Day 81 - September 4 - Anybody want to help?
About five days ago or so, I woke up with the thought that there was some TV show where they rebuilt the homes of people who needed it. I asked Cherié, and she told me about "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition". We kicked the idea around about applying, and downloaded the application. That afternoon, a dear friend showed up unexpectedly, and when Cherié mentioned it to her, she said she had the same thought and had downloaded the application as well! Since then, completely without any prompting, I've gotten several people on the blog suggesting the same thing. I've also had numerous offers of help of one sort or another to get our house ready for the boy, but it keeps sticking in my head that we should give the TV show a chance to pay for all this. So, I took another look at the application, and they want to know how many feet there are between my house and the neighbors, how wide the streets are, and all sorts of stuff like that. They also want a recent video of the family, somewhat problematic as I don't even own a video camera.
After looking at the application, looking at my normal procrastinating idiom, and looking at my current level of mental acuity, I have decided that this is an area where someone could help. It is acceptable in the application process for someone to apply for someone else, so I'm hoping someone will step forward and do this application thing for us. We can manage to arrange for video or still photos, we just need someone to actually do all the work and send in the application.
My brother Kent has volunteered to edit any video footage into a decent presentation. I'd get him to shoot it too, but he's in Virginia.
I have no idea how long we have before we bring the boy home. I have no idea what kind of lead time the show needs. I have no idea if they'd even be interested, but I figure if God wants to use them in this, the least I can do is apply, right? If it's to happen, however, I'd like to get it done as soon as we could.
If you think you'd like to take a crack at this, obtaining photos and videos, measuring stuff and putting together an application for us, please get in contact with our support staff through our contact page or by clicking here.
Let's see if God would open this door...
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posted by Eric Williamson @ 9:04 PM
25 Comments
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25 Comments:
Eric & Cherie, We have a video camera and have downloaded the application already. We are ready to take this over and submit the application for you and your family. Call either Melanie or Kim to discuss the details and arrangements for video etc. Love and prayers, Kim & Mel
Just wanted to let Connor know that I pray for him daily. You too, Eric. Let him know "he means a lot".
5ICU
ps Trials are for the eternal not the temporal. Can't wait to walk with you again there :)
Would be happy to do it as well, tried to download the application earlier today when I read about it in an earlier BLOG. Let me know I could spearhead, or help Kim & Mel.
Can't think of a more worthy family!
Love,
Sally Wrye
Hey Eric,
You know I would be happy to help. I have 3 cameras and could even edit it for you if your pressed for time. It looks like you have a couple of other volunteers, but just wanted to let you know I'm available too.
Justin Richter
Psalm 20:1
[ For the director of music. A psalm of David. ] May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
I read the application and it says that you can nominate a family that you don't even know, like someone you read about in the newspaper - just put down whatever info you have about them and they will find out the rest if they are interested. So...let's let Kim & Mel do the complete application, but the rest of us could also send in our nominations. Just print out the application, fill in the names and maybe city/state, and tell why you think the family is deserving. That way, they will see how much this family means to so many people.
Laura Slagle
My husband also thought of the homemakeover show for your family, after reading your blog yesterday.
Just an FYI...I just started looking for the place on the web to find the application and wanted to share something: You have to go to the official ABC Extreme Home Makeover site. The first one I landed on was NOT and one of the first things it asked for was your name, email address and PASSWORD. So be careful--especially if you're not that familiar with computer territory. BTW, there was a typo in the bogus page, spelling out "change" instead of "chance"--as in "to win a chance for an extreme home makeover"--a definite clue!
This is awesome how many people are stepping in to help. I have no idea how far out Extreme Makeover's schedule is, but I say go for it, and if God closes the door what an even greater testimony, in my opinion, would be for everyone following this to see God's church step in and provide the workers and the funds. That is, after all, what God expects of His people.
Eric, Cheri...i have a video camera you are welcome to borrow, we go to eastside and have helped with dinner for you guys. Our camera is idiot proof beings it belongs to us...it needs to be...lol. I think extreme home makeover will and would be the best bet and with the right app and video, i have no doubt God will see you through this. Let us know if we can help, we are in the Eastside Directory...we are praying daily for all of you. Mark and Bobbie Fellows and kids. We love you guys.
We're obviously all thinking along the same lines. Yesterday when I got your list of praises (and particular the issue about Connor's accessibility to your home), I immediately thought Extreme Makeover- Home Edition (EM-HE).
I did some checking.
The show is prodiced by
Endemol USA
9255 W Sunset Bl
Ste 1100
L.A. CA 90069.
