WATCH 4 GENERATIONS: The Water Buffalo Movie Comment »
“4 Generations” is a film short documenting my journey in southwestern China (near Tibet) to first find, then deliver a water buffalo to a poor family. The water buffalo led us to a family with an phenomenal story. Inspired by author, educator, and founder of photo.net, Philip Greenspun’s post, and donated by Philip and his friend Craig.
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Helen told me about this wonderful story. But the impact of the video with the music is indescribable.
Very moving.
I’ve traveled some in Asia and the last few times I’ve become overwhelmed hopelessness. I mean there are probably a billion people living in poverty… just eeking it out money wise. How can I do anything. Where do I begin to make a difference.
But I realize it’s not about fixing everything and solving every problem. Maybe it’s giving a water buffalo to a family, a smile to someone on the street, or finding someone you can help.
I watched the “beta” version of the video (I’m a friend of Eric’s from way back at Macromedia, now Adobe), and I found that in watching the final version you got me all over again. It’s the turn of the grandmother’s countenance when your wife tells her that the water buffalo is a gift. You can see the exact moment when her expression goes from curious welcome to shock, and that’s where I break down. I’m still crying. Thanks for doing this. You Thompson boys are all so smart, talented, and above all, kind, and you’ve proven once again that you make the world a better place.
Amazing job both on the video and the gift. It’s great to read too how a gripe about a friend’s crappy Christmas present turned into a beautiful life-changing gift for that family. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Thank you for sharing your excellent film about angels. I didn’t see any angels, but surely they were present and guided you in your endeavor. We should all follow your example. We should always help others in need; expecting nothing in return.
Great work, it really puts things into perspective.
Incredible. I am speechless and heartened that there is real kindness in the world.
Absolutely beautiful.
My grandfather always used to ask me, “How do you eat an elephant, David?”
I’d grin, because I knew the answer. Then he’d squint his eyes and reply, “one bite at a time.”
It’s a pleasure seeing folks simply giving. One family - one bite - at a time.
Hey Robert -
Absolutely delicious. I feel like my heart has softened again after watching that. You have reminded me what the web can do.
My home is open to you if you ever come to Sydney Australia.
Hey, I see you’re in Chuxiong now. I’ve been to Chuxiong several times before. What are you doing there?
My company actually helps villagers in Yunnan province by providing them with capital to buy piglets and to build a pig house, and by teaching them how to raise and sell the pigs. We are doing many other similar projects as well. Right now it’s just a Chinese friend who runs the projects, and I get the funding. We are currently looking for people who want to help villagers in this way.
Beautiful gesture, beautiful video.
Thanks! You’ve really made my day.
Your movie came to me in a specific moment which no action I take to
change my life and complaining is all I’ve being doing…..
Thanks for your beautiful and expressive movie.
I’ll try to complain less and do more for myself and others in need..
When I think about how quickly we spend $460 here in the states (and we’re far from wealthy), and how much good you all have done for the Su family with this gift, I feel ashamed. Like that lovely woman said, it’s too heavy.
I’ve often heard people ask why there are so many humanitarian efforts overseas when there is poverty and homelessness in America, and I think I finally have a perfect story to explain how what we would consider a small amount can do so much in other parts of the world.
Thank you. Thank you all.
Very nice work on the video, and a fine gesture to people that could really use it.
A powerful story. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us so eloquently.
What a wonderful thing for you all to have done. This is simply marvelous and lovely!
If you’re looking for a good place to direct people who are inspired and want a direct way to help folks out around the world, you might consider Kiva.org. I have been very happy with them so far and am helping - in a very modest way - four individuals with small or home businesses in Honduras, Uganda, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan.
Robert,
Good morning to you from San Francisco.
Although we have never met, I have heard wonderful things about you.
I play in Quartet San Francisco (with Jeremy) and was sent to your link yesterday.
FIrst off, thank you for sharing this incredibly beautiful and heartfelt story.
