Participants:
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY200048A
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00:02 As you're well aware,
00:03 we're living in unprecedented times. 00:06 Join us now for today's special program. 00:13 I want to spend my life 00:18 Mending broken people 00:24 I want to spend my life 00:29 Removing pain 00:34 Lord, let my words 00:40 Heal a heart that hurts 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:50 Mending broken people 00:55 I want to spend my life 01:01 Mending broken people. 01:15 Hello, friends, welcome to 3ABN Today. 01:18 My name is John Lomacang and to my right is my co-pilot. 01:22 I'm Angela Lomacang and welcome to 3ABN Today. 01:26 And truly the message is, 01:28 "I wanna spend my life mending broken people." 01:31 That's right. 01:32 And we have two exciting guests with us today. 01:34 Yes, we do. 01:36 We'll introduce you to them in just a moment. 01:37 But we always like to begin with a little housekeeping. 01:40 Yeah. 01:41 That is we thank you for your prayers 01:43 and all your financial support of this network 01:45 as we continue going and growing, 01:48 getting ready for the return of Jesus Christ. 01:51 It's exciting to know, Honey, 01:52 that every time we do a program, 01:54 we are one day closer 01:55 to the coming of the Lord, isn't it nice? 01:57 Oh, I'm so looking forward to that day. 01:59 And I know you are too. 02:01 And because we're looking forward to that day, 02:02 we have hope that the Lord is soon to come. 02:06 And on that segue, 02:08 our program today is "Impact Hope." 02:11 And we'll let you know in just a little moment 02:13 what that program is all about. 02:16 We're gonna introduce our guests. 02:18 Maybe let's do it right now 02:19 before the music, let's do that right now. 02:20 Thank you. Okay? Okay. 02:22 We'll start far across, Renee Harms. 02:27 Am I saying that correct? 02:28 Good to have you here, Renee. 02:29 Thank you. Nice to be here. 02:31 Yes. 02:32 A nutshell of what you do? 02:34 Well, I live in Walla Walla, Washington. 02:37 I'm sure that we have viewers 02:40 that are familiar with Walla Walla, Washington, 02:42 and I have been with Impact Hope 02:44 for a year. 02:46 Okay. 02:47 I've been working in nonprofit work 02:49 and in charity related work 02:51 for that's been my heart for since college 02:55 and so really excited to be part of a program 02:59 that I can absolutely get behind 03:02 and can see the results of that. 03:04 And love living in the northwest 03:08 where all of our, 03:10 you know, all of our team works in the northwest, 03:12 but it's fun to be in another part of the country 03:15 for a couple days. 03:16 So you're originally from the northwest? 03:18 Yes, I am. Okay. 03:19 Wow! Planted and grown. 03:21 Yep. Home grown. 03:22 Spent time in other parts of the country 03:24 which has been wonderful, 03:25 but keep going back to the northwest. 03:27 Okay. 03:29 And we have Liz Thompsen. 03:30 Yes. Welcome, Liz. 03:32 Share a little bit about you, 03:34 who you are and where you are from? 03:36 Well, I am from all over America. 03:40 I've lived in almost four corners of America 03:43 and loved it. 03:44 I enjoy meeting people. 03:46 I enjoy cultures, which is why I absolutely love missions. 03:50 So I've been working on mission projects, 03:54 probably since I was in college 03:55 and high school took my first mission trip 03:58 and I was hooked. 03:59 And I am back 04:00 and I'm with Impact Hope 04:02 as their special projects director 04:04 working with Mindy and Hans Thygeson. 04:06 And absolutely love what we do 04:09 and the work that people do 04:11 all around the world for these Congolese refugees. 04:14 Wow. 04:15 It's gonna be an exciting program. 04:16 I'm looking forward to it. That's right. 04:18 But before we go to the program, we have music. 04:20 Who do we have today, Honey? 04:21 We have Scott Michael Bennett, 04:25 and he's going to share a song with us, 04:27 "Go Light Your World." 04:38 There is a candle 04:43 In every soul 04:46 Some brightly burning 04:50 Some dark and cold 04:54 There is a Spirit 04:58 Who brings the fire 05:02 Ignites a candle 05:06 And makes His home 05:10 Carry your candle 05:14 Run to the darkness 05:18 Seek out the hopeless 05:22 Confused and torn 05:26 Hold out your candle 05:30 For all to see it 05:33 Take your candle 05:37 And go light your world 05:41 Take your candle 05:45 And go light your world 05:53 Frustrated brother 05:57 See how he's tried to Light 06:01 His own candle 06:05 Some other way 06:08 See now your sister 06:12 She's been robbed And lied to 06:16 She still holds her candle 06:20 Without a flame 06:24 So carry your candle 06:28 Run to the darkness 06:32 Seek out the lonely 06:36 The tired and worn 06:40 Hold out your candle 06:43 For all to see it 06:47 Take your candle 06:51 And go light your world 06:55 Take your candle 06:58 And go light your world 07:06 We are a family 07:10 Whose hearts are blazing 07:14 So let's raise our candles 07:18 And light up the sky 07:22 Praying to our Father 07:26 In the name of Jesus 07:30 Make us a beacon 07:34 In the darkest night 07:38 Carry your candle 07:41 Run to the darkness 07:45 Seek out the helpless 07:49 Deceived and poor 07:53 Hold out your candle 07:57 For all to see it 08:01 Take your candle 08:05 Go light your world 08:08 Take your candle 08:12 Go light your world 08:18 Take your candle 08:22 And go light your world 08:30 Go light your world 08:38 Go light your world. 08:50 Thank you so much, Scott. 08:52 That song is always indicative of the kind of program 08:54 we're doing today. 08:55 Go light your world. 08:57 And missions is always an opportunity 08:59 to light the world. 09:00 I mean, we've been on mission trips a lot. 09:02 We love mission trips, 09:03 and Africa is one of our favorite places to go. 09:07 And this ministry, their fieldwork is in Rwanda. 09:12 Well, once again, welcome Liz and Renee to 3ABN, 09:16 and just kind of give us an overview 09:18 because Impact Hope, 09:19 as we had a chance to talk about it 09:21 briefly before the program is an amazing ministry. 09:24 I'll give each, any one of you an opportunity 09:27 to kind of talk about its inception 09:28 and how it got started? 09:30 And really what the power behind this really is? 09:33 Our founder is Mindy and Hans Thygeson. 