Participants: Shelley Quinn (Host), William & Nancy Mack
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY016058A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:29 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people. 01:07 Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn 01:08 and we welcome you once again to 3ABN Today 01:11 on the mending broken people network, 01:13 and let me just pause 01:14 and take a moment to express our great appreciation 01:17 to each one of you who support this ministry 01:20 by your prayers and your finances. 01:23 Thank you so much because without you 01:25 there would not be a mending broken people network. 01:28 We are going to be talking today 01:30 about people who don't always have a hope or future. 01:36 We're very blessed, 01:38 those of us who live in developed countries 01:40 because what we have to our advantage 01:45 is so many opportunities that are available to us 01:50 and I remember once 01:51 even though I live in the United States 01:53 when I was feeling a little downcast 01:55 and without hope 01:56 that the Lord led me to a beautiful scripture 01:59 and He really encouraged and inspired me 02:03 through this scripture. 02:05 These are the words of the Lord and as I read Jeremiah 29:11, 02:09 just listen as if God were speaking to you. 02:12 He says, "For I know the thoughts 02:14 that I think toward you, says the Lord, 02:16 thoughts of peace and not of evil, 02:18 to give you a future and a hope." 02:23 We have all kinds of advantages 02:26 if we live in developed countries, 02:28 but there are children in the world 02:30 who are living in undeveloped countries 02:32 who have no advantages in life and they need to know 02:37 that God can give them a future and a hope. 02:40 And we are going to be talking with our special guest today. 02:43 Let me just go ahead and introduce them to you. 02:45 This lovely couple is working with the program in India 02:49 and it's called Adventist Child India, 02:53 and you are there to give children a hope. 02:58 Nancy Mack, welcome to the program. 03:00 Thank you. 03:01 It's so wonderful to have you here 03:03 and your husband William Mack. 03:05 Now, William, 03:07 you are the director for Adventist Child India. 03:09 Yes, and I need to give credit to Nancy 03:11 'cause she is the assistant director. 03:13 And she is the assistant. Work together as a good team. 03:16 That's wonderful. 03:17 Well, we're going to be excited to hear 03:19 a little of your personal story 03:21 and how God brought them to India, 03:23 but first we know how much you love music, 03:27 and so we're going to have a beautiful song 03:30 played for us on the piano by Johann Sentana 03:33 and the song is, "This is my Father's world". 07:16 That was Johann Sentana 07:17 and I'm just so glad that he uses his talent 07:20 for the glory of the Lord, that was beautiful. 07:22 Well, if you're joining us just a few moments later, 07:24 our special guests today are Nancy and William Mack. 07:28 And we want to get to know you little personally 07:32 before we jump into what you are doing, 07:36 the work that you're doing right now. 07:38 Nancy, just give us a little nutshell 07:42 who's Nancy Mack, 07:43 did you grow up in a Christian home? 07:45 Tell us a little of your history? 07:46 Well, first I'm a wife to William Mack 07:50 and I have three children that are all grown, 07:53 and I was raised in the Christian home 07:55 and a missionary's home, 07:57 and we had a lot of fun traveling and seeing the world, 08:01 and helping people learn about Jesus. 08:05 Amen. Amen. 08:06 So when you are out working in the field 08:11 with your parents in the world field, 08:14 how early on did your relationship with the Lord 08:18 become real to you, 08:20 not just something handed down by your parents, 08:22 not just something your parents believe, 08:24 but when did Jesus become real to you? 08:27 I think it was a time when my... 08:28 I always felt I was a Christian 08:30 and I always wanted to be a Christian, 08:32 but I don't think I really had a personal walk with Jesus 08:34 until about a month before my mother passed away, 08:37 and she proceeded to tell me 08:39 that I didn't need to get to heaven 08:41 on my dad shirttails because my dad was a Christian 08:44 that I needed to have my own walk 08:46 and that's when I was about probably around in my 40s, 08:50 so I mean I always thought I was a Christian, 08:52 but when I personally had my walk 08:53 was around when I was in my 40s or mid 40s. 08:54 Amen. Amen. 08:56 So you were living a Christian lifestyle 08:57 just hadn't made that real heart to heart connection. 09:00 Correct. 09:01 And you know, that's true for a lot of people 09:03 who've been in church for many, many years 09:05 and then one day just kind of, 09:07 you know, it's a cultural thing, 09:08 they're used to it, they have good morals, 09:11 but it's when they develop that personal relationship 09:14 that it really is meaningful, and how about you William? 09:17 Okay, I grew up also in an Adventist family. 