The following was taken from David’s journal from his most recent visit to Rising Star Outreach in 2014:       

Over the last few months I’ve gotten to be really close with all the older boys. I feel like I’ve taken on the role of “older brother” for these kids. A lot of them don’t have very many good male role models, so I have kind of felt the need to be that for them. One of the boys that I’ve gotten extremely close with is my sponsor child, Vimal Kanth. He is in 9th Standard, which is the equivalent to 9th grade. One night I was about to talk to him and got his story.

David and Vimal

Vimal told me that he’s never met his dad. When his mom found out that she was pregnant with him, his dad split and never came back. It was so devastating to his mom that Vimal is not even allowed to ask about him. [When not at Rising Star] Vimal lives at his mom’s house with his aunts and uncles, who I guess act like his “father figures,” but that he doesn’t really get along with.

With Friends

He keeps asking me to come back, because next year will be his last year and it could be the last time that I ever see him. I hate it when he plays that one on me because it is so true. If I come back next year, it could very well be the last time I ever see him. And I hate that thought. He has now started telling me that I have to stay in India forever. I’m only allowed to go home for my sister’s wedding, and then I have to come back to India till he dies. The best one was one night at reading time. He told me that if he found any lice in my hair that I had to stay with him forever. So he proceeded to check my hair, and he “found” one, but before he could prove it to me he “dropped it.” I guess I have to stay in India forever. I seriously love this kid so much!

Vimal is Cool

David can be found on Instagram @Davidm2010

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