The six-year-old who became a civil rights hero, just by walking to school. Ruby Bridges shares about the day that changed America.
Read Transcript
THE
Andrew: THE And
6-YEAR-OLD WHO BECAME A I S
CIVIL RIGHTS HERO.
I THOUGHT I STUMBLED
INTO A PARADE.
Andrew: JUST BY
WALKING TO SCHOOL.
FOUR, VERY TALL, WHITE
MEN WERE STANDING AT THEE
DOOR.
Andrew: HE REMEMBERS
THE DAY THAT CHANGED
AMERICA.
I REMEMBER THEM
CHANTING, TWO, FOUR, SIX,
EIGHT, WE DON'T WANT TO
INTEGRATE.
Andrew: AND SEE HOWNT T
SHE IS STILL AT WORK
TODAY.
>ON TODAY'S "700
CLUBN TO INTERACTIVE."
GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME CLU
TO THE PROGRAM.NG A
MORE THAN ONE OUT OF EVERY
FIVE STUDENTS REPORTSS
BEING BULLIED, AND HALF OF
BULLYING SITUATIONS STOP
WHEN SOMEONE, ESPECIALLY A
PEER, INTERVENES.
Terry: WELL, AN IOWA
PRINCIPAL IS MAKING A
GUTZY SACRIFICE TO BACK UP
ONE OF HIS STUDENTS.ED H
PRINCIPAL TIM HADLEYT OF
RECENTLY SHAVED HIS HEADS
IN FRONTTO OF THE STUDENTS
TO SUPPORT A CHILD WHO WAS
BULLIED FOR SHAVING HIS
OWN HEAD.
THE SIXTH GRADER SHAVED
HIS HEAD TO SUPPORT HIS
GRANDFATHER, WHO WAS
DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.
JACKSON SAYS BEFORE HIS
PRINCIPAL STEPPED IN, HE
WAS BULLIED FOR HIS NEWFOR
LOOK.
PRINCIPAL HADLEY SAYS HE
WANTED TO SHOW THE
STUDENTS THAT IT IS
IMPORTANT TO STAND UP FOR
EACH OTHER AND SUPPORT ONE
ANOTHER.
JACKSON IS NOW FEELING
MORE CONFIDENT, AND PLANS
TO CONTINUE SHAVING HIS
HEAD UNTIL HIS GRANDFATHER
IS IN REMISSION.
WOW, KUDOS TO BOTH OF
THEM.
Andrew: AND PRINCIPAL
HADLEY GOING ABOVE AND
YOND.
I
HBEYOND, I CAN TELL YOU
THAT'S A TOUGH LOOK
SOMETIMES.
Terry: WE TRY NOT TO
BULLY ANDREW HERE. And
Andrew: IT IS A SWEET
STORY.
Terry: AND GREAT TO
SEE A PRINCIPAL GIVE A
VISUAL LESSON TO EVERYBODY
IN THE SCHOOL.
Andrew: VERYLE
POWERFUL.
MUCH MORE THAN A LECTURE.
> THE EXPECTANT ARRIVAL
OF A COUPLE'S TWINS IS
CELEBRATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA
FOR THEIR HONESTY OF THEIR
INFERTILITY.
LAUREN SHARED THAT THEY
HAD BEEN TRYING TO
CONCEIVE, AND EXPLAINED
THEIR INSPIRATIONAL
JOURNEY, SAYING WE PRAYED
FOR 953 DAYS, 452 NEEDLES,
THOUSANDS OF TEARS, ONE
CORRECTIVE SURGERY, FOUR
LECTROZOL ATTEMPTS, THREE
FAILED TRANSFERS, AND ONERANS
AMAZING GOD.
THE WALKERS ARE EXPECTINGG
AGOD. BOY AND A GIRL AND THEY
PLAN TO NAME THEM DUKE AND
DIANA.
WHAT A JOURNEY FOR THEM.
Terry: I THINK A LOT
OF TIMES IF YOU HAVEN'T
DEALT WITH INFERTILITY
YOURSELF, YOU DON'T
REALIZE NOT ONLY CAN THAT
BE A LONG PROCESS TO
BECOME PREGNANT, BUT
PAINFUL.
IT IS A COMMITMENT ON
EVERY LEVEL.
Andrew:TO AND EVEN
CASUAL CONVERSATION CAN BE
HEARTBREAKING.EAKI
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TROUBLE
AT ALL GETTING PREGNANT.