09:36 They heard about a Hope School in Rwanda back in 2014. 09:41 And they heard that it was about to shut down. 09:43 They went to go see it. 09:45 And they learned that the students 09:47 who were ninth graders wanted to continue education, 09:50 so they tried to create their own school. 09:53 They invited anybody to come and teach. 09:55 But the government found out 09:57 and said this isn't an accredited school 09:58 so they shut it down. 09:59 Oh, this was in the Congolese refugee camps? 10:01 In the Congolese refugee camps, yes. 10:03 And so Mindy and Hans went and saw this program 10:07 and they said, "We have to help these people." 10:09 These are mostly Adventist people 10:12 that are in these camps. 10:13 And so they came back and they said, 10:15 "We're gonna start a sponsorship program, 10:17 we're gonna find people to help them 10:19 to be able to continue education." 10:21 And that's how it was born in 2015. 10:25 So at that time 10:27 in these Congolese refugee camps 10:30 in Rwanda at that time 10:31 the school was only available to them 10:35 till the ninth grade, 10:36 which is why they had these students had, 10:39 had put this school together themselves. 10:41 School was only available till the ninth grade. 10:44 And so it happened to be 10:47 that there are no Adventist boarding schools 10:51 in the area. 10:53 In Rwanda, three four Adventist boarding schools 10:55 in Rwanda. 10:57 And Hans and Mindy said, "What can we do? 10:59 What are we doing 11:00 for our most of the Congolese refugees 11:02 are Seventh-day Adventist?" 11:04 From where they came 11:06 in the Democratic Republic of Congo 11:07 was mostly an Adventist area. 11:10 And so most of these Congolese were Adventist, and they said, 11:15 "What can we do to help these students 11:18 and to help them continue their education 11:20 and get them into a safe environment? 11:25 And provide an opportunity 11:27 for a different future for them?" 11:31 And that's where they started to impact them with hope? 11:35 Yes, absolutely. With this impact. 11:37 So whenever you start to impact a person's life, 11:41 especially when there's a desire there, 11:42 like you said, it was a desire 11:44 to continue learning and growing, 11:45 but the resources were not there, 11:47 and the accreditation was not there. 11:50 And that's a good mission. 11:51 So since 2015 Impact Hope has been going forward. 11:53 Yes. 11:55 And what I want to do, 11:57 before we go into the specifics of it, 11:59 I want to give our audience a chance to look at this video, 12:02 which kind of summarizes the ministry 12:05 and will give you an overview and understanding 12:07 of what Impact Hope is all about 12:09 and then we're gonna come back 12:10 and unpack the story in specifics. 12:28 Rwanda has worked hard to recover 12:30 from the brutal genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. 12:34 But refugees continue to flood into Rwanda 12:37 from neighboring Congo. 12:39 Terrorists often threaten, 12:40 beat or kill adults and children 12:42 as they attempt to escape the turmoil. 12:45 After decades of war, 12:47 many children are homeless 12:49 and missing parents or siblings. 12:51 And they said, "No, it's a trick 12:52 you're not a soldier." 12:54 Then they put my gun here. 12:55 They said, "You should be killed." 12:57 And in that moment I remembered, 12:59 I did not know how to pray 13:03 but in my heart I just kneeled down, 13:06 head down, then I said, "Oh, please my God help me. 13:09 If I escape this place, 13:11 I should serve you all the time." 13:13 My older brothers and sisters are still in Congo 13:17 because when the war was broken out, 13:22 I separated with them. 13:26 They run away. 13:28 Where, I don't know. 13:30 Until now I have never seen them. 13:34 The number of people fleeing Congo in 2016 13:37 surpassed the number of refugees 13:39 fleeing Syria in the same time period. 13:42 Yet the world knows little 13:43 of the current refugee crisis in Rwanda. 13:46 Now the total number of people in camps is nearly 80,000. 13:51 These refugees are trapped in desperate conditions 13:54 in makeshift homes with no running water, 13:56 sewer or electricity. 13:58 The refugees do not own land, 14:00 so have no way to raise their own food 14:02 or keep their own animals. 14:04 The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 14:07 provides enough for one meal per day 14:09 per person. 14:10 It is not a good place for human beings to live. 14:14 To find something to eat, 14:16 something to dress it is so hard. 14:19 The refugees desperately want a way 14:21 out of the camps, 14:23 but lack opportunity. 14:24 Relief organizations offer school in the camps 14:27 until grade nine. 14:29 Rwandan high schools are located in the cities 14:31 a long ways away from the camps. 14:33 Often when returning from class, 14:35 the students find nothing to eat 14:37 since the family has already eaten 14:39 the one meal provided. 14:41 Then the students have to get up early 14:43 and walk back to school on an empty stomach. 14:45 Brave girls who walk as much as five miles one way 14:49 risk assault or rape. 14:51 It happens routinely. 14:52 In this life that we live, 14:55 if you were uneducated pupil you cannot get anything. 15:01 When we found out that most of the people 15:03 in the camps were Seventh-day Adventists, 15:05 yet they had no hope to excel with an education 15:09 or to get a job. 15:11 We felt like we needed to do something. 15:14 In 2015, the Thygeson started Impact Hope, 15:18 an organization that sends at risk refugee youth 15:21 to safe boarding schools in Rwanda. 15:24 This gives the teens a chance for a high school education, 15:27 and also a place to be empowered by hope. 15:30 We feel passionate 15:31 about helping these refugee students 15:33 because we have been so impacted by them 15:37 out of their dire situations, 15:39 the hope and the crisis of life that they're living. 15:43 By helping them, 15:45 we've been incredibly blessed ourselves. 15:47 For most of the graduating refugees, 15:49 a high school diploma isn't enough to secure a job. 15:53 In 2017 Impact Hope 15:56 added a summer trade school program. 15:58 But summer program teaches permaculture, 16:01 hairdressing, sewing, plumbing and electrical. 