I'm sitting in one
of the classrooms here
00:00:13.94\00:00:15.41
on the Southeast
Adventist Seminary in Myanmar.
00:00:15.44\00:00:18.68
Child Impact International
00:00:18.71\00:00:20.45
has chosen this as
one of the locations
00:00:20.48\00:00:22.42
where they have
sponsored more than 600 children
00:00:22.45\00:00:25.39
across Southeast Asia.
00:00:25.42\00:00:27.26
Ninety-five percent of
this country is Buddhist.
00:00:27.29\00:00:29.66
That makes it very difficult
for the gospel to be shared
00:00:29.69\00:00:32.59
among people that do
not know the name Jesus
00:00:32.63\00:00:35.06
or have chosen
through cultural reasons
00:00:35.10\00:00:37.47
to not understand who Jesus is.
00:00:37.50\00:00:39.47
But the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:00:39.50\00:00:40.84
has been established
here more than 115 years ago,
00:00:40.87\00:00:43.77
yet there is a
tremendous challenge.
00:00:43.81\00:00:45.47
How do you get the
gospel out to those individuals
00:00:45.51\00:00:48.58
who have been influenced
by quite a different religion?
00:00:48.61\00:00:51.65
This is where Child
Impact International
00:00:51.68\00:00:53.28
has come aboard.
00:00:53.31\00:00:54.65
And so you're
going to join me today
00:00:54.68\00:00:56.02
as we see the
difference that this ministry
00:00:56.05\00:00:58.25
has made in carrying the
gospel among the Koren people
00:00:58.29\00:01:01.89
and throughout Southeast Asia.
00:01:01.92\00:01:03.99
Children are our future.
00:01:16.81\00:01:19.57
They're full of
dreams and desires,
00:01:19.61\00:01:22.34
but in the world of
unspeakable despair,
00:01:22.38\00:01:24.58
these ignited minds live
in poverty and pervasion,
00:01:24.61\00:01:27.65
helpless and hopeless.
00:01:27.68\00:01:29.18
Child Impact International
is an organization giving hope.
00:01:32.89\00:01:36.69
It is an organization
00:01:36.73\00:01:38.06
fostering
permanent positive change
00:01:38.09\00:01:40.10
in the lives of
disadvantaged children
00:01:40.13\00:01:42.26
and those who are in need.
00:01:42.30\00:01:44.67
Serving communities in India,
Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,
00:01:44.70\00:01:49.37
Myanmar, and beyond.
00:01:49.40\00:01:51.87
For the last 15 years,
00:01:51.91\00:01:53.81
Child Impact has invested
in the futures of children,
00:01:53.84\00:01:56.88
and their investment
has proven infinite returns.
00:01:56.91\00:01:59.91
Driven by their dedication
00:01:59.95\00:02:01.42
to helping those
who have the least,
00:02:01.45\00:02:03.95
Child Impact is an
organization focused
00:02:03.99\00:02:06.15
on the welfare of children.
00:02:06.19\00:02:08.46
Implementing
diverse development projects
00:02:08.49\00:02:10.86
and sponsoring
thousands of children.
00:02:10.89\00:02:14.00
Their outreach spans
from child rescue operations
00:02:14.03\00:02:16.90
to providing an
education for orphans, deaf,
00:02:16.93\00:02:19.70
and the blind children,
00:02:19.73\00:02:21.80
giving them a
sense of place, a home.
00:02:21.84\00:02:25.31
But above all,
00:02:25.34\00:02:26.68
Child Impact is an
organization giving hope,
00:02:26.71\00:02:29.61
giving hope to children,
00:02:29.64\00:02:31.58
giving hope to communities,
00:02:31.61\00:02:34.05
giving hope to the
ones who need it the most.
00:02:34.08\00:02:36.85
This is Hope in Motion.
00:02:41.72\00:02:43.83
Child Impact
International is an organization
00:03:13.52\00:03:16.29
that is committed
to making a difference
00:03:16.32\00:03:17.93
in the lives of needy children
00:03:17.96\00:03:19.59
by providing
them with an education
00:03:19.63\00:03:21.43
through its sponsorship program.
00:03:21.46\00:03:23.87
Child Impact is an organization
00:03:23.90\00:03:25.47
that believes in fostering
permanent positive change
00:03:25.50\00:03:28.34
in the lives of
children and their communities,
00:03:28.37\00:03:30.51
and a primary way of
bringing about this change
00:03:30.54\00:03:32.81
is through education.
00:03:32.84\00:03:34.18
Child Impact has
been active in Myanmar
00:03:37.81\00:03:39.88
for the last few years,
00:03:39.91\00:03:41.48
sponsoring over 600 students
00:03:41.52\00:03:43.25
through its
Educate Myanmar Fund,
00:03:43.28\00:03:45.12
helping poor children
from various backgrounds
00:03:45.15\00:03:47.56
attend
Adventist mission schools.
00:03:47.59\00:03:50.06
In mission fields like Myanmar,
00:03:50.09\00:03:51.76
Child Impact Sponsorship Program
00:03:51.79\00:03:53.80
not only helps fund
children's education
00:03:53.83\00:03:56.20
but has a bigger role
00:03:56.23\00:03:57.57
in supporting the
mission of the church.