IT IS WONDERFUL THEY'RE
SHARING THEIR JOURNEY ANDGE
PEOPLE ARETT CELEBRATING
WITH THEM.
Terry: WE
CONGRATULATE YOU AS
WELL.
> IN OTHER NEWS, ALEXIS
PENASHVAGA REVEALED THAT HER
GRANDMOTHER WAS
HOSPITALIZED AND ON LIFE
SUPPORT AFTER HER LUNGS
COLLAPSED, HER HEART
STARTING FAILING AND HER
STOMACH STOPPED WORKING.
SHE AND HER FAMILY
PREPARED TO SAY GOOD-BYE
WHEN LOCAL CHURCH MEMBERSRCH
CAME AND PRAYED OVER HER
GRANDMOTHER FOR FIVE
HOURS.
YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE THAT.ER G
THEN HER GRANDMA WOKE UP
COMPLETELY HEALED.
THE DOCTORS HAVE NO
EXPLANATION
FOR HER
RECOVERY, AND KEEP RUNNING
TESTS TO TRY TO MAKE SENSE
OF IT ALL, BUT ALEXA SAYS
SHE KNOWS WHAT HEALED HER
GRANDMATTER.
IT IS GOD'S GRACE THAT
HEALED HER GRANDMOTHER.
Andrew: THE POWER OF
PRAYER.
Terry: TO HAVE A
CHURCH FAMILY THAT WOULD
COME AND STAND OVERFAMI
SOMEONE WHO WAS REALLYER S
PRETTY MUCH GIVEN UP BY
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND
JUST BELIEVED FOR GOD TO
MOVE --
Andrew: DRAMATIC
PICTURES OF HER IN THAT
HOSPITAL BED AND THEN
AFTER PRAYER
AND WHAT
DOCTORS ARE SAYING -- WHAT
A WONDERFUL TESTIMONY OF And
THE POWER OF GOD.OF T
COMING UP, SHE WAS ONE
OF THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN
TO INTEGRATE INT INTO AN
ALL-WAIT SCHOOL.
I REMEMBER THEM
CHANTING, TWO, FOUR, SIX,T, W
EIGHT, WE DON'T WANT TO
INTEGRATE.
AND THEY KEPT POINTING AT
ME AND SAYING, WE'RE GOING
TO POISON HER AND HANG RUB
HER.
Andrew: RUBY SHARES
HER STORY.
YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT.
THAT'S NEXT.
Andrew: IT IS AN
ICONIC IMAGE OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
A
PAINTING BY NORMAN
ROCKWELL CALLED "THE
PROBLEM WE ALL LIVE WITH."
IT DEPICTS THE DAY
6-YEAR-OLD RUBY BRIMP BRIDGES
WAS ESCORTED TO SCHOOL BY
SIX MARSHALS, AND THAT WAS
56 YEARS AGO,AS AND Y SHE
STILL REMEMBERS IT LIKE IT
WAS YESTERDAY.
WHEN WE TURNED THE
CORNER, I SAW ALL OF THESEPEOP
PEOPLE.ter:
NOVEMBER 14, 1960, IT
WAS RUBY'S FIRST DAY OF
SCHOOL IN NEW ORLEANS.
I REMEMBER THEM
CHANTING, TWO, FOUR,UR,
SIX,ALITY, W,
EIGHT, WE DON'T WANT TO THE
INTEGRATE.
Reporter: NOW
WASHINGTON WAS PUTTING
PRESSURE ON LOUISIANA ANDW
OTHER STATES THAT HAD YET
TO COMPLY.SURE
IN A VEILED ATTEMPT TO
APPEAR COMPLIANT, CITYMPLY
OFFICIALS IN NEW ORLEANS
GAVE 150 BLACK
KINDERGARTENERS AN
ENTRANCE EXAM, ONE THEY
HAD NO CHANCE OF PASSING.
BUT 650 PASSED THAT TEST,
AND ONE OF THEM WAS RUBY.
EVERYONE WAS COMING
OVER AND CONGRATULATING MY
PARENTS.
SHE IS SO SMART; SHE
PASSED WITH NO PROBLEM.
I THOUGHT I WAS SOTHAT
SMART THAT I PASSED THIS
TEST THAT WOULD ALLOW MEDE T
TO GO FROM FIRST GRADE TO
COLLEGE.
