january 5 update

This evening we visited with the Lek family on Skype. Yoen was very savy with the web cam. The first visit we had with Yoen we looked at the top of his head the entire time. We've have the kinks out now!

Upon arriving in Phnom Penh Yoen took them to the internet cafe for our visit. They were very curious about the whole experience. Soporn was thrilled to see Hilary. We talked for about a half an hour with Yoen being the everso patient translator. They always enjoy hearing from us but usually have very little to offer. It can be difficult to keep the conversation going. I hope they are less intimidated by us as time goes on. Apparently Soporn has some hearing in her left ear. The right ear is deformed and probably closed. I am thinking that what hearing she had is impaired because she does not speak. Probably because she cannot hear clearly. It will be interesting to see what the doctor's have to report.

Yoen spent the day with Soporn and her uncle Lek Nol, and Lek Tham (last name first in Cambodia). Since completing the rice harvest last month, uncle Nol has been staying in the city to work as a moto-taxi driver. He asked if we could get a room for Soporn so he would have a place to stay (I'm not sure where he is staying now). That sounded like a good idea to me. It might be comforting for Soporn to have him stay with her and he could take her home to visit on the weekends. It would definitely be less expensive. However, living with the teacher would encourage her independence and she would have the benefit of being taught outside of school hours. Unfortunately Yoen only had one day to work on housing for us. He is very busy man helping approximately 40+ adoptive families connect with birth families. So the plan was to that they would try to find a room to rent somewhere for both Soporn and her uncle. Should they not find anything they would take her to the teacher's house. At this point I feel God has gotten us this far and what happens next is what's meant to be.

I received this picture from Yoen the next day. It is a photo of Soporn's aunt and uncle with Pha the teacher (green shirt). You can see on the table that Yoen asked her to draw up a contract stating exactly what she is promising for Soporn. Look closely and you will see the red thumbprints. In Cambodia is it common practice to sign your name and mark it with your thumbprint. It is also common practice for messengers to photograph the recipient with the items delivered. This picture is then sent to the sender showing that everything was delivered.

The second picture is of everyone outside of the DDP (Deaf Development Program) building. Soporn is in the white blouse. (I will never figure out how their clothes are so white and clean when they wash them in pond water). School starts Thursday January 8. Thank you all for sharing this experience with us. Stay tuned....