I saw this on my friends blog and here is my confession... I did not want to watch it. Why... Because I knew I would have to look at my life. I would have to evaluate, I would have to change, I would have to move. And at the time it seemed easier to live in ignorance.
The play button was hit and yes... I was changed. My trip to Africa is again a burden in my heart. I need to never forget.
I challenge you to live... Watch this! H
i am wrecked. and so needed this reminder to tear off the blinders from my eyes. i needed to be reminded of the big picture and why the Lord brought me to medical school. we get tunnelvision, just trying to make it thru each quarter, so absorbed in our own seemingly huge (but not really when put into perspective) struggles, mine is to survive school and raise a 2 year old son - but the greater vision is that God is EQUIPPING me in a specific way to restore sight (literally). i've always had a burden for africa and now i realize that i will one day be there - Lord help me to be your instrument of healing. thank you again.
Posted by: mg | January 24, 2009 at 11:09 PM
While my friends adopted 2 girls from Ethiopia a year ago, we can't. But I'm happy that the Lord provides so we can make life a little easier for 4 Compassion Children, 3 are from Africa. It breaks my heart that anyone has to live like that in this day & age!
Posted by: Pokinatcha | January 25, 2009 at 01:35 AM
So powerful and moving. Truly unforgettable, and 2 of my kids are called Sam and Jane too.
Thanks for your honesty, and thanks for sharing.
Have a blessed weekend.
Posted by: JanMary, N Ireland | January 25, 2009 at 02:06 AM
That was so powerful and so sad and yet so beautiful. I recently had a somewhat heated discussion with someone who vehemently opposes American families adopting children from Africa. Yet, I think that it is all too "easy" to throw money at the situation but far harder to truly invest ourselves in these children's lives.
Thanks for sharing this.
Posted by: Lana © | January 25, 2009 at 10:52 AM
ETA: I want to clarify...we sponsor a World Vision child in Africa and I am 100% on board with giving to help these children. I was speaking to myself that it is easier to give than to go to Africa or to adopt...
Posted by: Lana © | January 25, 2009 at 10:53 AM
that video shakes you to the core. i almost didn't watch just because it's 9 minutes... but heck if i don't have 9 minutes to sit and watch what is going on on the other side of the world and then stop and pray for those kids... then my priorities are off base! thanks for sharing, heather.
Posted by: brandiandboys | January 25, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Thanks Heather. I've been avoiding this video on several blogs for a couple of weeks because I sensed it would tear me up. I had to face it. How easily that could have been my baby. Those ARE someone's babies.
Posted by: jill c | January 25, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Thank you for posting that. It only fuels me even more to help. Right now I am a film student in New York City and I can't wait to make videos like this so I can help spread the word and do something. Thank you again, I needed that.
Posted by: Molly | January 25, 2009 at 12:34 PM
I've wanted to go to Africa for a a long time (I'm a pediatric nurse) and I'm not currently able to. But someday I WILL be there.
In the meantime I will be sponsoring a child.
Thank you for sharing this video-- although it devastated me, it gets me to think that I need to step up and take action NOW.
Posted by: Joanne | January 25, 2009 at 12:59 PM
it moved me to tears. i have always had a heart for missions....yet because i am a single mom, i cannot travel for the moment.
my prayer will go out to this couple and this foundation.
:) can i repost this on my blog as well?
Posted by: Patricia | January 25, 2009 at 04:14 PM
I have never seen anything so devastating in my life. I can barely see what I am typing because my eyes are filled with tears. I am so heartbroken for those kids and all the children is Africa. I am signing up to sponsor a child tonight. My life will never be the same after seeing that video. Thanks so much for sharing.
Posted by: Jill Parker | January 25, 2009 at 04:27 PM
thanks for posting this. such important footage to watch. we are so blind as Americans. I appreciate your putting this out for your readers to experience. we are in the process of adopting from Ethiopia and we sponsor 2 kids through compassion. it's great to read that others are sponsoring as well. blessing!
Posted by: laura | January 25, 2009 at 06:36 PM
Thank you so much for sharing this video! It was so eye opening, we sponsor a child through compassion, this video really puts into perspective the needs of the world around us; I sometimes can be so blind to it all and this video has helped a lot
Posted by: Heather | January 25, 2009 at 08:22 PM
thank you for sharing...
http://ricianne.blogspot.com/2009/01/broken.html
Posted by: Patricia | January 25, 2009 at 08:45 PM
This just ripped me to shreds. I mean...I saw my 3 year old son lying there...heard his cries. I'm shaking as I'm sobbing right now. Thank you GOD for grace! Thank you God for sending a "savior" to those children. I want to leave work right now and run home and hold my children. thank you,
Posted by: Billie | January 26, 2009 at 05:47 AM
It's taken me two days to watch this. I watched the first 2 minutes and then turned it off yesterday. But it kept me up last night. Africa is on my heart all to much. God is trying to get my attention, He is getting it now. Thanks Heather.