Reporter: THREELLEG
GIRLS, INCLUDING RUBY,
WERE SELECTED TO ATTEND
WILLIAM FRANCE ELEMENTARY.
BUT BY THE FIRST DAY, THE
OTHER TWO GIRLS HAD
DROPPED OUT, MAKING RUBY
THE ONLY BLACK STUDENT INOPPE
THE SCHOOL.
MY PARENTS ONLY SAID,
RUBY, YOU'RE GOING TO GO
TO A NEW SCHOOL TODAY, AND
YOU BETTER BEHAVE.
THERE WAS A
KNOCK AT THE
DOOR, AND MY PARENTS
OPENED THE DOOR, AND FOUR
VERY TALL WHITE MEN WERE
STANDING AT THE DOOR.
I REMEMBER LOOKING AT THEM
AND THINKING, WHO ARE
THEY?
Reporter: THOSE FOUR
MEN WERE UNITED STATES
MARSHALS SENT UNDER ORDER
OFTH PRESIDENT EISENHOWER.
ONE OF THE MEN WAS CHARLESHE M
BUSHES.
>RLESBURKES. WE
WELL, WE HAD A LOT OFAT W
DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST
WHAT WE WERE DOING.
THE MAIN THING WAS TO BE
SURE SOMETHING HAPPENED TO
HER.
WE WOULD
TELL HER, JUST
STAY CLOSE TO US. R
WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
THERE WERE BARRICADES
EVERYWHERE.
THERE WERE CAMERAS
EVERYWHERE.
I THOUGHT I HAD STUMBLED
INTO A PARADE.
I ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WAS
MARDI GRAS.
IT DIDN'T SEEM TO
BOTHER HER ANY.
SHE WAS JUST DOING WHAT
SHE HAD BEEN TOLD TO DO.Y'
Reporter:S RUBY'SELL.
MOTHER WENT AS WELL.ONCE
ONCE INSIDE, THEY WERE
TAKEN TO THE PRINCIPAL'S
OFFICE WHERE THEY STAYED
ALL DAY. W
THERE THEYAT WATCHED WHITERA
PARENTS SCRAMBLE INMB AND
OUT OF CLASSROOMS, TAKING
THEIR CHILDREN OUT OFCHIL
SCHOOL.
500 KIDS WALKED OUT OF
SCHOOL THAT DAY.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS
GOING ON BECAUSE NOBODY
EXPLAINED ANYTHING TO ME.
FINALLY THE BELL RANG, AND
SOMEONE CAME INTO THE
OFFICE AND THEY SAID,E
SCHOOL IS DISMISSED.
YOU CAN LEAVE.N LE
AND I REMEMBER SITTING
THERE AND THINKING, WOW,
COLLEGE IS EASY.
Reporter: BY THE NEXT
DAY, THE CROWDS HAD
DOUBLED.
AND THEY KEPT POINTING
AT MEAT AND SHOUTING.
[YELLING]
THEY KEPT SAYING WE'RE
GOING TO POISON HER, WE'RE
GOING TO HANG HER.WE'R
I WAS IN FAVOR OF WHATT
WE WERE DOING.
I KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING
WAS RIGHT, AND WE WERE
GOING TO
MAKE SURE IT
HAPPENED.
Reporter: THIS TIME
RUBY WAS TAKEN TO A
CLASSROOM.
I REMEMBER LOOKING INTO
THATCL CLASSROOM, AND ALL I
SAW WAS EMPTY DESKS.
I DIDN'T SEE ONE CHILD.
Reporter: BUT THERE
WAS ONE PERSON THERE, HER
TEACHER, BARBARA HENRY.
COMING FROM BOSTON, SHE
WAS THE ONLY ONE WILLING
TO TEACH RUBY.
I REMEMBER LOOKING AT
HER AND THINKING, SHE'S
WHITE.
I HAD NEVER SEEN A WHITE
TEACHER BEFORE.
SHE LOOKED EXACTLY LIKEIKE
THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE.
SHE WASN'T.
I ALWAYS SAY THAT SHE
SHOWED ME HER HEART. Rep
Reporter: THE
FOLLOWING WEEKS STUDENTS
STARTED TOST RETURN, BUT THE
PRINCIPAL CONFINED RUBY TO
HER CLASSROOM AND DIDN'T
ALLOW HER TO PLAY OUTSIDEOUTS
OUR EAT IN THE CAFETERIA.RIA.