It was inspiring, powerful and real.
The entire experience of watching your film and seeing the story unfold
was truly magical.
Thank you for sharing this experience with us westerners and good luck
with everything.
Take care and congrats. also on your marriage.
Sincerely, Kayo Miki
Bob,
What an amazing thing you have done…to change a family’s life forever. I am grateful that Helen sent me the link. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help in any small or big way.
I hope you are well, congratulations on marriage, I hope to meet your wife someday!
Love,
Karin
How amazing and wonderful! thank you for doing this. I am sitting crying after watching your film. Beautiful.
Hi,
What a wonderful film you have made. I have agonized over choosing a charity that actually delivers what they say they will, and you did what I would rather do, which is make a difference on a one to one level. What a wonderful thing!
It is possible to buy a DVD od DVD CD of this film?
Also, can you give more buffaloes to families if someone pays for them?
Thanks for a wonderful experience.
GGB
Heifer Project International is a wonderful, and truly grassroots, charity.
I commend you 100%, and anyone else willing to put themselves “out there” and personally help a family in need. You made a beautiful gift, and an inspirational film. However, please do not, at the same time, disparage this organization that also makes a difference, and does so thoughtfully and efficiently at an international scale. Heifer Project does not merely drop an animal on a family’s doorstep, but teaches the family and community how to properly care for and manage the gift. The gift is also conditioned on the family passing on the offspring from their animal to another needy family - empowering communities.
I encourage anyone giving to a charity to do the research first, and give to those you trust. I completely trust Heifer Project, and know that when I “buy an animal” each Christmas, that money IS buying an animal for a needy family the best way possible. I do not expect HPI to account for my money’s direct purchase and delivery of an animal, and am glad they do not decrease their efficiency trying to do so.
Certainly this is a nice gesture, and well-intentioned. But the lesson is NOT that Heifer Project or other similar organizations are less effective than individuals. Organizations like Heifer Project are able to carry out work like this much more strategically, efficiently and with much longer-lasting effects than an individual can. An organization like Heifer is, as a whole, better connected, better informed, and more stable than the individuals who fund it. I hope that this short film inspires others to donate to Heifer Project or similar organizations.
Why can’t simple stories such as these be the boilerplate for all diplomatic relations? Does everything really need to be so complex…? A simple gift and a small amount of money by American standards can move people to faith - in humanity, in their family, and even in their god? Incredible.
BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL. We must be thankful for what we have and what we don’t have
Congratulations, Bob. You continue to amaze me with your many talents! I am proud to be your aunt. I am visiting my friend, Tammy Damrow, who teaches at a middle school in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. She was impressed with your story and plans to incorporate it into her seventh grade curriculum. Does she have your permission to burn the movie onto a DVD to use in her classroom? Looking forward to seeing you and Chun Mei when you return to the states!
This is a wonderful, touching story. We in American have so much and we spend too much on “stuff”. I have given my children each a goat from Heifer International and do hope that there are three goats out there from my kids. No way to tell. The actual giving of such a “heavy” gift is priceless. I am passing this video on to my elementary school.
What happened to the family after the gift was given? Did they have to give the water buffalo to the bank? I’d love to hear some follow up, how this made a difference in their lives…
I am speechless at such beauty - what we all intend to do and don’t actually do. Ten thousand blessings on all involved and may we all find our own ways to be generous. thank you.
This is such a beautiful and inspiring video. Thank you so much for doing this. I had tears streaming down my face. Awesome!
You are my new hero. I’ve contributed to Heifer over the years with exactly such a gift in mind, but in my heart of hearts, I know my part probably goes for stamps or more mailings. I hope you’ll let us know if you have the energy to do this again. My deepest congratulations.
I too gave to this organization thinking I was actually purchasing an animal for a deserving family. Thank you for sharing this story with me and many others.
