Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000703A
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00:14 Child Impact International is an organization
00:18 giving hope previously called Asian Aid. 00:21 Child Impact International 00:22 is an organization fostering permanent positive change 00:26 in the lives of disadvantaged children 00:28 and their communities. 00:29 Child impact is committed to making a difference 00:32 in the lives of children and those who are in need. 00:35 Serving communities in India, 00:36 Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, 00:40 and will soon expand to other countries. 00:42 For the last 50 years, 00:44 Child Impact has invested in the futures of people 00:47 and their investment has proven infinite returns. 00:50 Driven by the dedication to helping those 00:52 who have the least, 00:53 Child Impact is an organization 00:55 focused on the welfare of children 00:57 implementing diverse development projects 01:00 and sponsoring thousands of children. 01:02 Their outreach spans from child rescue operations 01:05 to providing an education for orphans, deaf, 01:08 and blind children giving them a sense of place, a home. 01:12 But above all, Child Impact is an organization giving hope, 01:16 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 01:19 giving hope to the ones who needed the most. 01:22 This is Hope In Motion. 01:29 Child impact is very excited 01:31 that we can partner with the church in India 01:34 with a blind school, a deaf school, 01:36 and four orphanages. 01:38 These special homes and schools are just so exciting to visit. 01:44 I had one of the most emotional moments 01:46 of my whole work career 01:49 when one day I visited the blind school 01:51 and a young girl 01:53 was just arrived at the school that morning. 01:55 They had found her in the village, 01:57 and she had been locked in the basement of the house 02:00 for over six years. 02:02 She just sat in the corner. 02:03 She wouldn't talk to anyone, she wouldn't communicate, 02:07 and she was just totally lost. 02:09 And I thought is there any hope for this child, 02:12 totally blind by the way. 02:15 Well, I went back eight weeks later, 02:17 and here she was. 02:19 I couldn't believe it, 02:20 she was talking to the other children. 02:23 She was playing. 02:24 And then in the evening 02:25 it was just so touching to see her 02:27 singing Jesus loves me. 02:30 It really was just very emotional. 02:33 And so these children in a country like India 02:37 have a larger need than here 02:39 because when they're home in their village, 02:41 they're rejected. 02:43 Their parents don't know what to do. 02:45 So supporting the blind school, the deaf school 02:48 or the orphanages is a very real way 02:52 in which you can impact the life of children 02:55 who have a huge need. 03:00 Special Needs Ministries is an area 03:03 in which we are very, 03:05 very interested in, and very proactively working, 03:08 helping the world feel to understand 03:10 that there are many people in various areas 03:13 and sectors of the population that have not been touched. 03:16 Special Needs Ministries and Child Impact 03:20 is also extremely helpful to God's church 03:23 because those who are physically impaired, 03:27 those who are visually impaired 03:29 or perhaps hearing impaired, they are the individuals 03:34 that are being wonderfully serviced 03:36 through Child Impact in India, 03:39 in other places, six different countries 03:42 that Child Impact is active in. 03:45 You know, the Lord really wants us to attract, 03:49 and to be friendly to, 03:51 and help those who are the least of these. 03:55 And they in turn will then become great missionaries 03:58 for the Lord within their sector 04:00 and people group. 04:10 Child Impact is very excited that we can sponsor children 04:15 and also support financially the blind school in India, 04:18 which is run by the Adventist church. 04:23 The Bobbili blind school was located 04:26 as it says near the town of Bobbili, 04:29 which is about a two hour drive from the main city of Vizag. 04:34 The school has just over 160 pupils, 04:37 and is located in rural India. 04:45 It's just so exciting to visit this school 04:48 because most of these children come 04:49 from very poor backgrounds and were rejected by society. 04:56 It not only brings delight to the children 04:59 but also to the parents 05:01 because the parents simply don't know what to do 05:04 when the child was born blind. 05:06 And you can see such looks of satisfaction, 05:10 such looks of happiness when they see that their child 05:14 is being educated and looked after. 