I REMEMBER GOING TO THE
BACK OF THE CLASSROOM TOSROO
SHARPEN MY PENCIL, AND YOU
COULD LOOK ON TO THE
PLAYGROUND.
AND THERE WAS THIS HUGE
OAK TREE WITH SWINGS AND
SLIDESOA AND BASKETBALL
GOALS.
AND I KEPT THINKING, AS I
SHARPENED MY PENCIL, WHERE
ARE THE KIDS?
Reporter: BY THE END
OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THEHE S
PROTESTS HAD DISBANDED,
AND RUBY WAS FINALLY
ALLOWED TO MEET THE OTHER
CHILDREN.
I FINALLY FOUND THEM.
I WAS SO EXCITED.
SO I WENT IN TO PLAY WITH
THEM.
THIS LITTLE BOY LOOKED AT WIT
ME AND HE SAID, I CAN'TEM.
PLAY WITH YOU.AID,
MY MOM SAID NOT TO PLAY
WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE A
NIGGER.
SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS
ABOUT.
IT'S NOT MARDI GRAS.
AND THIS ISN'T COLLEGE.
IT'S ABOUT ME.
IT'S ABOUT ME AND THE WAY
I LOOK AND THE COLOR OF MYAND
SKIN. A
AND INND MY MIND, THAT WASOKAY
OKAY.
YES, HE HURT MY FEELINGS,
BUT I WASN'T ANGRY WITH
HIM BECAUSE I FELT LIKE HE
WAS EXPLAINING TO ME WHY
HE COULDN'T PLAY WITH ME.
IF MY PARENTS SAID, RUBY,
DON'T PLAY WITH HIM, HE'S
ASIAN, HISPANIC, INDIAN,
MUSLIM, WHITE, MIXED RACE,
JEWISH, GAY, I WOULD NOT
HAVE PLAYED WITH HIM.
I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THERE
WAS ANYTHING FOR ME TO
FORGIVE.T IN
THE FACT THAT IN MY MINDTO M
HE WAS EXPLAINING TO ME,
AND THAT I WOULD HAVE DONE
THE SAME THING.AS A
IT WASN'T LIKE I WAS ANGRY
WITH HIM.HERE
SO THERE WAS NOTHING THERE
TO FORGIVE.
THE FACT THAT WHEN I
PASSED THE CROWD, I
THOUGHT IT WAS MARDI GRAS,
THERE WAS NOTHING THERE
FOR ME TO FORGIVE.
Reporter: RUBY
RETURNED THE FOLLOWING
YEAR.
SHE
HAD A NEW TEACHER AND
A ROOM FULL OF CLASSMATES.E WE
SHE WENT ON TO ATTEND AN
INTEGRATED HIGH SCHOOL,
AND EVENTUALLY GRADUATEDNE
FROM A KANSAS CITY
BUSINESS SCHOOL WITH A
DEGREE IN TRAVEL AND
TOURISM.
WHEN SHE MARRIED AND BEGAN
RAISING A FAMILY, SHE
TAUGHT HER CHILDREN TOFALL
RELY ON GOD.
SHE ALWAYS CALLS ON HER
FAITH AND MAKES SURE
THAT
YOU DO SO AS WELL.
SO IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT
YOU GO THROUGH, IT DOESN'T
MATTER WHO DISLIKES YOU,
AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THATG AS
FAITH AND THAT
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD,
YOU'RE FINE.
Reporter: RUBY
RETURNED TO WILLIAM FRANCE
ELEMENTARY IN 1993 WHEN
SHE ENROLLED HER FOUR
NIECES.
SHE WITNESSED THE SAME
RACISM SHE HAD SEEN AS A
LITTLE GIRL.
SO SHE VOLUNTEERED AS A
PARENT LIASON.
SOON AFTER SHE LAUNCHEDHE R
THE RUBY BRIDGES'
FOUNDATION AND BEGAN
SHARING HER STORY WITH
STUDENTS ALL OVER THE U.S.
I SEE HOPE THAT MOST OF
US DON'T SEE.
I'M IN SCHOOLS EVERY DAY..
I'M SO HUMBLED BY THE WAY
MY STORY MOVES THE KIDS.
IT'S SO SIMPLE.
HOW MRS. HENRY DIDN'T
JUDGE ME.
HOW ALL I WANTED WAS A
FRIEND.
KIDS GET THAT.
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT.
