Hi, I'm Hilary Macias with the Maranatha Minute. 00:00:01.36\00:00:02.70 While Brazil 00:00:02.73\00:00:04.07 is more commonly known as the country of lush rain forests 00:00:04.10\00:00:06.60 and the Amazon River, 00:00:06.63\00:00:08.04 there are regions that are simply a desert. 00:00:08.07\00:00:10.87 Droughts are common and water is scarce. 00:00:10.91\00:00:13.44 This means that clean drinking water 00:00:13.48\00:00:15.11 is even more difficult to come by. 00:00:15.14\00:00:17.68 People spend much time and energy collecting water. 00:00:17.71\00:00:20.98 In some cases, 00:00:21.02\00:00:22.35 the water is not clean and can make people sick. 00:00:22.38\00:00:24.89 Last year Maranatha launched a water program in Brazil, 00:00:24.92\00:00:28.52 drilling wells in dry states like Paraiba, 00:00:28.56\00:00:31.19 thanks to the donations of generous supporters. 00:00:31.23\00:00:33.96 Crews have drilled 34 wells on properties 00:00:34.00\00:00:36.46 where Maranatha has already constructed a church. 00:00:36.50\00:00:39.53 Brazil is one of four countries 00:00:39.57\00:00:41.57 where Maranatha is drilling wells. 00:00:41.60\00:00:43.94 Teams are also providing water in India, Kenya and Zambia. 00:00:43.97\00:00:48.11 Watch episodes about our water program 00:00:48.14\00:00:50.21 around the world 00:00:50.25\00:00:51.58 by downloading the Maranatha app. 00:00:51.61\00:00:53.38 Now you can watch Maranatha mission stories 00:00:53.42\00:00:55.62 and more on your mobile devices. 00:00:55.65\00:00:57.32 Go to the App Store and Google Play to download. 00:00:57.35\00:00:59.79 Tens of thousands of volunteers mobilized. 00:01:27.65\00:01:32.19 Eleven thousand structures built. 00:01:32.22\00:01:36.52 Nearly 90 countries impacted. 00:01:36.56\00:01:41.26 These numbers represent the breadth of Maranatha's work 00:01:41.30\00:01:44.27 over the last 50 years. 00:01:44.30\00:01:45.93 Maranatha has grown to become a leading resource 00:01:57.51\00:01:59.81 for Adventist Church leaders around the world, 00:01:59.85\00:02:02.12 needing help building 10, 100 00:02:02.15\00:02:04.69 or even 1,000 churches, schools, or water wells. 00:02:04.72\00:02:08.66 While such a broad scope of projects 00:02:12.69\00:02:14.50 is not unusual for Maranatha's work today. 00:02:14.53\00:02:17.83 Fifty years ago, 00:02:17.87\00:02:19.20 the numbers would have been daunting 00:02:19.23\00:02:20.64 to the fledgling group of lay people 00:02:20.67\00:02:22.57 who are embarking on a relatively new concept 00:02:22.60\00:02:25.21 of short term mission trips with Maranatha. 00:02:25.24\00:02:27.68 In today's episode, 00:02:31.08\00:02:32.41 we'll learn about 00:02:32.45\00:02:33.78 a watershed moment in the organization's history, 00:02:33.82\00:02:35.68 where we were challenged to take a leap of faith 00:02:35.72\00:02:38.32 that would make a difference for eternity. 00:02:38.35\00:02:40.66 As the 21st century approached, 00:02:58.47\00:03:00.71 incredible change was taking place 00:03:00.74\00:03:02.78 in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 00:03:02.81\00:03:06.92 The seeds of faith 00:03:06.95\00:03:08.28 that had been sown by missionaries 00:03:08.32\00:03:09.65 during the previous decades were sprouting and multiplying. 00:03:09.68\00:03:13.59 The Adventist faith community was growing faster 00:03:13.62\00:03:16.29 than churches could be built. 00:03:16.32\00:03:19.79 Maranatha Flights International 00:03:19.83\00:03:21.80 known for its short-term mission projects 00:03:21.83\00:03:24.00 to build churches and schools was changing too. 00:03:24.03\00:03:28.37 After 12 years of steady growth and increasing activity, 00:03:28.40\00:03:31.97 founder John Freeman 00:03:32.01\00:03:33.48 still working full-time in his photography business 00:03:33.51\00:03:36.95 encouraged Maranatha's board to hire a staff. 00:03:36.98\00:03:41.38 The search began 00:03:41.42\00:03:42.75 and John called a young professional working in Denver, 00:03:42.78\00:03:45.35 Colorado, 00:03:45.39\00:03:46.72 who also happened to be a former Air Force pilot. 00:03:46.76\00:03:49.29 He said, 00:03:49.32\00:03:50.66 "We've received your resume and we want to interview you." 00:03:50.69\00:03:54.03 I said, "Okay, well, that's interesting. 