05:18 Ball. Ball. 05:19 Who? Who? 05:20 Ball. Ball. 05:26 It's also a delight in the evenings to listen 05:29 to the children singing, 05:31 and on Sabbath going to Sabbath school and church. 05:34 They really love this school, 05:36 and this school has a big impact 05:38 and gives them a future for the rest of their life. 05:56 Jim welcome once again. 05:58 Last year you invited me to go to Myanmar, 06:01 and it was an eye opening experience for me. 06:04 I flew into the capital city of Yangon, 06:07 got in there late at night. 06:09 And I don't know if you remember 06:10 that very early in next morning. 06:12 Very early. Yes, it was. 06:14 We left, and we had this long trip full of bumps 06:19 on the road. 06:21 And it seemed like it went on forever, 06:22 but it was about four, four and a half hours. 06:24 And we drove to the middle of nowhere. 06:27 And we went to the Myanmar Union College. 06:30 And the things I saw have really encouraged me 06:35 in many ways. 06:36 And I want to tell the folks a little bit about it. 06:39 Myanmar is the most Buddhist country in the world, 06:42 more than 90% of the population practices Buddhism. 06:46 We passed all kinds of pagodas, which are Buddhist temples. 06:51 Elaborate ones, simple ones, we heard them singing, 06:55 we heard them chanting, 06:57 and then we finally arrived in this area 07:00 where there's a college, there's a school, 07:02 there's a preschool. 07:05 I was really moved by the interest 07:08 that the young people have in learning 07:10 about Jesus Christ. 07:12 Myanmar is a place that does not allow 07:15 or permit any kind of public evangelism. 07:19 So how do you preach the gospel? 07:21 Well, Child Impact is having a huge, 07:25 huge presence in the lives of these young people 07:29 who now not only study there, they go home, 07:33 they share the gospel with their families, 07:36 and entire families are coming to know Jesus Christ. 07:40 So if it wasn't for this outreach, 07:42 the church probably wouldn't grow like 07:44 it's growing there right now by the grace of God. 07:47 I remember the concert we did that afternoon. 07:50 I played with 15 precious beautiful young people, 07:55 all who played the violin, they were dressed in red. 07:58 We have the pictures. 07:59 We visited the classrooms. 08:01 I also remember the young lady 08:03 who had gone through the school, 08:05 the entire process, just a tiny vivacious, 08:10 bubbly young lady, full of joy, the joy of Jesus Christ. 08:15 And then the beautiful thing 08:16 was that when she finished school, 08:19 you know the story, she went back and now 08:21 she's a teacher at the preschool. 08:24 Tell me a little bit about the work. 08:26 It's only been happening there for a couple of years. 08:30 How did they get started? 08:31 How many young peoples do 08:33 we have sponsored there currently, 08:35 and what kind of need is there? 08:38 Well, Jaime, we about two and half years ago 08:41 got approached by the union, the Myanmar Union 08:45 that they had an urgent need for sponsorship. 08:50 A large organization was withdrawing support. 08:54 And it was going to have a tragic impact 08:58 not only on the lives of these children, 09:01 but on the schools 09:02 that they couldn't have support. 09:04 And Myanmar, I think has about 09:07 20 or 30 Adventist schools. 09:10 So we stepped in on faith and took 600 children, 09:15 we have never done that before. 09:17 We didn't have sponsors. 09:20 We were very gracious to some people 09:23 who stepped in and sponsored them initially. 09:26 But we took 600 children and about 12 schools 09:30 including the Myanmar College that you've visited. 09:34 That's the only church college where they can learn education, 09:40 training, biblical studies, 09:43 and even for pastor training, ministerial. 09:48 They go to that college. 09:51 So that college fulfills a key need 09:55 for the church in Myanmar 09:57 and also for training teachers in Myanmar. 10:01 So right now we have 600 children 10:03 and I have to be honest with you, 10:05 we still have about 200 un-sponsored. 10:09 So if you want to look up about the country of Myanmar, 10:13 you will see the huge need in that country. 10:17 I know we visited a village, remember, 10:20 and very basic village, 10:25 huge need, huge poverty, 10:27 but you well have noticed 10:29 they really care for their children. 10:31 Yes, they do. 10:33 And the young girl that you were talking about 10:35 actually went back... 10:37 Mia was her name. Mia, that's right. 