OUR KIDS KNOW NOTHING
ABOUT RACISM.IT'S
IT'S US, AS ADULTS, WE
TAKE RACISM AND WE PASS IT
ON TO OUR KIDS, AND THAT'S
WHY IT IS STILL AROUND.
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US
COME INTO THE WORLD WITH A
CLEAN HEART.
I BELIEVE THAT IF WE ARETO G
GOING TO GET PAST OUR, EV
RACIAL DELIVERANCES, EVEN
TODAY, IT'S GOING TO COME
FROM OUR KIDS.
Reporter: IT HAS BEENRU
OVER 55 YEARS SINCE RUBY
WALKED UP THOSE STEPS AND
TOOK HER PLACE IN HISTORY.
TODAY HER LEGACY CONTINUES
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.APPY
I WAS HAPPY TO SEE WHAT
SHE DID BECAUSE I KNEW IT
COULD BE DONE.
I'VE ALWAYS TOLD RUBY THAT
I'M GLAD I WAS ABLE TO
HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH
IT.
TO HAVE EQUALITY, ITKES
TAKES SOMEONE WITH COURAGE
TO MAKE THAT CHANGE SO
THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER.D YO
AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A
GREATGR FAITHFUL FOUNDATION
TO STAND UP FOR SOMETHING
THAT YOU TRULY BELIEVE.
MY SUPERHERO, SHE DOES
THAT EVERY DAY.
OUT OF THE
COMMANDMENTS, IF YOU COULD
ONLY KEEP ONE, THE ONE YOU
SHOULD KEEP IS LOVE THYAT I
NEIGHBOR.
THAT IS THE KEY.
I HAVE TO CARE ABOUT YOU
AS A PERSON AND A HUMAN
BEING.
I REALLY BELIEVE THE
LONGER I LIVE, THAT IT
REALLY HAS EVERYTHING TO
DO WITH LOVE.
Terry: BOY, THAT
WRAPS IT UP IN A NET
SHELLNUTSHELL. Andrew: RUBY BRIDGES
AND HER FAMILY ARE TRUE
AMERICAN HEROS.
MY DAUGHTER IS ALMOST SIX
YEARS OLD --
Terry: CAN YOU
IMAGINE --
Andrew: NO. AND
AND I GOT CHILLS WHEN IT
WAS REVEALED SHE WOULD BE
THE ONLY ONE ATTENDING.
TO CONSIDER MY DAUGHTER
MARCHING IN THAT SCHOOL BY
HERSELF, WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF FOUR
MARSHALS, AND THE COURAGE
OF THAT LITTLE GIRL AND
THAT FAMILY, AND TO THINK
IT IS
ONLY
FIVE DECADES
AGO.
Terry: AND THATI JU
FAMILY.
I JUST MARVEL THAT HAD
THEY NOT BEEN STRONG, HAD
THEY NOT SAID, RUBY CAN DOEED
THIS, WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE
WE ARE TODAY WITHOUT
PEOPLE LIKE THAT.
SO IN LESS THAN SIX
DECADES, I MEAN THIS HAS
CHANGED THE FACE OF A
NATION.
AND WE SAY THANK YOU TO
RUBY AND TO HER FAMILY AND
TO OTHERS LIKE THEM, WHO
HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE ANDE
WHO HAVE DONE IT IN LOVE. A
HERE D IS A WOMAN WHO COULD
HAVE BEEN BITTER, SHE
COULD HAVE BEEN ANGRY, ANDER A
INSTEAD SHE DID SOMETHING AND
POSITIVE WITH IT THAT IS
CHANGING ALL KINDS OF S
LIVES.OM
THAT'S GREATMENT.
> GREAT.
> STILL TO COME, A YOUNG
GIRL IS ABUSED AND
ABANDONED.
I FELT LIKE I WAS
NOTHING.
Terry: SEE HOW A
LOCAL CHURCH NOT ONLY
CHANGED HER LIFE, BUT
TRANSFORMED AN ENTIRE
ORPHANAGE, WHEN WE COME
BACK.
Terry: CHILDREN ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTED
AND LOVED, BUT THAT IS NOT
ALWAYS THE CASE.
WE WANT YOU TO MEET THREE
CHILDREN.
THEY'RE ALL FROM KENYA.
THEY'RE ALL ORPHANS.
AND AT ONE TIME THEY ALL
CRIED FOR FREEDOM.