00:03:54.06\00:03:57.30 I live in Denver, Colorado, 00:03:57.33\00:03:58.67 so you know, I'm available." 00:03:58.70\00:04:00.67 He said, 00:04:00.70\00:04:02.04 "No, I would like you to come to Michigan. 00:04:02.07\00:04:04.31 That's where our headquarters is, 00:04:04.34\00:04:05.67 so if you could come to Michigan." 00:04:05.71\00:04:07.78 I said, 00:04:07.81\00:04:09.14 "Well, I can work with the president of my company 00:04:09.18\00:04:11.41 and try to get some time off. 00:04:11.45\00:04:12.78 You just send me a ticket." 00:04:12.81\00:04:14.22 He says, "Oh, no." 00:04:14.25\00:04:15.78 He said, 00:04:15.82\00:04:17.15 "We're a volunteer organization, 00:04:17.19\00:04:18.52 you'll need to pay your way." 00:04:18.55\00:04:20.59 Well, I wasn't familiar with this approach to life 00:04:20.62\00:04:24.39 at that point. 00:04:24.43\00:04:25.76 So I said, 00:04:25.79\00:04:27.13 "Well, I don't ever go to Michigan 00:04:27.16\00:04:29.83 at this particular point in time." 00:04:29.86\00:04:32.67 I said, "But I tell you what?" 00:04:32.70\00:04:34.04 I says, "If I ever have opportunity 00:04:34.07\00:04:37.84 to be in Michigan, 00:04:37.87\00:04:39.21 I'll give you a call. Thank you very much." 00:04:39.24\00:04:41.91 End of conversation. 00:04:41.94\00:04:44.11 Well, now here's the interesting thing 00:04:44.15\00:04:47.35 from my view. 00:04:47.38\00:04:49.45 I went to my office that day, 00:04:49.48\00:04:52.02 and the president of the company 00:04:52.05\00:04:53.39 called me in and says, "I need you to go to Michigan." 00:04:53.42\00:04:57.56 No, that had never happened. 00:04:57.59\00:04:59.83 And that's when I started to think, 00:04:59.86\00:05:01.26 "Okay, what's going on here?" 00:05:01.30\00:05:03.47 Don Noble was one of several candidates 00:05:03.50\00:05:05.60 who interviewed and the job was offered to him. 00:05:05.63\00:05:08.80 Don has to meet with the board 00:05:08.84\00:05:10.27 so he could be certain he fully understood Maranatha 00:05:10.31\00:05:13.71 and whether this was God's calling. 00:05:13.74\00:05:15.88 A couple of the board members took me aside and said, 00:05:15.91\00:05:18.51 "If I was a young man like you," 00:05:18.55\00:05:20.92 because at that time I was a young man. 00:05:20.95\00:05:22.98 "If I was a young man like you, 00:05:23.02\00:05:25.25 then I wanted to make a difference in the world." 00:05:25.29\00:05:29.49 He said, "We can tell you that 00:05:29.52\00:05:30.86 this is a place that you could be used by God 00:05:30.89\00:05:33.76 to make a difference in the world." 00:05:33.80\00:05:35.93 And I like that. 00:05:35.96\00:05:38.30 Calvin Krueger was one of those board members. 00:05:38.33\00:05:41.20 He has been volunteering with Maranatha 00:05:41.24\00:05:43.30 for more than 40 of its 50 years 00:05:43.34\00:05:45.81 and serving on the board for just as long. 00:05:45.84\00:05:49.01 Something happened there. 00:05:49.04\00:05:51.11 There's a compulsion there 00:05:51.15\00:05:53.92 and that's why Maranatha is where it is, 00:05:53.95\00:05:56.92 with the help of the Holy Spirit. 00:05:56.95\00:05:59.65 Don Noble became the president 00:05:59.69\00:06:01.26 of Maranatha Flights International in 1983. 00:06:01.29\00:06:05.53 Those that hire Don 00:06:05.56\00:06:06.90 told him his job description was essentially this, 00:06:06.93\00:06:10.27 make Maranatha fly and he did. 00:06:10.30\00:06:14.00 It wasn't long before 00:06:14.04\00:06:15.37 Don moved to the Maranatha office 00:06:15.40\00:06:16.91 from John Freeman's basement 00:06:16.94\00:06:18.64 onto the main street in Berrien Springs, Michigan. 00:06:18.67\00:06:22.54 Another change was happening. 00:06:22.58\00:06:24.18 More often, 00:06:24.21\00:06:25.55 the projects were further away from the United States, 00:06:25.58\00:06:28.38 requiring volunteers to use commercial airliners. 00:06:28.42\00:06:31.79 And too often, 00:06:31.82\00:06:33.15 the name Maranatha Flights International 00:06:33.19\00:06:35.19 caused people to mistake it for a travel agency. 00:06:35.22\00:06:39.03 A very interesting thing started to happen. 00:06:39.06\00:06:41.26 We started doing some projects with an organization 00:06:41.30\00:06:44.00 called Volunteers International. 