16:04 These practical trades equip students 16:07 with a realistic way 16:08 to make a living when they graduate, 16:10 a way to finally break free from the refugee camps. 16:14 Impact Hope is making a difference 16:16 because all of our graduates so far 16:18 have either received university scholarships 16:21 for continuing education, 16:23 or they've received employment. 16:25 In the first year of the trade program, 16:27 350 students attended 16:29 the "Summer Trade School" program. 16:31 Now around 600 sponsored students 16:34 are enrolling in the trade school. 16:36 Still, more needs to be done. 16:39 With a donation of $50 a month, 16:41 we can immediately take a child out of a camp 16:44 and place them in a safe, secure boarding school. 16:48 A sponsor gives a young person an education 16:51 and a vocational skill, plus safety and enough to eat. 16:55 And all that in an environment 16:57 that will build relationships with Jesus 16:59 and create a life of service to those around them. 17:02 And there are even more students 17:04 who need help. 17:05 Each year, over 10,000 children from the refugee camps 17:09 miss out on a high school education 17:11 and the chance to learn a life changing trade. 17:14 Right now the doors to Rwanda are open. 17:17 But given their past, 17:19 we know that those doors can shut. 17:21 This is the time to do the work in Rwanda. 17:24 There are other ways you can help too. 17:26 You can volunteer, 17:27 pray and share with others 17:29 how students in Rwanda's refugee camps 17:31 find hope. 17:32 Visit impact-hope.org to find out more. 17:36 You can impact hope. 17:53 Oh, friends, that was an overview, 17:54 a wonderful overview of the Impact Hope ministry 17:57 and it really helps us to see. 17:58 You know, whenever we think about Rwanda, 18:00 we often think about the genocide. 18:01 And that's what stays in our minds. 18:03 That is true. Yeah, but it's different. 18:04 It's not like that anymore. 18:06 And what I like about this video 18:09 shows that they learn a trade. 18:11 It's so important, isn't it? 18:12 They gonna learn a trade. 18:14 Liz, as we talk about what we're seeing here. 18:17 It's good that we could use a different point of reference 18:22 to start scrubbing our brains 18:24 from just the genocide in Rwanda. 18:27 Talk about that? 18:28 I was encouraged 18:30 when I was able to visit Rwanda. 18:33 Flying in it is, Kigali is a beautiful, 18:36 a modern city. 18:38 And we came in and I'm like, this is just beautiful, 18:41 and it's so clean. 18:43 And they told me that once a month, 18:45 the entire country shuts down and cleans the entire country, 18:49 even the sides of the road. 18:51 Wouldn't that be nice? 18:52 Dirt, on the side of the road, they sweep it. 18:54 I mean, it is beautiful. 18:55 So it's the land of thousand hills. 18:59 And it's green, and it's on the equator. 19:01 It's a gorgeous country, and the people are so friendly, 19:05 and it's very safe. 19:06 And the weather's pretty good. 19:07 Yes, it's very temperate. Yes. 19:09 Between 70 and 85. 19:11 And this on the equator. Am I right? 19:13 Yeah. It's on the equator. 19:16 But that's very impressive to see, 19:19 because you look at the disparity, 19:20 all the refugees living in without water, 19:22 without electricity, without basic supplies. 19:26 Yes. 19:27 That the people that we often take for granted. 19:31 But by now starting the school, how do you pick your students? 19:35 That's one of the things that was coming to my mind, 19:37 because you know, you talked about the growth in numbers. 19:39 Sure. Right. 19:41 Either one of you could do that. 19:42 Yeah. So we work very closely. 19:44 We have Raya is our staff member 19:50 that works in Rwanda. 19:51 She's our program coordinator on the ground there, 19:53 a field worker. 19:54 And she works through ADRA and as our staff member. 19:59 And she works very closely with the camp administration. 20:05 There are several partners that run the refugee camps. 20:10 And are looking 20:12 at the education of the students, 20:15 work for the individuals there, 20:18 if there's anything any ways to get them to work 20:20 or immigrated or back to their countries, 20:22 all the things that are happening that are, 20:26 the partners, they're in the camp. 20:27 And so she works directly with 20:29 and they all work together about eight different entities 20:33 and they select students that are going to school 20:38 and they look at their how they're doing in school, 20:41 and they look at 20:43 what the opportunity is for them 20:45 to be able to leave the camp to go to boarding school 20:48 and they select the list for us. 20:50 They choose the highest scoring in the camps with their mark. 20:55 So because we started with the highest scores, 21:00 we started with a lot of boys in our program. 21:03 And we looked at that over the first two years. 21:06 And we said, you know, we really want to give 21:08 equal opportunity to the girl. 21:09 Amen. 21:11 So we even though there may be some boys 21:13 with a little bit higher scores in freshman year, 21:17 we wanted to give opportunity to girls. 21:18 So now our program is about 50/50. 21:21 And we want to empower girls 21:23 to be able to have a future just as well, 21:25 because many of the camps are filled with females. 21:29 And they need the opportunity to raise up their kids. 21:32 I do have to tell you one thing. 21:34 Yes, go ahead. 21:35 In the first two years, 21:37 we had two students in the Congolese refugee camp 21:40 that had the highest scores in the entire country 21:43 of all students in all over Rwanda 21:46 two highest scores, they're in medical school. 21:48 Amen. 21:49 Two of our Impact Hope students. 21:51 Oh. It was a blessing, a miracle. 21:53 The whole camp celebrated. 21:55 That's praise the Lord. 21:56 It gives you a sense of pride. 21:58 Yes, they just need the tools, they need an opportunity. 22:03 And the girls that as she was saying 22:05 that we have been focusing on the girls 22:07 because the girls education is not necessary, 22:10 it's not prioritized there. 22:12 And they are expected to do the housework, 22:14 take care of the family to, you know, 22:17 and so of course their grades are going to suffer, 22:19 their schooling is going to suffer 22:21 because they don't have the time 22:23 to put into their studies. 