00:03:57.60\00:03:58.93
My wife Angela and I
have had an opportunity
00:04:19.55\00:04:22.02
to travel to many mission fields
00:04:22.06\00:04:23.53
around the world
in many countries
00:04:23.56\00:04:25.53
to see how the church works.
00:04:25.56\00:04:27.10
But we have
never been to Myanmar.
00:04:27.13\00:04:29.10
So when Jim Rennie
invited us to come to Myanmar,
00:04:29.13\00:04:31.73
we were very excited
to begin to see a country
00:04:31.77\00:04:34.54
that, up until that point,
was a great mystery to us.
00:04:34.57\00:04:38.07
Myanmar formally known as Burma
is located in Southeast Asia.
00:04:38.11\00:04:42.74
It borders China, India,
Bangladesh, Laos, and Thailand.
00:04:42.78\00:04:47.35
And for that reason,
00:04:47.38\00:04:48.72
it has absorbed many
other cultural impacts,
00:04:48.75\00:04:51.25
both religiously and socially.
00:04:51.29\00:04:53.46
For many years, it
was ruled colonially,
00:04:53.49\00:04:56.02
and then military
rule, but now civilian rule.
00:04:56.06\00:05:00.60
It has opened the
doors to the outside world,
00:05:00.63\00:05:02.93
and Myanmar is now free,
and friendly, and peaceful.
00:05:02.96\00:05:07.50
And, friends,
that's very good news
00:05:07.54\00:05:09.37
for the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:05:09.40\00:05:11.11
and for Child
Impact International.
00:05:11.14\00:05:13.61
Pastor John
Lomacang and his wife Angela
00:05:22.22\00:05:24.99
are longtime supporters
of Child Impact's work.
00:05:25.02\00:05:27.79
And today, they are
traveling with Jim Rennie
00:05:27.82\00:05:29.62
to the Mountain View
Academy in Central Myanmar.
00:05:29.66\00:05:31.89
It's Monday morning here
at Mountain View Academy.
00:06:01.79\00:06:03.83
You know what's exciting?
00:06:03.86\00:06:05.19
The day begins with worship.
00:06:05.23\00:06:08.03
As I was walking
and I was listening
00:06:08.06\00:06:09.60
to the young boys and girls
00:06:09.63\00:06:10.97
singing to the
top of their voices
00:06:11.00\00:06:13.64
to the glory of God,
00:06:13.67\00:06:15.20
they were
smiling, they were excited,
00:06:15.24\00:06:17.47
they look so
wonderful in their uniforms,
00:06:17.51\00:06:20.08
and I was so excited
to be able to be here
00:06:20.11\00:06:22.08
and begin the day with them.
00:06:22.11\00:06:23.85
What a difference it makes
00:06:23.88\00:06:25.65
when you begin
your day with Jesus.
00:06:25.68\00:06:27.92
So I'm going to
join them for worship now
00:06:27.95\00:06:30.05
and have the same blessing
that God is preparing for them.
00:06:30.09\00:06:34.82
Their visit begins promisingly
as they attend morning worship
00:06:34.86\00:06:37.79
with the children,
00:06:37.83\00:06:39.16
but their main
objective in visiting the school
00:06:39.19\00:06:41.10
was to see for
themselves the impact
00:06:41.13\00:06:43.23
sponsorship is having
on underprivileged children
00:06:43.26\00:06:45.70
in Myanmar.
00:06:45.73\00:06:47.70
For Pastor Lomacang and Angela,
00:06:47.74\00:06:49.74
this impact was very evident
00:06:49.77\00:06:51.57
as they were
taken around the campus.
00:06:51.61\00:06:53.74
They saw bright,
00:06:53.78\00:06:55.11
bubbly children
sitting in their classrooms,
00:06:55.14\00:06:57.15
even though
learning conditions were not
00:06:57.18\00:06:58.81
what they were used to seeing.
00:06:58.85\00:07:00.38
These children were
being given an opportunity
00:07:00.42\00:07:02.42
to get an education
in a very unlikely place.
00:07:02.45\00:07:05.49
This school is an oasis
00:07:05.52\00:07:07.02
in the midst of
extreme hardship.
00:07:07.06\00:07:10.53
One thing that moved
me coming to this school
00:07:10.56\00:07:12.73
here in Myanmar is the children.
00:07:12.76\00:07:15.46
I love children and
I love to see children
00:07:15.50\00:07:19.53
that are content and happy.
00:07:19.57\00:07:21.44
And the children
here at this school
00:07:21.47\00:07:22.94
seem to be content and happy,
00:07:22.97\00:07:25.34
and it gives me such joy to
see the smiles on their faces,
00:07:25.37\00:07:29.58
the peace of
God in their hearts.
00:07:29.61\00:07:31.88
So I just praise
God for being here,
00:07:31.91\00:07:33.82
for giving me the
opportunity to be here,
00:07:33.85\00:07:36.89
to be with Child
Impact International
00:07:36.92\00:07:39.15
and for the work that
they're doing worldwide.
00:07:39.19\00:07:44.26
Myanmar is a poor
country where families struggle
00:07:44.29\00:07:46.80
to provide for their children.
00:07:46.83\00:07:48.36
In a world where they
strive to make ends meet,
00:07:48.40\00:07:50.67
sending their children to school
00:07:50.70\00:07:52.03
becomes very difficult.
