Before our Bali Training Center opened, A Heart For
Children’s main focus was assisting Christian orphanages with funds for food,
medical attention, housing and education. This was all done within the
protective environment of the orphanages, where we could share our common faith
openly and without fear of outside religious or political reprisal.
Here at The Training Center in Klungkung it’s a different
culture. When enquiring about our
programs, people would say to my wife Tati, “This is a Christian school…
Christians will catch people and try to make them Christian.”
Bali and local government officials as well as the Hindu
village chief and neighbors have been skeptical of our motives over the past 2
years. Slowly and with genuine concern
for the future and welfare of their children, we have gained their confidence
and are now an integral part of the community.
Out of the 178 students registered in our programs only one
has had prior contact with a foreigner.
When the children first started attending classes they were extremely
shy, some would even cry and run away when they saw me. They would not look at me when I spoke to
them. Even if they understood the
message to respond, they were afraid to answer. And when they did speak, it was
so soft I could not hear them. In short,
they were frightened of me.
I have worked on making eye contact…..worked on my facial
expressions and soliciting verbal responses… showed them how to use a Western
toilet…..lifting the lid, flushing it… and not standing on the bowl. I’ve worked at perfecting body language and
mime skills to compensate for my lack of language speaking skills. Thankfully it has not been in vain.
For the parents to bring their children to the Training
Center ….it is a great honor for our organization and for our Faith. They trust us.
Parents tell us there has never before been anything like
the Training Center …..because we give
and do not take from them like others do. They tell us that their children talk about the
Training Center day and night and want to be there.
We thank you all for your prayers and for your financial
support, which makes The Bali Training Center and our other ministries here in
Indonesia a reality for the children we are caring for.
Blessing to you all,
Dan Yeager
Kindergarten
class in session. They meet 6 days a
week from 7:30 AM until 10:30 AM
Komang
is ready to leave her mom’s motorcycle and start class.
Grade 1-4 students meet together before being divided up
into beginning and advanced English classes.
Outside
the green walls of The Center, the parents wait to pick up their Kindergarten
children.
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