20 boys sleeping on the floor 09:34 which to us is a little strange but in fact, culturally, 09:38 this is how they probably live at home, 09:40 in their village, house, and they sleep on the floor. 09:44 I'm here with Sanga who is an inspiring story 09:48 from the sponsorship. 09:50 He comes from a very large family 09:52 of seven siblings 09:54 and he is the only one getting an education. 09:58 His father is a farmer, a poor farmer 10:01 and the rest are at home working in the field. 10:04 Sanga at an early age was given the chance to go 10:07 to an Adventist school 10:09 and he's been through the high school, 10:12 and now he's at the seminary 10:14 doing the religious studies and theology course. 10:17 And we're real proud of his achievements today. 10:21 Just to show the pressure for finance 10:24 and how poor his family is, in those three years, 10:27 Sanga's only been home twice 10:30 because he has to do a job on the holidays, 10:33 he has to work just to cover the rest of his overhead costs 10:38 and getting through college, and he's really got a dream. 10:43 And, Sanga, tell us about your dream, 10:45 what do you want to achieve? 10:50 I want to be a good pastor, 10:52 so I'm taking here religion major. 10:55 Right, so Sanga wants to go on to do his MA in theology, 11:00 and he wants to be a pastor, 11:02 and he wants to be a successful pastor. 11:05 And once again, that's really exciting 11:07 and we want to support Sanga as he goes ahead. 11:11 And it really shows you how sponsorship, 11:13 through the different facets of education, 11:16 is now turning this young man into a real success story 11:21 and we're so proud of what he has achieved. 11:25 Sanga is one such story of how sponsorship 11:29 is having an impact on the lives of these students 11:33 but also on their families and their communities. 11:36 And as I travel around, 11:38 it's just so exciting to be able 11:40 to meet these students. 11:41 And shortly, I'll introduce you to two young ladies. 11:45 One, who is doing a business major 11:47 and wants to have her own business, 11:49 and it just shows the impact that sponsorship 11:53 is having beyond the education. 11:55 It's giving their families hope, 11:57 it's giving their communities hope, 11:59 and it's having an impact totally on these 12:02 Adventist mission schools and seminaries. 12:05 I'm so proud of the work that I see sponsorship is doing 12:09 and I want to thank you for your support. 12:15 A couple of years ago, 12:17 my daughters and I had a wonderful opportunity 12:19 to travel to India. 12:21 And while we were there, 12:22 we met yet another part of our family 12:24 and that's our sponsored daughter, Sheila. 12:27 We had the privilege of sponsoring Sheila 12:30 through Child Impact International 12:32 for more than three years now. 12:34 And, you know, while we were there, 12:36 she shared with us that her dream 12:38 was to become a nurse. 12:40 Now, what a wonderful privilege it is for us, 12:43 now as a family, to know 12:46 that she is fulfilling that dream. 12:49 Sheila is now studying to be a nurse. 12:51 She's in college and we could not be happier for her. 12:55 It's been wonderful to be part of that journey with her. 12:58 And, you know, sponsoring a child through Child Impact, 13:02 it's made an incredible difference for our family. 13:05 And I know that for you, sponsoring a child 13:07 can make a difference for you too. 13:09 And most importantly, it can make the difference 13:11 in a life of a child every day. 13:24 I'm Jim Rennie, 13:25 CEO of Child Impact International. 13:28 I've just returned from the country of Bangladesh. 13:31 Bangladesh is located north east of India. 13:34 Bangladesh has a population of 163 million 13:38 and is actually one of the most densely 13:41 populated countries in the world. 13:43 For instance, Los Angeles has 2,700 people 13:49 per square kilometer 13:51 but the capital Dhaka has 23,900 people 13:57 per square kilometer. 13:59 The Adventist church only has about 30,000 members 14:02 but the church school system has about 10,000 children 14:07 in small village schools 14:09 and also larger boarding schools. 14:12 The main religion is Islam and the education 14:15 is the key outreach for the church. 14:17 Bangladesh is low-lying land on a huge area of river delta. 14:22 Late last year, Bangladesh suffered 14:25 the worst flooding in its history 14:27 with over eight million people displaced or affected. 14:31 Thousands died in the floods. 14:34 Unfortunately, farming was devastated by the flooding 14:37 which caused food prices to skyrocket in price 14:41 and created food shortages. 14:43 In most of the country, prices still remain high. 14:47 This has put a huge financial strain 14:49 on our mission school finances. 14:52 Children are not getting sufficient nutrition 14:54 and the mission schools 14:56 are really struggling financially. 