THEY HAVE COME FROM UTTER
POVERTY AND DISPAIR.
THEY LIKENED THEIR JOURNEY
TO THE ISRAELITES BREAKING
OUT OF BONDAGE, AND IT ISS
A FITTING COMPARISON.
THEIR ORPHANAGE WAS RUN BY
A GROUP OF CORRUPT
INDIVIDUALS WHO WEREALS
POCKETING THE MONEY
INSTEAD OF PROVIDING FOR
THE CHILDREN.
THE ORPHANS WERE EATING
STALE AND MOLDY FOOD, HAD
NO UNIFORMS TO GO TO
SCHOOL, AND WERE ALWAYSAND
FEARFUL OF THE DRUNKEN
NIGHT GUARD WHO WOULD HIT
THEM.
ALL OF THIS COMBINED WITH
THEIR OWN ISSUES OF
CHILDHOOD ABANDONMENT AND
LOSS.S MO
ERIC'S FATHER DIED WHEN HE
WAS THREE.
A YEAR LATER, HIS MOTHER
COMMITTED SUICIDE.
ALICE LOST HER FATHER AT
AGE THREE.
THAT'S WHEN HER MOTHER
STARTED BEATING HER.
EUNICE'S PARENTS DIED WHENUT N
SHE WAS FOUR AND NINE.
SHE WAS PASSED BETWEEN
RELATIVES, BUT NO ONE HAD
THE MONEY TO CARE FOR HER.
I FELT LIKE I WAS
NOTHING.
Terry: EUNICE
REMEMBERS SHE WISHED THENER B
THAT SHE HAD NEVER BEEN
BORN.
ERIC'S AUNT USED TO BEAT
HIM BECAUSE SHE DIDN'TCAUS
WANT HIM IN THEIR HOME.
ONE DAY SHE DROPPED HIM AT
THE ORPHANAGE.
UNDERSTANDABLY, HE HAD A
LOT OF ANGER INSIDE.
AT THAT TIME, I WANTED
TO BE A POLICE OFFICER.ER.
I THOUGHT OF BEING A
TEACHER SO I CAN HELP
CHILDREN.
Terry:
ALICE LIVED: AL
WITH BEATINGS FOR EIGHT
YEARS BEFORE SOCIAL
WORKERS BROUGHT HER TO THEBROU
ORPHANAGE.
BUT CONDITIONS THERET CO
WEREN'T MUCH BETTER, ANDCH B
SHE PLANNED TO RUN AWAY.
I WAS THINK OF GOING
AND LIVING ON THE STREETS,
INSTEAD OF LIVING SUCH A
HORRIBLE LIFE.
Terry: CONDITIONS AT
THE ORPHANAGE REACHED A
CRISIS POINT.GHT
ONE NIGHT THE DRUNKEN
CARETAKER ALLOWED A RAPIST
GANG INTO THE COMPOUND.
BUT NEIGHBORS HEARD, THEPPED
POLICE WERE CALLED, AND
THE ATTACK WAS STOPPED.
WITHOUT ANY KNOWLEDGE OF
THE ONGOING ABUSE AND
NEGLECT, MEMBERS OF A
LOCAL CHURCH CAME TO
VISIT.
WHEN THEY SAW THE EXTENTY SA
OF THE NEED, THEY REACHED
OUT WITH FOOD, CLOTHING,
AND ENCOURAGEMENT.URAG
IN A VERY UNUSUALIE
DECISION, AUTHORITIES
ASKED THE CHURCH TO TAKE
OVER THED ORPHANAGE.
"ORPHANS' PROMISE" CAME
ALONGSIDE THE LOCAL
CHURCH, PROVIDING
IMMEDIATE FUNDS TO GET THE
CHILDREN INTO SCHOOL.OL.
THE PARTNERSHIP OF
"ORPHANS' PROMISE" HAS"ORP
HELPED US TAKE THESE
CHILDREN OUT OF A VERY
DEEP PIT.
WE COULD NOT BELIEVE
OUR EARS WHEN THEY TOLD
US.
LIKE A DREAM, THINGS
STARTED CHANGING.
GOOD MEALS, NEW UNIFORMS,
NEW SHOES, NEW CLOTHES,UN
AND WE WERE ABLEIF TO GO
BACK TO SCHOOL.
AND THAT IS WHEN WE
STARTED LIVING.RVIV
Terry: WELL, JOINING
ME NOW IS PASTOR CARLAPORT
PORTER OF "LIVING FAITH
INTERNATIONAL."