22:25 And so to give them a place to where they were, 22:28 school is the priority 22:29 is something that can change their, 22:32 you know, lift a community when the girls are educated. 22:34 Do you have orphans too in the school? 22:36 We do. Yes, many of our students. 22:39 We have students that were born. 22:41 Most of them have been born in the refugee camps. 22:44 Their parents came from the Congo. 22:46 Some have actually come in the last five years 22:49 from other countries 22:51 and they witnessed conflict and their parents were killed. 22:57 So we have orphans in our program. 22:59 There are many orphans in the Congolese refugee camp, 23:01 so we want to help as many as we can. 23:05 Now, Aurora, she's a reliable... 23:06 Araya. 23:07 Araya, she is a reliable person. 23:09 You need someone out there though. 23:11 Yes, she was actually a refugee herself 23:14 when she was a young child. 23:16 And she was able to come back to Rwanda and get educated, 23:20 she finished her masters. 23:21 What! 23:23 Now she helps run our program for refugees. 23:25 She's a perfect person. 23:27 And she has the biggest heart for kids. 23:29 Do we have a photo of her? We do. 23:32 She has a heart for these kids 23:35 that you know that you would not believe 23:36 she sees them, 23:38 talk to them every day 23:39 and so she is a critical link for us. 23:42 Since we live here in the States, 23:44 we are not there every day. 23:45 She is a critical link 23:47 to what's happening with these kids 23:49 and how we can best help them. 23:52 She's there with the students? 23:53 Yes, there with the students 23:55 Needs to be someone that has gone 23:56 through the program, 23:58 benefited from it now is giving back. 24:00 She has given her heart and soul for this program. 24:05 Tell us about Thygeson? Yes. 24:07 Mindy and Hans Thygeson? 24:08 Yes. Yes. 24:10 Our founders, they. 24:11 Hans is, owns a development company 24:13 in Portland, Oregon. 24:15 And Mindy is an OR nurse. 24:18 And they just have had a heart for years 24:21 that they wanted to do something. 24:23 And they're like, "Lord, show us what we should do." 24:25 And so one day an organization reached out 24:28 and said, 24:29 "You know, we heard about these people 24:31 in these refugee camps 24:32 and they're Seventh-day Adventists. 24:34 Do you want to come see what they're doing?" 24:36 And so Hans went to Rwanda 24:38 and learned about the program and it all started from there. 24:40 Wow. 24:41 Yeah, because they had a desire to do something. 24:44 This is one of the things that I think is so beautiful 24:46 about the program about God. 24:50 Because I just, it's amazing how we can see how God works, 24:56 you know, as He is limitless, He has power, 25:00 He is not limited by time or space distance. 25:04 And I've often thought of the, you know, 25:07 the story of the refugees from Egypt, 25:12 you know, the Israelites. 25:13 Israelites. Yes. 25:14 God said one day to Moses, "I hear the cries of My people. 25:19 And I need you to go and help bring My people out." 25:22 And here we have refugees in Rwanda, 25:26 they're way from their home and God said to Mindy and Hans, 25:30 these are people that I love, and you can help them. 25:35 And here we are. 25:36 Wow. 25:37 So we have a photo of the Thygesons, 25:39 I think you may have seen in the video. 25:40 But this is a picture of the Thygesons 25:42 right there to the left, 25:44 and the lady that's standing with him, who's that? 25:45 She's Mindy's mother, Argina. Okay, okay. 25:48 Big supporter, 25:49 she's been in Rwanda many times. 25:51 So it's a family passion. Yes, yeah. 25:53 It started as a family, 25:54 this family sacrificed years to make this program happen 25:58 on their own by themselves without help. 26:00 And so just this last year, 26:02 they brought together a team of people, 26:05 so that we can help lift them up 26:07 and support them and grow 26:09 and be able to help and support more sponsorship 26:12 in the students. 26:13 Beautiful. They have a big heart. 26:15 Yes. Yeah. 26:16 God's people are everywhere. 26:17 Now what about Gihembe, is that how do you say that? 26:20 The Gihembe Camp? Tell us about that? 26:21 Yes, it's one of the six refugee camps 26:25 that exist in Rwanda. 26:26 And this is one of the camps where our students come from. 26:31 The camps themselves they, as you saw in the video, 26:35 no electricity, no running water, 26:37 they have to haul water up hills, 26:39 to get them to their houses. 26:42 We, I visited there, 26:43 and one of our students took us into their home. 26:47 There, his father invited us in and they have, 26:50 they have nothing, they have one chair. 26:52 And then they make, 26:53 they make their little beds out of mud. 26:55 And the children all sleep on the floor. 26:57 And there's usually families of five to eight, 27:00 in one little hut. 27:01 So... 27:02 No bed? No beds, no. 27:04 When our students went to our refuge, 27:07 to our boarding schools, first time they had mattress, 27:11 ever slept on a mattress. 27:12 First time they ever had their own bed, 27:15 coming to our Adventist boarding schools. 27:18 Okay, I have to tell you this one thing. 27:21 One student that when he got on the bus for the first time, 27:25 left the camp, 27:26 and they got out onto the main highway, 27:28 he's like, "What is that black stuff?" 27:31 And he got out and he's stepping on it. 27:33 And he's like, what is this and they're like, it's asphalt. 27:35 Right. 27:37 And he's like, "I've never seen it, 27:38 I've never touched it." 27:40 It's incredible, 27:41 what we just don't understand 27:43 that they have never experienced. 27:45 And so when I went there and saw this 27:48 and saw that they've never seen a refrigerator, 27:50 they don't even know what a freezer is. 27:53 It was just, I mean, 27:55 the ability to be able to bring this, 27:58 to open this up to them is what our viewers are doing. 28:02 It's what the people are doing to give back 28:04 and to help shape their future. 28:06 It's amazing how much we take for granted. 28:09 You know, a refrigerator, 28:10 some houses have two living rooms. 28:12 Right. 