00:06:44.03\00:06:46.13 That was started by a gentleman who became a friend of mine, 00:06:46.17\00:06:50.61 still is, Robert Bainum, 00:06:50.64\00:06:52.74 and we did quite a few projects together 00:06:52.77\00:06:55.21 until finally we came to the point we said, 00:06:55.24\00:06:57.31 "Why don't we just merge operations." 00:06:57.35\00:07:00.92 We're each paying for different expenses 00:07:00.95\00:07:03.89 that are getting doubled up, so let's just combine them. 00:07:03.92\00:07:06.79 In 1989, Maranatha Flights International 00:07:06.82\00:07:10.19 and Volunteers International 00:07:10.23\00:07:12.26 became Maranatha Volunteers International. 00:07:12.29\00:07:16.13 One of the best compliments 00:07:16.16\00:07:18.07 I think I've ever had from Maranatha 00:07:18.10\00:07:20.14 was it they call me a founder 00:07:20.17\00:07:22.24 because I gave part 00:07:22.27\00:07:24.97 of my Volunteers International name, 00:07:25.01\00:07:30.28 which I really wanted. 00:07:30.31\00:07:32.28 And, so I've been flattered really. 00:07:32.31\00:07:37.55 Even before the organizations merged, 00:07:37.59\00:07:39.99 Robert Bainum volunteered regularly with Maranatha. 00:07:40.02\00:07:43.89 He was also a board member. 00:07:43.93\00:07:46.36 He would travel with Don 00:07:46.39\00:07:47.73 from time to time to evaluate projects. 00:07:47.76\00:07:50.73 In 1991, 00:07:50.77\00:07:52.17 Don and Robert traveled to the Dominican Republic, 00:07:52.20\00:07:55.07 at the invitation of church letters 00:07:55.10\00:07:57.11 would come to trust Maranatha. 00:07:57.14\00:07:59.77 The visit would be a game changer 00:07:59.81\00:08:01.88 for the 23 year old organization. 00:08:01.91\00:08:05.31 They went through the needs, 00:08:05.35\00:08:09.12 for about two hours they showed the slides 00:08:09.15\00:08:12.05 of congregations meeting in shacks, under trees. 00:08:12.09\00:08:18.59 There was a great need, 00:08:18.63\00:08:20.43 and convinced me 00:08:20.46\00:08:22.36 they needed churches really badly. 00:08:22.40\00:08:25.07 And they said, you know, we need 25, 30 projects. 00:08:25.10\00:08:30.64 And, you know, you hear these numbers, 00:08:30.67\00:08:32.97 that's, those are big numbers, right? 00:08:33.01\00:08:36.21 And so we looked at a few of them 00:08:36.24\00:08:39.55 and we went back to the airport. 00:08:39.58\00:08:42.75 We go to the airport, and Robert turned to me, 00:08:42.78\00:08:45.39 he says, "So, Don, what are you gonna do?" 00:08:45.42\00:08:50.19 And I says, "What do you mean, what am I gonna do?" 00:08:50.23\00:08:53.13 Well, how many churches you're gonna build? 00:08:53.16\00:08:54.96 And Don says... 00:08:59.00\00:09:02.27 Well, they asked for, say 25 projects. 00:09:02.30\00:09:05.94 And I said, "Well, you know, 00:09:05.97\00:09:07.38 we'll probably do what we usually do." 00:09:07.41\00:09:09.14 You know, we do a few projects in one place, 00:09:09.18\00:09:11.11 and a few projects in another place... 00:09:11.15\00:09:12.48 And then we, next year, we'll 00:09:12.51\00:09:14.28 build them a church or two. 00:09:14.32\00:09:15.82 And I shoot, 00:09:15.85\00:09:19.22 "Hey, you didn't listen to what they said." 00:09:19.25\00:09:21.32 And he says, "You're not listening to them, 00:09:21.36\00:09:25.03 you're not listening." 00:09:25.06\00:09:26.39 He says, "They asked for 25 and they need 25. 00:09:26.43\00:09:30.33 Why don't you do all 25? Why don't you do more? 00:09:30.37\00:09:32.90 What's stopping you from doing them all?" 00:09:32.93\00:09:35.00 Wow. 00:09:35.04\00:09:36.50 I wasn't thinking that big. 00:09:36.54\00:09:38.74 I wasn't thinking it was possible. 00:09:38.77\00:09:41.34 But ding, ding, ding, the thought came to me, 00:09:41.38\00:09:45.11 maybe that's what we're supposed to do. 00:09:45.15\00:09:48.35 Don brought the idea to the staff. 00:09:48.38\00:09:50.35 Now six people who caught the vision 00:09:50.39\00:09:53.62 and then he brought it to the board who agreed. 00:09:53.66\00:09:56.79 It was time to take a leap of faith 00:09:56.83\00:09:59.33 and Santo Domingo 92 was launched. 00:09:59.36\00:10:02.06 We did not know what we voted. 00:10:02.10\00:10:05.37 We had no idea what it meant to do something like that. 00:10:05.40\00:10:08.77 It was more complicated and difficult than we realized. 