SEPTEMBER 9, 2008

Something very special happened today. I woman who is currently in Ethiopia picking up her child from the orphanage contacted me through the forum. Apparently, her daughter is friends with Bereket. Here is what she said:

Esther,
My daughter, Samra, was best friends with your daughter, Bereket here at the orphanage. Let me tell you how wonderful your daughter is. She is so sweet and beautiful. She is kind and quiet but very social. You will just love her. When they had the ceremony for the children to leave, she gave my daughter the biggest hug and kiss. Please know what a special little girl you are receiving, and she is healthy and well cared for. I live in York, PA, near Washington, D.C.

I am tearful with joy. So many times I have stared at those little faces in the pictures and wondered what they are like, willed them to be nice, sweet, open to loving another mother, dad, sister and brother. These are not infants, I recognize, they are little people with formed personalities that have been shaped by their own family, their genetics, their experiences and, sadly, their pain. That’s why this e-mail moved me so much. It was that little light saying, “Don’t worry. Your daughter is wonderful. She is going to be fine.”

I can’t wait to speak to this mom when she returns to the U.S., to thank her for this gift and hear more about our Ethiopian children.