10:39 And she went back and shared the truth with her mother 10:43 who was converted, and her brother, 10:46 and it was just a privilege to visit with them. 10:51 The people there are very industrious, 10:53 they are very hard working. 10:55 And we see the schools are kept neat and tidy, 11:00 you will have noticed that. 11:02 But there's some huge needs there. 11:04 Yes. 11:06 And I guess our biggest need is sponsorship, 11:09 once again I keep saying that, but it's real. 11:13 And, or just supporting the Myanmar education fund 11:18 because it's a huge need. 11:20 And we want to grow our program in Myanmar. 11:24 You know, Myanmar is ripe for the harvest. 11:27 The people want to know about Jesus Christ. 11:29 And because of the way that Child Impact is set up, 11:33 it is basically doing evangelism 11:36 when the country doesn't really allow it 11:38 to be done publicly. 11:40 And so, Child Impact is having a huge impact 11:44 for lack of a better word in the lives 11:47 of hundreds of young people and their families in Myanmar. 11:51 And we invite you to please join us 11:54 and be a part of that. 12:02 A couple of years ago, my daughters 12:03 and I had a wonderful opportunity 12:06 to travel to India, and while we were there, 12:08 we met yet another part of our family 12:11 and that's our sponsored daughter Sheila. 12:13 We had the privilege of sponsoring Sheila 12:16 through Child Impact International 12:18 for more than three years now. 12:20 And you know, while we were there, 12:22 she shared with us 12:24 that her dream was to become a nurse. 12:27 Now, what a wonderful privilege it is for us now 12:30 as a family to know 12:32 that she is fulfilling that dream. 12:35 Sheila is now studying to be a nurse. 12:37 She is in college 12:39 and we could not be happier for her. 12:41 It's been wonderful to be part of that journey with her. 12:44 And, you know, sponsoring a child 12:46 through Child Impact, 12:48 it's made an incredible difference 12:49 for our family. 12:51 And I know that for you sponsoring a child 12:53 can make a difference for you too. 12:55 And most importantly, 12:57 it can make the difference in the life 12:58 of a child every day. 13:06 Our television series Hope and Motion 13:08 has been a big success. 13:10 And we want to continue to share with you 13:13 some of the field stories 13:15 that we have filmed over the years. 13:17 So just from time to time, it may be referred Asian Aid 13:21 as we reflect on these great stories 13:24 as we share them with you. 13:40 Carl Ginger's involvement with Child Impact International 13:43 as one of its board members has taken him 13:45 to India many times. 13:47 The vibrancy of life in India is something 13:49 that has captivated him, 13:51 and it's a place to experience and appreciate life. 13:54 For Carl, this was one such opportunity. 13:57 He is traveling with Jim Rennie, 13:59 CEO of Child Impact and his fellow board member 14:02 and friend Dittu Abraham to the school 14:04 for speech and hearing in Kollegal. 14:12 As they drive down into the campus, 14:14 the children appear from nowhere to greet them. 14:17 Their smiling faces and their warm welcome 14:19 was rewarding for the visitors. 14:21 The children were all well groomed 14:23 and were all ready for church. 14:31 I'm here at a church service with these children 14:35 and getting their responses toward the questions 14:39 we ask about Jesus Christ, 14:41 the energy they have, the commitment they have, 14:43 the pleasure in being part of a church service. 14:46 It truly is amazing. 14:48 This is something we can give these kids 14:50 that they would never have, 14:52 never have had the opportunity of knowing Jesus Christ, 14:55 and we are going to see results for eternity. 15:07 The church service was an amazing experience 15:09 that changed 15:11 some of Carl's unconscious preconceptions. 15:14 These disabled children clearly demonstrated 15:17 their ability to praise God, 15:18 albeit in their own way but it also demonstrated 15:21 the role we play as an institution 15:23 and a church in reaching out to this community. 15:27 When I look at this place, 15:28 I'm convinced that this is exactly 15:30 what God wants us to be doing as a church that working 15:33 with the children 15:35 who otherwise in society would be rejected, 15:37 and cast aside, 15:38 and not provided the means to an education. 15:41 I think this is what the church would be doing 15:43 as part of this gospel outreach. 15:46 This is a testimony to the love of Jesus Christ, 15:49 for the most rejected, 15:51 for the most ignored part of society. 15:55 And these children are just the type of people 15:57 we should be serving. 