00:07:52.07\00:07:53.90
But all parents want
the best for their children
00:07:53.94\00:07:56.07
and they do view education
as a catalyst for change.
00:07:56.10\00:07:59.34
This is where organizations
like Child Impact step in
00:07:59.37\00:08:02.31
to make it possible
for hundreds of children
00:08:02.34\00:08:04.51
like Esther to attend school
00:08:04.55\00:08:06.48
and receive a quality education.
00:08:06.51\00:08:08.72
Thank you so much.
00:08:08.75\00:08:10.89
Here I am standing
with a wonderful family
00:08:10.92\00:08:13.05
Ethita, whose name
in English means Esther,
00:08:13.09\00:08:16.59
her siblings, her
mom and her dad, Santu,
00:08:16.62\00:08:19.93
a wonderful family reaching
out in their own way as layman
00:08:19.96\00:08:24.53
in this community sharing Jesus.
00:08:24.57\00:08:26.94
But the challenges are great
because Santu is the only one
00:08:26.97\00:08:30.17
bringing in
income into this family,
00:08:30.21\00:08:32.01
and sponsoring their children
00:08:32.04\00:08:33.84
in the endeavors
of Christian education
00:08:33.88\00:08:36.04
is a wonderful but
a challenging thing.
00:08:36.08\00:08:38.75
The Mom is not as
well as she'd like to be.
00:08:38.78\00:08:41.32
So how can that possibility,
how can that challenge be met?
00:08:41.35\00:08:45.19
Here's where you come in.
00:08:45.22\00:08:47.06
With your prayers and
your financial support
00:08:47.09\00:08:48.79
of Child Impact International,
these lives can be sponsored,
00:08:48.82\00:08:52.36
not just for
education, but for eternity.
00:08:52.39\00:08:56.06
I want to invite Chin to come in
00:08:56.10\00:08:57.50
and answer some questions for me
00:08:57.53\00:08:59.90
because she understands
the language very well.
00:08:59.93\00:09:01.27
Chin, come stand
with me right here.
00:09:01.30\00:09:02.90
Okay, sir.
Appreciate it so much.
00:09:02.94\00:09:04.71
I want to ask the father,
00:09:04.74\00:09:06.88
how is it possible,
00:09:06.91\00:09:08.24
how are you providing
the needs for the family?
00:09:08.28\00:09:10.08
He works for part-time
and do some constructions
00:09:18.99\00:09:21.72
and do the farming.
00:09:21.76\00:09:23.16
Okay, he works part-time
in construction and farming.
00:09:23.19\00:09:26.90
And how difficult is it for him
on a monthly basis financially?
00:09:26.93\00:09:30.83
They have to be very good
00:09:40.71\00:09:46.58
in managing the money
00:09:46.61\00:09:47.95
and also use very little amounts
00:09:47.98\00:09:50.29
for the family as
well, so it's very hard.
00:09:50.32\00:09:52.79
It's not enough always.
00:09:52.82\00:09:54.16
Not enough always.
00:09:54.19\00:09:55.52
Not enough
always, very difficult,
00:09:55.56\00:09:56.89
very challenging to make
the ends meet for this family.
00:09:56.93\00:10:00.13
A lot of prayer...
00:10:00.16\00:10:01.80
A lot of prayer,
00:10:01.83\00:10:03.16
putting their lives
in the Lord's hands,
00:10:03.20\00:10:04.53
and so far he has
sustained them wonderfully.
00:10:04.57\00:10:07.57
But what you can do
will make amazing differences
00:10:07.60\00:10:10.84
in the lives of
all these children.
00:10:10.87\00:10:12.61
I'm sure that Santu
and his wife will really,
00:10:12.64\00:10:15.04
deeply appreciate that.
00:10:15.08\00:10:16.41
So thank you for reaching out.
00:10:16.44\00:10:18.41
And in your prayers
and your financial support,
00:10:18.45\00:10:20.78
changing and transforming
lives for this family.
00:10:20.82\00:10:23.59
Esther is
studying in the third grade
00:10:29.86\00:10:31.39
at the school.
00:10:31.43\00:10:32.76
And along with her siblings,
00:10:32.79\00:10:34.13
she embodies to dreams,
00:10:34.16\00:10:35.73
promises, and the possibilities
00:10:35.76\00:10:37.77
of what good
education can provide.
00:10:37.80\00:10:40.20
Even though her parents
struggle to educate them,
00:10:40.24\00:10:42.57
they are steadfast in the belief
00:10:42.60\00:10:44.27
that educating their
children is the only way out
00:10:44.31\00:10:47.08
and do their
part to support them.
00:10:47.11\00:10:48.81
Mountain View Academy
00:11:04.56\00:11:05.89
has about 360
students enrolled at present
00:11:05.93\00:11:08.36
and Child Impact
sponsors 60 students.
00:11:08.40\00:11:11.63
There is always a
need for sponsorship
00:11:11.67\00:11:13.34
in schools such as this
00:11:13.37\00:11:14.70
which were mainly established
00:11:14.74\00:11:16.07
to cater to the needs
of lay members' children.
00:11:16.10\00:11:18.64
But these schools also
have other pressing needs.