ANDATIO WE'RE SE SO GLAD TO HAVE
YOU HERE.
THANK YOU, TERRY.
Terry: WE'RE SO GLAD
TO BE INVOLVED IN THE WORK
YOU'RE DOING IN KENYA.
CARLA, WHEN I FIRST SAWED
THIS STORY, WHAT TOUCHED
ME SO MUCH WAS THE ABILITY
OF THESE CHILDREN TO
COMMUNICATE THEIR PAIN AND
THEIR HEALING.
I MEAN, THAT'S
ASTONISHING.
I SEE ADULTS WHO DON'T GET
TO THAT PLACE.
HOW DID YOU HELP THESE
KIDS COME FROM BROKENNESSDNES
AND WOUNDEDNESS AND A LACK
OF SELF-ESTEEM TO A PLACE
OF SINGING ABOUT THE
FREEDOM GOD HAS GIVEN
THEM?
WELL, TERRY, I THINK
ONE OFERRY THE MOST IMPORTANTHE P
THINGS IS THE ANOINTING
THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US, THE
SPIRIT OF ADOPTION, THATTO O
WE TAKE THEM INTO OUR OWN
HEARTS AS OUR VERY OWN
CHILDREN.
WE'RE NOT JUST, QUOTE,
UNQUOTE, HELPING THEM,
CARING FOR THEM, BUT WE
RECEIVE THEM INTO OURTHEM
HEARTS, INTO OUR CHURCHMMUN
COMMUNITY AND LOVE THEM AS
OUR VERY OWN CHILDREN.
AND YEARS AGO THE LORD HAD
SHARED WITH MY LATE
HUSBAND AND ME, DON'T JUST
KEEP THEM ALIVE; GIVE THEM
A LIFE.
ANDAN THAT BROUGHT SUCH A
CHANGE IN OUR HEARTS THATWE
WE STOPPED S HELPING THEM
AND WE BEGAN FATHERING AND
MOTHERING THEM.
THEY KNOW THEY'RE LOVED.LOVE
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO MEET
THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN, NOT
JUST PHYSICALLY,
PHYSIOLOGICALLY, BUT THE
NEED TO BE LOVED AND
ACCEPTED, AND THEY FEEL A
LIBERTY TO COMMUNICATE
WHAT
IS IN THEIR HEART. IS
THEY KNOW THEY MATTER.
Terry: DID THE CHURCH T
WIND UP BECOMING AWARE OF
THE NEED THERE AND THENRE A
STEPPING IN?
WE SIMPLY -- ONCE APE
YEAR IN OCTOBER, WE AS A
CHURCH, DO COMMUNITY
OUTREACH.
WE LOOK FOR NEEDS IN THE
COMMUNITY AND WE MAKE A
SPECIAL EFFORT.
AND WE HAD BEEN TOLD ABOUT
THIS ORPHANAGE, AND THAT
ITNAGE WAS IN DIRE NEED.
AND SO ONE OF OUR CARE
GROUPS IN THE CHURCH SAID,
PASTOR, WE WANT TO REACHORPH
OUT TO THIS ORPHANAGE.
AND THAT WAS THE
BEGINNING.
WE FOUND THEM IN DESPERATE
NEED, WITHOUT FOOD,T
WITHOUT PROPER SANITATION,
TERRIBLE LIVING
CONDITIONS, AND VERY
REJECTED BY THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE WERE TOLD, WELL, NO
ONE WILL LET US COME TO
CHURCH.NO
WHEN WE WALK INTO A
CHURCH, EVERYONE MOVES
AWAY FROM US.
SO THEY HAD EXPERIENCED
TREMENDOUS REJECTION.
AND I TOLD THEM, WE WOULD
LOVE FOR YOU TO COME TO TO
OUR CHURCH.URCH
AND WE BEGAN SENDING ABUS
MINI BUS EVERY SUNDAY TO
PICK THEM UP AND BRING WOU
THEM TO CHURCH.
THEY WOULD COME HUNGRY,
DEHYDRATED.
THEY WEREN'T CLEAN.
THEY, YOU KNOW, HADRRIB
TERRIBLE ODOR AND SO
FORTH.
AND WE BEGAN TO REALIZE,
OH, THIS IS MUCH DEEPER
THAN HELPING AN ORPHANAGE
FOR ONE TIME.