I was sad today.. for no reason, and I came home to find this beautriful story. Like Heather I also have tears running down my face. Thanks
Robert and collaborators, thank you first for such a bright light you have shed- the gesture of infinite kindness and understanding you have leant complete strangers, and for bringing a spark of hope and inspiration to some very challenging times. My dear friend just lost her nephew tragically. Showing her this gift of yours will certainly help heal her soul. I am also going to try to find a way to project this video for the Elderly seniors I work with to see. Most of them are from Hong Kong and China, living in the Bay Area. I know this will touch them profoundly.
Nicely done Bob & ChunMei. Touching story. Glad to see you are both doing well. Nice montage musically and visually. Lot’s of love from both of us…
Wow! That was inspiring…great job. And I also liked the music, it really fit the mood of the video without being overpowering. I wonder how such a poor family can take afford the care and feeding of such a big animal? It looks like it eats alot. I guess even if they sell it tomorrow they will at least be able to sleep soundly knowing that their debts are clear. When I think of all the money spent on gaming consoles here in the US it makes me a little sad to think that for each one there is a family somewhere dreaming of getting a cow that will wait another day.
So proud of you Bob! Very moving. Thank you.
I’ve been stuck…sick in bed for days….high fevers…shivers…naturally, a myspace ramble led me to raves about your film. I had to gander. I reached immediate catharsis….like a premenstral woman or a three year old child. Call it fever…call it cabin fever….call it over the counter drugs…I call it water buffalo. Thanks for the best medicine I’ve had all week.
Most sincerely,
Emily in LA
Thank you for the film. It makes us thankful for where we live just by an accident of birth. I am also thankful for the people who had the compassion to donate the buffalo. We don’t always appreciate the goodness of ordinary people.
–Frances in GA
I am wondering if this poor family can afford to feed their new water buffalo. It will take some time before the water buffalo’s work pays off. Perhaps they will just slaughter the beast, which isn’t exactly an expected outcome.
That was amazing, Thank you for sharing it with everyone!!
Trish, please refer to the FAQ (frequently asked questions). Thanks to everyone who commented, and for all the postive feedback.
Wonderful. Thank you. And the music was beautiful.
Wow. Thanks for sharing… you made my day.
This is why the web was created. I plan to share this story and your video with the students at my school. Thank you…
Your video was posted on our neighborhood listserve here in Oakland, CA (where you apparently grew up??)…. news on the listserve tends to be on the negative side, but this just brightened my day
tears and all! Thanks for sharing and for caring!
I just watched this movie with my 12 year old son and I want to thank you. Little can pull our westernised children from the capitalist wanting wanting wanting. My son had a revelation about the so called value of all the things he ‘wants’ when he saw the value of what someone actually needs.
Thank you
Nice pointer Jane. I know a few who could use such a lesson, starting with myself.
And thanks for the pointer to the FAQ Bob. I hope you do get a follwo up video made. I hope all goes well for them.
Perhaps other projects like these learn a lesson in the value of documenting and authenticity.
Next time - how about the gift being anonymous some how? A community member is asked to do the giving, and another to do the documenting…
My niece has been living in China since August.
She writes home about how poor the people are, and how important it is to reach out and find ways to help the Chinese people. This film shows a perfect example of how it can be done.
What a beautiful story! I cried for the thoughtfulness of the gift and the gratitude in the faces of the women. What an inspiration to do the same right here at home in America.
Chapeau!
I love your playing and missed it.
Thank you for the inspiration. I hope that it inspires others to “pay it forward”.
I deeply disliked your video. You use it as a showcase of your ‘art’ (music, film, ’story’). Particularly disgraceful: your hand on the old woman while you’re telling us about “the magnitude” of your own gift. You have no clue how people live. You are the only blind person here, really.
Thank you for making the film and the gentleness of your story.
Thank you for sharing. I can’t wait to show this to my students and have them blog on it themselves! May God continue to bless you and your wife with generosity and abounding love.
Wow, God is so good. This really touched my heart! Thank you for being obedient to God and blessing others with the resources he provides.