09:20 Okay. 09:21 My parents were involved in the Adventist school system 09:24 and that was in California, 09:26 so grew up as my dad being a teacher 09:29 and then my principal 09:30 which is not so fun at times then. 09:32 Yeah, I'll bet. 09:34 You get called to the principal's office... 09:35 You try not to, 09:37 as you get it at home also then, 09:39 but so you know, went to Adventist schools 09:42 all through from grade school up through last year of college 09:45 and self so. 09:47 Yes, you know, I'm glad for that background. 09:50 And when did it become real for you? 09:54 It also probably later in life too, 09:56 because again, you know, my dad is a strong influence 09:59 and again, you know, it can't be just what he says 10:03 but has to be coming from you so. 10:05 It was more recently again too, 10:07 may be almost coming to India really then 10:09 were things just got a little more real 10:12 and vivid and saying you know, 10:15 just get closer to the Lord, and that kind of thing then so. 10:19 So how did you end up in India? 10:24 So who wants to answer that one? 10:26 Whoever feels like? You. 10:27 I think that I had started going back to India 10:32 to do humanitarian service helping somebody get a cow 10:36 so that they will have some milk to be able to sell, 10:39 helping children get shoes, 10:41 helping children to get uniforms so they go to school. 10:44 And about four years ago we were called to go 10:49 and head up the Adventist Child India program. 10:52 Now I was sort of, sort of happy about it, 10:55 but I wasn't too sure how my husband would feel, 10:57 he never been to India. 10:59 So the last humanitarian service that I did in India, 11:03 he came at the end of my programs 11:05 and we traveled for about three weeks 11:08 throughout India, 11:09 and when we were through I said to him, 11:11 "Will, so what do you think?" 11:13 And he says, "Yeah, I think I could live there, 11:14 it's a pretty cool place." 11:15 Wonderful. 11:17 So that's how we finally arrived in India 11:20 and started our work there with helping children. 11:22 All right, so tell us about Adventist Child India? 11:26 Okay. 11:27 This is a child aid program 11:30 that was started by Dorothy Watts. 11:32 She worked in India for a long time 11:33 and had saw the need of poor Adventist children 11:38 that would never be able to get an education 11:40 in Adventist schools, 11:41 just like here Adventist school are not free in India, 11:45 you know, there are private schools 11:47 and they cost, so we try to help literally 11:50 the poorest Adventist layman's children 11:52 who have no benefits and we try to help them get the education 11:56 that they never receive. 11:58 And so we're connected 12:00 with the school system in India. 12:03 There are many day schools and boarding schools, 12:06 about 280 total. 12:08 We're only connected with the boarding schools. 12:10 And that was Dorothy's idea we haven't changed that then, 12:15 so we're connected with the schools 12:17 that are outside the cities then, you know, 12:19 the villages and children come from there 12:22 and learn to speak English. 12:25 They would be coming 12:27 probably with may be two changes of clothes 12:30 and sometimes you know, barefoot that kind of thing, 12:32 so this is the ones that we're trying to reach in and help. 12:35 But okay, these are the poorest of the poorest you said. 12:38 And is there a reason 12:39 why she chose to do the boarding school atmosphere 12:44 rather than a home atmosphere. 12:46 Yeah, I think like yeah, 12:48 I think the reason why is when you're poor, 12:50 you may only get one meal a day 12:51 and in the boarding school you'll get three, 12:54 and if you have no place to sleep maybe 12:56 or you have to be crammed into small little house 12:59 you'll have a bed, 13:01 you'll have a place to sleep each night, 13:02 and you'll be able to have an education, 13:04 and have the atmosphere 13:06 of being able to be part of a group. 13:10 So how do you find these children? 13:12 Okay, good question. 13:14 Probably two ways, 13:16 the local pastors would be used and helpful to, 13:20 because they are the ones in the churches 13:21 that know these families then, so... 13:24 So these are all children of Adventists? 13:27 Yes, yes, yes they are, 13:29 so at least one of the parents needs to be Adventist then. 13:32 Maybe both don't have to be, but so you know, 13:34 the local pastor would know those families 13:36 that really need the help and sometimes 13:38 even the school principals that we work with, 13:41 they are gonna help people, you know, from their area, 13:43 and so that's how they would get recommended 13:46 towards them. 13:48 Okay, let me ask you this, Will, I'll direct this to you 13:51 because Nancy's parents worked in the fields of India 13:55 for sometime and she was accustom to it. 13:58 What was your first impression other than it's a cool place, 14:01 'cause it's so different. 14:03 What did you see that may have shocked you 14:07 or concerned you, what kinds of things 14:11 when we're talking about the poorest of the poor, 14:13 how do these children live? 14:15 They literally live in mud brick huts, 14:20 houses you might call them, 14:22 then they might have thatch roofs 14:24 and in the North East it's a little different, 14:28 they might have bamboo walls 14:30 with like a corrugated tin roof, that kind of thing. 