In Vietnam, Sophia Bainum first opened her eyes. Years later, aided by her brother-in-law (who worked for the Embassy in Laos), her family went to Thailand so they could eventually live in America. They received refugee status and came to America with green card in hand. Washington, D.C., greeted the family next. They stayed in a house because of a connection to the Embassy. Sophia was sponsored by a Colonel, who found work for her. She learned English by immersion, as there wasn’t time to go to school, as she worked from about 7:30 a.m. to midnight to support her family. Sophia said: “My English does not show my heart.”
One of Sophia’s early jobs was working in food service at Arlington Hospital. Her future husband, Doug Bainum, worked there also, in maintenance. He worked on boilers. Repairing a broken sink in her home was the beginning of a love story that lasted many years. She laughs at the memory of how it took three days to repair that sink! She told her mother about him with the result of asking him to dinner with her family. They faced challenges with her cultural traditionalism and her fear of his family not accepting her. Spending many moments with each other’s family was enjoyable to both. This was the perfect solution! Today, you can hear Sophia in the hallway calling to Robert Bainum, “Her father.”
Marrying Doug was the highlight of her life. Their love opened the doors for many opportunities. After his death, she gave up her single-family home and moved into The Woodlands. Five years later in her new life, she says that it “Is perfect right now.” She has no complaints about anything. Living an independent lifestyle gives her time and energy to see her family often. Sophia loves to wake up every day in her beautiful community- “Why live anywhere else?” She doesn’t have to worry about anything…she just enjoys life!
Friends, errands, and reading her Bible on her phone or computer, are all favorite daily parts of her life. Sophia loves to travel with her church. She really likes to watch YouTube.
Sophia prays that she stays peaceful. She really likes her many Woodlands friends. What one word sums up her independent lifestyle? “Great!”