I called and asked for a producer. The gal I chatted with was very kind and very helpful. She asked if she would give me some direction. I told her about Connor. She said the best way to is to download the application from the EM-HE website. She also gave me a number for the folks who actually screen applicants. (323) 785-2262.
She said no matter what, the tape of the family and the story is THE THING.
Perhaps God's plan is to work out your challenges with something like EM-HE.
Thinking of you often.
Donna
Tumwater WA
Hello Family and everyone,
I think that if many folks nominate you, the Williamson's, ABC won't be able to help but take a look at your applicaion - all the applications submitted by each person. With prayer and action, God may be working it all out for His glory. Today, I will try to get that application and submit it. Maybe those reading this or thinking of it can/will too.
Love and prayers to and for you,
Praying4TheWilliamsons
San Jose
I am a lurker from Houston, TX on your site, and have become inspired by Connor and the rest of your family. Having spent 10 years at summer camp myself and dreaming of sending my small boys someday your story touches a special place in my heart.
I have been thinking about all the challenges that face you and wanted to let you know that I have reached out to Nate Berkus from the Oprah Winfrey show to see if they could help. I am working on submiting the link to your blog and all the challenges you face from this site (although there appears to be a technical problem with the site that I have contacted them about):
https://www.oprah.com/ord/plugform.jsp?_k=_c9dick5c_kq3k
Oprah has a home in California, so perhaps she is closer than you may think...
Hi Williamson's,
We will send in an application for the Extreme Makeover Show today also. This out pouring and the thought of Ty shouting "Move that bus" just makes me cry. God is so dang good!!!!! Bless everyone who reads this blog and is reaching out to help in whatever way, shape or form. Stay strong and be encouraged today as many friends are lifting you all up in prayer.
Ginny
By the way...
I am fillig out the application right now and have downloaded some pictures from this website....
Praying4TheWilliamsons
San Jose
hi conner its matt kastle, ive been reading ur blog to see whats been happining Proverbs 3:5-6 If you want favorwith both God and man,and a reputation for good judgment and common sence, then trust in the Lord completly; dont ever trust yourself. In everything that you do put God first,and he will direct you and crown you with efforts of success. Im praying for you.
Hi Williamson family.
Very interesting as I just said to Jan yesterday that your situation would be just right for Extreme Makeover to help with your needs. So we were pleased that we were not the only one and the request is already in process. We pray daily and we prayed for Connor at our small group bible study last night. Bob and Jan Lokhorst in Chanhassen MN.
Good stuff.
Eric you do know, right, that they totally trash your house? Not a remodel job; but bulldoze and start over.
Didn't read all the posts, but lots to think about.
One time Joni and Friends won a contest with an Airlines where she could take wheel chairs to another country. This was way long time ago before Wheels for the World was established at the scale it is now.
God will make a way, where there seems to be no way.
MOVE THAT BUS!!!!!!!!!!!
IT IS A TOTAL RE BUILD OF YOUR HOME BUT HECK, THESE HOMES OF OURS ARE AFTER ALL ONLY TEMPORARY, OUR HOME IS HEAVEN!!!! OH YEA, AND IN HEAVEN WE DON'T NEED WHEELCHAIR ACCESS, CERTAIN BEDS, NECK BRACES, VENTILATORS ETC...
NO MORE CRYING THERE
WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE KING,
HALLALUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MOVE THAT BUS!!!!!!!!!!
Since the EM:HE assistant made a point that "the tape...is THE thing," (thanks Donna in Tumwater!), I'd like to suggest we allow Justin Richter (Comment 4 up there) to do the video recording and editing. I can personally vouch for the excellent quality of his work. The people at EM:HE will, no doubt, be impressed with the professionalism, as well as being touched with the story.
Also, I don't know if there's a place for this on the application, but thought I'd throw it out there just in case it can be useful. Since the last time I posted "The List," (about a month and 1/2 ago?) it has grown by over 100 additions! There are people in these cities, states, countries, churches and organizations who are praying for Connor and the rest of the Williamson family. God be praised for such a great cloud of witnesses! If your location doesn't appear on this list, it's either because you've not included it on your comments or (more likely) because I've missed it. And I'm sorry for that. Either way, if you want to be included on The List, leave a comment here or email me through the ConnorWatch Contact page. Include the locations of anyone else you know is lifting up the Williamsons.