00:10:08.80\00:10:11.34 We thought, "Oh, how bad, how tough can this be?" 00:10:11.37\00:10:14.51 We've done these projects before 00:10:14.54\00:10:16.61 but when you bring 1,200 volunteers, 00:10:16.64\00:10:19.58 and you run this thing for 10 weeks, 00:10:19.61\00:10:23.79 and you're doing 25 churches 00:10:23.82\00:10:26.15 scattered all over a large area, 00:10:26.19\00:10:28.56 the logistics start getting away from you 00:10:28.59\00:10:30.96 real quick. 00:10:30.99\00:10:32.39 He had to stretch himself, 00:10:32.43\00:10:34.46 and you stretch the organization. 00:10:34.50\00:10:37.73 There were plenty of roadblocks along the way. 00:10:37.77\00:10:40.57 But the Goliath of Santo Domingo 92 00:10:40.60\00:10:43.47 was put into the hands of God 00:10:43.51\00:10:45.77 and the small David of Maranatha 00:10:45.81\00:10:48.11 with its tiny staff, bullied by 1,200 volunteers prevailed. 00:10:48.14\00:10:54.78 Fast forward, at the end of that 10 weeks, 00:10:54.82\00:10:57.19 on the last Friday afternoon, we finished the 25th church. 00:10:57.22\00:11:02.86 And the next day we dedicated the whole thing 00:11:02.89\00:11:05.16 and they had a big baptism. 00:11:05.19\00:11:06.53 And the General Conference president was there 00:11:06.56\00:11:08.50 and the Division president was there and they baptized. 00:11:08.53\00:11:10.87 I don't know a few thousand people 00:11:10.90\00:11:12.23 and they had 15,000, 20,000 people in a big stadium 00:11:12.27\00:11:15.37 and I'm suddenly going, wow, 00:11:15.40\00:11:17.47 what just happened here? What happened? 00:11:17.51\00:11:20.18 Well, quite a few things happened 00:11:20.21\00:11:21.94 for the Maranatha organization. 00:11:21.98\00:11:25.28 Everybody's looking at us differently. 00:11:25.31\00:11:27.55 The next week, 00:11:27.58\00:11:29.48 we get a request for 50 projects in Mexico. 00:11:29.52\00:11:32.95 Well, if they can do 25, 00:11:32.99\00:11:34.32 pretty sure they can do 50 over here. 00:11:34.36\00:11:36.36 So that's the numbers started changing. 00:11:36.39\00:11:39.76 The expectations started changing. 00:11:39.79\00:11:43.10 The volunteers started to trust us, 00:11:43.13\00:11:45.77 the relationship with the church 00:11:45.80\00:11:47.87 improved dramatically. 00:11:47.90\00:11:49.97 And what did it do for the church 00:11:50.01\00:11:51.61 in Dominican Republic? 00:11:51.64\00:11:53.11 Totally changed the way 00:11:53.14\00:11:54.48 they were viewed by their country, 00:11:54.51\00:11:57.65 by the press, 00:11:57.68\00:11:59.45 by the leadership of the government, 00:11:59.48\00:12:01.45 by the people, 00:12:01.48\00:12:02.82 and all of a sudden they started growing massively. 00:12:02.85\00:12:05.95 And I can't say it was all that project, 00:12:05.99\00:12:09.02 but I believe God used that project 00:12:09.06\00:12:12.39 at least in a major way toward that. 00:12:12.43\00:12:15.53 That was a whole new day for Maranatha, 00:12:15.56\00:12:18.73 to even dream that way was not possible 00:12:18.77\00:12:22.64 prior to that moment. 00:12:22.67\00:12:25.37 And from there, it has just been a multiplier. 00:12:25.41\00:12:30.31 Maranatha discovered can do that and then it is... 00:12:30.35\00:12:36.58 Well, it's pretty well been vertical growth 00:12:36.62\00:12:40.79 for many years. 00:12:40.82\00:12:44.53 From a big view, those churches, 00:12:44.56\00:12:47.56 almost every one of them 00:12:47.60\00:12:49.10 spawned a number of other churches, 00:12:49.13\00:12:51.67 one of them was it like 00:12:51.70\00:12:54.00 24 churches have come out of that one church. 00:12:54.04\00:12:57.04 And I can remember 00:12:57.07\00:12:58.41 it was a church that I almost said no. 00:12:58.44\00:13:00.31 Well, they took us to it. 00:13:00.34\00:13:01.84 And so I know 00:13:01.88\00:13:03.95 and here's the thread that runs through it all. 00:13:03.98\00:13:08.08 I'm fully and 100% confident that God is guiding it 00:13:08.12\00:13:11.79 even when He doesn't sky ride it. 00:13:11.82\00:13:14.52 He doesn't send you an email or a text, 00:13:14.56\00:13:16.93 but He's guiding this thing 00:13:16.96\00:13:18.86 and even down to which church you build, 00:13:18.89\00:13:23.40 which school you construct, 00:13:23.43\00:13:27.17 which volunteers get together on a site, 00:13:27.20\00:13:29.77 He's in charge of all that. 00:13:29.80\00:13:31.64 And that's why it works 00:13:31.67\00:13:33.04 because we just aren't smart enough 00:13:33.07\00:13:35.31 to put all that stuff together. 