00:11:18.67\00:11:21.04
And for
organizations like Child Impact,
00:11:21.08\00:11:22.94
it becomes a
challenge to strike a balance
00:11:22.98\00:11:24.98
between providing
education to the children
00:11:25.01\00:11:27.18
and helping fund
infrastructural needs
00:11:27.22\00:11:29.38
at the school.
00:11:29.42\00:11:31.09
As I visit Myanmar,
00:11:31.12\00:11:32.75
I can see that
some people have done
00:11:32.79\00:11:34.86
some amazing work here.
00:11:34.89\00:11:36.96
There's been some large
donors who have stepped forward
00:11:36.99\00:11:40.06
and invested in infrastructure.
00:11:40.10\00:11:42.56
And now we have a
golden opportunity
00:11:42.60\00:11:45.63
to use this infrastructure,
00:11:45.67\00:11:47.70
and sponsorship is a key way
00:11:47.74\00:11:50.07
that we can
ensure that children come
00:11:50.11\00:11:52.64
from the
non-Adventists religions
00:11:52.67\00:11:54.94
and from communities,
00:11:54.98\00:11:56.51
and their lives are
impacted by the resources
00:11:56.54\00:11:59.65
that we do have here.
00:11:59.68\00:12:01.02
These resources
that were envisioned
00:12:05.05\00:12:06.72
by church leaders and
generous donors years ago
00:12:06.76\00:12:09.49
continue to be a
blessing to hundreds of children
00:12:09.52\00:12:11.83
that pass through its gates.
00:12:11.86\00:12:13.56
It is indeed a
golden opportunity for us
00:12:13.60\00:12:15.76
to ensure that it continues
to benefit needy children
00:12:15.80\00:12:18.37
and their
families in this region.
00:12:18.40\00:12:20.14
Sponsorship is a
key way to make certain
00:12:20.17\00:12:22.37
that these
facilities are not neglected
00:12:22.40\00:12:24.34
and fall into disrepair.
00:12:24.37\00:12:26.44
For Esther's
friend, Thine Siet Shey,
00:12:26.47\00:12:28.98
Mountain View
Academy has been her home
00:12:29.01\00:12:30.75
since she was
brought to the school
00:12:30.78\00:12:32.11
when she was just a child.
00:12:32.15\00:12:33.58
Her parents live far away
and have never come to see her.
00:12:33.62\00:12:36.92
Today, Child Impact sponsorship
00:12:36.95\00:12:38.89
has not just given her
a place to live and learn
00:12:38.92\00:12:41.42
but it's given
her a chance to know
00:12:41.46\00:12:43.09
and accept Jesus as her savior.
00:12:43.12\00:12:45.03
Friends, here I am sitting down
with Esther's friend, Thine,
00:12:48.10\00:12:52.27
who's been on this
campus for five years.
00:12:52.30\00:12:55.10
She's been here
since kindergarten,
00:12:55.14\00:12:57.21
and now she's in
the second grade.
00:12:57.24\00:12:59.07
What an amazing story.
00:12:59.11\00:13:00.44
One of our local pastors
became aware of her story
00:13:00.48\00:13:02.91
and her family's plight
00:13:02.94\00:13:04.61
and then he
brought her to this campus.
00:13:04.65\00:13:06.15
That's where she's
been, now in the second grade.
00:13:06.18\00:13:09.25
Not only is she
in the second grade,
00:13:09.28\00:13:10.62
all that time,
00:13:10.65\00:13:11.99
she's not been
able to see her family.
00:13:12.02\00:13:14.09
But her life has been
transformed and changed.
00:13:14.12\00:13:16.16
And the smile that you see today
00:13:16.19\00:13:19.06
is because she's
not only been here
00:13:19.09\00:13:20.60
but she's been baptized,
00:13:20.63\00:13:21.96
she's been able to meet
Jesus as her personal Savior.
00:13:22.00\00:13:25.17
And the difference has been
because of what you've done,
00:13:25.20\00:13:27.34
her life is being
transformed and changed.
00:13:27.37\00:13:29.67
Her world is not
what it used to be.
00:13:29.70\00:13:31.77
Her world is
expanding and growing.
00:13:31.81\00:13:33.74
And the donations may seem small
00:13:33.78\00:13:35.58
but the impact to her life
00:13:35.61\00:13:37.58
is something you'll never
be able to measure in this life
00:13:37.61\00:13:40.62
but maybe in eternity.
00:13:40.65\00:13:42.82
So thank you for all that you do
00:13:42.85\00:13:44.19
for Child Impact International
00:13:44.22\00:13:46.09
and thank you for what
you do to make a difference
00:13:46.12\00:13:48.02
in the lives of young
ladies like Thine and Esther.
00:13:48.06\00:13:54.76
Ellen White says,
00:13:54.80\00:13:56.26
"True education is
the harmonious development
00:13:56.30\00:13:58.70
of the physical, the mental,
and the spiritual powers.
00:13:58.73\00:14:02.47
It prepares the student
00:14:02.50\00:14:03.84
for the joy of
service in this world
00:14:03.87\00:14:05.64
and for the higher
joy of wider service
00:14:05.67\00:14:07.74
in the world to come."
00:14:07.78\00:14:09.11
What an opportunity for us
00:14:09.14\00:14:10.71
to impact the lives
in the mission field.