16:00 Children like this are often seen 16:02 as a liability by the family and by the community. 16:07 This school changes that, this school gives them hope, 16:11 this school gives them an education 16:13 which, in most cases, 16:14 enables them to have a job and to have a future. 16:17 And then many of these children assist in funding 16:22 or supporting their family or village. 16:26 This school makes a difference far 16:29 beyond the child that attends here. 16:36 The school for speech and hearing 16:37 is what Child Impact is all about, 16:40 helping children in need and giving them an opportunity 16:42 to look beyond their disability, 16:44 rejected by their family and society, 16:47 they would have lost all hope, 16:48 but this school has given them hope, 16:51 it has given them a future. 16:52 And for boys and girls that live here, 16:54 it has given them a place they can call home. 16:57 This is also having an impact on their family. 17:00 Their immediate family can be proud now 17:02 their child can achieve something and have a job. 17:05 This school is making a difference far 17:07 beyond the education 17:08 the child receives at the school. 17:11 When we say, reaching out to the least of these, 17:15 this is what we mean. 17:16 This school and what happens here 17:19 is reaching out to the least of these 17:22 who would have been rejected by their society, 17:25 their family had no hope, 17:27 this school has made a difference, 17:29 and so they've gone from being 17:31 the least of these to being something 17:33 to having a career, and then actually impacting 17:37 on their village or with their family. 17:45 Lakshmi is a 12-year-old girl at the school. 17:48 She was born deaf and has been at the school 17:51 since she was just two years old. 17:53 Lakshmi's parents separated when she was just a baby. 17:56 And her mother was having a hard time bringing her up 17:58 along with her older sister and brother 18:00 who was also deaf. 18:03 Lakshmi is right now doing fourth standard here, 18:06 and we are hoping 18:08 that she will finish her studies 18:09 from our school, go on to do college 18:11 just like her brother, and be able to earn a living. 18:15 Now the reason why Lakshmi's mother 18:17 and father were separated 18:19 is because of some family issues, 18:21 and they've been separated for more than 10 years now. 18:25 The father lives 18:26 with his mother in another state, 18:29 and the mother brought up all these three children 18:33 by working in a factory that makes noodles. 18:37 And because she's not able to give them a good education, 18:40 she has put both her hard of hearing children 18:43 over here in our school. 18:46 Lakshmi's mother married when she was just 16. 18:49 Although such practices exist in rural India 18:52 since ancient times, it would be hard for someone 18:54 to assimilate this mentality especially 18:56 for a first time visitor to rural India. 19:00 Lakshmi's mother 19:03 was also got married at a very young age 19:06 and that's the same thing 19:07 that she did with her elder daughter. 19:10 And we are hoping that that same thing 19:11 doesn't happen to Lakshmi 19:14 that she will be able to finish her studies, 19:15 her college, and then get into a good job, 19:17 and then look for getting married to someone. 19:20 We're hoping that that'll happen to her. 19:23 One can only hope that Lakshmi will have 19:25 the opportunity to break the shackles 19:27 of their long observed traditions and compulsions, 19:30 and hope that education will let her have 19:32 the freedom to choose how she wants to live. 19:44 Lakshmi's family lived in a nearby village, 19:47 and Carl was anxious to meet them. 19:49 Upon arriving at her village, 19:51 it was clear that Lakshmi's family loved her very much, 19:54 and she loved her family. 19:56 The home was certainly minimalistic, 19:58 but hospitality was evident. 20:00 Seeing how content they were with what they had 20:02 was such a blessing 20:03 and a valuable lesson to all addicted to consumerism. 20:07 Carl got to talk to Kalavathi, Lakshmi's mother 20:10 through the help of Rajkumar who was translating for him. 20:21 Her wish is her two children got educated in this Asian Aid, 20:24 through Asian Aid, sponsored through Asian Aid. 20:27 And there are many children in the villages, 20:29 she also want them to get educated same thing. 20:32 She want more sponsors to come forward 20:34 so that many children can come to the light. 20:38 Although the pain of life struggle 20:39 was deep within her, 20:41 one could sense how happy she was knowing 20:43 that her daughter Lakshmi was well taken care of, 20:45 and she was thankful 20:47 for what we could do as an organization. 