Here goes:
States
Alabama
- Birmingham
Alaska
- Anchorage
Arizona
- Fort Mojave
- Phoenix
- Surprise
- Kingman
Arkansas
- Magnolia
- Norfolk
California
- Aptos
- Aromas
- Atascadero
- Brentwood
- Campbell
- Clovis
- Coarsegold
- Covington Mill
- Coyote
- Davis
- Delhi
- Downey
- El Dorado Hills
- Elk Grove
- Fort Bragg
- Fremont
- Fresno
- Hemet
- Hollister
- Irvine
- Gilroy
- Laytonville
- Livermore
- Long Beach
- Los Angeles
- Los Gatos
- Manteca
- Mather
- Modesto
- Morgan Hill
- Nevada County
- Newman
- Norco
- Oakhurst
- Oakland
- Oceanside
- Orange County
- Palo Cedro
- Pleasanton
- Prather
- Redding
- Rhonert Park
- Ripon
- Roseville
- Sacramento
- San Bernardino
- San Diego
- San Jose
- San Luis Obispo
- San Martin
- Santa Cruz
- Soquel
- Spring Valley
- Temecula
- Tracy
- Tulare
- Turlock
- Visalia
- Watsonville
- Willitts
Colorado
- Colorado Springs
- Denver
Florida
- Daytona
- Lake Mary
- Lakeland
- Lighthouse Point
- Orlando
- St. Cloud
Georgia
- Atlanta
- Carrollton
- Lilburn
Hawaii
Idaho
- Hayden Lake
- Post Falls
- Twin Falls
- Victor
Iowa
- Ames
- Des Moines
Illinois
- Bartlett
- Chicago
- Galesburg
- Moline
- Naperville
- Palatine
- Ullin
- Wheaton
- Woodstock
Indiana
- Fort Wayne
- Grager
- New Carlisle
- Warsaw
Kansas
Kentucky
- Louisville
Louisiana
Maryland
- Baltimore
Massachusetts
Michigan
- Alegan
- Commerce
- Jackson
- Livonia
- Niles
- Ocqueoc
- Sawyer
- West Bloomfield
Minnesota
- Chanhassen
- greater metro Twin Cities area
- Northfield
- Rochester
Mississippi
- Senatobia
Missouri
- Springfield
Montana
- Helena
Nebraska
Nevada
- Henderson
- Spring Creek
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
- Buffalo
- Manhattan
- New York
- Rochester
- White Plains
North Carolina
- Durham
- Selma
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
- Albany
- Bend
- Medford
- Monmouth
- Rogue River
- Springfield
Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia
South Carolina
Tennessee
- Lebanon
- Memphis
- Mt. Juliet
- Nashville
Texas
- Abilene
- Andrews
- Baytown
- Belton
- Buela
- Dallas
- Houston
- Huntsville
- Killeen
- Longview
- Masfield
- Murphy
- Plano
- Rockport
- San Antonio
- Shiloh
Virginia
- Charlottesville
- Crozet
- Keswick
- Richmond
- Ruckersville
- Standardville
Utah
- Logan
Washington
- Liberty Lake
- Little Elm
- Longview
- Mill Creek
- Nine Mile Falls
- Olympia
- Puyallup
- Spokane
- Tumwater
- West Virginia
Wisconsin
- Madison
- Milwaukee
Wyoming
Countries
Australia
Cambodia
Canada
- Sundre, Alberta
- Toronto
Chile
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dubai
Ecuador
England
- London
Ethiopia
Germany
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
- Tokyo
Jerusalem
Jordan
Kenya
- Kijabe
- Nairobe
Mexico
- Merida
New Zealand
Panama
- Panama City
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Qatar
Romania
Rwanda
- Kigali
Singapore
South Africa
Switzerland
Tanzania
USA
Zambia
Churches
Beltway Park Baptist (Abilene, TX)
Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel Bible Fellowship
Campbell Church of Christ
Central Christian Church
Christ First Baptist Church
Church of Christ (Longview, TX)
Church of Christ (Temple, TX)
Copperhill Community Church
Crossing Church
Crossroads Church (Turlock Evangelical Free)
Eastside Church
First Presbyterian Church (San Antonio, TX)
Gallatin, Texas Church of Christ
Gallatin, Texas Missionary Baptist
Grace Bible Church
Graceway Baptist Church
Immanuel Baptist
Joy Community Church
Knox Fellowship
Lifepoint Church
Methodist Church (Jacksonville, TX)
Morgan Hill Bible
Morgan Hill Presbyterian
New Covenant Church
New Harvest Church
New Hope Community Church
New Testament Church of Christ (Tyler, TX)
Northpark Community Church
Peoples Church
Riverpark Bible Church
Rogue Valley Community Church
Saint Mary Catholic Church
South Valley Community Church
Sunrise Christian Church
Trinity Center
Twin Lakes Church
United Methodist Church
Valley Bible Fellowship
Venture Christian Church Women's Bible Study
West Hills Community Church
Westgate Christian Church (Spokane, WA)
Westoak Woods Baptist Church
Woodward Park Baptist Church
Wooster Baptist Church
52 parishes of the Catholic Church
250 Dominican Sisters
Organizations (people within these orgs.)