How beautiful! I will certainly share this with my students. If you have time, please contact me; I’d like for my students (7th and 8th graders in Santa Clara, California) to get a message from the person who made the movie. It might make watching this yet more powerful for them.
Well done. I love the way you combined a good story, your talents and new technology.
Wonderful Story. Do you know what the family did with the water buffalo?
Who is Guy Grand…
Thank you for the beautiful, thought-provoking movie. I shared it with my students and I’m passing it on.
I’ve read a couple entries and it sounds like people are looking for a way to give in a like manner - my daughter and I “buy a goat” for a family every year through _Heifer International_. I feel like it’s a remarkable program; the best thing is is that the receipients of the goat (or ox, or heifer . . . ) pass on the offspring to other community members. Check it out.
Thank you again for putting your fingerprint on my heart. So moving.
Thank you so much! I am overwhelmed with emotion and inspired to do a similar act of giving and kindness.
I will pass this on.
Wonderful story. Makes you aware how lucky we are to live the way we do.
Thank you Robert..It’s remarkable, some of the most inspirational content I’ve ever seen..
This movie is a great illustration of how our is inter-connected and getting smaller every day.
Interesting that the day you filmed the delivery of the buffalo, January 6th, is a day on the Christian calendar, commonly known as “Three Kings’ Day”, or Epiphany, which celebrates the arrival of the Magi, bearing gifts, at Bethlehem.
This was a VERY uplifting story. I would love to donate personally to this person as you would know exactly where it was going. A wonderful suggestion would be to find neighbors who could have a male and a female water buffalo that could produce young and possibly help the whole community free as they do with the offsrping from the goats in the comment above.
We feel very lucky to live in Canada. Watching the granddaughter who has no toys or wasn’t given hundreds of dollars in toys still seems very happy.
Robert,
Have you thought of using chipin.com to collect money from people who want direct and active giving to go directly to the families that need it most? You can quickly set up a Chipin widget and collect money not only on your own webiste, but also have all 74 people who commented put up the fundraising widget on their site. All monies can go directly to a Paypal account. Chipin charges no fees if you choose this payment option. I am happy to tell you more.
You can read a great case study on our system at: http://widgetfundraising.org about how a woman used our system to raise money to send a young girl in Cambodia to school.
aloha,
carnet
Dear Robert: To bring yourself to the sources of life that often go unnoticed in the roar of the race of this time is what many strive to do. Thank you for showing the way. You did it. You are doing it. The water buffallo is a friend to the family, a savior and an inspiration to the farmer. I have worked with so so many refugees in South East Asia who look to the water buffallo as their purpose and their reason for living. So many farmers have sold their land to simply live. The famlies age and watch as the machines replace their buffallo ,as the young generation turns to the big city. The truth is that so so many farmers need hope and the confidence of being able to WORK. Simple as that. Work. A buffallo does that. I have to tell you it is my favorite domestic animal. You know how to make music.
Reno
This is such a great movie.
I love water buffaloes. They signify magnificence and great love.
your movie is touching and generous.
Thank you for creating it. It helps me along on my path today.
Wow, I cried as I watched and was so grateful for the Teacher who sent this site forward for us all. What a beautiful lesson. We will be responding with a donation so other families may know the joy of this kind of love and know there are people who care! God bless them and all the folks that made this possible. P.S. The buffaloes are so majestic!
Robert,
My class just watched the water buffalo story. Some kids comments: I liked it because Robert felt sorry for people who could not buy a water buffalo. Robert was not selfish. He did a good job of helping. We learned that our culture is different from the one in Yunnan. Our parents work at jobs and get money, but in Yunnan they don’t have jobs so they can use a water buffalo to help them survive. We speak in English and they speak in Chinese. We heard them say. Xie xie which means thank you.
Xie Xie for making the story available.
Mr. Smith’s Class
Kiddo;
So proud. I’m glad it’s not disrespectful to cry in front of your laptop screen.