20:49 Rajkumar, we've just been talking 20:51 to Lakshmi's mother. 20:53 There must be lots of other children 20:55 in these villages who have disabilities. 21:01 What would be the situation if there was no help? 21:05 If there is no outside help, for example, like Asian Aid, 21:10 the other NGOs in India, 21:13 families like this will suffer very much. 21:18 And the pathetic situation is, 21:20 if there are no NGOs coming forward 21:22 to help them like these kids, 21:25 the society will be dropping them 21:27 to one corner. 21:29 They'll not come out, and they can't get exposure. 21:33 If people, the society from outside, 21:38 comes and helps people like these small villages, 21:42 remote villages, 21:43 children like Lakshmi will come up much brighter. 21:47 Their future, they can read it. 21:49 Otherwise, their future will be in debris. 21:56 You know, this is an example of what can happen 21:59 when someone like Asian Aid gets involved 22:02 and sponsors get involved in the child's life. 22:05 We can transform the person, give them a future, 22:09 create opportunities for them to be themselves, 22:13 be what God intended them to be. 22:16 What a privilege to create, 22:18 and generate, and multiply hope. 22:32 For someone like Lakshmi, 22:33 having a loving family is a blessing. 22:36 Because her mother wanted the best for her, 22:38 she was willing to leave her 22:39 in a school's boarding environment 22:41 just so she could give her the education, 22:43 she otherwise would be unable to provide. 22:46 Most of these children understand 22:48 their difficulties at home, 22:49 and understand the opportunities 22:51 they have been given by their sponsors, 22:53 and are ever thankful for the part 22:54 they are playing in their lives. 22:57 I'm sure that these children are very thankful 23:01 to their sponsors and the sponsors 23:04 should know this that every day the children pray for them. 23:08 There's not a day goes without the child praying 23:11 for their sponsors. 23:12 And we are very thankful to the sponsors. 23:15 And they know the importance of sponsorship. 23:18 It's because of that sponsorship 23:20 that they are here, 23:22 and they are having new friends, 23:25 a new life given to them. 23:30 Well, when I come to the school, 23:32 it's just touching. 23:34 I wish the sponsors could be here. 23:36 I wish the sponsors could really see 23:39 beyond the difference they're making. 23:41 The kids are so happy. 23:42 The kids want to touch you, 23:44 they want to communicate with you. 23:46 And without the sponsors, this simply wouldn't happen. 23:50 It's bigger than their education. 23:52 It's bigger than the child at the desk. 23:54 It's giving these kids a delight in life, 23:57 and that's what I see when I come here. 24:00 When Jesus was on this earth, 24:02 He invited the poor, the blind, the lame, 24:05 the deaf into the temple and had fellowship with them. 24:08 Jesus mentioned 24:09 that when we do service to the least of these, 24:12 we are doing service to Him, 24:14 and this is what Jesus meant to take care of the ones 24:17 who are less fortunate than us. 24:19 What a blessing it is for us to be in His service. 24:22 Many times I question myself asking, 24:25 "Am I doing the preaching work here, 24:29 or am I doing some kind of service?" 24:31 But then I realize what Jesus told, 24:33 that true religion is to take care 24:35 of the orphans, the widows, and the less fortunate ones. 24:40 And then by seeing the lives of these children transforming, 24:44 it gives me hope and courage, Yes, what we are doing here is, 24:49 any day, the best thing that we must be doing. 24:51 It's important that the church 24:53 has these services going on. 24:59 Today, this school for speech 25:01 and hearing is a beacon for Christ in this area. 25:03 With this school in Kollegal, Child Impact International 25:07 is not only bringing hope to the children, 25:09 but also the community as it sees 25:11 practical Christianity in action. 25:13 The church could not have scripted 25:15 a better outcome, 25:16 just being there and demonstrating love 25:18 on a consistent basis reflects the image of God. 25:24 These children are preparing for their final exams tomorrow. 25:29 And it's clear that these children 25:33 are being prepared not just to survive, 25:35 but for a future tomorrow and a future for eternity. 25:39 And for Asian Aid to be involved 25:42 in creating these opportunities really warms my heart. 25:45 It's helping me see what it is really to be human. 25:50 And I'm so glad to be part of that. |
Revised 2018-08-27