Awana International
Boyce College (SBTS in KY)
Camp Ta-Pa-Win-Go
challies.com
Children in Action
Chinese Community Church
Christians in Commerce Women's Group
Christian High School
Community Regional Medical Center
Compassion International
CustomInk.com (has donated money in support of Connor)
DAWN Ministries
Focus on the Family
Forty Niners
FreshFire Ministries
frogsgroup.com
Hume Lake Christian Camps
Joni and Friends (Earekson Tada)
Masters College
Moody Bible Institute (Chicago)
Moody Bible Institute (Spokane)
Mount Hermon Christian Camps & Conference Center
Oakland Center (CA)
Pregnancy Care Center (Louisville)
San Bernardino Fire Dept.
San Jose Fire Dept.
South Valley Pregnancy Care Center (Gilroy)
Spirit West Coast
United States Air Force
United States Navy
Valley Christian Schools
Wycliffe Bible Translators
Young Life
ZZRbikes
181 cities
43 states
35 countries
6 continents
97 churches/affiliations
34 organizations
As best I can figure out (comparing to googlemaps), the following are represented on the ClustrMap (please feel free to correct me!):
ClusterMap
Alaska
- Anchorage
- Juneau
- Ketchikan?
- Attu Island?
Australia
- Melbourne
- Queensland
Belgium
- Antwerp
Cambodia
Canada
- Alberta (Calgary, Lethbridge?, Sundre)
- Ontario (Ottawa)
- Saskatchewan (Regina? Saskatoon? Yorkton?)
England
- Blackburn?
- Bristol?
- Dover?
- Hereford?
- London
- Manchester?
- Oxford?
- Stoke on Trent?
- Worcester?
France
- Metz?
Germany
- Frankfurt
- Hamburg
Hawaii
Hong Kong
India
- Mumbai
- Chennai
Indonesia
- Malang
Iraq
- Baghdad
Ireland
- Ballymena?
- Dublin
Jamaica
Japan
- Kumamoto?
- Tokyo
Kenya
- Nairobi
Malaysia
- Kuala Lumpur
New Zealand
- Auckland
- Wellington
Norway
- Oslo
Papua New Guinea
- Port Moresby
Philippines
- Manila
Poland
- Krakow?
Qatar
Romania
- Bucarest
Scotland
- Edinburgh
Singapore
South Africa
- Capetown
- Johannesburg
Spain
- Pamplona?
Switzerland
Taiwan
USA (Contiguous)
Zambia
- Lusaka
In His Service,
Jenann Nakamura
Morgan Hill, CA
MOVE THAT BUS!!!!!!!! I cannot help from so far away, but...I will do whatever possible via computer and if accepted; I will do everything possible to be there and help MOVE THAT BUS!
Love,
Evalena
WOW! It's not that I'm "impressed" so to speak, but I will say this really is a "God thing!"
It has been about a generation since I've seen God use a family like this as He gathers His saints for His purpose.
And in no way do I want to minimize this tragedy... we all wish it were not so!
Thanks for your incredible work Jenann!
Praise to the One who sits on His Throne!
My above statement was in reference to Jenann's hard work of gathering all the statistics of worldwide representation of the people, places, churches and organizations following this blog and providing them in such a clear manner. Again, thanks.
Dear Williamson Family,
I think the idea of an Extreme Makeover is fantastic. I would also like to throw out another option. I saw a show about a month ago on a family that was passed over by Extreme Makeover for whatever reason. This family was in "extreme need" with a disabled child. When Extreme Makeover rejected the application, the families community stepped up to the plate and did their own "Extreme Makeover" for this family. It was inspiring to see the community come together in that way.
Perhaps that would be something that people from the Williamson's community could spearhead. Maybe if someone approached the Churches and the Churches reached out to the community? Just a thought.
You all remain in my prayers. My best friends 22 year old son (an identical twin) was in an accident (about 6 years ago now) while comimg home from his job as an EMT. He is now living (with his twin brother) as an incomplete Quardriplegic. He has come a long, long way since those days in the ICU. I sat with my friends as they waited to see if their son would live, and watched their anquish when the full extent of his injuries sank in to their conciousness.
But you, my friends, have something that they did not. You have the Almighty God! He will never forsake you!
God Bless you all,
Lark
Campbell, CA
Add Perry, Florida to the list and also Crosspoint Baptist Fellowship
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