Xie xie wo_de pengyou. Thanks nephew.
Uncle Rico
Awesome, awesome story. What a difference one individual can make. It restores my faith in humanity and the good that we are capable of.
Lovely and very inspiring
Excellent and moving story. The human spirit is with you!
This doc is VERY well done, especially for a first timer! Jerked a few tears out of me. The criticism of Hieffer Int. is understandable, but perhaps a bit unfair. They should probably make fuller disclosure of how they use donations.
The key now is follow up. Will the family actually do better? I hope the bank does not go after the buffalo to get its money back.
it is great and it trike my heart.
I heard the interview on CBC today and was moved. This, I find to be the power of sharing a story. When we share our stories of what we care about, things happen. Thank you for sharing your story. I will do what I can to make other things happen.
From a production perspective, it was simple, sincere, authentic, and beautiful…thank you.
Sincerely yours, Celes Davar
Great thing you did for that family. What bothers me is some of the coments I read on “how much is that bufallo in the window”. It just shows how little people in North America know about the rest of the world. Buying “Equipment” to plow the field??? People obviously never saw how a rice paddy is plowed with a Water Bufallo , some kind of harness and a crude plow fashioned from a piece of wood.
Very moving. So much to do and so little time.
Hey Robert,
What a good thing to do, it does show us that in our own (sometimes out of the blue) way, we can make a difference… a big difference.
It would be worthwhile to follow up from time to time over the years to see how the gift of the buffalo has made a difference to the family.
How long (if at all) will it be used to plow a field, or perhaps it will be sold to pay off their debt or even eaten. In any case it does have the potential to earn them a higher subsistance. Somehow the whole gesture does make sence and resonates about the disparity between our material wealth in the west and the need to simply share. How fortunate that you responded to the blog, and I wonder where will all of this will lead you.
Happy Fiddlin’
Cheers,
george
Eve jan, 24
get a life
BRAVO! Now what? Read some of the email, there are many peole willing to help, but with the discouragement of many organizations and government, feel distrustful and discouraged. Can you email me back for some ideas?
David, I created a page here outlining some things people can do if they want to donate in a monetary way.
But I think the fundamental issue here is this: you don’t need the assistance of any organization to lend a helping hand. It just a little of your time and energy. Whether it’s someone on the other side of the planet or just down the street, anything is possible, especially with the internet and blogs.
What is touching people is that this gift actually changed someone’s life (and I got to witness it firsthand). I’m sure you can come up with some ideas on how you can help others. Good luck.
Hello!
What a magical concept and beautiful movie. These initiatives are the answer to so many people’s life struggles and otherwise impossible dreams.
I am a Canadian who has lived and volunteered in Kerala State, India for eight months. During that time, I became very good friends with a destitute Indian family. I have been financially helping them in the past two years, but this has been difficult as I work in the non-profit sector. Does anyone have any ideas on how to connect this wonderful, loving desperately poor family with help? I am not a business-minded person, but I know there must be a way to help them. My support alone isn’t enough to help them get out of their constant cycle of debt and dispair. Please write to me if you have any ideas. taraonthego@hotmail.com
Sincerely and with grattitude,
Tara Jordan
Campbell River, BC
Canada
hi - i listened to the interview on cbc yesterday and viewed the documentary today. the whole thing must have been a heartwarming experience for you. it certainly was for us. many thanks. brian.
How beautiful! I wept.
How do the families afford to feed the water buffalo?
Lisa, please refer to the FAQ about the movie, and thanks taking the time to watch.
Oh my god what a awesome thing to do i think im goi8ng to raise money to get like three buffaloes thats so cool what this guy did god bless him and that little family.
Beijing dude in awe
How can anyone question the effects of this gift! The beast can be used to turn over the soil not only in their own fields but those of their neighbour’s as well, in return for food, seed, labour, go forward and forward and . . .
Dude….just watched this again. I remain humbled by the talent, humanness, and love present in the people I choose to be around. You and your wife are beasts!!!
