The Children

Meet the precious children in our program and learn about their stories. 

Exauce Asomele

My name is Exauce and I think I was born in December of 2006.  My parents divorced and after that my mom decided to leave.  I went with my dad but he became sick and passed away.  There was no one to take care of me so I went out on the streets to live.  Someone found me living on the streets and brought me to Elikia center where I live now.

 Urbain Mumina Lembo

My name is Urbain and I think I was born in 2007.  My mother passed away and so my siblings and I lived with my dad.  He was distraught over his wife dying and soon after he also died.  We went to live with our grandmother but she couldn’t support me and my older brother.  She said we were full of devils and so she brought us to the police.  The police took us to separate centers to live.  At the center I wasn’t given enough to eat and I was mistreated and chased away.  Finally someone found me and took me to Elikia Center.  

Paulin Matekosi

My name is Paulin and I think I was born in 2008.  My mother passed away and our father began to beat us very badly.  He beat us constantly and one day our neighbor finally took pity on me and brought me to Elikia Center.  I’m so thankful I live here now.  

Junior Kabongo

My name is junior and I’m the oldest of the children in my family.  I was born in 2009 I think but I’m not sure.  My mother was killed by my father because they were arguing over not having enough food.  My father was put in jail and my brother and sister and I were brought to the police.  I was taken to Elikia center and they accepted me and my brother to live here.  My sister was adopted by another family.

Jose Ntumba

My name is Jose and I am the brother of Junior. I am the second oldest in my family, I was born in 2012 I think.  My mother was killed by my father because they were arguing over not having enough food.  My father was put in jail and my brother and sister and I were brought to the police.  I was taken to Elikia center and they accepted me and my brother to live here.  My sister was adopted by another family.

Abele Tsheka

My name is Abel and I think I was born in 2001.  My father died and mom married another man.  They didn’t want us so the four youngest of seven stayed with my grandparents.  My grandparents tried to raise us but they did not have enough money to feed and educate us.  My grandfather heard about Elikia Center and brought me to it.  My grandma died after I came to the home.  Grandpa is still trying to take care of my two youngest siblings.  I always wanted to go to school and I’m so thankful I have a place to sleep, food to eat and can go to school.  

Gradi Mbuku Mbemba

My name is Gradi and I think I was born in 2001. My father was a difficult man and caused problems in the family.  He did not take care of us so mom and us four kids went to live with my Mom’s parents.  My grandparents were hard on us and often beat us.  Some days we went hungry, life was not very good. I went to school but there wasn’t money to pay tuition.  My grandparents heard that Mickael went to Center Elikia and they told me and I wanted to go too.  I am very thankful to be in Center Elikia.  I’m thankful for our dorm dad who teaches us God’s word. I’m so grateful because we eat well, sleep well, go to school and are treated well. 

  Mickael Mofilakanza

 My name is Mickael and I think I was born in 2003.  My father died and my mother was shot.  A relative took us four kids to try and care for us.  My uncle brought all of us to Kinshasa and we lived with another relative there.  That relative sent me to Elikia center but kept my sisters and brother.  I’m really glad to be in the center.  Before I came to the center I often didn’t eat well and couldn’t go to school.  Here I eat well and I go to school.   

Glodi

My name is Glodi and I think I was born in 2002.  We lived near the rail road tracks not far from the center.  I lived with my mother but she could not send me to school. I never saw my father. A man saw I didn't go to school and he asked if I would like to go to Elikia center. I told him yes.  He took me to his home and I stayed there for awhile then eventually he took me to the center.  I do not know where my mother is today.  I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was at home. I don't know what age but I was small.  There was a church near us that I would go to.  I realize we are bad people and need to be saved. I like soccer and I enjoying playing it. I struggle in school.  I would like to grow up and be a pastor so I can preach.  

Simon Norevi

My name is Simon and I think I was born in 2000 but I don't know my birthdate. My parents were never married.  I lived with my mother for while then she sent me to live with my father and his other wife.  They did not like me and beat me often.  I finally ran away to the big Liberty Market. I begged for food and at night I slept out in the open.   One man came and took some of us boys to a center, La Grace de Dieu.  Paul Ward (now the son of Lee and Becky Ward) was also in the center.  It was bad in the center and often the sister would take all of us boys and put us in a room and beat us. I could not stand it any longer so one day after she had beat us I ran away.  Paul was still in the center.  I ran to the Liberty Market and I was there for awhile.  Then one day I met up with some men who told me about Elikia Center.  They told me where to find it and I went there and found Rabby who had also escaped from La Grace de Dieu.  It was the year 2007 and I decided to stay there and eventually Paul escaped from La Grace de Dieu and joined us. I love Elikia Center, we eat good, sleep good, go to school and I've been there ever since.  I am saved but I don't remember the year.  I realized God is the one who brought me to Elikia Center and I'm very grateful to Him. My desire is to be a pastor when I grow up. I don't like sports very much. I seldom play soccer.  I'm really quiet.  Unfortunately, no one from my family has every tried to find me.

Elie

My name is Elie. Both of my parents died within a couple years of each other, presumably from aids.  I was living with my sickly old grandpa who had no money or food to give us kids and was homeless himself.   When I was brought with my sister, Sefora, to Elikia Center, we were deathly sick. I let the missionaries take me and never cried or was afraid of them.  I just loved having a hot bath and getting wrapped up in a towel.  At first I didn’t smile but I lightened up really quickly, especially when I was given some toys. Because of the starvation I experienced, I would eat too much if the missionaries didn't keep an eye on me.  The missionary’s son (Paul) was fixing dog food one night after I came to stay with them.  I watched longingly as Paul opened a can of sardines and mixed it into the rice for the dogs.  I looked at Paul and said, "It's good to even be a dog in this house."   If I hadn’t been brought to the center I would have died.  

Elie is a smart little kid and looks smaller than his age due to malnutrition.  

Djodjo

My name is Djodjo. My parents both died when I was young and I was living with a grandma who said she just did not have funds to care for me.  She had no money or food to provide for me and so I was accepted into Elikia Center at the age of 4. 

 Merveille

My name is Merveille. My parents died within a couple years of each other, presumably from aids.  I was living with my sickly old grandpa who had no money or food to give us kids and was homeless himself.  If I hadn’t been brought to Elikia Center I surely would have died.  I was brought to the center when I was about 6. She now lives with her grandpa as there is not place for girls in the home, but she is supported through child sponsorship through Mercy's Reach.

Sephora

My name is Sefora and I am Elie's sister.  Both of my parents died within a couple years of each other, presumably from aids.  I was living with my sickly old grandpa who had no money or food to give us kids and was homeless himself.   When I was brought with my brother, Elie, to Elikia Center, we were deathly sick. I let the missionaries take me and never cried or was afraid of them.  I just loved having a hot bath and getting wrapped up in a towel.  At first I didn’t smile but I lightened up really quickly, especially when I was given some toys. Because of the starvation I experienced, I would eat too much if the missionaries didn't keep an eye on me.  If I hadn’t been brought to the center I would have died.  Sephora was brought to the center when she was about 7.  She suffers from asthma.   She now lives with her grandpa as there is not place for girls in the home, but she is supported through child sponsorship through Mercy's Reach.

Josephine

My name is Josephine and I am Merveille's sister and as mentioned above, my parents died within a couple years of each other, presumably from aids.  I was living with my sickly old grandpa who had no money or food to give us kids and was homeless himself.  If I hadn’t been brought to the center I would have died.  I was brought to the center when I was about 7.  She now lives with her grandpa as there is not place for girls in the home, but she is supported through child sponsorship through Mercy's Reach.