The Impossible

Whit and Eugene have invented the EduLink - a crank-powered machine that can beam a teacher's holographic image to children in faraway villages of India. But there's a catch: the education minister demands a fully working demonstration in just three weeks, or a rival group takes the project instead. Short circuits, failed solar panels, and a power surge that fries a whole unit pile up... then Whit collapses from exhaustion and lands in the hospital. With only hours left, Eugene is knocked out cold by an accidental triple dose of medicine and Jason is stranded in Mumbai, leaving young Marvin as the only one who can run the demonstration. Nervous but determined, Marvin beams his own image halfway around the world, wins over the prime minister of India, and shows everyone that with God, the impossible doesn't get the final word.

Found on A Date with Dad (and Other Calamities) Album 46 · 12 episodes

The run See every episode

0583 The Champ of the Camp While writing her memoir, Connie recounts the summer camp prank war that pitted her against a mysterious boy genius known only as Goggles.

0584 Dead Ends While searching for his long-missing father, Eugene follows a promising clue about the mysterious fax that led him to Africa - only to find that every answer raises harder questions about why his father has never come looking for him.

0585 The Poor Rich Guy A single Bible verse about camels, needles, and rich men sends the kids of Odyssey scrambling to save their wealthiest friends from heaven's fine print.

0586 A Cheater Cheated When a scandal-hungry radio host targets the Electric Palace's shady sales tactics, Bart Rathbone must scramble to learn honest customer service before his reputation - and his job - go up in smoke.

0587 Bringing Up Dads When his daughter decides she's too grown-up for his goofy antics, an embarrassing but devoted dad goes all-out to win back her laughter.

0588 Broken-Armed and Dangerous A broken arm and a broken blender leave two guilty consciences at Whit's End learning that owning up - and letting go - are both harder than they look.

0589 The Impossible With a make-or-break deadline looming, Whit's team races to finish an invention that could bring education - and faith - to children in India's most remote villages.

0590 Three O'Clock Call When silent phone calls start arriving at exactly three o'clock each day, a boy abandoned by his father dares to hope - while a visiting orphan prays he'll discover a Father who never leaves.

0591 Switch When two kids insist that adults have it easy, a forty-eight-hour family role swap puts them in charge of the money, the meals, and the bills.

0592 Now More than Ever When her best friend suddenly turns cold and secretive, Liz sets out to uncover what's really troubling the Straussberg household - and to learn what it means to stay a faithful friend.

0593 Around the Block While Connie struggles to write her own book about Odyssey, she discovers that helping others may be the key to helping herself.

1 of 2 0594 A Time for Action A singed guidebook among his late parents' belongings sends Eugene and Whit chasing a mysterious train ticket to Africa, while young Grady learns what it really means to help someone in need.

2 of 2 0595 A Time for Action While tracing a mysterious fax to its true source, Eugene follows a trail of clues through a gas station, a homeless shelter, and a cemetery in his desperate search for his long-lost father.

Featured characters

Minor characters & crew 2 more roles

2 supporting roles

Minister of Education Sean Donnellan Indian Phone Operator Actor Unknown

Made by

Chris Anthony Host John Fornof Writer · Director Nathan Jones Sound Designer · Producer Bob Hoose Producer Marshal Younger Producer Dave Arnold Executive Producer

The story

Read the full synopsis 3 min

In India, Jason Whittaker asks the national education minister to consider an ambitious new way of teaching children who live far from schools. The minister is interested but cautious. He wants proof that the device works, and he warns Jason that other organizations are ready to take the project’s place if it fails.

Back in Odyssey, Marvin hears strange sounds behind Whit’s laboratory door. He and Connie peek inside and see what appears to be Whit speaking about education, even though the real Whit is standing behind them. The figure is a recorded hologram produced by one part of the EduLink, a portable invention that Whit and Eugene have been developing.

The EduLink combines a computer, telephone, transceiver, and holographic projector. It can draw power from sunlight or a hand crank and communicate across great distances without costly towers or satellites. Whit hopes Gospel for India can use it to educate children in isolated, poor villages while also teaching them about Jesus. Because the machine must be easy for a child to operate, he invites Marvin to help test it and suggest improvements.

Jason soon calls with alarming news. The One World Government Education Fund is competing for the same five-year agreement and wants to introduce ideas such as nature spirits and hypnosis into the schools. The minister will consider Gospel for India only if Jason can demonstrate a completely functioning EduLink in three weeks. Whit and Eugene know that finishing so much work in so little time seems impossible, but Whit reminds the team that what they cannot accomplish alone is possible for God.

They work through short circuits, failed solar panels, missing parts, and mechanical problems. Marvin tests the controls and keeps a list of Bible verses nearby to encourage everyone. As the deadline draws closer, Whit works through several nights without enough rest. He eventually collapses from exhaustion and is hospitalized under orders to do nothing for several days.

With Whit unavailable and only three days remaining, Eugene is tempted to admit defeat. Connie reminds him that Whit would want them to continue, while Marvin points out how much work Whit has already given the project. Eugene decides that failure is certain only if they quit. Their chances improve when Jason unexpectedly returns from India and contributes his knowledge of long-distance broadcasting.

At last, both EduLinks communicate successfully, and the holographic projector works. Before the team can celebrate, a power outage and surge destroy every component in the second unit. The first machine survives, so they ship it ahead to the minister while Jason remains just long enough to help rebuild the damaged one. After two more exhausting days, Jason leaves for India and Eugene completes the repairs.

Connie persuades the sleepless Eugene to take medicine and mistakenly gives him three times the recommended amount. He falls into a deep sleep just as another crisis strikes: Jason’s connecting flight has been canceled, leaving him stranded in Mumbai. Whit is still in the hospital, Eugene cannot be awakened, and the minister expects a demonstration within two hours. Marvin appears to be the only team member left who can carry it out.

Marvin realizes they can transmit live video over the Internet and project it through the EduLink already in the minister’s possession. Nervous but determined, he guides the minister through the controls. His holographic image appears in India, and he explains how a teacher can reach distant students, how the device works without ordinary electrical service, and how easily a child can operate it. The minister is impressed enough to invite the prime minister to watch the rest of Marvin’s presentation.

After Whit recovers and Eugene awakens from twenty-seven hours of sleep, Jason calls with the result. The prime minister has been so impressed by Marvin and the EduLink that India wants to move forward with the program immediately. Marvin says they have seen the impossible happen, but Whit sees an even greater lesson: when people faithfully do the part God gives them, they may discover that the impossible does not have the final word.