00:13:35.34\00:13:37.35 But looking back at Santo Domingo 00:13:37.38\00:13:39.08 and seeing from 20 some years later, 00:13:39.11\00:13:44.09 the impact is huge. 00:13:44.12\00:13:46.76 There, it's had a big impact on the volunteers, 00:13:46.79\00:13:49.72 and it's changed the organization too. 00:13:49.76\00:13:55.33 Today, it is normal for Maranatha to commit to 50, 00:13:55.36\00:13:58.80 100, or even 1,000 churches in regions of the world 00:13:58.83\00:14:03.20 where the faith community is growing rapidly. 00:14:03.24\00:14:06.57 And it is the Ministry 00:14:06.61\00:14:07.94 of Maranatha Volunteers International 00:14:07.98\00:14:10.15 that Adventist leadership comes to when it needs 00:14:10.18\00:14:12.95 to improve church and school infrastructure. 00:14:12.98\00:14:17.42 Please pray for Maranatha 00:14:17.45\00:14:19.35 as we continue to move forward in faith 00:14:19.39\00:14:22.22 anticipating Jesus' soon return. 00:14:22.26\00:14:27.26 I believe that Maranatha has provided more than schools 00:14:27.30\00:14:33.40 and more than churches, 00:14:33.44\00:14:35.24 they provided the development 00:14:35.27\00:14:38.31 of thousands of individuals 00:14:38.34\00:14:42.28 that went on these projects 00:14:42.31\00:14:45.01 and that changed their life and their witness for God 00:14:45.05\00:14:50.32 everywhere they went after that. 00:14:50.35\00:14:53.76 The best is yet to come. 00:14:53.79\00:14:55.26 Unbelievable growth, 00:15:00.46\00:15:02.46 that's the only way to describe 00:15:02.50\00:15:03.97 what has happened to Maranatha 00:15:04.00\00:15:05.50 since the Santo Domingo 92 project. 00:15:05.53\00:15:08.64 This movement is continuing to grow 00:15:08.67\00:15:10.87 and we need your help 00:15:10.91\00:15:12.24 to meet an increasing demand 00:15:12.27\00:15:13.64 for churches, schools and water wells. 00:15:13.68\00:15:17.98 Visit our website 00:15:18.01\00:15:19.35 to make a financial contribution 00:15:19.38\00:15:20.98 or to see a list of all our upcoming projects. 00:15:21.02\00:15:24.35 When we come back, 00:15:24.39\00:15:25.72 we'll head to an aging school in India 00:15:25.75\00:15:28.02 and see how Maranatha is breathing new life 00:15:28.06\00:15:30.43 into their campus. 00:15:30.46\00:15:31.79 For more than a decade 00:15:45.74\00:15:47.11 Maranatha Mission Stories 00:15:47.14\00:15:48.54 has taken you around the world, 00:15:48.58\00:15:50.61 showing you the need 00:15:50.65\00:15:51.98 and challenging you to get involved. 00:15:52.01\00:15:55.45 Now, we're introducing new ways 00:15:55.48\00:15:57.49 for you to stay informed and inspired about the mission. 00:15:57.52\00:16:01.86 Watch your favorite episode of Maranatha Mission Stories 00:16:01.89\00:16:04.99 as well as other Maranatha videos 00:16:05.03\00:16:06.93 on your Apple TV. 00:16:06.96\00:16:09.60 Visit the App Store, 00:16:09.63\00:16:10.97 search for the Maranatha channel 00:16:11.00\00:16:12.97 and hit install. 00:16:13.00\00:16:16.30 You'll have access 00:16:16.34\00:16:17.67 to all of our latest video content, 00:16:17.71\00:16:19.61 and you can watch anytime. 00:16:19.64\00:16:21.61 Our videos are available on demand 24 hours a day. 00:16:21.64\00:16:26.11 Our content can also be viewed on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. 00:16:26.15\00:16:31.19 The Maranatha Channel bringing mission adventures 00:16:31.22\00:16:34.19 to your living room. 00:16:34.22\00:16:35.56 For more than 20 years 00:16:42.90\00:16:44.43 Maranatha has been working in India, 00:16:44.47\00:16:46.63 constructing more than 1, 700 churches 00:16:46.67\00:16:49.44 all over the country. 00:16:49.47\00:16:51.14 But beyond providing places of worship, 00:16:51.17\00:16:53.41 building schools is also a major part of our work. 00:16:53.44\00:16:57.01 For more than 80 years, 00:17:03.49\00:17:05.09 thousands of students have passed through the campus 00:17:05.12\00:17:07.59 of the Khunti Adventist School, 00:17:07.62\00:17:11.43 located in eastern India, 00:17:11.46\00:17:13.16 which started out as a thatched roof mud hut 00:17:13.19\00:17:15.46 has grown to an expansive 37 acre campus 00:17:15.50\00:17:18.87 with multiple buildings and more than 1,300 students. 