14:33 So this is the kind of housing they would have 14:35 and they might cook on an open fire, 14:38 you know, for their meals and all, 14:39 and so that definitely was, you know, new and you know, 14:45 just said wow, this is, 14:47 if we can help these kind of people, it's great. 14:49 I actually had a little bit of experience before that. 14:53 For one year I was a student missionary in Africa, 14:55 and you know, 14:57 between my junior and senior in college. 14:59 So I had seen some of that then so it wasn't quite as shocking 15:02 to see it the very first time, but... 15:05 But do they have clean water sources there? 15:08 In most places they do now... 15:10 Most of the time. Most of the time. 15:11 They will have the drinking water 15:12 and they will have the water that they bathe 15:14 and take care of other stuff. 15:17 We tend to drink from a bottle. 15:20 We buy our water bottles and we take them with us, 15:23 because we're not used to when you travel 15:26 and you have different water sources 15:28 you don't, even if they're clean, 15:30 you may not always get along with the water, so. 15:34 Yeah, I'm understanding exactly what you are saying. 15:36 You want to be safe. 15:37 We've done enough traveling to know that. 15:39 So how many years have you been there now? 15:42 You've been there three years. 15:43 Yep, just a little over three 15:45 and we're thinking at least five 15:47 and more than that if we can we'll figure that out 15:51 as the time moves on here. 15:52 And how many children Adventists the child, 15:59 or excuse me The Child India, 16:01 how many children are you helping? 16:02 Okay, it's close to about 2200 now then, so it's a lot. 16:07 Oh, my. It's a lot. 16:09 That we are involved in 17 of the 29 states in India 16:14 and 38 boarding schools, 16:16 so that they are divided up these 2200 children divided up, 16:19 some may have 20 in one school, 16:20 some may have 200 in other school, 16:22 but 38 boarding schools throughout India. 16:25 So can you give us an idea 16:27 of what your work schedule might be, 16:29 do you try to travel to each of these schools? 16:33 We do. We travel many ways. 16:37 The easiest way is by plane and that's very rare, 16:41 but when we have to go very far, 16:43 then we do take the train, a plane 16:45 because a train would take too long 16:46 and our time is valuable. 16:48 We travel by rickshaw which is a three wheeled vehicle. 16:52 We travel by local bus, county bus, Volvo bus, 16:59 we travel by car and we travel by train, 17:02 so there is many different ways of traveling 17:05 and it depends on what school we're going to, 17:08 in a car we drive, we have a car 17:10 that we are able to go to some other schools with. 17:13 And how often do you, 17:14 are you going around to these different schools? 17:16 Okay, it's once a year. All right. 17:18 And occasionally it's twice here 17:20 in some of the may be closer schools, 17:21 but once a year so that's 38 times to go 17:25 and you know... 17:27 So that's part of our schedule certainly then is 17:29 not always in the office work out, 17:31 and of course it's fun to meet the children 17:33 and to see what's going on 17:35 and the administrators of the schools 17:36 and the teachers you know, 17:38 just make sure things are going well. 17:40 Well, I know you were here in 2014, 17:44 and you were telling us the story, 17:46 you shared a story about three young ones. 17:49 I think the first one was Ibha, 17:51 it's that how you said her name. 17:53 Yes, Ibha has finished her high school 12th standard. 17:57 Can you give us a little bit of her background? 17:59 Ibha came from the north east and she started 18:02 with the Adventist Child India program 18:04 in her fourth grade. 18:06 Came from a place where she was an orphan 18:09 and one of our lay workers request, 18:12 asked her she'd like to go to boarding school 18:14 and she chose to say yes, and she came into our program. 18:18 In India when you are 10th grade comes along 18:21 and you're finished 10th grade, 18:22 you have to choose either science or arts. 18:26 And that's where you decide 18:27 what school you're going to go to, 18:29 so she chose science 18:31 and she is now in a college in Ottapalam, Kerala 18:35 and she is taking nursing, 18:37 so we're really excited about her. 18:39 And Kima, he also is an orphan. 18:44 He has one brother, but he's very busy 18:47 and he doesn't have a lot of money to help Kima, 18:49 but Kima is now finished just 12th, 18:52 he would also took science, 18:54 but what happened was is that 18:56 when he was about to take the exam, 18:58 they cancelled the exam 19:00 and so he wasn't able to take the exam, 19:03 and the college was starting, he goes, what do I do now. 19:06 And we had a very wonderful man 19:08 who helped us get him into Surat 19:11 and he's doing his BBS. 19:13 So we're happy about him and he's doing really good 19:15 and then the last one was Alex. 19:17 He is still in grade school. 