00:14:10.75\00:14:13.58
Your sponsorship
is not just preparing
00:14:13.62\00:14:15.52
these precious
children for the world outside
00:14:15.55\00:14:18.02
but for the world to come.
00:14:18.05\00:14:20.32
Sponsors have a huge
role in the mission field.
00:14:20.36\00:14:23.99
What it does,
00:14:24.03\00:14:26.46
it goes a long way, sponsorship,
00:14:26.49\00:14:28.76
it helps with their books,
00:14:28.80\00:14:30.37
their education,
food, a dormitory,
00:14:30.40\00:14:33.94
but most of all, it
prepares them for eternity.
00:14:33.97\00:14:37.24
They're learning about the Jesus
00:14:37.27\00:14:38.77
they have never known at home.
00:14:38.81\00:14:41.21
But when you sponsor a child,
00:14:41.24\00:14:44.18
it is truly
preparing them for eternity.
00:14:44.21\00:14:47.28
And that's what
this is all about.
00:14:47.32\00:14:48.98
A couple of years ago,
00:14:55.29\00:14:56.62
my daughters and I had
a wonderful opportunity
00:14:56.66\00:14:59.13
to travel to India.
00:14:59.16\00:15:00.76
And while we were there,
00:15:00.80\00:15:02.13
we met yet another
part of our family,
00:15:02.16\00:15:04.23
and that's our
sponsor, daughter, Sheila.
00:15:04.27\00:15:06.84
We've had the
privilege of sponsoring Sheila
00:15:06.87\00:15:09.24
through Child
Impact International
00:15:09.27\00:15:11.57
for more than three years now.
00:15:11.61\00:15:13.84
And, you know,
while we were there,
00:15:13.88\00:15:15.68
she shared with
us that her dream
00:15:15.71\00:15:18.15
was to become a nurse.
00:15:18.18\00:15:20.18
Now what a wonderful
privilege it is for us,
00:15:20.22\00:15:23.02
now as a family,
00:15:23.05\00:15:24.79
to know that she is
fulfilling that dream.
00:15:24.82\00:15:28.09
Sheila is now
studying to be a nurse.
00:15:28.12\00:15:30.73
She's in college
00:15:30.76\00:15:32.09
and we could not
be happier for her.
00:15:32.13\00:15:34.43
It's been wonderful to be
part of that journey with her.
00:15:34.46\00:15:37.60
And, you know,
00:15:37.63\00:15:38.97
sponsoring a child
through Child Impact,
00:15:39.00\00:15:41.30
it's made an
incredible difference
00:15:41.34\00:15:42.94
for our family.
00:15:42.97\00:15:44.47
And I know that for you,
00:15:44.51\00:15:45.84
sponsoring a child can
make a difference for you too.
00:15:45.87\00:15:48.64
And most importantly,
00:15:48.68\00:15:50.05
it can make the difference
in the life of a child,
00:15:50.08\00:15:52.61
every day.
00:15:52.65\00:15:53.98
At Adventist mission schools
like this one in Bangladesh,
00:16:05.86\00:16:09.33
Child Impact International
sponsors hundreds of children.
00:16:09.36\00:16:13.07
We often think that sponsorship
00:16:13.10\00:16:15.30
only impacts on
the life of the child
00:16:15.34\00:16:18.04
but it's much wider than that.
00:16:18.07\00:16:19.87
It impacts on the
parents and on the community.
00:16:19.91\00:16:23.48
But more important,
it impacts on the school.
00:16:23.51\00:16:26.78
It becomes valuable
income for this school
00:16:26.82\00:16:29.85
and then in turn,
00:16:29.88\00:16:31.22
it impacts on
hundreds of other children.
00:16:31.25\00:16:33.66
I just asked that
you would consider
00:16:33.69\00:16:36.12
sponsoring a
child with Child Impact
00:16:36.16\00:16:38.59
or supporting one of
its valuable projects
00:16:38.63\00:16:41.33
that will improve education
and Adventist mission schools
00:16:41.36\00:16:45.23
like this one right here.
00:16:45.27\00:16:46.60
Myanmar is a big country
and one gets to realize this
00:17:03.15\00:17:06.62
only when traveling by
road from one place to another.
00:17:06.65\00:17:10.29
We left Mountain
View Academy early morning
00:17:10.33\00:17:12.43
and took a seven-hour
drive to Southern Myanmar
00:17:12.46\00:17:15.33
to the Southeast
Adventist Seminary
00:17:15.36\00:17:17.53
or Eric B. Hare School as
it is commonly referred to
00:17:17.57\00:17:20.64
by the locals and visitors.
00:17:20.67\00:17:23.10
Pastor Eric B. Hare was
an Australian missionary
00:17:23.14\00:17:26.17
who established the
Southeast Adventist Seminary
00:17:26.21\00:17:29.11
to serve the Karen people,
00:17:29.14\00:17:30.75
one of the major
tribal communities of Myanmar
00:17:30.78\00:17:33.31
more than 100 years ago.
00:17:33.35\00:17:36.32
Here, I get an opportunity today
00:17:36.35\00:17:37.85
to sit at a very important spot
00:17:37.89\00:17:40.22
on the Southeast
Adventist Seminary campus.
00:17:40.26\00:17:43.63
This spot has been
chosen to commemorate a vision,
00:17:43.66\00:17:46.76
a seed planted 102 years ago.
