i am very touched by the response of all these people. Thank you once again.
According to the WordPress Stats, we have had 24 views of the Precious One Giveaway page. Now that isn’t much but that is a start and i believe seeds have been sowed and i choose to think that each of these 24 said a little prayer for Wesley.
My sweet Wesley thanks you for your contributions. Please keep them coming!
i hope and pray that more will come by, read and take part and share Wesley‘s story, share this Giveaway and make a difference to a little boy living in an orphanage in Asia.
If you wish to know more about Wesley, please click on his picture or his name to go to his profile page on Reece’s Rainbow.
Do continue to pray for Wesley and do continue to share this Giveaway so that, together, we can make a difference to one little boy. Remember our target is to get his grant to grow to US$500!
i first heard about it not long after i joined Reece’s Rainbow as a Prayer Warrior. i did a little bit of research and found that lots of charities use this story to illustrate what a difference one person can make to one other person in this world.
The Starfish story is an adaption of The Star Thrower, according to Wikipedia; it is part of a 16-page essay of the same name by Loren Eiseley (1907–1977), published in 1969 in The Unexpected Universe. The Star Thrower is also the title of a 1978 anthology of Eiseley’s works (including the essay), which he completed shortly before his death. i hope to be able to find a copy of the original story.
So through the years there have been some variations of this story but all involving a young person, an older person and of course the starfishes. Here is my favourite to date (used by the Starfish Charity in 2003):
An old man had a habit of early morning walks on the beach. One day, after a storm, he saw a human figure in the distance moving like a dancer. As he came closer he saw that it was a young woman and she was not dancing but was reaching down to the sand, picking up a starfish and very gently throwing them into the ocean. “Young lady,” he asked, “Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” “The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in they will die.” “But young lady, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it? You cannot possibly make a difference.” The young woman listened politely, paused and then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves, saying, “It made a difference for that one.” The old man looked at the young woman inquisitively and thought about what she had done. Inspired, he joined her in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved
This story has also become Reece’s Rainbow’s rallying cry; to cry out for orphans with special needs: “It makes a difference to this one.”
i am here today to ask you join me and make a difference to one; this one is named Wesley on Reece’s Rainbow and i pray and advocate for him, hoping and praying that it will make a difference in his life.
i am hosting a fundraiser for Wesley, called Precious One Giveaway for Wesley.
12-year-old Wesley needs a family to help him live life to the fullest.
Because Wesley is precious; he was lovingly and fearfully created by God and he deserves so much more than a life in an orphanage, he needs so much more support and encouragement and he should not be casted aside just because of his special needs. He has albinism and as a result has vision problems. But these are all manageable. What is more hurting is the way people might treat him just because his skin colour is different, just because he can’t see well. His own biological family has already signalled to him that they can not take care of him. He needs a forever family who will see him for the wonderful gentle boy that he is and for the amazing young man he could grow up to be, if only given a chance to, if only supported by loving parents. There could be a chance for him, outside of his home country to have these opportunities.
However, international adoptions are very very expensive and a lack of funds is a lousy reason to be without a family. So i want to do as much as i can to make that less of an obstacle and this Giveaway will hopefully, prayerfully do just that.
Precious One Giveaway Prizes!
There are just 3 prizes but they are really lovely prizes.
A chance to win a Swarovski Silver Crystal Figurine, Dog. Worth estimated at CHF 95/.
This was bought years ago and it has never left it’s box since it was bought. It comes in a cylindrical box with foam packing. It also has a Swarovski guarantee card. It is about 4.5cm x 4cm.
A chance to win a Semi-Precious Stones Bracelet. Worth estimated at CHF 60/.
This was bought a few years ago and the stones have only been taken out to be photographed for this Giveaway. There are 12 stones; from left to right: Moonstone, Rhodolite, Chrysoprase, Dumortierite Quartz, Serpentine, Carnelian, Agate, Aventurine, Blue Quartz, Magnesite, Onyx and Mother of Pearl. (i had to translate the gems names from German so i hope that they are correct.) They come with postcards which explain the origins and details of each stone (only in German). They are hung on a 925 Silver bracelet, 21 cm long.
How To Enter Precious One Giveaway!
It is very simple; you just have to donate to Wesley‘s adoption grant and/or share this post on your Facebook or Blog.Click on his picture or name to go to his profile page to donate.
Every share on Facebook or Blog gets you 1x Free entry.
Donate US$5 for 3x entries.
Donate US$10 for 8x entries.