19:19 He's probably around I think in fifth or sixth grade now 19:23 and he's doing really well. 19:24 I talked about how he always seem to lose his shoes, 19:28 and every time I go back, I'll say, Alex, 19:31 I bought you shoes, what happened to the shoes. 19:32 And he go, I don't know, he's still doing that. 19:35 I don't know and so we have sort of joke upon him 19:39 because all he wants us to take and buy him chocolate, 19:43 and last year I wasn't able to go 19:45 and Will was and he hounded my husband 19:48 until he took Alex to get his chocolate, so... 19:51 He loves chocolate. 19:53 Alex and I get along really well. 19:57 So what do you find that these children, 20:02 I mean you're talking about orphans 20:03 or you're talking about often 20:04 that's children from larger families 20:06 that are, they're malnourished. 20:09 When they go into these boarding schools, 20:12 obviously you are giving them an education 20:15 in just a step up because they are learning English, 20:19 they're learning about so many different things, 20:24 but what did these children need? 20:28 Do they have in addition to the education, 20:32 what is that you find is universal 20:34 that all children need? 20:35 I think that what I have come up with 20:37 is that every child, 20:40 if I sat down with them and talk with them 20:43 for a few minutes in our program, 20:45 they would all have three things 20:46 that they really want. 20:48 They want to be believed in. 20:49 they want to be loved, and they want to trust, 20:52 have somebody they can trust in. 20:53 And so we're hoping that with being the mentors 20:57 and helping them with the... 21:00 showing them that we care and we love 21:02 and we want them to trust us 21:04 and we'll do what we can to help them 21:06 that they will be able to succeed in life 21:08 and be happy. 21:09 Amen. 21:10 Now you had some pictures of Ibha and Alex, 21:12 don't you I think? 21:14 Not this time, I'm sorry. Okay, it's okay. 21:15 But I do have a picture of young lady 21:18 that I'd like to tell her story. 21:19 She just came on the screen and her name is Sonia. 21:23 Sonia is an amazing young lady I just got to meet her 21:28 this last winter. 21:30 It was January, February. Yes. 21:31 How old is Sonia? 21:33 Sonia is about 15, and she's in ninth grade, 21:37 and she's going to school up in the north east. 21:40 And her story is where she came from a very, very happy home, 21:45 I mean, she was loved dearly. 21:47 She and her siblings, they were all very close, 21:49 very loving, and she had some friends 21:52 that were gonna go away to a boarding school, 21:54 and she and they kept saying, come on, come join us, 21:56 let's go to the boarding school together. 21:57 We'll have so much fun, it's really cool school. 22:00 So she finally went to her parents 22:01 and asked if she could go 22:02 and her parents were very happy about it, 22:04 and said, sure, no problem, go. 22:06 So she went and when she got there, 22:09 she saw a lot of difference 22:11 in the way people were living there 22:13 and the way they were doing their things in life 22:17 and questions came up, and one of the girl said to her 22:21 well, why don't you come with us to this class we go to 22:24 and learn about why we behave and act in a different way, 22:28 and so she went and she was really surprised 22:32 that so many things were different 22:34 than how she had been raised, and she chose to step up 22:38 and choose to follow this new way of living 22:41 and was so excited. 22:45 And this was the Adventist lifestyle? 22:46 Yes, the life of... 22:47 Adventist lifestyle, and so when Christmas came, 22:50 she went home and they had a great reunion, 22:53 they were so excited to see her. 22:54 They have all the family and relatives come 22:57 and they had a big party and they went out 22:58 and did all kinds of things and then Friday came along 23:02 and she started prepare for her new faith in her, her Sabbath. 23:06 And her mother came into the room and said, 23:08 what are you doing? 23:09 She says I'm getting ready for my Sabbath 23:13 and she goes, no, that's coming up on Sunday. 23:17 This is going to be Saturday, you're confused, 23:19 and she goes, "No I'm not confused mommy. 23:22 I found out 23:23 that the true Sabbath is on Saturday." 23:27 Well, the mother got very angry and went and told the father, 23:32 and the father came in and try to drill in her that, 23:36 no you had to leave the faith. 23:38 You have to come back to our faith. 23:40 You need to be baptized back into our faith. 23:42 You have no right to do this. 23:44 You belong to our family and she kept saying, no, 23:47 I can't do this please, 23:49 I cannot do what you want me to do." 23:51 And finally he said to her, 23:53 "Sonia, if our faith is not good enough for you, 23:59 then we must not be good enough parents for you, 24:02 and so we are no longer your parents. 24:06 Get out of our home, go away, you're disowned." 24:10 Bless her heart. 