28:14 You know, we have all these comforts, 28:15 creature comforts that we take for granted, 28:17 a mattress, 28:18 you know, we can choose the kind of mattress we want, 28:20 whereas people are making beds out of mud. 28:23 And we've seen a little bit of that 28:25 in some of the places we've gone. 28:26 Yeah, yeah. 28:27 But you have a few, 28:29 you have a few more pictures about this refugee camp. 28:31 As we go through those, describe what we're seeing? 28:33 Sure. Absolutely. Look at that. 28:35 And this is a picture of the Gihembe Refugee Camp. 28:38 And there are about 12,000 people that live 28:41 on the top of this hill in this camp. 28:43 But the view is beautiful. 28:45 Now is that brick or mud, what is that made of? 28:47 That is mud. 28:49 And then some of them have tin roofs, 28:52 very few though, 28:53 and others is just threadbare tarps. 28:57 And mostly the rain doesn't, 28:59 you know, they have rain that comes into their houses. 29:01 So these students have never, 29:04 they've never had like an actual building 29:06 that they've lived in. 29:07 So being able to have the opportunity 29:10 to leave the camp, it's just incredible. 29:13 Let's go to the next one about the refugee camp. 29:14 Oh, look at that. 29:16 This is where they all live together. 29:19 Right, a bunch of little houses. 29:22 And then the water flows right through. 29:24 See the canal there, 29:25 just to kind of keep the water from settling. 29:27 Their little showers there just... 29:30 What do they do to bathe? 29:32 Splash. 29:34 It's they just, they, when they find water, 29:36 they just clean themselves, but they're very clean people. 29:38 So it is incredible 29:40 how they take care of themselves. 29:42 So we are, we're so impressed 29:44 with just their determination to change their life. 29:47 I think we have one more of the camp 29:48 of refugee camp. 29:50 Yes, this is a group of our volunteers 29:52 that went over 29:53 for one of our vocational programs. 29:55 And we were able to visit the refugee camp. 29:59 So when we do bring volunteers over, 30:01 we introduce them to our students, 30:04 families at refugee camps, 30:06 and they get to see firsthand 30:08 what it's like to actually come from a refugee camp. 30:11 And these families had homes, they had farms in the Congo, 30:16 and it was just all taken. 30:18 And so this is where they live. 30:22 You know, good. 30:23 It's good to know that people can actually go over 30:25 and see what their funds are doing. 30:27 Yes. 30:28 And we're gonna reach out to our viewers 30:29 in just a moment here and our listeners 30:31 about how they can be a part of the sponsorship of this. 30:34 But it's good that people can go and see. 30:37 A lot of times ministries happen 30:40 and people say, "Well, I wonder 30:41 if I'm even making a difference." 30:45 Describe the facilities that you have here. 30:49 I don't know if we have, we'll go through those. 30:52 And maybe we'll come up along that. 30:53 But describe the facilities, I mean, on the campus you have, 30:56 do you have a number of campuses 30:57 or one major campus? 30:59 There are three Adventist schools, 31:01 Adventist boarding schools in Rwanda, 31:03 and since the camps are, 31:05 are situated all around the country, 31:07 students from each camp go to a certain school, 31:10 and they'll spend three years there at that school. 31:14 And then we'll have vocational school 31:16 for trades as well. 31:17 But on these campuses, I mean, 31:20 you know, there are concrete block buildings 31:22 that are built, 31:24 but they're an actual place 31:26 where they have a desk to sit at for schools, 31:29 where they have a chalkboard, 31:31 where there are teachers 31:32 that are teaching them in English, 31:34 and teaching them, you know, this second language for them. 31:37 And a lot of them speak Swahili, 31:39 because of, they came from the Congo, 31:41 so they speak Kinyarwanda, Swahili, 31:44 and they're learning English. 31:45 And so this is really making a difference for their future. 31:48 What about the girls' dorm? 31:51 What is that like? 31:52 The girls are so excited 31:54 when they get to come to these dorms 31:56 because there's bunk beds. 31:58 Oh! With a mattress? 31:59 With a mattress 32:01 and they each get their own mattress. 32:02 And they all, they're all in, you know, big rooms together, 32:07 not necessarily our boarding schools 32:09 here in America, it's usually two roommates, 32:11 but they're all, you know, bunk beds and in big rooms. 32:14 And they have facilities like 32:19 most boarding schools would with the, 32:22 you know, places that they can play their sports 32:25 and go to the cafeteria, 32:27 and they have a worship building, 32:29 that's their regular boarding schools 32:31 in that sense. 32:34 And in fact, 32:36 in these boarding schools are at this point. 32:41 It's about a third of the students 32:43 at each of these schools 32:45 are Impact Hope sponsored students, 32:47 and they're big, they're big schools, 32:50 500 to 700 students at these boarding schools. 32:53 And so they're interacting with each other and... 32:57 Really? 32:58 There are showers and toilets, so it's hard. 33:02 They see a shower and feel like, 33:04 they need instruction on how to use the shower, 33:07 but they are excited. 33:09 And in fact, our program, being over there, 33:14 we do a summer vocational program. 33:18 It's like a summer camp for vocational training. 33:22 And I think was it last year 33:24 that they actually did some repairs on the showers, 33:27 built some additional showers. 33:29 So our program actually is a benefit 33:33 to the schools as well. 33:35 To the Adventist boarding schools. 33:37 I think we have a graphic on the Impact Hope girls, 33:39 and this is pretty interesting. 33:41 Oh, look at that. 33:42 Smiles. So many. 33:44 So many smiles. 33:45 They're just always excited. 33:46 And they just want to hug you and just talk to you. 33:49 And they love learning English. 33:53 And so they want to speak to us 33:54 even though we want to learn Kinyarwanda ourselves, 33:56 but there, they have beautiful souls. 33:59 Oh. Just sweet. 34:01 They wear uniforms? They do. 34:04 Our program also offers them two sets of uniform 34:07 for the school year, 34:09 as well as all their hygienic supplies. 34:12 Even for the females... That's important. 34:13 And which is something 34:15 that they don't have in the camps. 34:17 What a person? 34:18 It's a full program 34:19 that offers them everything they need 34:21 to be able to learn and become educated. 