00:17:18.90\00:17:24.24 Yet Khunti isn't only for Adventist children. 00:17:24.27\00:17:28.04 The school draws students 00:17:28.08\00:17:29.41 from all religious and secular backgrounds. 00:17:29.44\00:17:32.98 Reaching people with the gospel in this part of India 00:17:33.01\00:17:35.75 is especially challenging. 00:17:35.78\00:17:38.12 The area includes 00:17:38.15\00:17:39.49 some of the most sacred sites of the Hindu faith, 00:17:39.52\00:17:42.26 including what is considered the holiest city, 00:17:42.29\00:17:44.89 Varanasi. 00:17:44.93\00:17:48.13 An effective method 00:17:48.16\00:17:49.50 of spreading the gospel in this region 00:17:49.53\00:17:51.27 includes offering quality education 00:17:51.30\00:17:53.87 in Adventist schools. 00:17:53.90\00:17:55.67 The majority of students 00:17:55.70\00:17:57.04 who attend the Khunti School are not Adventist. 00:17:57.07\00:18:00.48 Parents send their children 00:18:00.51\00:18:01.84 because of the quality education they receive 00:18:01.88\00:18:04.35 and the moral values that are conveyed 00:18:04.38\00:18:06.35 in and out of the classroom. 00:18:06.38\00:18:10.69 Over the years, 00:18:10.72\00:18:12.05 more and more families 00:18:12.09\00:18:13.42 were choosing Khunti for their children. 00:18:13.46\00:18:15.89 But as enrollment grew, 00:18:15.92\00:18:17.26 it became difficult for the school 00:18:17.29\00:18:18.93 to keep up with the demand. 00:18:18.96\00:18:20.56 To ease overcrowding, 00:18:20.60\00:18:21.93 the school converted old staff housing 00:18:21.96\00:18:24.17 into additional classrooms, 00:18:24.20\00:18:26.74 but the move scattered elementary students 00:18:26.77\00:18:28.77 all over campus. 00:18:28.80\00:18:30.67 What's more, 00:18:30.71\00:18:32.04 the infrastructure was showing its age. 00:18:32.07\00:18:36.48 When I used to enter this school, 00:18:36.51\00:18:37.91 I used to see all those old structures, 00:18:37.95\00:18:40.92 windows falling down, doors falling down, 00:18:40.95\00:18:43.28 walls crumbling down 00:18:43.32\00:18:45.35 and gave a very pathetic picture of the whole school. 00:18:45.39\00:18:50.96 And I could guess 00:18:50.99\00:18:52.33 how children must be feeling sitting in old, 00:18:52.36\00:18:56.33 means, all broken, floor broken, 00:18:56.36\00:18:59.33 roof falling and that kind of classroom, 00:18:59.37\00:19:02.00 so whether their morale is lifted up or brought down. 00:19:02.04\00:19:07.44 And that's why I felt that these buildings in this school 00:19:07.48\00:19:11.78 has to be removed and new ones have to come in their places 00:19:11.81\00:19:16.18 but then resources are always limited. 00:19:16.22\00:19:20.26 They don't have proper place to sit 00:19:20.29\00:19:23.22 because during rainy season roof leaks, 00:19:23.26\00:19:26.29 so we have to push their desk this side, that side, 00:19:26.33\00:19:29.40 so they find very difficult. 00:19:29.43\00:19:31.07 During summer season roofs are very low. 00:19:31.10\00:19:35.50 It is tin shed, tin roof so they feel very hot, 00:19:35.54\00:19:39.71 so they are uncomfortable. 00:19:39.74\00:19:43.04 The student population 00:19:43.08\00:19:44.41 soon outgrew all of the meeting places on campus. 00:19:44.45\00:19:48.15 They held assemblies in the cafeteria 00:19:48.18\00:19:50.19 but there wasn't enough space for everyone to sit, 00:19:50.22\00:19:52.75 forcing latecomers to stand in the back. 00:19:52.79\00:19:56.42 Students and staff began praying 00:19:56.46\00:19:58.49 that God would provide a solution 00:19:58.53\00:20:00.56 and they reached out to Maranatha for help. 00:20:00.60\00:20:03.30 After evaluating the needs, 00:20:03.33\00:20:04.97 Maranatha committed to building 00:20:05.00\00:20:06.63 a large elementary education center 00:20:06.67\00:20:08.77 on the Khunti campus. 00:20:08.80\00:20:11.47 In April of 2018, a small group of school staff, 00:20:11.51\00:20:15.48 Maranatha staff, 00:20:15.51\00:20:16.85 and community leaders met to pray 00:20:16.88\00:20:18.71 and conduct a ceremonial ground breaking of the new building. 00:20:18.75\00:20:23.32 Work at the site began immediately. 00:20:23.35\00:20:26.09 The Christmas Family Project 00:20:26.12\00:20:27.59 was the first of several volunteer groups to work 00:20:27.62\00:20:29.89 on the large structure. 