Diana P.
dianaSweet, youthful, energetic Elijah. We became best buds the first day. He told me it was his first year at the orphanage. I couldn't imagine leaving this child. Out of all the kids, he seemed the most normal in the sense that he didn't have behavior problems, mental disabilities or look like he had been abused. Whenever I tried to ask him why he was here, he would just smile and say that he would get to go home at some point. I finally got more answers out of his older brother. They have two other brothers at home and their mom couldn't afford to keep all of them anymore because their dad left.

Everyday I spent with Elijah, he would crawl all over me, hold my hand, hug me at all times. Probably one of the sweetest kids I've ever met. I just couldn't imagine that he would be abadoned. He was in an orphanage, no real material posessions, no parents, no room of his own, no toys-- yet at heart, he was still a kid. A kid who loves to climb trees, run in the mud, catch bugs, laugh, play in the lake, and eat candy. This wide-eyed boy of 10 years old was at heart, still a kid even after being abandoned. His childhood wasn't completely stripped from his heart regardless of where he was.

Before I left, he whispered into my ear, "Diana, last night I prayed because you told me that God is my dad now since I'm an orphan and he takes special care of me.
-Diana Plesa, Florida