00:17:46.80\00:17:49.96
I'm sitting in front
of a very special memorial
00:17:50.00\00:17:52.93
to the person who
God gave this vision to.
00:17:52.97\00:17:56.57
And for the
last century or more,
00:17:56.60\00:17:58.67
lives have been transformed.
00:17:58.71\00:18:00.64
Let me share with
you what is written
00:18:00.68\00:18:02.01
on the centennial
jubilee commemoration.
00:18:02.04\00:18:05.91
It says The Centennial Jubilee
00:18:05.95\00:18:07.52
of Southeast Adventist Seminary,
00:18:07.55\00:18:09.72
Eric B. Hare
Memorial Academy, 1916-2016.
00:18:09.75\00:18:15.79
In honor of Pastor Eric B. Hare,
00:18:15.82\00:18:18.36
a devoted missionary,
among the Karen people,
00:18:18.39\00:18:22.06
a master
storyteller, a health worker,
00:18:22.10\00:18:25.37
and educator who planted
the seed of true education
00:18:25.40\00:18:29.47
in this community
00:18:29.50\00:18:30.84
and the township
of the current people
00:18:30.87\00:18:33.14
by establishing the
Southeast Adventist Seminary
00:18:33.17\00:18:36.21
in June 1916.
00:18:36.24\00:18:38.81
He lived in this
community from 1915-1934
00:18:38.85\00:18:43.72
and nurtured the
school by his presence.
00:18:43.75\00:18:47.36
What an amazing story.
00:18:47.39\00:18:49.39
The Lord chose
Pastor Eric B. Hare
00:18:49.42\00:18:51.89
102 years ago to plant
a seed in this community.
00:18:51.93\00:18:55.50
And for more than a century,
00:18:55.53\00:18:57.43
lives have been
transformed in the classrooms,
00:18:57.47\00:19:01.17
on the walkways, in the halls,
00:19:01.20\00:19:02.67
in the dormitories of
young men and young women
00:19:02.70\00:19:06.17
in whose life this
very seed of ministry
00:19:06.21\00:19:09.08
has been planted.
00:19:09.11\00:19:10.45
The Karen people
have been affected
00:19:10.48\00:19:12.01
in a beautiful way
00:19:12.05\00:19:13.45
by the messages
proclaimed from this campus.
00:19:13.48\00:19:15.95
And we're going to get a chance
today to see in a very real way
00:19:15.98\00:19:19.35
how that seed
planted is being watered
00:19:19.39\00:19:21.92
by Child Impact International
00:19:21.96\00:19:24.29
and transforming
lives not only for time
00:19:24.33\00:19:27.30
but also for eternity.
00:19:27.33\00:19:28.70
Child Impact International
00:19:33.50\00:19:34.94
considers it a
blessing and a privilege
00:19:34.97\00:19:36.87
to be supporting an
historic institution
00:19:36.91\00:19:39.34
that was
established a century ago.
00:19:39.37\00:19:41.94
Child Impact Sponsorship Program
00:19:41.98\00:19:44.01
helps this school
continue to be of service
00:19:44.05\00:19:45.91
to the children
from the community,
00:19:45.95\00:19:47.52
especially needy children
00:19:47.55\00:19:48.92
from Adventist
lay members families.
00:19:48.95\00:19:52.55
Here at the
Southeast Adventist Seminary,
00:19:52.59\00:19:54.76
there are about 500
children, of those 500 children,
00:19:54.79\00:19:59.09
Child Impact International
sponsors about 25%.
00:19:59.13\00:20:03.90
So Child Impact International
00:20:03.93\00:20:06.03
is a key part of giving
support to these students,
00:20:06.07\00:20:10.24
it's a key part of
the school's funding,
00:20:10.27\00:20:13.07
it's a key part of the
impact on the community
00:20:13.11\00:20:16.68
that this school serves.
00:20:16.71\00:20:18.28
And I'm really proud
of the support that we get
00:20:18.31\00:20:21.52
from our sponsors.
00:20:21.55\00:20:23.08
So not only child by
child we're making a difference,
00:20:23.12\00:20:26.96
but we're having a big impact
on the finance, the future,
00:20:26.99\00:20:30.89
and the
effectiveness of this school.
00:20:30.93\00:20:36.67
Child Impact's
funding is crucial
00:20:36.70\00:20:38.80
as there is an
influx of students wanting
00:20:38.83\00:20:40.57
to join the school each year.
00:20:40.60\00:20:42.94
This being a boarding school,
00:20:42.97\00:20:44.31
the steady stream of
students from Adventist
00:20:44.34\00:20:46.07
and
non-Adventist backgrounds has,
00:20:46.11\00:20:47.84
over the years,
00:20:47.88\00:20:49.21
made it difficult to
find accommodation for them.
00:20:49.24\00:20:52.68
This difficult
situation became more striking
00:20:52.71\00:20:55.28
as Pastor Lomacang and
Angela met with Khin Khin,
00:20:55.32\00:20:58.35
the girls' dean who
was overcome with emotions
00:20:58.39\00:21:01.16
as she narrated the
struggles the girls go through
00:21:01.19\00:21:03.63
in a crowded living environment.
00:21:03.66\00:21:07.36
The most important
and the urgent need
00:21:07.40\00:21:09.66
is for the girl's dormitory
00:21:09.70\00:21:13.44
because we need...
