Finding Faith

  The black and white photo revealed the most pathetic-looking child Marie had ever seen. Sad, vacant eyes stared out from a pinched little face with a turned-down mouth. Short black hair cut as stylishly as a worn-out old broom. She was dressed in a mismatched assortment of oversize flowery shorts, gray t-shirt that doubled as a bib for the past several meals, argyle knee socks, and no shoes. Her limbs were boney. Every detail of the child's appearance screamed "orphan," including the collection of rusty tricycles in the background.
  Marie put the photo aside and scanned the letter again: Warangkana, age 3. Happy, healthy girl. Rangsit Babies Home. There was some outdated information on a Thai growth chart and a few vague sentences about 'likes to play ball' and 'good appetite,' but it wasn't much to go on.
  "All that time I spent doing paperwork," Marie sighed, "all the money I still have to pay my blood-sucking adoption agency. And for what? A sickly looking child I know nothing about." She picked up the phone and made the call.
  "I'll take her! How soon can I leave?"
  Two weeks later Marie stepped off a plane in sweltering Bangkok, numb and exhausted from spending the past 25 hours in coach and layover. It was time to meet the love of her life, Faith Elizabeth, and she wouldn't have done it any other way.