AND EVENTUALLY THE
GOVERNMENT ASKED US TO
TAKE OVER THE ORPHANAGE.
Terry: TALK ABOUT THE
POWER OF EDUCATION BECAUSE
IT CREATES A HOPE AND A
FUTURE THAT YOU DON'T
REALLY HAVE WITHOUT IT.
YOU DON'T.
IN FACT, YOU'LL BE
CONSIGNED TO A LIFE OF
POVERTY.
YOU CAN RESCUE A CHILD AND
LEAD THEM IN THE SAME
CIRCUMSTANCES, OR YOU CANCHIL
RESCUE A CHILD AND BRINGE IN
DELIVERANCE IN THEIR LIFE
FROM GENERATIONS OF
POVERTY AND LACK OF
EDUCATION.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THATAT Y
YOU MEET THE PHYSIOLOGICAL
AND EMOTIONAL NEED SO THEYVE
BEGIN TO HAVE SELF-ESTEEM
AND REALIZE I MATTER.
BUT WHAT I'M FOCUSED AFTER
THAT IS THEIR DESTINY IN9:
GOD. 1
BECAUSE JEREMIAH 29: 11 IS
FOR EVERY ORPHAN AND EVERY
VULNERABLE CHILD, GOD HAS
A GOOD PLAN FOR THEM.FOR
BUT THEY NEED AN
EDUCATION.
SO I'M IN THE PROCESS OF
BUILDING HERITAGE
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.
THE LORD HAS TOLD US,
RAISE UP LEADERS FOR ME.
AND WITH THIS ACADEMY, I
WILL BE ABLE TO OFFER THEM
WHAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO
FIND IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
IN KENYA.: YO
Terry: YOU'RE GOINGE A
TO CHANGE A NATION WITHVE T
THIS.
OH, I RECEIVE THAT,
TERRY.
I BELIEVE THAT.WO
PRAISERD GOD.
Terry: LISTEN, ONE OF Ter
THE THINGS I SEE IN THE
LIVES OF EVERY ONE OF IS
THESE CHILDREN IN THAT
STORY IS PEOPLE WHO SHOULD
HAVE LOVED THEM WHO SHOULD
HAVE CARED ABOUT THEM,
WERE ABUSIVE TO THEM.EM.
YES.
Terry: HOW DO YOU
HELP THEM WALK THROUGH THE
FORGIVENESS?
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET TO
THE FREEDOM THEY'VE GOTTEN
TO WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO
RELEASE PEOPLE WHO HARMED
THEM.
TERRY, I TELL THEM,
YOU'VE HAD A DIFFICULT
BEGINNING.
BUT WE TEACH THEM THE
GOSPEL.
YOU'VE HAD A DIFFICULT
BEGINNING, BUT NOW WITH
GOD ALL THINGS ARE
POSSIBLE TO YOU.U.
BUT THE KEY TO THE POWER
OF GOD WORKING IN YOUR
LIFE IS FOR YOU TO WALK IN
FORGIVENESS.
AND SO WE WORK WITH THEM
IN FORGIVING EVERYONE,
FROM PARENTS TO OTHER MEM
FAMILY MEMBERS TO PEOPLE
THAT HAVE BEEN IN THEIR
LIVES, ALL WHO HAVE ABUSED
THEM, BECAUSE WITHOUT THATAUSE
FORGIVENESS, YOU HAVE ANU HA
INVISIBLE BARRIER THAT
PREVENTS GOD'S PLAN FROM
BEING FULFILLED.
Terry: WE
WANTGO TO
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO
AND FOR BEING
HERE WITH US
TODAY.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO HELP
CHILDREN AT CARLA'S AT
ORPHANAGE AND BE PART OF
THE WORK THAT "ORPHANS'
PROMISE" IS DOING AROUND
THE
WORLD, PARTNER WITH
US.
OUR NUMBER IS
1-800-700-7000.
YOU CAN MAKE1- A DIFFERENCE.EREN
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
YOU CAN SET PEOPLE FREE.T
> WE WANT TOTO LEAVE YOU
WITH A WONDERFUL SCRIPTURE
FROM THE BOOK OF PSALMS
TODAY, PSALM 82: 3:
"DEFEND THE POOR AND
FATHERLESS, DO JUSTICE TO
THE AFFLICTED AND THE
NEEDY."
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH
US TODAY.
GOD BLESS YOU.