Penpa is in Nepal

Penpa Negi is Lama Tenzin's sister. Penpa came to the U.S. with Dolker in July of 2008.
She stayed with us for a little over a month. We took a vacation in Tahoe a few days after she got here. We camped had meals went on hikes. She made great Indian food and would use a kitchen knife to smash Cardamom seeds to make authentic Chai. It was her Birthday while we were in Tahoe so we made her a cake. She had not had a birthday party for just herself in a long time.
She made a comment before she left how it so great that she got to spend so much time with Dolker and really get to bond with her. At the CED Orphanage she is watching over 22 kids so I imagine not much one on one time with the kids. Her and Dolker shared what became Dolkers room while she visited and we all got to be one big family. It will be good to have her in Nepal for Dolker. She speaks very good english, is very articulate and caring.
We all grew very close and miss Penpa very much.

Below is an email that we received today from her.

Hi to all,

I am in NEPAL for here to do continuse prosing of dolker and everyday since i came from India i had meeting with TINLEY,DOLKER FATHER,AND THE ATTORNY,KIRAN LAMA.We are doing best and as soon as possible so please i will make finalise and let you know everything OK.It mine great luck to do somthing for you and lama tenzin lak,

penpa
Nepal

In print and online

We have had a few articles and blog posts about our story recently.
Lucinda Ryan wrote a wonderful article that was on the front page of the Alameda Journal.
She did an excellent job of capturing a different take on our storoy.
It was a coincidence that Michelle Ellson interviewed me the day before the Journal article
came out. Lucinda had interviewed us several weeks before so I did not know they would
come out so close together.
A few minor factual corrections to Lucinda's article. I did not actually start the photo page until we returned from Nepal. Tinle is not a filmaker but one of the principal actor's in the film "Himalaya" (he is the one with the hand around the girl).
He used to lead trek's to these remote regions and is an actual Chief in the Dolpo region.

Alameda Journal article

The Island blog

Whats happening

The question we get asked the most often by our people who know of our story is what's happening with the adoption. Unfortunately the answer is not much. After we left Nepal Lama Tenzin has had a string of issues to deal with in his family. Relatives dying, others going into the hospital. Because he was really spearheading the whole adoption process with the government and lawyer, things essentially stopped when he could not be more directly involved.
We spoke to him recently and he has had some more stability and support come back into his life and is planning on returning to Nepal (hopefully in the next few days) and continue the process.
This does not mean anything will happen quickly however at least we will know more of what is going on and where the whole adoption process stands. After he is able to get the whole process started with the government then there will be a waiting period during which he will bring Dolker back to India to CED where she can get back enrolled in school for the time being.

We think about Dolker all the time and miss her in our household. We talk to her about once a week and let her know she is missed and her friends are still thinking of her.
We hope and pray and send positive thoughts out that this will resolve itself soon.

This is Dolker and Dawa Bhuti.
Dawa goes away to boarding school, when she is home she
helps Dolker email us, go to long distance phone booth place and takes her around Boudha. She speaks some english so
sometimes we have brief conversations with her.
She is very sweet and we know she really likes Dolker.

This is some kids who are living at Tinle's house.
Dolker's sister is on the right.
These photos were sent from Kathmandu by Dawa Bhuti.

Dolker Father and Sister in Kathmandu

Doler her sister Nyimo and her father (don't know who other kid is. At Tinle's property in Kathmandu