February 5 update

February 5, 2009

This evening we visited with Yoen and Soporn on Skype. Soporn's teacher, SoPha and her husband Dara were also there. As you know Soporn lives with this couple along with three other students. They were all quite interested in how Skype and a webcam work. Especially the teachers as they have never seen it before but Soporn has visited with us once already so she is a veteran. Hilary was at school and was not able to visit.

I was very surprised at how much Soporn has changed. In all pictures over the years she never ever smiled. Now she was smiling the entire time and signing constantly with her surrogate parents. Hilary's parents are both deceased. Her mom died from complications shortly after giving birth to Hilary and her father passed away several years later. We believe from Malaria.

Yoen told us that Soporn looks wonderful...very neat and tidy. Apparently SoPha is teaching the students about hygiene and morality as well as general school work.

Both SoPha and Dara wanted to experience Skype. SoPha does not speak very good english but took the head set and I talked to her even though I knew she did not understand me. She just laughed. It is always a very one sided conversation. Dara's english is quite good. He told me that he makes the molds and hearing aids for the school students. He also asked me to help him get documents on the internet with hearing aid information. I took his email address and sent him a note explaining how to use the search box on dogpile.com. I'm still not exactly sure what he wanted.

Both SoPha and Dara said they love Soporn and enjoy having her live with them. Watching them interact I can see it is mutual.

During our visit we were told that Thoen has been sick since delivering her baby at the end of October. We were asked to help her with the cost of a doctor's visit. I asked them how much it would be but for some reason we never really got an answer. My friend living in Cambodia recently took her adopted son to the hospital for xrays. Total cost was $6. Yoen is going to investigate that situation for us.

Toward the end of the conversation they asked me to find a sponsor for a boy student at SoPha's house. Unfortunately his family can no longer afford to have him stay there. He will have to return to his village. I told them how hard I am working to pay for SoPorn but would try my best. So far no luck.

That is all for now. Thank you all for your interest and support. We love you!