24:11 So what does this little girl do? 24:13 She was devastated and she loved her family, 24:16 but she knew she couldn't go back to way she was... 24:19 You know, isn't that amazing in 15 years old 24:22 to have that kind of ability to hold on to your faith, yeah. 24:27 So she found one of her friends 24:28 so he was willing to give her a little bit of money 24:30 and she took the bus back to the school, 24:33 and when she got there Mr. Seth saw her there 24:36 and he says what are you doing back school's not started yet. 24:38 She told him a little story and he said, 24:41 "Oh, my goodness, no problem, you can stay here, 24:44 eat with my family and you're gonna be okay. 24:46 We'll take care of you. 24:47 You're not going to leave the school. 24:49 You will still be able to go to school here. 24:51 We'll figure out a way." 24:52 And that's when Will and I, 24:54 William and I got into the picture. 24:55 We went up to the school to visit it 24:58 and he introduced us to this young lady. 25:00 And Sonia told us her story and we looked at each other 25:04 and we said, we can't let this girl go. 25:06 And so Will says, "How would you like to become the family, 25:09 a family member 25:10 of the Adventist Child India program." 25:12 And she got a real big smile and she was so excited, 25:14 because she knew 25:15 that she was been accepted into this family 25:17 that wanted to live like her. 25:20 Amen. 25:21 And that's such an inspiring story. 25:23 I mean there's that element of sadness, 25:26 but to think that as I said someone at 15 years old, 25:29 just hope that when the time comes 25:32 that all of us can have that same resolve, 25:36 so now you have some more students 25:39 that you want to share obviously? 25:41 Well, we have some more slides, 25:42 I think that would be nice to just sort of go through. 25:45 Will, why don't you say? Okay. 25:46 This is a bread, you know, 25:50 brick oven that we like to put in some more schools then, 25:52 they make chapatis 25:54 and may be even some actual loaves of bread. 25:56 And it's homemade. Yeah, this would be good. 25:58 This would be a typical kitchen 26:01 you know, cafe, for the cafeteria then. 26:03 Most of it occasionally gas, 26:05 but most of it's on over open fire. 26:07 And is this outdoors? Yes. 26:09 Yeah, outdoors then. 26:10 Sometimes they'll use huge buckets, 26:12 you know, tubs, not just small like you saw. 26:15 This would be a cafeteria, 26:17 so you know they're getting a good education, 26:19 but this is not luxury type thing, 26:21 this is, you know, bare-bones type of thing 26:23 but this would be... 26:25 But for some of them compared to what they came from, 26:26 it's probably is luxurious. 26:28 They also use a cafeteria as a study home. 26:32 They go there and study. Yeah. 26:34 This is a picture from the Irvine School 26:36 which now has a running water. 26:38 Before they had two wells, two hand pumps 26:42 and that's how the whole school operated on 26:44 and now they have running water 26:46 as of may be six months ago then. 26:50 One time we visited 26:52 and they have yearly sports days, 26:54 and so here the kids are playing volleyball. 26:59 And this has to do with some Christmas gifts. 27:02 All the children get Christmas gifts 27:04 from the program. 27:05 And here was backpacks and they call them school bags, 27:09 and also actually a copy of the Desire of Ages book. 27:13 Praise God. Yeah. 27:15 And here is again, 27:17 two boys having to share a plate in this case then, 27:20 but eating the rice and dal then and then they... 27:25 And can you imagine having to share a plate. 27:27 Yeah. 27:28 So that you can eat well, that was what the boarding school... 27:30 Sometimes, not all do, but someone had to do that. 27:32 And these are three students in the, 27:34 at nursing now, they graduate from 12, 27:37 this now in their first year of nursing 27:38 at the Ottapalam nursing school which is associated 27:41 with the local Ottapalam Adventist hospital. 27:43 And she is Ibha. 27:45 And that is Ibha in the centre there. 27:46 Oh, how precious. 27:48 Now let me ask you, 27:50 I'll just interrupt your pictures for just a second, 27:52 because you go from what grade to what grade 27:55 when you're supporting these children? 27:57 Good question, I now we hadn't talked about that yet. 27:58 Is lowest kindergarten 28:00 and they even have lower kindergarten 28:02 and upper kindergarten. 28:03 Some children starts lower 28:05 as early as about five years old or so then. 28:07 Alex was three. 28:08 Alex was three in fact and... 28:09 Now would these children be orphans 28:11 or would they have parents, 28:12 I mean how are they going off to boarding school at that age? 28:16 Well, Alex had a mother and a brother 28:18 but his father had removed himself from the family 28:21 and his mother could not take care of him 28:24 and his brother, and work. 28:26 She was a day laborer 28:27 and she would make about 100 rupees a day 28:31 which is about dollar and half max 28:34 that she would make per day. 28:36 So that's the reason why Alex was sent there at age three, 28:39 because his mom could not handle the taking care of him 28:43 and work at the same time. 28:44 All right, so three and then what, 28:46 to what grade are you supporting them? 28:48 Up to 12th. Okay. 28:49 And then may be we have a little bit time, 28:51 at some point we're going to talk about 28:54 being able to help college for the first time then, 28:56 but it has been for part timers. 