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In October 2003, our founder visited Fuzhou, China. What came with the sights of the flora and fauna were children in the orphanage who had been seriously afflicted with different kinds of physical disabilities and sicknesses. These poor children, lying quietly in their bed, deformed or seriously sick was a very disturbing sight for our Founder. She went home very heavy hearted and filled with compassion for these orphans!
In March 2004, a visit to a Luoyang orphanage further confirmed her earlier observations in Fuzhou i.e. over 98% of the children were abandoned by their parents because they were either seriously deformed or were afflicted with sicknesses. If they did not receive the relevant medical treatment, they would have no chance to be normal or near normal nor to be adopted at all. Some would eventually die in the orphanages !
It is really appalling to realize that thousands of children in China today for various reasons are abandoned, and left to grow up or die as orphans by their parents. These poor children are robbed of parental love and care, emotionally scarred for life.
Our Founder was moved to tears by a nine year old boy, mentally sound except for his right hand , which was like a protruding stump, hanging around his neck. His eyes were staring blankly at the floor all the time, not daring to make any direct eye contacts with his visitors. His shame, awkward posture and silence deeply touched the heart of our Founder. She heard the cries from his heart and wanted to do something to change his life.
After much praying and confirmations (inclusive of “The Starfish Story”), our Founder was convinced that God wanted her to help these children - Children with medical needs; to receive medical treatment and to restore them to full health, be it physically, emotionally and spiritually. We strive towards the goal of helping them not only to lift up their hands or feet again, but most importantly, we hope they can also lift up their hearts and heads bravely to face tomorrow. They would be filled with His love and Hope, completely healed and changed !
That was how Starfish started
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