14:58 As I visited the schools, they asked for help. 15:02 I also visited the villages where the children 15:05 live in the poor areas 15:06 and they are really struggling also. 15:09 As I saw the reality of what was happening, 15:12 I realized we just had to help. 15:14 We don't normally do food appeals 15:16 but we have no option but to help these children 15:19 and also the mission schools. 15:22 We are asking you to help us purchase 5,000 bags of rice 15:26 for $35 a bag. 15:28 A bag is about a 110 pound and feeds about a 105 meals. 15:34 Each bag you can donate 15:36 will ensure the children are fed, 15:38 but will also save the school's valuable funds. 15:42 You can donate 1 bag, 10 bags, a 100 bags, 15:46 whatever you can share. 15:48 Each bag will impact on hundreds 15:50 of children's nutrition and will give urgent 15:53 financial relief to those struggling mission schools, 15:57 some who are close to closing. 15:59 It's urgent, please help. 16:02 Just one bag for $35 16:04 or maybe 5 or 10 bags, 50 bags, 16:08 whatever you can help with, please help these kids. 16:26 Wonderful, so wonderful 16:30 Is your unfailing love 16:35 Your cross has spoken mercy over me 16:38 In mission fields like Myanmar, 16:40 our Adventist schools are a wonderful place 16:42 for us to introduce Jesus 16:43 to the children at a very early age. 16:46 But a good Christian education is not easy to get, 16:48 particularly, in rural areas 16:50 where obtaining a good education 16:52 is not within reach of a majority 16:54 of Adventist families. 16:56 Poverty is a vicious cycle and in Myanmar, 16:59 it is very visible. 17:00 The great thing about education 17:02 is that it breaks that cycle of poverty. 17:04 This is why sponsorship, in a country like Myanmar, 17:07 is very significant for not only the child 17:10 but also for their families. 17:16 Well, I'm right here in a village that's very close 17:18 to the seminary and college that we've been visiting. 17:22 And I guess it's here that we see the reality 17:25 of where these families come from, 17:27 where the students come from, 17:29 and I guess it really emphasizes 17:32 the difference that sponsorship is making in the lives 17:35 of these students, these children. 17:37 They simply wouldn't have had a chance. 17:40 And as you can see, even now, 17:42 there's children here that aren't at school. 17:46 It's very touching to visit these places, 17:49 and yet their parents are so proud 17:51 and so thankful that their students 17:53 are able to get an education through your giving 17:56 and your support of these special children. 18:01 There are many young people 18:05 that just do not have the opportunity 18:07 but they have a lot of potential 18:09 to be discovered and developed. 18:13 For me, that without somebody helping me, 18:16 like my aunt provided me opportunity to study, 18:19 I will not be having this opportunity 18:21 serving the church. 18:23 Likewise, there are many young people 18:24 that they has the potential. 18:26 And then I'm so thankful to God, 18:28 and to each of our leaders, 18:30 and the donor of the Child Impact. 18:33 And I'm really thankful to God for what we are doing, 18:37 the passion and the mission 18:38 that you have for this young people, 18:41 and then the reward that you will be getting 18:44 that is in the heaven. 18:45 You will never realize 18:47 the support that you have given, 18:49 opportunity that you have given to the young people 18:53 that will really contribute to the work of the church, 18:56 in the community life and in the country like 18:58 in Myanmar and Bangladesh. 19:01 Sponsoring a child not only has short-term effects 19:06 but it has a long-term effect. 19:09 Sponsoring a child is investing 19:11 in the character of a young person for eternity. 19:15 We're taping this right here in Myanmar, 19:18 at the Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary, 19:21 and about one-third of the students 19:24 or one quarter of the students 19:26 are being sponsored by Child Impact. 19:29 People who become workers in God's church, 19:33 people who make an impact in the community 19:36 have been people who have been sponsored. 19:39 Your sponsorship is, absolutely, an investment 19:43 in the future of the church. 20:09 Mu Hsan Hgee or Mumu, as she likes to be called, 20:12 is a final year business student at MUAS. 20:15 Her mother passed away when she and her siblings 20:18 were very young. 20:19 Her father remarried but found it hard 20:21 to care for the children. 20:22 He came to know about the Adventist school, 20:25 which is right across the street from the college, 20:27 through a church pastor. 20:28 Mumu and all her younger siblings 20:30 are now sponsored by Child Impact. 20:34 Well, just before the break I told you that 20:36 we would be sharing the stories 20:37 of two young ladies here in Myanmar. 20:40 And I'm just so excited today to be with Mumu, 20:44 and she is doing business studies 20:47 here at the seminary and she's in her last year. 20:52 And she comes 20:54 from a very tough family situation 20:57 where she has five siblings. 