28:57 Okay, so Ibha. Yes, Ibha is one of those then. 29:00 This is now you are, 29:01 are you helping to support her in college, 29:04 so we'll go back to that. 29:05 Let's finish up the pictures. 29:06 All right, may be just a few left. 29:08 This is typical classroom 29:12 in one or may be the poor schools 29:14 but there is still, you know, getting a good education and... 29:18 And they are neatly dressed, they're clean. 29:20 Yes, they have uniforms and. And they look healthy. 29:24 We definitely were told from the principals 29:26 that when they come back sometimes from, you know, home 29:29 that they gain weight at school, 29:30 they're eating better at school then. 29:32 Another school 29:33 where they don't have any desk or chairs yet. 29:35 Yeah. So they sit on the floor. 29:36 Yeah, not all of them are this way 29:38 but some of them are, 29:39 so this would be probably more like 29:40 about a second grade class here then. 29:43 So what does that mean to travel when they even, 29:45 even if they are not going off to college 29:47 just to learn how to speak English, 29:51 I mean they're learning truths about Adventist lifestyle 29:55 the Adventist faith, they're learning the truths, 29:58 I mean they're being educated with Maths and reading, 30:01 but what does it mean to them practically 30:03 just that when they get this education, 30:05 does that open doors for them now? 30:07 Good question. You go ahead and answer. 30:09 I think in a long run yes, but society is changing, 30:14 and India is becoming very, very educated minded, 30:19 and the people are wanting more than just 12th grade now. 30:22 They're wanting college, 30:24 they're wanting to be able to succeed in a masters or PhD 30:28 or all the things that we do here in the US, 30:30 they want to continue 30:31 and so that's what we have decided to do our new program 30:35 in the ACI program is to have a college fund 30:40 so that children in the ACI program 30:43 can continue their education and go into college 30:46 and that's what happened with Ibha, 30:47 and Kima and a few of the other children. 30:50 So, Nancy, the caste system 30:53 is still very much in place in India, correct? 30:56 Yeah, I think so, but there is changing. 30:59 We have a middle class now and if you have a... 31:01 But isn't that education is this the way out 31:05 is exactly the point I was going to make. 31:07 You can explain that yes, 31:08 it is definitely true that without education, 31:11 they're gonna stay where they're at, 31:12 and there is no hope of helping themselves 31:15 or the family in the future without education, 31:18 that's the way to get into the next level 31:20 or few steps up at least then. 31:21 And see I think 31:23 that so many of us here in the States, 31:24 we hear these stories of these rebels 31:29 if you will people who quit school early 31:31 but go out and make a big, 31:34 you know, splash in the world and do something, 31:37 but it's not so in India is it, without education 31:40 they are basically consigned to a life of day labor. 31:47 Probably yeah, 31:49 about 90 percent of that is true. 31:50 I think there is a few that have been able to climb out 31:52 by doing small little stalls like Chai stalls 31:56 and then getting bigger and bigger and bigger 31:58 and becoming like well not like starbucks, 32:01 but similar to, I know they would have a big store 32:04 where they have a lot of people join in and getting money 32:06 so they do bring themselves up that way also, 32:09 so there's a little of group that can do that but very few. 32:13 So tell us then, you've just recently started the college 32:17 and Ibha is one of them and who else he's got. 32:20 Ibha. Ibha. 32:21 Ibha and Kima. Ibha and Kima. 32:23 Yeah. Okay. 32:25 Tell us about that project? Let me do then, okay. 32:28 There is a nursing side of it and this is actually so new 32:32 that this is happening after we've left India 32:36 to promote the program here in the US, 32:37 so we're talking about June so really recent, 32:40 but we're gonna have more children in for nursing 32:45 as if we can find more sponsors, 32:46 of course that will help out 32:48 but a program will sponsor of them are self even. 32:52 So there is that aspect of it 32:54 and then the other would be for teachers, 32:57 so there is another college Adventist college 32:59 that we're gonna be involved with that 33:02 will hopefully we can start with at least 20 or 30, 33:05 and again school has just started over there then 33:10 and because the Adventist school system 33:12 needs Adventist teachers, 33:14 so that's definitely need that we've seen, 33:16 and so we're trying to help as many, you know, 33:20 students that are graduating from 12, 33:22 that want to be teachers, 33:23 and we will put them definitely through 33:25 for the four years of education degree that they will need. 33:30 All right, so you said that either they get sponsors 33:32 and you sponsor them. 33:34 Tell us a little about your sponsorship program? 33:37 How does Adventist Child India, 33:39 how are you setup your 501c3, tell us? 33:44 You want to answer some of them. 33:45 You can go ahead. Okay. 33:47 Yes, it is, it's 501c3... 