train ride & Donetsk orphanage

The last 2 1/2 days have seemed like such a very long time. Tuesday night we got on the so-called "fast train" from Kyiv to Donetsk at 7:00 p.m. It was quite amusing! I am trying to figure out how to post pictures so that you can see. Our compartment was made up of 4 tiny bunkbeds that doubled as benches to sit on. That in itself was not bad. However, the smoke on the train was suffocating and we had to close our door because of allergies. It was also amazingly hot! Here we were worried that we were going to be cold over here and instead we were so hot one night in Kiev that it was hard to sleep and on the train it was so hot, the air felt heavy! We were in long johns for sleeping and boy was that a mistake. Our facilitator stayed in the same compartment and changed into a t-shirt (they don't tell you about those little details!) The bathroom was beyond gross, but thanks to reading other adoptive family blogs, I was prepared w/my toilet seat cover and tiny toilet roll! Brianne decided she didn't need to go that bad. The traine made about 8 jolting stops at towns along the way. We agreed that we had slept a matter of minutes on the 12 hour overnight trip. Brianne was so tired that she talked in her sleep the next night. We have never been so glad for a night to end.

When Trent put it into perspective, he said it was the worst day, but also the best day because the next morning we were able to go to Lena's orphanage. We arrived in Donetsk at 7:10 a.m.and didn't have room for 1 suitcase. They took it to the luggage area and said that it would be safe until they could come back for it. We went to a restaurant to get breakfast. Trent said the coffee was as strong as having about 4 cups at home! He was quite loopy after having it and climbing several flights of stairs at the adoption inspectors office. Brianne and I shared an order of pancakes which were like crepes w/yummy strawberry jam and a little chocolate syrup. They were very good. We also had fruit flavored green tea (fresh and infused at the table) very good. Then we went to the adoption inspectors office. When they knocked on the door and they saw us in the hall they called in N. and closed the door on us seeming very unhappy. N. told us that they said they were very busy and no one could go w/us to oversee the visit at the orphanage that day. They asked to copy all of our papers and maybe go the next day. We prayed hard in that little hallway. Over here, most Ukrainians don't look you in the eyes and especially don't smile b/c that implies a friendship. We couldn't even get them to look at us, but I was determined to make eye contact and smile and say "dobredeen" hello in Russian.

Our facilitator, N., went downstairs to make copies and Oksana, our translator went back in to talk w/them. In a few minutes one of the ladies came out, I stood up and made eye contact, she told me to sit and made a gesture that it was good. We were very surprised by her actions!
Oksana came out and said they were going to go with us that very day to the orphanage. I truly believe it was the power of prayer that changed things. It took a long time, but finally we were at the orphanage. They told us they were under prosecution and we could not act as if we knew Lena. They look unfavorably on hosting programs b/c many work as adoption agents or in cohorts w/them and it is unlawful here. The greatest moment was when we were waiting to see the director of the orphanage. One of the teachers mentioned to some kids in the hall upstairs that some Americans were in the office. Lena, as well as many other kids, decided to walk by the office and glance inside. (She had been told by the director that she might have parents coming for her sometime, but she did not tell when or even that it was us. ) As she walked by, she saw us and Trent gave her the sign to be quite b/c we couldn't act as if we knew her. She had the most amazing surprised look on her face. It was priceless!!! They she dropped back into the hallway, but it was obvious to the other kids that she knew us and much whispering ensued.

They came in and basically introduced her to us and we were allowed to talk or ask questions in case someone came in while we were talking( no hugging, talking about the summer, etc.) It was very hard, but she did well by not looking directly at us. When she happened to look, she would smile so big. She told them she wanted to be adopted and we sat while they filled out about a million forms and she signed her consent. We sat in the office for about 2 hours, answered questions and waited. Then we took forms back to the inspectors office and on to the notary. We were starving and tired and our driver, another Nicolae ,brought us a coke to which I almost hugged him! Finally, we were able to eat about 8:00p.m. last night. We learned that you eat when you have the chance and it's best to carry snacks with you! Our translator, Oksana, said she had never seen so much accomplished in one day. We got all the paperwork done from the orphanage except for the medical which was done this a.m. Now we are waiting for 1 other person to sign the medical paper and we send them by train to Kiev.

While waiting for the notary to do all the papers (about another hour), Trent presented the gospel to Oksana who said she also carried a Bible after Trent showed her his in our backpack. He used our pastor Dan's 5 finger points to tell her about what the Bible says. She said she was just in the stage of asking questions. She said she would like to accept Christ, but she was not ready then. Please pray for her salvation and that we can share more with her.

More Prayer requests: Medical will get signed and sent off tomorrow or as soon as possible. Pray for court a week from tomorrow (Fri.). So far we are a day or 2 ahead of schedule after meeting the child. That could all change so easily. Our facilitator, N. said last night, "I'll see you in a couple of weeks" and I said, "I'll see you in a few days " Again, our prayer is to get back asap for Blake.

We have been blessed w/wonderful people, even including our drivers. The one we'll have for many days in Donetsk is Nicolae. He carries bags, opens doors and gets us whereever we need to go while waiting for us as long as it takes. Today, we paid him about $70 US . He picked up O. at 8:30, picked us up and left us at 7:00 p.m. We keep asking him to eat w/us. It may seem like alot to pay a taxi and it does add up , but not that much for the time he puts in. Please pray that he will be blessed.

Lena was much more talkative today without the inspector present. She told us that she had wished alot for us to come. Trent asked if she would miss anything from the Ukraine and she said only her friends. She brought her friend, Kristyna, in to visit with us. We would like so much to find a home for her friend. She is 12 and brown headed. I will try to post a picture. She loves to dance and do choreography for dances for her friends. She loves to sing and said she won 1st place in a singing competition outside of the orphanage. She is very friendly and outgoing and has tried to learn some Italian. She has a folder of pictures of famous singers that she has collected and organized. She never knew her father and her mother died. One brother died and the older one and cannot adopt her. Lena will miss her greatly. We would like to host her this summer and try to find her a family in the states. It is so sad to see these sweet kids who don't have parents to love them.

Lena spoke some in English to us when the translator left the room. She said since she came to stay w/us last summer, she is the best in her English class and that she even helped a family and another orphan to communicate when the translator had to step out for a few minutes. Many of the older kids are told bad stories about Americans for reasons that I can expand upon later and there was a girl who had a family that wanted to adopt her but she wasn't sure. They asked Lena to talk to her and tell her that it was o.k. and to tell her good stories about coming to the U.S.. God is already using her for good.

It was hard to leave her and she can't come w/us at all b/c of the prosecution here now. We have to be very careful to follow all the rules. It was a good day and we feel blessed. Keep those prayers coming. We have definitely been looked upon w/favor by many here. Even the director brought in many chocolates and cookies and set them on the table today. Both days she has given something directly to Brianne, today it was a whole container of different chocolates! O. said she has never seen such a welcome....again I know it is the prayers. It has been an adventure and there is more to come. Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for this trip and for so many over here in the Ukraine. In God's eyes it truly is a small world.