I think that the gesture you made and the video and hopefully the resulting effect are so beautiful. And how wonderful that you are in the position to do something like that. But I’m a little afraid that what started it all was a comment about a gift someone received through Heifer International…a donation in their name to help purchase a water buffalo for a family.
I admit up front that I have an affiliation with Heifer and I feel as though people will be mislead by the comments on Philip Greenspun’s site. He’s right…the money donated isn’t used to purchase one buffalo and donate it to some random family. The money is combined with other donations to provide all kinds of animals to different families around the world. And each family who receives an animal also receives training in how to care for the animal. They also promise to gift the first offspring to another family in their village, and that family gifts their offspring and so on.
It’s wonderful when we can affect change as individuals. But sometimes it takes more than one individual to make a change. We should all do everything we can to bring about good things, but that doesn’t mean we should turn our backs on good organizations who are providing much larger programs than most individuals can ever do.
I encourage everyone to learn more about Heifer International, and the other organizations like them. What your film shows so clearly is just how much of a difference a small amount can make in someone’s life.
Bless you.
Great video lifts the spirit…
we gave through Heifer in Dec 06 and hope the donation of ducks and bees was recieved as such…
well done and thanks
by the way if we send you ? dollars can u buy another water buffalo for a family that needs one??
Wow, Robert, I am so impressed by your video. Truly inspirational.
Robert,
I heard you interview on CBC radio here in Canada and then watched your movie. Inspiring!
Job well done!!
God Bless….
Robert,
I heard your interview on CBC today and just from the interview it was a moving experience for me. Then I watched your video I felt sad and then extremely happy that you were able to experience this wonderful venture yourself. Being an immigrant myself, I can relate to this situation. Although my family or I were not in the same sitiuation, I did know quite a few families who could have used a similiar gift. Thus, changing their life for ever. I have two wonderful boys, ages 17 and 21 and I often talk to them about this unfairness that exists in this world and it’s not always what they would like to have. As you said on your interview a couple hundred dollars can change an entire family life. And yet here in North America parents and kids don’t have any problems spending this kind of money on an IPOD as an example. I am so greatful that you were able to provide us with this moving video and hopefully we all can make a human difference. God bless you for this wonderful experience.
A.C. Ontario, Canada
I heard your interview on CBC radio today and wanted to see the video for myself. It was wonderful and it was inspiring to see the difference a few people can make in the world.
this video filled my soul with the peacfulness of true caring, sharing and love, it makes me feel I’ve been wrapped up in a warm bundle of the earths hug.
Very beautiful.
For everyone who has seen the video, I am making another video soon about the making of sugar without the use of electricity. I saw it firsthand here in China, and it’s pretty inspiring. Stay tuned.
What a wonderful heart warming experience and a great act of kindness. You forget how easy it is to take things for granted in North America and how you can get caught up in your own “world”. Thank you for sharing your experience with our family.
Absolutely Wonderufl!! It took me, about 20 attempts to try and see the video, but when I finally got to watch it, in it’s entirety, it was very moving and inspirational. Your music warmed my senses and your kind act has warmed my spirit. Thank you, for that.
That was a beautiful gesture. thank you for the video. my wife and I give on a regular basis to a number of Christian charities, I feel that they are the best because of the number of volunteers involved and the non profit, love motive, the books are open for all to see. We must not wait for government or anyone else to act. The need is great and urgent, what can YOU do?
A touching story! This goes to show the remarkable power one or a few can have in bettering a life. Let’s hope this story elicits a ripple effect of kindness and generosity, bringing more “Little Longhorns” to those less fortunate.
So beautiful! I heard the interview with Robert on CBC and was so moved by the video. THIS is news. Thank you for generating and sending it around the world.
B.N. Vancouver, Canada
This is true inspiration!
Shows what all of us can do…if we want to.
You have left a legacy with this family. BE proud of yourself.
