March 5 update

March 5, 2009

Once again we visited with the Lek family on Skype. This time it was the whole gang! Theoun (orange dress) was there with her husband and son who is now 4 1/2 months old. He looks very big, but remember Thoeun is about Hilary's size. She did go to the doctor and is feeling much better. She and her husband are in need of a small piece of land to farm so they can become self-sufficient. We are in the process of trying to get Hilary dual citizenship in Cambodia. Once we accomplish that we can buy the property in Hilary's name and let Thoeun live on it. This way it cannot be sold and Hilary will have a connection to her homeland. Money for this little adventure is coming out of our finances and not donated money. The property is 2000 square meters and is $700. Not too shabby!

FRONT: Hilary's neice Leak, Thoeung and her new baby girl, her son Makara, Uncle Lek Nol and Thoeung's, husband (far right)
BACK ROW: Soporn (not so shy anymore...ahh city life), Dara (holding the rent money delivered by Yoen), Thoeun's Husband and Thoeun with her baby boy in pink.

In Cambodia it is customary to photograph anyone who has received a delivery of any kind. This shows the sender that it was received. In the past when we would send toiletries and clothes everything was photographed with them and the picture sent to us.

Something else that we don't realize is that these folks are in their best clothes for our visit. They have traveled over two hours into the city to visit with us. They probably came on motorcycles with all the kids arriving at 7:30 am. They are so wonderful and their love an appreciation for us is very very apparent. We are very blessed to be able to have found each other and have such a nice relationship.

The skype visit was really fun. We enjoyed seeing the babies. If you notice Thoeun's baby boy has charcoal on his forehead. This is to let out bad spirits. I'm hoping he has not been sick. Cambodians are so superstitious we never know what to expect.

Several times during our webcam visit we had to turn our camera and show them what we were seeing. They then adjusted things so we weren't looking at their chest or hair. When Makara was on we turned the camera so he could see himself. We got a smile and a giggle!

So that is the update for March. Rent is usally paid and we usually visit on the 5th of each month so please check back. God Bless you all and thank you for your support.