21:00 Sadly, her mother passed away and her father has remarried. 21:05 And she is just so excited that she has been able 21:09 to be a Child Impact sponsored child. 21:12 And her dream is that she will, 21:15 when she completes her studies this year, 21:18 get some work experience in a business 21:21 or a NGO and then she wants to start her own business. 21:26 She really feels 21:28 that she can have her own business. 21:30 So once she has completed the course and then once 21:33 she has had some work experience, 21:37 she wants to start her own business. 21:39 Now she's told me that she likes cooking 21:43 and playing the piano, 21:44 so maybe she'll end up in a cooking business 21:47 or a food business, I don't know. 21:49 But this is just one of the ways 21:52 that sponsorship is having an impact. 21:55 And here it is, this is not teaching, 21:57 this is not ministry, 21:59 this is in the business studies area 22:01 and it's just so exciting to see a young lady 22:04 that has taken up this direction with her career. 22:08 And, Mumu, we really wish you well 22:10 in your business studies 22:12 and we wish you well in finding a job 22:16 but then we know that you, one day, 22:18 will be a very successful business lady 22:21 with your own business. 22:23 And it just shows you the different directions 22:26 that sponsorship can lead to, and we're so proud of Mumu 22:30 and what she has achieved so far. 22:36 Mumu shares her room with many other 22:37 Child Impact sponsored girls, like her friend Papa. 22:41 Like the boy's dorm, 22:42 the girl's dorm is filled to capacity. 22:44 Visiting the girl's dorm, it is very evident. 22:47 The boarding facilities lack 22:48 the conducive living environment. 22:50 But students like Papa consider living 22:52 and studying here a privilege and want to make the best 22:55 out of this given privilege. 23:01 Papa, your sponsors are really happy. 23:07 Well, I'm here in the library 23:08 at Myanmar Adventist Union Seminary 23:12 and I'm really excited to be with Papa today. 23:15 Papa is in her final year of education studies 23:19 to become a teacher. 23:21 And Papa has been a Child Impact sponsored 23:24 all the way through her education 23:28 up until where she is now. 23:30 Now Papa comes from Central Myanmar 23:33 which is obviously north of here 23:35 and comes from a very poor, large family 23:39 and, in fact, she has 11 siblings. 23:41 Now sadly, her father passed away 23:44 and now her mother struggles to bring this family up. 23:48 But the exciting thing is that sponsorship has given Papa 23:52 and her family an opportunity for her to have a career. 23:57 Papa, tell me about what you would like to do 24:01 when you leave this seminary? 24:04 After I finish, I want to be a teacher 24:07 at Mountain View Academy. 24:09 Right, so Papa wants to be a teacher 24:13 at the Mountain View Academy, 24:15 which is a key school for the church located 24:18 in the Central Myanmar near where she comes from. 24:22 And this is going to make a big difference in her life 24:26 and in the lives of other children. 24:28 And I just want to say to you sponsors 24:31 that if you look Papa in the face, 24:33 if you can see the difference in her life, 24:36 her family are a Buddhist family 24:38 and she has been introduced to Jesus 24:40 and she has accepted Jesus as her savior. 24:45 And also, you can see the inspiration 24:49 that this family has, the inspiration 24:51 that she has to be a teacher 24:54 and make a difference in the lives of children. 24:57 And this is what sponsorship is about, 24:59 it's giving the families hope 25:01 but it's inspiring her to be a teacher 25:04 and to impact in the lives of other children. 25:10 Talking to the children at the college, 25:12 Jim learned the role Child Impact 25:15 and more importantly, 25:16 individual sponsors are playing in the lives 25:19 of these students that come 25:20 from such impoverished backgrounds. 25:23 Child Impact is having a very strong impact 25:28 on many of the students. 25:29 It's an amazing opportunity in these mission schools 25:33 to touch the lives of young people, 25:37 not just for their professional lives 25:39 in the future but eternally. 25:43 Child Impact is an organization that wants to make 25:45 a significant contribution in the lives of needy children. 25:49 Today, Child Impact is making it possible 25:52 to give them that opportunity 25:54 to not just receive an education 25:56 but, as Pastor Wilson said, 25:58 an opportunity for eternal life. 26:02 Well, as you've seen in meeting these three young students, 26:05 you've actually got to see the impact 26:07 that you are having on their lives. 26:10 They come from very difficult family backgrounds 26:12 and you have given them the opportunity for education. 26:16 And you can also see the impact that will have on their future. 26:20 I just want to thank you 26:21 for the difference that you have made. |
Revised 2018-06-28