If we do not leave legacies, who will?
Thank you for sharing this Robert
Liz, Victoria BC Canada
Wow. My two daughters are adopted from China. This video made me bawl knowing that they could be living in the same situation if they were still there. Thank you for doing this. What a special gift for this family. My heart is in China, the birth country of my children. We can’t wait to go back.
This is so beautiful. Thank you. I too, have recieved a gift.
Hey,
looks amazing…! Great !
What a beautiful story. kathy
Robert, thank you for this beautiful film - it has brought me to tears and i am passing it on to my nieces and nephews who need to learn how big the world is and how many wonderufl, caring people there are in it.
Thanks! I live in China too, and it’s good to be reminded that simple acts can make a huge difference in people’s lives.
Such an inspiring presentation! The simple act of sharing and loving those we do not know is set off against this time of fear, hate, and war. We waste this little amount of money that can mean the difference between life and death for so many.
Somehow this film must be shown and shared with a wider audience to show us how we can act in afffordable ways to our wider family around the world.
Dear Bob,
Your Mom shared your film with me in January, but the first time I tried to open it I could not. But today I could.
I am so pleased that you have helped a family you did not know and that you are sharing the story in a way that is humble and invites others to do the same. I truly believe this is the kind of concern for and connecting with others that promotes “the peace that passes understanding” in ourselves and in the world.
Grier and I have experienced some of this in Rotary projects we have done in Mexico and now in New Orleans, as well as times at Trinity when we are sensitive to others.
I am curious if the young woman in the video is your wife? I hope to meet her and you again sometime. What a joy it is to “be in touch” via the internet.
Would it be all right with you if we could mention your video in the church newsletter? I’m sure others would be interested. Sincerely, Linnea Graff
very good
What a wonderfully humanitarian gesture. Thank you so very much for sharing this. I plan to share this video with as many of my friends and family as possible, especially my daughter and granddaughter. I wish for you and yours, many blessings.
Thank you for the beautiful, thought-provoking movie. I shared it with my students and I’m passing it on.
China is a big mysterious country ! I would like to go there.
Great piece, I really love the song you played while you were buying the water buffalo, whats it called and how can I own it?
thanks
One person, one step at a time … what a journey. My heartfelt congratulations and thanks to you for sharing this wonderful gift with the world. May many be inspired to make a difference … one step at a time. You’ve proven that that’s all it takes.
Just wanted to say hi to all the Huffington Post and Head Butler readers, also, to read Trivia, FAQs, see photo galleries about the water buffalo movie, please visit the new, fancy water buffalo home page. Thanks for all your support!
Mr. Robert Thompson,
I would just like to say, that I am not only humbled by your video. I am humbled by your message as well. It seems these days that so many people try to tug at our heart strings for this reason or that reason - when what they truly want is you to donate money to whatever cause it is that they are supporting.
I must say that I was shocked at your position to all the people who wanted to give you money to support your cause. Your answer seemed to be simply, “I haven’t done anything that anyone else couldn’t do. One person can change someone’s life. In this situation the one person was me, but the next situation is all up to you.”
You aren’t trying to sell a book, or your music, or turn a profit.
It is for that reason I had to comment here to let you know that you are one of the most amazing people I have ever experienced - even though we will never meet.
Robert - a wonderful act, well done video. The perspective of China adds so much to the message, to capture attention, to compare ourselves with another world, another way of life. I’ve shown this video to my elementary students several times. We are doing a similar thing with purchasing a goat for a family in Malawi, maybe two if the kids bring in enough money!
I recently received a brochure from World vision or someone with a similar concept. You could buy someone anything from a new blanket to fishing line up to a donkey, but then you read the fine print and it’s like in the movie- It’s a symbolic ‘donkey’ which the use to show how a donation of that value would help someone.
It’s a great idea to give an actual water buffalo but it’s also clear that so many people need one too. Maybe the next step could be a buffalo rental where each family can plow a field and pass it on to the next family.