00:21:13.47\00:21:16.91
Before we have
only 160 or 170 girls,
00:21:16.94\00:21:21.44
but today we have 200 above.
00:21:21.48\00:21:25.51
So the place is
getting very crowded,
00:21:25.55\00:21:27.75
and we really need to
expand or build a new hostel
00:21:27.78\00:21:33.56
for the girls.
00:21:33.59\00:21:36.56
It is a challenge to
provide quality accommodation,
00:21:36.59\00:21:39.36
especially for the girls
00:21:39.39\00:21:40.90
but parents who really want
their children to be educated.
00:21:40.93\00:21:43.83
And this desire to give
them quality Christian education
00:21:43.87\00:21:47.00
overcomes any
temporary discomfort
00:21:47.04\00:21:49.20
their children may face
in the dorms or classrooms.
00:21:49.24\00:21:51.84
Salla Lawa
00:21:59.61\00:22:00.95
is a ninth-grade
student at the school,
00:22:00.98\00:22:02.72
and she considers it a
privilege to be studying
00:22:02.75\00:22:04.85
at the school.
00:22:04.89\00:22:06.22
She is thankful that someone
00:22:06.25\00:22:07.59
is able to
sponsor her education.
00:22:07.62\00:22:12.36
Although Salla is
a boarding student,
00:22:12.39\00:22:14.56
she visits her grandparents
who live close by the school.
00:22:14.60\00:22:17.47
She graciously
invited Pastor Lomacang
00:22:17.50\00:22:19.60
to visit her grandparents.
00:22:19.63\00:22:21.40
Her parents have
moved to Yangon for work
00:22:21.44\00:22:23.74
and so Salla visits
her grandparents every day
00:22:23.77\00:22:26.47
just to help with the
chores and look after them.
00:22:26.51\00:22:29.11
We're glad to get
a chance to meet you.
00:22:29.14\00:22:31.28
Onji, so good to be here today.
00:22:31.31\00:22:34.08
How old are you?
00:22:34.12\00:22:38.95
Ninety. Ninety years old.
00:22:38.99\00:22:41.46
And what did you do
throughout the years?
00:22:41.49\00:22:44.03
What was your occupation?
00:22:44.06\00:22:45.39
He used to be a farmer.
00:22:54.40\00:22:55.74
A farmer, in an
agricultural way?
00:22:55.77\00:22:58.47
Yes. Yes.
00:22:58.51\00:22:59.84
And now he's retired?
00:22:59.87\00:23:01.44
Yes.
00:23:01.48\00:23:02.81
See, Onji was a
farmer, but he's now retired.
00:23:02.84\00:23:05.88
He was helping planting
seeds, harvesting crops,
00:23:05.91\00:23:09.85
but now the crops
are being harvested
00:23:09.88\00:23:11.89
in a different way
00:23:11.92\00:23:13.25
through the life
of their granddaughter
00:23:13.29\00:23:15.22
Salla Lawa.
00:23:15.26\00:23:16.66
The crop of the seeds
that the gospel presented
00:23:16.69\00:23:20.10
are now coming to fruition
00:23:20.13\00:23:22.20
as we see
generation after generation.
00:23:22.23\00:23:24.63
I believe they said they
have about 10 grandchildren
00:23:24.67\00:23:27.57
and two sons,
00:23:27.60\00:23:29.07
and Salla Lawa is the product
of one of their two sons.
00:23:29.10\00:23:34.28
And I also found
out something else
00:23:34.31\00:23:36.38
that in her class of
more than 60 students,
00:23:36.41\00:23:40.78
Salla Lawa is ranking fourth,
00:23:40.82\00:23:44.02
which means she
takes her education
00:23:44.05\00:23:46.09
very, very seriously.
00:23:46.12\00:23:47.72
So you can see that
sponsorship is not something
00:23:47.76\00:23:49.89
that is received lightly
but it's received very humbly,
00:23:49.92\00:23:54.43
and the lives are being
transformed of young people
00:23:54.46\00:23:56.83
just like her,
just like her siblings,
00:23:56.87\00:23:59.77
and the impact on her family,
00:23:59.80\00:24:01.70
and then the future is something
00:24:01.74\00:24:03.07
that we can all be excited about
00:24:03.10\00:24:05.41
and thankful about.
00:24:05.44\00:24:07.08
So whenever you participate
in any kind of sponsorship
00:24:07.11\00:24:09.71
for Child Impact International,
00:24:09.74\00:24:12.01
these are the
families that you're changing,
00:24:12.05\00:24:15.08
young people like Salla Lawa,
00:24:15.12\00:24:17.12
the impact on her
grandmother and grandfather,
00:24:17.15\00:24:19.75
on their generations to come.
00:24:19.79\00:24:21.82
As he was a
farmer planting the seeds
00:24:21.86\00:24:24.76
that brought forth
crops to bless many lives,
00:24:24.79\00:24:27.33
the Lord
through your sponsorship
00:24:27.36\00:24:29.16
is planting the gospel
seed in Salla Lawa's life
00:24:29.20\00:24:32.00
through former
students like Khin Khin
00:24:32.03\00:24:34.84
who is now one of the teachers
at the Eric B. Hare Seminary.