33:48 Which means this is non profit. 33:50 Non profit organization then, 33:53 technically there is six of us that work, 33:56 there is Nancy and I with four staff members 33:58 that help us you know, 33:59 certainly don't do this by ourselves 34:01 and so we have good, four good staff members then, 34:03 but any donations is actually run through 34:06 the general conference of Seventh-day Adventists then. 34:08 And that money is collected before a few weeks 34:12 and then wired over to India type of thing then. 34:14 So that's how the donations happen then. 34:18 And what does it cost to sponsor a child? 34:20 Yeah, it is not much, 34:21 only a little over dollar a day. 34:23 This is from the kindergarten to 12th program then, 34:26 so they are really $35 a month or $420 a year. 34:30 So it money goes a long ways in India, 34:33 put it that way. 34:35 That's right, so if somebody were wanting 34:37 to sponsor a child, you know, 34:40 as I said, God says I have a plan for your life 34:44 to give you a hope and a future, 34:46 but quite often what the Lord does 34:49 is He works on people like you 34:52 and like me to be His hands, 34:56 His channel of blessing to help fulfill that plan 35:01 and that future. 35:02 He moves on our hearts to help, 35:04 so if somebody were wanting to become a sponsor 35:09 at $31 or 100 whatever you said a year. 35:14 How would they go about doing that? 35:17 Okay, well, we do go around and we go to churches 35:21 and the schools if we can, camp meetings, 35:24 and of course we talk about it 35:25 and give out pamphlets and all that, 35:27 but the main way, you know, 35:29 for those sitting at home watching then, 35:31 it would be going to the website 35:33 www.adventistchildindia.org. 35:37 Well, you said that really fast. 35:38 That's adventistchildindia.org. adventistchildindia.org. 35:42 And that hopefully it's a new one finally 35:46 that we've got, worked hard on that one, 35:48 and it's pretty clear about the steps that you would do 35:51 so you can actually mail in checks, 35:54 you know, to an address is given there 35:57 in Silver Spring, General Conference 35:58 or you could pay by credit card even then. 36:00 Okay, so and then they are collected 36:02 then it goes through the General Conference 36:04 so it is tax deductible. 36:06 And then the conference sent you the funds. 36:08 Now I believe you brought a video roll, did you not? 36:12 Why don't we show the video roll 36:14 and so we can get a little bit, 36:16 more better picture of Adventist Child India. 36:20 Sounds good. 36:45 I lost my mom at the age of three. 37:01 How can I study this expensive course? 37:16 I have no hope for an education. 37:32 I was born in a small village in the state of Meghalaya. 37:36 I lost my mom at the age of three 37:38 and my dad remarried. 37:40 Since he was remarried, I didn't stayed with him 37:43 and my uncle took me as one of his own daughter. 37:50 All the children that joined the ACI program 37:53 have their own story to tell 37:55 and the one thing that unites our children 37:59 is the gift of hope. 38:03 I'm a better person right now, 38:05 if it would have not been because of the ACI program, 38:07 I would have not been where I am today. 38:12 My mom only always doing work, getting 100 rupees per day, 38:16 how can I study this expensive course? 38:20 My father and mother, they are the one, 38:23 they're giving birth for me, 38:24 but you were the one you give life for me, 38:29 so in my lifetime onwards, I have two desires in my life. 38:34 I have to serve for the God, preach the word of God, 38:38 and serve the poor people. 38:43 My parents were separated when I'm in third grade, 38:47 my mom died later, and I have no hope for an education. 38:54 Your tax deductible contribution 38:56 of $35 a month is routed 38:58 to the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist. 39:00 Your contribution covers the cost of your child's books, 39:03 tuition, uniform, food and housing. 39:06 Of all 94 percent goes to the schools 39:09 for the children, 39:11 90 percent goes directly to your particular child. 39:14 Only six percent is used in the operating expenses 39:18 of Adventist Child India. 39:20 Four percent is used in the contingency fund 39:22 for those children who are waiting sponsorship. 39:26 In October 2012, I participated in the science exhibition 39:33 in Delhi and I won an award, 39:37 and I was presented a medal 39:41 by the president of India. 39:45 Since 2008, when I was class six, 39:49 unfortunately in the same year 39:51 my dad passed away in the bomb blast 39:54 and a year later my mom too passed away 39:58 since she has a cancer in child womb. 40:09 I'm so thankful and fortunate 40:13 that I was one of the sponsored child. 40:16 If it were not so, I will, 40:18 I won't have come up at this level where am I now. 40:23 And yes in the future, if it's possible, 40:28 I will also like to give back for those who are unfortunate 40:34 and help them. 40:38 Anybody can become an artist and paint a million pictures. 40:41 But only you can touch a heart. 