34:25 Is there a church there or a chapel? 34:27 Yes, every school has a big chapel, 34:30 a pastor at the schools. 34:32 Yes. 34:33 So they've worship services and all that? 34:35 Yeah. Absolutely. 34:37 These are Christian Adventist boarding schools 34:39 that they're teaching about Christ 34:42 and being followers of Christ and living that life. 34:46 In fact, one of these boarding schools 34:49 is at the campus 34:50 of one of the earliest missions. 34:54 Okay. Adventist missions in Rwanda. 34:58 Oh, the cafeteria. What about the food? 35:01 Yes, they have three meals a day. 35:02 Three? 35:03 That is unheard of in the camps. 35:05 Yes. 35:06 And so, part of our program is bringing their health up 35:10 and giving them water 35:12 and teaching them the benefits of drinking water. 35:15 So just water and staple food is, 35:19 it helps their minds and so that they can learn so, 35:22 very important part of program. 35:23 Basic hygiene, 35:25 yet brushing your teeth and things like that? 35:27 And when you think about it, 35:28 that is a lot of support 35:29 that you need to take the number of students 35:34 that you have in the combined campuses 35:36 and bring them to the place 35:38 where life becomes a new normal, 35:41 a better normal. 35:42 Now talk about Impact Hope also. 35:44 You have a graphic to show us about Impact Hope. 35:46 And we've been talking about it. 35:48 But this graphic that we're going to show 35:50 about Impact Hope, describe this to us? 35:53 These are students 35:54 that attended our vocational school 35:57 last December, so it's their summer break. 35:59 And so the reason why we did this, 36:02 I have to tell you this is awesome. 36:04 Yes. 36:05 So Mindy was over there 36:06 at the end of one of the school years, 36:08 and they had a group of girls, 36:09 and they were all singing Amazing Grace together. 36:12 And during the song, these girls started sobbing, 36:16 and they just uncontrollable sobbing, 36:18 and Mindy's like, wow, look, that's so sweet. 36:21 They're just, they're crying because they're so grateful. 36:24 And they kept sobbing, 36:26 and she's like, "What is wrong." 36:28 And so the girls looked at her and they said, 36:29 "Mindy, we don't want to go back to the camp. 36:32 Because when we go back to the camp, 36:34 our bodies are not our own. 36:36 And there's times that we get violated." 36:39 And so they were scared, 36:41 they're scared to leave the safety 36:43 of the Adventist boarding school 36:45 and return to the camp. 36:47 Now I can't say that, 36:48 you know, all the camps are unsafe, 36:50 because they do have measures to keep them safe. 36:53 But things happen. 36:54 And girls are undervalued at times 36:57 and they're taken advantage of. 37:00 And so they were afraid to go back. 37:03 And when the school season started 37:06 two months later, all of them came back. 37:08 And they praise God and hugged Mindy 37:11 and said, "Thank you, God, 37:13 for bringing us back here 37:14 so that we can continue our education." 37:17 So there is a factor of being unsafe 37:21 at our girls' space. 37:22 Yes, as a female. Yes. 37:24 And so that's why 37:25 we want to give them opportunity 37:27 to be able to learn in a different light. 37:31 You have good staff there? Oh, yeah, absolutely. 37:34 Yes, Impact Hope provides on the ground staff. 37:37 And then ADRA helps run our program 37:41 on the ground while we're there 37:43 and while they're there. 37:45 And then our schools themselves are a safe environment 37:48 from the conflicts that's there. 37:49 So we're very particular about that. 37:52 And having been with the ministry 37:53 as on a short basis, 37:55 as you have so far, what is it doing for you? 37:57 I know you've been in politics as you said, 38:00 your background? 38:02 Yes, absolutely. 38:03 What I love about Impact Hope 38:05 and being part of this ministry 38:08 is knowing that the direct, 38:12 the direct relation of what happens here 38:16 that we're doing for the students, 38:18 so when we have sponsors that say, 38:21 "Yes, I'm behind this, 38:23 and I want to get it and see one of these kids 38:26 be in a different environment." 38:28 And that's what's happening, 38:30 and they are going to school, 38:31 and I was over there in March for, 38:35 actually right before COVID shut everything down. 38:38 We literally came back about three days before, 38:41 things were shut down. 38:42 And we visited just checked in and took students, 38:45 pictures of the new students visited each of the schools. 38:48 And to see the smiles on these kids faces 38:51 and to read some of their poetry 38:54 and their work about, 38:55 you know, the life that they had before 38:57 and what their life is like now 39:00 and just to see that direct impact. 39:03 That's exactly I mean, that's what we're here for. 39:07 And that's why 39:09 I want to be involved in this work. 39:11 Okay. 39:13 How has COVID affected the ministry out there? 39:16 Well, it's affected us on both sides of the world. 39:20 For the Impact Hope organization, 39:23 we take the opportunity to visit camp meetings 39:27 and churches and our ASIs and this year, 39:31 we haven't been able to do that. 39:33 By God's grace, 39:35 He's given our sponsors the heart to continue 39:38 to sponsor our students. 39:39 And so because of that, 39:40 we've been able to give critical food supplies 39:43 to our students and their families, 39:45 as well as hygiene supplies 39:47 and something that we received from AWR 39:50 is these wonderful solar radios 39:53 that we're able to give to our students 39:56 because during this time of COVID, 39:58 in order to continue learning, 40:01 they needed to get on the airwaves. 40:03 And they don't have internet, 40:04 they don't have the capacity to have a computer. 40:07 But on the radio, they can hear the instruction. 40:09 And so, we're grateful to AWR for providing those 40:13 and also, they have their Godpods. 40:16 So they have sermons, 40:18 they have the story hour and encouraging messages. 40:21 So they were so excited to be able to receive those. 40:24 I'm excited because I work for 3ABN Radio 40:27 and story hour and all that we had on air. 40:30 And it's so, good to know that radio is reaching them. 40:32 Whole families get to hear it now, 40:34 so it's beautiful. 