Donate US$50 for 45x entries.
Donate US$100 for 100x entries.
Each entry will be given a number.
On my birthday, 3rd December, i will use Random.org to generate 3 winning numbers.
In order to be entered into this giveaway after your donation or sharing, please remember to leave your name and email and how much/when you donated and where you shared this post in the comments below.
i moderate all my comments and can keep comments private if you do not wish to display your information. Please indicate this in your comments.
Click here to donate or click on Wesley‘s name or picture to donate.
Live in Switzerland? There are alternative ways to donate and take part. Please leave a comment below with your email, telling me you live in Switzerland and i will contact you.
i hope and pray that this will push Wesley‘s adoption grant over the US$500 US$1000 mark. Thank you so much for your participation and your support.
UPDATE 16th Nov: We are so very close to our US$500 target, only another US$4.50 to go. So we have a NEW TARGET – US$1000… Click here to read how generous people have been and how God has blessed Wesley.
Do also pray for Wesley, for his daily needs to be met, for his forever family to come for him and for this Giveaway to make a difference.
Once again, thank you. Your contribution will make a difference.
syc
PS: If you have any questions about this Giveaway or how to donate, please leave a comment below with your name and email & i will get back to you asap.
… Wesley to you. My son and i are praying for him.
12-year-old Wesley needs a family to help him live life to the fullest.
Wesley is an orphan. He wasn’t always one. He spent the first 6 years of his life with his family. And then according to his records, he was abandoned. i can not imagine what that feels like for a little boy of 6. i can not imagine what went through his head when he finally figured out that he wasn’t going home. My heart just breaks.
i have a vague idea why he was abandoned. i believe that he was left because of his special need, which in my opinion isn’t much of a special need. He has albinism and vision issues as a result of his albinism.
However, i think that in his country his condition is not accepted and could likely have been a cause for ridicule and bullying and even family shame. So he had to go. Sad, but that’s how cruel society can be sometimes.
Most people know or have an idea of what albinism is. It is a condition where there is a lack of pigmentation in skin, eyes and hair. So most people with this condition have milky white or very light colour skin (or lighter than other family members), usually blond or very light coloured hair (sometimes it can be brown, depending on the type of albinism) and their eye colour can vary from blue to pinkish or red, sometimes white.
There are associated health issues with albinism. Vision problems is the big one. Because of the lack of pigmentation, the iris in the eye can not protect the retina and this makes them sensitive to light and can cause squinting. It can also cause reading problems. Sometimes the eyes also develop addition conditions such as nystagmus.
Wesley has albinism but he is also a little boy who needs a family to love him, to let him that he is loved even though he may look different. He needs a mum and dad who will support him and encourage him to be everything he can be.
Don’t lower your expectations for your child. Most people with nystagmus can see, learn and interact well enough to lead very normal lives.
Be positive. Nystagmus, while a visible “disability,” is not the end of the world. As they grow up, children with nystagmus need help in understanding why their eyes are different. Reassure children that nystagmus won’t stop them from being normal kids and normal adults.
See how positive he seems, even though he has waited so long. i just know he is a sweet child and can be a wonderful addition to a family.
So can you see that Wesley is as healthy as the next child, except that his skin, hair and eye colour are different and his eyesight isn’t great?
Please pray for Wesley – i’m amazed that with what he has been through that he still has a gentle temperament, is polite and sensible, and gets along well with others. Pray that his forever family comes for him so that he can have the opportunity to lead a full life. His albinism shouldn’t be a factor that he misses out in life, his vision problems can be helped, if not corrected.
His file says that he likes watching cartoons, listening to stories with peers, playing games with kids outdoors, likes playing balls and toy cars best. Just like any other little boy. Could he be your little boy? He has been waiting 6 long years for a family to love him, just as he is. Please step up if God is leading to be part of this boy’s life. Contact Reece’s Rainbow for more details.
In his country, there is little chance that he will be chosen for adoption because he stands out so much in appearance. However, in a society that might be more accepting of his condition, he could thrive. That would likely mean international adoption, which would costs an arm and a leg (almost literally); anywhere from US$25,000 to US$45,000.
Please do not let a lack of funds stop Wesley from having a family. He has a very small adoption grant at the moment. You can help by contributing to that grant and help lessen the burden of his forever family reaching him. Click on his name or picture to donate.
Thank you so much for your kind attention. And if you do make a contribution to Wesley‘s grant, please leave a comment below. i would like to send you a thank you gift.
trippingdifferently 