00:24:34.87\00:24:39.84
Thank you for all you
do to make a difference.
00:24:39.87\00:24:42.71
Impacting lives not only for now
00:24:42.74\00:24:45.08
but for eternity.
00:24:45.11\00:24:46.45
Today, the
Southeast Adventist Seminary
00:25:03.93\00:25:06.74
stands as a true testament
00:25:06.77\00:25:08.40
to Pastor Eric B. Hare's vision.
00:25:08.44\00:25:10.77
This school that
was established by him
00:25:10.81\00:25:12.87
to sow the initial
seeds of true education
00:25:12.91\00:25:15.28
among the Karen people
00:25:15.31\00:25:16.85
continues to educate
and nurture young minds
00:25:16.88\00:25:19.28
for tomorrow and for eternity.
00:25:19.31\00:25:21.52
Children and their future
00:25:31.36\00:25:32.69
are very important
to my wife and to me.
00:25:32.73\00:25:35.13
Those are the things
that are close to our heart.
00:25:35.16\00:25:37.47
That's why we enjoy
00:25:37.50\00:25:38.83
traveling with Child
Impact International.
00:25:38.87\00:25:41.17
A few years ago,
00:25:41.20\00:25:42.54
they invited us to
go with them to India.
00:25:42.57\00:25:44.31
This time, we're in Myanmar.
00:25:44.34\00:25:46.14
And since we've been here,
00:25:46.17\00:25:47.51
we've seen some amazing
stories coming to fruition.
00:25:47.54\00:25:51.15
We went to Mountain View,
00:25:51.18\00:25:53.01
the academy where
we saw young children
00:25:53.05\00:25:54.95
and their teachers
working hand in hand together,
00:25:54.98\00:25:58.12
their eyes brightly
lit with hope and a future
00:25:58.15\00:26:01.62
seeing that somebody cares about
00:26:01.66\00:26:04.03
what happens with them tomorrow.
00:26:04.06\00:26:05.83
Not only is
sponsorship making a difference,
00:26:05.86\00:26:07.86
but the places
they are educated,
00:26:07.90\00:26:10.10
the places that they
live, the dormitories,
00:26:10.13\00:26:13.23
their educational supplies,
but more important than that,
00:26:13.27\00:26:16.20
the relationship that
they have with their teachers,
00:26:16.24\00:26:18.27
people that are
dedicated to their wellbeing.
00:26:18.31\00:26:21.58
Here on the Southeast
Adventist Seminary campus,
00:26:21.61\00:26:23.98
I've witnessed
the very same thing.
00:26:24.01\00:26:26.18
We've also saw a
student who was at one time
00:26:26.21\00:26:30.09
going to school here,
00:26:30.12\00:26:31.45
Khin Khin, she's now a
teacher teaching mathematics.
00:26:31.49\00:26:34.32
She's also the
dean for 219 girls.
00:26:34.36\00:26:37.56
And I spoke to her and
had a chance to find out
00:26:37.59\00:26:39.73
why she would
come back to a campus
00:26:39.76\00:26:41.56
when, in fact,
00:26:41.60\00:26:42.93
she can make more money
elsewhere around this country.
00:26:42.96\00:26:45.63
She said, "This place
has transformed my life,
00:26:45.67\00:26:48.50
and I want to give back
00:26:48.54\00:26:49.87
to transform
somebody else's life."
00:26:49.90\00:26:52.51
Your
sponsorship and your support
00:26:52.54\00:26:55.38
is where the future
is going to be secure.
00:26:55.41\00:26:58.08
So when you think about
how you can be participating
00:26:58.11\00:27:00.38
in this mission,
00:27:00.42\00:27:01.75
think of a
child here in Myanmar,
00:27:01.78\00:27:04.05
a child in India,
throughout Southeast Asia.
00:27:04.09\00:27:07.76
One day, you're going
to stand before the Lord
00:27:07.79\00:27:09.96
and I'm looking
forward to hearing the phrase,
00:27:09.99\00:27:11.59
"As much as you have
done it to the least of these
00:27:11.63\00:27:14.53
my brethren, you
have done it to Me."
00:27:14.56\00:27:16.87
So thank you,
00:27:16.90\00:27:18.30
thank you from the
bottom of our heart
00:27:18.33\00:27:20.47
for all that you do
for these children here
00:27:20.50\00:27:22.60
in Myanmar and in India.
00:27:22.64\00:27:25.01
The kingdom is going to be
a beautiful and a bright place
00:27:25.04\00:27:28.64
because the Lord has reached out
00:27:28.68\00:27:30.01
and touched your heart,
00:27:30.05\00:27:31.41
and you've responded
00:27:31.45\00:27:32.91
by touching the hearts and
lives of these young children.
00:27:32.95\00:27:35.65
What a wonderful thing to do
knowing that our Lord is near
00:27:35.68\00:27:39.19
and He's called us to stand
00:27:39.22\00:27:40.66
at this very beautiful
and challenging moment.
00:27:40.69\00:27:43.56
Child Impact International
is committed to the vision
00:27:43.59\00:27:47.10
that was started here in Myanmar
00:27:47.13\00:27:48.83
and the vision
of Southeast Asia.
00:27:48.86\00:27:51.23
Thank you for all that you do,
and may God richly bless you.
00:27:51.27\00:27:55.14