40:37 Okay, we have another graphic about a student group. 40:39 Yes. 40:41 What is this about? 40:42 This is our students at Gahogo Adventist Academy. 40:47 So it's one of our, 40:48 our schools that we send them to 40:50 and about every three to four months, 40:52 we go over, 40:54 and we're able to visit our students. 40:55 And so, we bring them all together. 40:57 And we're able to talk with them 40:59 and encourage them 41:01 and then they write their sponsor letters. 41:03 And then we're able to bring back pictures 41:05 and sponsor letters for our sponsors as well, 41:08 so there... 41:09 There are a couple pictures that are coming up 41:11 that show about our vocational aspect 41:17 of the program. 41:19 Now let's talk about Hans Thygeson, 41:21 and tell us about that, 41:22 because we have the graphic showing who he is. 41:24 But here he is with the... 41:27 I noticed the students are older, 41:28 these are, they seem older. 41:30 Yes, these students are actually 41:32 from our culinary program. 41:34 So we help our students learn from one of these five areas, 41:39 so that, while they're on their school break, 41:42 we provide this month long and vocational skills training. 41:46 And so, Hans was with several of the students 41:48 that were part of the culinary program, 41:50 and they're learning to cook. 41:52 And we actually have students that once they finished 41:57 our Impact Hope vocational program, 41:58 they went on 41:59 to a state sponsored vocational program 42:01 because of our sponsorships. 42:03 And they were able to finish a full year 42:06 and you'll see another picture of some graduates 42:09 from our vocational program. 42:11 And there was 80 of them and... 42:12 That many? 42:14 Some of them are in hotel industries now 42:16 and they're able to work outside the camp, 42:19 others have started small businesses in the camps. 42:21 And so, we're working on that entrepreneurial piece 42:24 to help them 42:25 so, that if, if cities are too far for them 42:28 to go get a job, 42:30 they can start something right there where they live. 42:32 Igniting hope in the eyes of the hopeless. 42:35 But you always say "teaching them to fish." 42:37 Right. 42:38 You know, if you give a person a fish, you know the saying, 42:40 they eat one day, but if you teach them how, 42:42 that blessing continues to roll and changes their lives. 42:46 Permaculture, what is that? 42:48 Permaculture and I wondered that 42:50 when I first went, like, 42:51 what is permaculture and they're like, 42:53 well, it's similar to agriculture. 42:55 But there's so much more to permaculture, 42:58 it's getting us the soil ready for the right crops. 43:02 And so, they have some, 43:03 some technical information that they learn 43:05 about how to provide nutrients for the soil 43:09 to be able to make better crops and so. 43:12 So they can sell, you know, grow, 43:15 grow food and support their, themselves and their families, 43:18 but also sell food as business. 43:21 So, dirt is not just dirt. 43:23 Dirt is not just dirt. 43:25 That's a whole other lesson, isn't it? 43:28 Just got the nutrients in the soil. 43:29 And the Bible talked about that you know, 43:31 how to plant and how to give the land a chance to rest. 43:34 So, there's a science behind that. 43:36 I'm glad there is because sometimes, 43:38 you know, the food tastes good, but it doesn't... 43:40 You can't just put any, any seed in any kind of soil. 43:43 I guess there's something that goes along with that. 43:45 But it's exciting that the students graduate, 43:48 that is just a big thank you, Jesus, isn't it? 43:52 Yes, it is. 43:53 And we praise God for the opportunity for them 43:57 and for their families. 43:58 Their family celebrate when they find out 44:00 that their student is chosen, 44:02 because they know that they have a bright future. 44:04 And they have opportunities 44:06 that are going to be given to them 44:07 that thousands don't have. 44:10 And they help their families too, don't they? 44:11 They do. 44:13 Yes, they support, they send money back 44:15 to their families, 44:16 they, when they're able to work outside of the camps. 44:19 And so, our hope is that one day 44:22 they'll be able to move out of the camp 44:23 and to be able to support a family 44:26 and then give back in their future. 44:28 Now you talked about graduates. 44:29 I think we have a picture of some of the graduates there 44:31 that really shows the impact. 44:33 This was our first culinary government sponsored program, 44:37 we sent them to a year-long program. 44:41 So they had beautiful facilities, 44:43 they learned about ovens. 44:46 Just everything you need to be able to cook, 44:49 you know, wonderful meals and so, 44:52 they were so excited 44:53 and that was their first graduation. 44:56 And they have cap and the gown, I love that. 44:58 Yes, it's beautiful. 45:01 It gives them hope. 45:03 And it gives the people around them hope 45:05 to know that there's potential to more sponsorship. 45:09 If there's more people out there 45:10 that have the heart to want to send 45:12 one of these students 45:13 off the refugee camp into schools, 45:15 we have the mobility to do it. 45:19 We just need those to help us. 45:21 People can help. Okay. 45:23 We'll talk about that before the program is over. 45:24 Shukuru. Shukuru. 45:26 Am I saying that correctly? You are. 45:28 Okay. Good job. 45:29 So Shukuru, I think that's the next picture. 45:32 So, when Shukuru was 45:34 one of the first one of the graduates 45:37 in that photo that we just saw. 45:40 The culinary? 45:41 The culinary school, 45:43 he was one of the graduates sitting there. 45:45 And you mentioned about the age 45:48 noticing the age of the students with the, 45:50 with Hans. 45:52 And many of the students 45:53 especially in the first year or two were older. 45:57 We have range of ages 45:59 because of how they're coming into the camps 46:01 and what's happened with their education. 46:02 But many of those students were older, 46:04 especially in those first two or three years 46:07 because of their loss of age, 46:10 you know, the loss of those years 46:12 and moving into the refugee camps 46:15 and then not having the school available to them 46:17 and looking for trying to find ways 46:19 and that was Shukuru story as he did not have, 46:22 there was not a way to continue his education at that time, 46:25 and Impact Hope came along 46:29 and provided that opportunity 46:30 and he went to school 46:32 and he did the culinary program. 