00:20:29.92\00:20:32.13 When they arrived on campus, 00:20:32.16\00:20:33.66 volunteers immediately recognized 00:20:33.70\00:20:35.80 the dire need for new classrooms. 00:20:35.83\00:20:39.30 Here learning environment right now 00:20:39.33\00:20:40.67 is not as good as it could be. 00:20:40.70\00:20:44.87 And I think that the fact 00:20:44.91\00:20:46.91 that some Christians and followers of Christ 00:20:46.94\00:20:48.91 decided to come and do this for them, 00:20:48.94\00:20:50.91 shows how much Jesus actually loves them. 00:20:50.95\00:20:55.52 And I think that will make an amazing impact on them 00:20:55.55\00:20:57.52 and not just on this generation, 00:20:57.55\00:20:59.02 but on future generations to come. 00:20:59.05\00:21:01.69 In mere months, 00:21:01.72\00:21:03.06 an empty plot on the campus 00:21:03.09\00:21:04.76 was transformed into a beautiful structure 00:21:04.79\00:21:07.30 and the building was ready to dedicate. 00:21:07.33\00:21:10.30 Adventist Church leaders from all over India, 00:21:10.33\00:21:12.80 as well as Maranatha leadership attended the opening ceremony. 00:21:12.83\00:21:17.74 Along with students and guests, 00:21:17.77\00:21:19.37 more than a 1, 000 people gathered 00:21:19.41\00:21:21.38 for the ribbon cutting. 00:21:21.41\00:21:23.85 We are very much impressed 00:21:23.88\00:21:25.85 with the Maranatha building 00:21:25.88\00:21:28.65 that has been just today inaugurated. 00:21:28.68\00:21:31.79 And today, 00:21:31.82\00:21:33.19 it was excited moment that the students are so happy 00:21:33.22\00:21:37.46 to receive this building and we praise God. 00:21:37.49\00:21:41.23 And we have got 12 rooms and its beautiful auditorium. 00:21:41.26\00:21:48.04 And we know that these students who are eager 00:21:48.07\00:21:53.78 and they long to see this building. 00:21:53.81\00:21:56.18 They didn't have 00:21:56.21\00:21:58.75 enough classrooms 00:21:58.78\00:22:00.82 and didn't have the auditorium 00:22:00.85\00:22:03.35 and it will be a history for the church 00:22:03.39\00:22:07.62 to have such a beautiful building 00:22:07.66\00:22:10.03 that has been given by Maranatha, 00:22:10.06\00:22:12.29 and we are happy 00:22:12.33\00:22:13.66 of these volunteers and the donors 00:22:13.70\00:22:16.26 who have given this beautiful building. 00:22:16.30\00:22:20.97 The new building has also gained the interest 00:22:21.00\00:22:23.00 of passersby who were curious 00:22:23.04\00:22:24.87 about the construction of the large facility. 00:22:24.91\00:22:28.34 The community here, 00:22:28.38\00:22:30.01 they have been first wondering as to what this building is, 00:22:30.05\00:22:33.18 but when they saw lately the sign it is written, 00:22:33.21\00:22:36.99 Sue Krueger Elementary Education Center. 00:22:37.02\00:22:40.09 They knew that this is something great. 00:22:40.12\00:22:42.46 And we told them 00:22:42.49\00:22:43.83 that this is the elementary section 00:22:43.86\00:22:45.96 where your children are going to study here 00:22:45.99\00:22:48.00 and they were so excited and said 00:22:48.03\00:22:49.76 and they are going to send more of their... 00:22:49.80\00:22:51.77 And now this will be from the community 00:22:51.80\00:22:53.77 from far when they look at it. 00:22:53.80\00:22:55.50 There is an elementary education center in our school 00:22:55.54\00:22:58.57 and more students of the little ones 00:22:58.61\00:23:00.91 will be here with us. 00:23:00.94\00:23:02.28 The new structure contains 12 classrooms, 00:23:04.38\00:23:06.82 allowing elementary grades to be housed together. 00:23:06.85\00:23:10.82 In the center of the building is a large open area 00:23:10.85\00:23:13.56 that can accommodate assemblies and chapels. 00:23:13.59\00:23:15.69 On Sabbath, 00:23:15.72\00:23:17.06 the space can be used for church. 00:23:17.09\00:23:20.03 With more space, 00:23:20.06\00:23:21.40 the school will be able to accept 00:23:21.43\00:23:22.76 more children next year. 00:23:22.80\00:23:25.23 That's one of the only English speaking schools in the area. 00:23:25.27\00:23:28.20 Families are eager 00:23:28.24\00:23:29.57 for their children to attend Khunti 00:23:29.60\00:23:31.14 where they also learn about Jesus and the Bible. 00:23:31.17\00:23:35.01 Overall the goal for the students 00:23:35.04\00:23:37.71 is that they learn about Jesus. 