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Many times In my room in Seoul, Korea, I looked at a map and desperately tried to find Andover, Massachusetts. I couldn't. I knew my daughters were in the United States but where was Massachusetts? Where was Andover?
After hearing nothing for many months, I began to call Mrs. Soh at Father Ben's orphanage begging her to try to get some information for me on they were doing. I was frantic to hear something.
In March of 1989, I was in the hospital recovering from a thyroid operation. Mr. Lee's daughter brought me the letter I had been hoping for. It was addressed to Father Ben and he had forwarded it to me. The letter was written to Father Ben by my daughter's adoptive mother. She had also enclosed several pictures. I was so happy.
March, 1989
Dear Father Ben,
I’m very sorry about being slow with pictures.
Here they are at last. The girls have made tremendous strides in development. They adjusted extremely well from the beginning. They all tried so hard from the very first.
Their Korean mother should be very proud of them. She must have done a great job of making them feel secure.
They are all happy, confident children. We know her love and tenderness with them in the beginning must have carried them through.
Melissa is growing like a weed. She is nearly 5 feet tall. She is a happy child, does great in school, does her homework easily,is kind, and good student. Melissa is very much like my older daughter Wendy. She is smart as well as being an athlete.
Melissa takes piano lessons and plays great, does ballet fantastic, takes riding lessons doing walk, trot, canter, gallop, and even jumping. She has learned to swim and dive. She is a good skier and ice skater. Melissa is eager to learn everything. Melissa expects a great deal of herself. We think she is amazing. Melissa has her own pony.
Mimi had the most trouble adjusting. She had sleeping problems and when she first came had bad nightmares. She’s doing great now. She likes to play dolls and jump rope.
Mimi had to work very hard in kindergarten. She had trouble sitting still because of the sleeping problems. First grade was a little hard for her. She is now in second grade and is doing fantastic. Her reading is great, math fantastic. Great report cards.
Mimi also skis, takes jazz and tap dancing and loves it. She learned to swim last year. Mimi is a sweet, sensitive child. She is the most fearful of the three girls. She is also very kind and sensitive to others. Mimi is a great kid.
Last year Ashley had fun in nursery school and made lots of friends. She is a joy, so bright, happy, and sunny. She likes playing with dolls as well as trucks, cars, and trains.
Ashley can write her name and knows all the numbers and letters. She likes books. She is very much like Melissa: can do anything. She is great at ballet lessons, loves the horses, cats, dogs. Ashley can ride a pony and ski.
Ashley had her tonsils and adenoids out last year. She also had tubes in her ears. Her nose does not run now. She has been in great health.
Ashley is a real girl; loves to dress up in pretty dresses, really cares about her appearance. She starts kindergarten next year. Ashley is such a happy, loving child.
They are all just wonderful kids.
Thank you again
Donna Massengill |