46:33 We saw him in March when we were there. 46:38 And that's the photo 46:39 that that we just saw with him 46:41 standing there next to an oven. 46:42 Okay. 46:44 And Shukuru has opened a small bakery/restaurant. 46:48 And he served us. 46:50 He served us Amanda's and chapatis, you know. 46:53 Oh, yeah. Okay. 46:54 And the special drink there. 46:56 And when we got there, there were customers there. 46:59 He has started a business there in Rwanda, 47:03 and the training that he received, 47:05 the education he received, 47:07 and then the culinary training 47:08 allowed him and his own, 47:11 you know, motivation allowed him to start this. 47:14 One of our sponsors heard that he was cooking 47:17 over a little fire pit. 47:19 And she said, 47:20 "Can I provide some money to give him an oven, 47:22 so he can cook and bake?" 47:25 And we were able to get him. 47:26 And that was the oven he was standing beside? 47:27 Yeah, that's right. Well, that was the oven. 47:29 They were able to give him. 47:30 I want to see that photo one more time. 47:32 I want to look at that. 47:33 Now, that makes him relative standing by. 47:34 Yes. 47:37 That's why he's standing there, okay. 47:38 That's beautiful. No proud. 47:40 Just before we talk about sponsors up, 47:42 I think we have one more photo here. 47:43 Yeah of a girl. Move just right into it. 47:45 There we go. Okay, there we are. 47:47 So, this is Joy. 47:49 And she was one of the sponsored students. 47:51 She has graduated, 47:52 she has completed the education 47:54 through Impact Hope, 47:55 and she is holding a sponsorship card. 47:58 So, when a student, 48:01 when we have new students come in, 48:03 we create a sponsorship card for them, it looks like this. 48:07 And well, this one looks like this, 48:09 we tried to change it up a little bit 48:10 to give information and, but it has their picture, 48:14 and it has their name. 48:16 And when you open it up, 48:17 you get to get a little information 48:19 about these students. 48:20 So, when a sponsor says 48:22 when somebody says I want to sponsor 48:24 one of these students, 48:26 then they will get one of these cards 48:28 and find out a little bit more and have be, 48:31 able to have that connection. 48:32 We have students writing letters 48:35 to their sponsors in the year, 48:37 those are coming up actually pretty soon. 48:39 And so, we encourage connection through letter writing. 48:43 And we want the sponsor and the student 48:46 to know that they are connected 48:48 that way and the students, 48:50 they are so happy and grateful 48:54 and loving about their sponsors and want to say thank you. 48:58 Do they know who their sponsor is? 49:00 Like, do they have a picture of them? 49:01 Sometimes the families will send 49:03 a picture of themselves, it is up to them. 49:06 But just recently we received a letter 49:08 from one of the families 49:09 and it had a picture of them and we're going to take it back 49:11 and give it to their student. 49:13 Oh, I love it. 49:14 I want to get to the financial part of this, 49:15 how to support the ministry and maybe some of the needs 49:17 in the next two minutes or so, that we have 49:20 so, that those watching and listening to the program 49:22 could know how to sponsor, 49:24 and what specifically to be able to earmark 49:26 their gifts as they send, 49:28 and we'll give the information on how to do that. 49:29 But give us some idea of how people could sponsor 49:32 and what some of the needs might be? 49:34 Sure. 49:35 So a general sponsorship 49:36 is $50 a month or $600 a year 49:39 to send them to a boarding school. 49:41 And it takes care of all the needs 49:43 that we talked about during this program 49:46 and it takes them through high school 49:47 to graduate 49:49 and then on to 49:50 a vocational program afterwards. 49:52 And so, that we have sponsors that have several kids, 49:56 or many kids, others. 49:58 So you don't miss, not necessarily just one. 50:01 Right. You could have as many? 50:02 You can sponsor as many kids as you want. 50:04 Yes, absolutely. 50:06 And we have a lot of people who do, 50:08 they sponsor more than that, and others are donors. 50:12 And so, people that want to donate 50:15 specifically for the ministry or for a project and... 50:18 Go ahead. 50:20 The more support we have through sponsorships 50:23 and donors that want to support the program, 50:25 the more students that we can put into school 50:28 and into vocational training, so it is directly related. 50:31 Our vocational training takes sewing machines, 50:35 some of our programs take computers. 50:37 So there are all kinds of needs that we have. 50:40 Our vocational program itself is a huge undertaking. 50:45 Last year, we had 420 something students 50:48 that we provided these five trades for, 50:51 and so, in order to run that it takes a lot of money, 50:56 so that is an area that our donors can also help. 50:59 Foundations, they help us as well. 51:02 Well, you know, we are gonna go 51:04 to a news break in just a moment 51:05 and give you the address roll. 51:07 But I want to let you know that as you're listening 51:09 to the program and watching, 51:11 Impact Hope is impacting lives. 51:13 And I'm going to say by the hundreds, 51:16 maybe by the thousands. 51:17 We have up to 1100 students that we have helped support. 51:19 Eleven hundred. 51:20 And so, the information that you need to participate 51:24 to sponsor or even maybe travel 51:27 to Rwanda and volunteer. 51:30 The needs for computers and educational facilities 51:32 and the needs for sponsoring a child 51:34 can all be done if you contact them 51:37 through this address roll. 51:39 For more information about Impact Hope, 51:42 please contact them at their website 51:44 Impact-Hope.org. 51:47 That's Impact-Hope.org. 51:51 Their email address is Info@Impact-Hope.org. 51:55 That's Info@Impact-Hope.org. 52:00 Their phone number is (503) 673-3905. 52:05 That's (503) 673-3905. 52:10 And their mailing address is P.O Box 632, 52:13 West Linn, Oregon 97068. 52:17 That's P.O Box 632, West Linn, Oregon 97068. |
Revised 2020-12-05