00:23:37.75\00:23:41.22 We have been talking about to them in the class, 00:23:41.25\00:23:44.89 and in turn, few of them, you know, at the end, 00:23:44.92\00:23:48.46 as they rise up from one class to the another, 00:23:48.49\00:23:53.09 they will see the glory of God from the teachers coming out. 00:23:53.13\00:23:58.00 And the goal is to prepare them for the heavenly kingdom. 00:23:58.03\00:24:01.10 We are so much thankful for the Maranatha donors, 00:24:04.21\00:24:08.71 the volunteers, 00:24:08.74\00:24:10.08 those who have been coming and visiting our campus 00:24:10.11\00:24:13.18 and working, you know, 00:24:13.21\00:24:14.55 and they have a great impact on our children. 00:24:14.58\00:24:17.25 And we like to thank all the volunteers 00:24:17.29\00:24:20.26 those who came all the way 00:24:20.29\00:24:22.09 from different parts of the country 00:24:22.12\00:24:24.96 and to the world and to this place 00:24:24.99\00:24:28.00 to just to serve our school and the students of our school. 00:24:28.03\00:24:32.27 Thank you so much. 00:24:32.30\00:24:34.54 Thanks to the generous support of Maranatha donors 00:24:34.57\00:24:37.21 as well as the hard work of more than 100 volunteers, 00:24:37.24\00:24:40.44 students at the Khunti Adventist School 00:24:40.48\00:24:42.51 have beautiful new classrooms. 00:24:42.54\00:24:45.51 Maranatha needs your continued support 00:24:45.55\00:24:47.85 to provide more opportunities 00:24:47.88\00:24:49.45 for Christian education in India. 00:24:49.48\00:24:51.62 Consider making a gift 00:24:51.65\00:24:53.05 to help us build more schools in India. 00:24:53.09\00:24:55.49 To give, visit maranatha.org 00:24:55.52\00:24:58.09 or call the number on your screen. 00:24:58.13\00:25:00.00 This summer head over to Kenya 00:25:10.61\00:25:12.47 for a special mission trip 00:25:12.51\00:25:13.84 at the Kajiado Adventist School and Rescue Center. 00:25:13.88\00:25:16.44 From June 11-23, 00:25:16.48\00:25:18.01 we're looking for volunteers 00:25:18.05\00:25:19.38 to help construct classrooms on campus. 00:25:19.41\00:25:22.02 The classrooms will serve students 00:25:22.05\00:25:23.39 entering high school. 00:25:23.42\00:25:25.05 Most of the students are girls 00:25:25.09\00:25:26.59 who have escaped childhood marriage 00:25:26.62\00:25:28.42 and now live at the rescue center. 00:25:28.46\00:25:30.53 Volunteers will also coordinate local outreach 00:25:30.56\00:25:32.89 such as health education and children's programs. 00:25:32.93\00:25:36.10 Also in June, 00:25:36.13\00:25:37.47 give your children the experience of a lifetime 00:25:37.50\00:25:39.67 by joining us on our annual family project. 00:25:39.70\00:25:42.60 From June 17-28, 00:25:42.64\00:25:44.27 we're taking a team to Arequipa, Peru 00:25:44.31\00:25:46.68 where we'll be building a new church 00:25:46.71\00:25:48.21 for the Los Portales congregation. 00:25:48.24\00:25:50.48 We'll also organize plenty of community outreach, 00:25:50.51\00:25:52.71 including medical and dental clinics 00:25:52.75\00:25:54.25 and health education. 00:25:54.28\00:25:56.12 Family projects are specially designed 00:25:56.15\00:25:58.02 for people of all ages, 00:25:58.05\00:25:59.69 and even includes a day camp program 00:25:59.72\00:26:01.46 for volunteers under 12 years old. 00:26:01.49\00:26:04.13 Learn more about these mission trips 00:26:04.16\00:26:05.49 and many others 00:26:05.53\00:26:06.86 on our website at maranatha.org. 00:26:06.90\00:26:09.00 The numbers may be bigger, 00:26:20.88\00:26:22.41 the impact may have increased, 00:26:22.44\00:26:24.35 but one thing remains constant. 00:26:24.38\00:26:27.45 God guides our work. 00:26:27.48\00:26:29.48 He guides us to every congregation 00:26:38.83\00:26:40.90 who has been praying for a new place of worship. 00:26:40.93\00:26:43.57 To every father hoping for their children 00:26:49.47\00:26:51.77 to have a better future. 00:26:51.81\00:26:53.17 To every mother 00:26:57.28\00:26:58.61 looking for clean water for their family. 00:26:58.65\00:27:00.52 To every volunteer 00:27:04.19\00:27:05.75 searching for transformation through service. 00:27:05.79\00:27:08.62 This is our mission. 00:27:28.64\00:27:30.01 And through Christ, 00:27:32.91\00:27:34.25 we will continue to think big for the kingdom. 00:27:34.28\00:27:37.42