Posted by: Mrs. Dunbar | January 26, 2009 at 02:46 PM
Thanks for posting this video- I'm going to have to get it up on my blog too.
Even though I've been to Africa, I can tell you that it's all too easy to come back to the U.S. bound and determined that you're going to do something and then, inevitably, time passes and we get back into our daily routines and comfort of our day to day lives...it's kind of like I slowly lose that 'uncomfortable' feeling I had just after getting back-- that feeling that the scales, in this world, are so imbalanced to the point that I have so many things that I don't even need while others lack a basic necessity such as food; and it's that feeling that won't let me just sit still and do nothing. It takes videos like these to give me back that squeamish, uncomfortable feeling that will prompt me to do something. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Julie | January 26, 2009 at 03:37 PM
Thank you! I'm truly moved.
Posted by: Sherry Hight | January 26, 2009 at 06:40 PM
my heart is broken! i write this with tears streaming down my face. we are so used to living in the now with no realization of what is going on outside of our walls...i am challenged to make a change and do something!
Posted by: kim | January 26, 2009 at 07:23 PM
I'll be going to Swaziland, Africa this July. My third trip to Africa. Each time breaks my heart and heals it at the same time. Seeing so much pain, but also so much joy and hope that could only be from the Lord.
But as someone mentioned above, it's still far too easy to fall back into the lazy and selfish american mindset. I needed to be heartbroken again. Thank you for sharing this.
And I encourage anyone with a passion to love on people in other countries... if you put your mind to it, and pray for God's provision and guidance, it's truly amazing what he can make happen.
We really CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens us. A $3,000 trip is nothing but chump change to God if it means His children will be loved. He will move mountains to make his child smile and know that they are loved.
Posted by: Paloma | January 26, 2009 at 10:41 PM
May I be forever changed because of those sweet kids...
Posted by: The Secret Life of Kat | January 27, 2009 at 11:43 AM
It took me 5 days to get the courage to watch this. So glad I did. Thanks for posting it and challenging me to get outside of my comfort zone.
Posted by: Abby | January 29, 2009 at 07:44 PM
Heather,
I work for Compassion and I've seen a lot of videos about poverty. NONE have impacted me the way this one did. It tore my heart to shreds.
I posted about it (http://beckytschamler.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-broken-heart.html) in the hopes that at least one person will watch it on my blog and be moved to act.
THANK YOU for posting this video.
Posted by: Becky | January 30, 2009 at 09:34 AM
Thank you so much for your kind comments about our video and for sharing with others. It is heartening to see so many determined to act in response to the pain our Sam, Esther and Jane have gone through. I hope I can share with you a little of an update on their care.
More than a year has gone by since we almost drove over these two little ones deep in the bush. I just got back from Uganda on Tuesday night, and spent time with our more than 60 children, including these three. Sam, Esther and Jane now live in Kampala, where they have access to speech and physical therapy, and a loving environment that we call the House of Love.
Jane began private school there last week and I stood with her at the bus stop for her first day. She is an adorable, determined little girl who is picking up English so fast, and has learned to be a child over the past year rather than a parent.
Sam just lost his first tooth, has gained weight, and understands much of what is said to him in both English and Ateso. He can say a few words in the Ateso language, can hold out his hand to greet, and loves rides in the car. He loves to play with toys and to have books read to him. He still cries very loudly, but not as often, and can move himself along on his belly.
Esther is still very weak. She smiles occasionally and can say the Ateso word for "banana" and "Tata" for Grandma to the woman who cares for her. She is sweet and peaceful, and is very frightened of being left alone.
Special needs specialization is an area of great need in Uganda, and it has been challenging and expensive to meet their needs...yet we have tried to treat them with tender love and care. We are grateful to have a sponsor who is willing to give us the resources to do so. Our treatment of them has spoken volumes to our other 60 children, and our staff and the surrounding community. If you would like to see more about our work,our website is www.village2villageproject.org , and a new website set up by Milan Ford is www.onevanonevillage.org . The filmmaker's website is www.sandamianofoundation.org , and I'm sure he would love to read your comments, too!
Blessings, Laurie Kroll
Village2Village Project
Posted by: Laurie Kroll | February 15, 2009 at 08:32 PM
By the way, I forgot to mention that I am also an adoptive parent, as are many of our sponsors! My husband and I have five children, two girls who were born to us and three sons who were adopted. Our two youngest were adopted from Vietnam as infants, and our oldest was adopted from Uganda as an adult, and it is with him that I began Village2Village Project in 2003. V2V is located in his birthmother's village. For His kids, Laurie
Posted by: Laurie Kroll | February 15, 2009 at 08:53 PM
thank you for posting this video. I need to keep remember myself to care for others instead of keeping my eyes closed and go on with my own life. Love is all that matters.
Posted by: Cristina Silva | June 30, 2009 at 09:39 PM