40:44 I'm Nancy Madison Mack. And I'm William Mack. 40:47 Give our children an education. And give our church a future. 40:53 You know, as we were looking at that, I mean, 40:56 that's first time I've seen it, and the young man 40:58 whose father was killed in the bomb blast 41:01 and his mother died of cancer, 41:03 you know children in India if they are orphaned, 41:06 they'll not usually taken in by anybody. 41:09 There's quite a few that are just running on the streets, 41:12 so it's amazing to me to think that you have 2200 children 41:16 that you are now supporting in school 41:20 and even now with a plan 41:22 or the recent addition of taking them on to college, 41:25 so that they can truly support themselves well 41:30 and give back to their communities. 41:32 If you feel the Holy Spirit is tugging at your heart 41:36 and saying, I want you to help 41:39 or support a child for $35 a month 41:41 or any portion of that. 41:43 We want to give you the opportunity, 41:45 we'll put on the address so that you will know 41:48 how you may help Adventist Child India. 41:55 If you'd like to support Adventist Child India, 41:58 you can do so in a variety of ways. 42:00 You can write to them at Southern Asia Division, 42:03 PO Box 2, HCF, Hosur 635 110, 42:09 Tamil Nadu, India. 42:11 That's Southern Asia Division, 42:13 PO Box 2, HCF, Hosur 635 110, 42:19 Tamil Nadu, India. 42:21 Or you can call them at 301-680-6228. 42:26 That's 301-680-6228. 42:29 You can also visit them online at AdventistChildIndia.org. 42:34 That's AdventistChildIndia.org. 42:40 You know, just a little bit of help 42:43 can go so far in India to help these children. 42:46 You had a story that you wanted to share with us, Nancy. 42:50 Well, I'd like to talk about Chithayi and Pintu. 42:53 They live up in the north east and we went to the school 42:57 and the principal asked us if we would like to go 42:59 and meet the family, 43:01 so it was a 40 minute drive over bumpy horrible bridge 43:06 that didn't look like it was gonna stay up 43:07 while we're gonna cross, 43:09 and we finally got their home and you're thinking a home 43:13 where there is door and there is some windows 43:16 and no, that was not, 43:18 it was a mud hut with a grass roof 43:23 and but they met us and were so sweet to us 43:27 and they didn't had any chair so they went over to the church 43:30 and brought two chairs over and sat us down. 43:32 And we thought that was absolutely enough, 43:35 we didn't need anything else, but no the mother went 43:38 and got clean clear cool water and she came 43:41 and she washed both of our feet. 43:43 Oh, how precious. 43:44 And then she oil them, and not only did that 43:47 she do that, she prayed, she prayed over us, 43:52 and to me that was such an amazing thing 43:54 because we think we're going there to help 43:59 and bless somebody, 44:00 but we got so blessed when we're in that home, 44:03 because God is a very wonderful person 44:06 and showed us that there are people without 44:09 but they're still willing to give. 44:10 Amen. 44:12 That's beautiful, what a precious sentiment. 44:14 So I know we only have a couple more minutes left, 44:18 but you know, you meet people like this, 44:21 God is touching your heart 44:23 and we know that challenges are increasing. 44:27 Let's just put it this way. 44:28 The world is becoming more challenging place 44:31 by the day, 44:33 so if you had one thought what would you tell somebody 44:37 who's not sure what the Lord would have me be doing? 44:42 Get on their knees, pray and ask God to lead them 44:47 in what they need to do, because when you do that, 44:51 He does lead you. 44:53 He led Will and I to go to India to help children 44:56 and he'll lead each one of us who choose to follow him. 44:59 Amen. 45:01 You know that text Jeremiah 29:11 45:04 that's our favorite text too. 45:05 Is it? 45:06 That was the text in the morning watch 45:08 that we read 45:09 in the morning that we finally got our visa 45:11 to be able to go work in India, 45:12 and after months of trying and waiting and all that, 45:16 so that morning watch text was there Jeremiah 29:11, 45:20 and that afternoon our life changed 45:23 because we were able to get the visa to go to India, 45:25 so it means a lot to us also then. 45:27 I know it does. 45:28 Well, We're going to take a break. 45:31 We want to come back for closing comment with you 45:34 in just a moment, 45:35 but I hope that you realize 45:38 God has a hope and a future for you. 45:41 And if you feel like he may be asking you 45:46 to help a child in India, 45:48 you can support a child for just $35 a month, 45:51 that's an amazing thought 45:53 that you can bring somebody may be off the streets 45:56 and orphan who can then go on to, 45:59 I know a lot of your children come back 46:01 and help their villages. 46:03 We'll talk about that in a moment, 46:04 but right now we're gonna go to another song. 46:08 We have Johann Sentana 46:10 and he is such a talented pianist. 46:13 I just, I love his style, it's so light, 46:18 he's just got a beautiful way of playing the piano, 46:21 and he's going to play for us now, 46:24 "Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus". |
Revised 2016-09-26