Open Arms

Open Arms
...caring for orphans and adoptive families...

Friday, September 11, 2009

So far this week....


The court hearing was pretty much as we expected. Seventeen people in a very small room. All of the representative could ask any questions they wanted of us, however only 3 had questions. The judge, the prosecutor and the deputy official. The rest of the representatives spoke on our behalf that they were in agreement that this was in children's best interest. It took a little more that 2 hours and then the judge read about 2 pages and said congratulations. Leaving the courtroom we were able to catch the judge's eye and mouth "Thank You". He smiled.

Now we are counting down the days until the judge signs the final documents and we can sign the children out of the orphanage for good. After our hearing, we had dinner at a friend's apartment along with Jenya and Marianna. It was so much fun to relax after the emotional day.


Wednesday morning we took a taxi to pick up Andrei and the nurse from #9, while our facilitator picked up the older kids along with the nurse from #4. We all met at a clinic for the children to have their blood work done. They were all troopers. Their friend Andrei G. also came along with them as his new parents are here to adopt him this month. This should speed up the process for the medical exams in Kiev because we won't have to wait for the test results.

THIS LITTLE PUPPY WAS INSIDE THE CLINIC

We spent the afternoon at #4 watching the children have sports games. Kinda like PE at school. It was quite an interesting afternoon of social interaction between all the age groups.

LYONYA DOES 41 PUSH UPS


IGOR WINS THE BROAD JUMP AT 2.3 METERS

The kids are so excited about leaving soon. Lyonya wants details like a timeline. When will we leave Odessa, how long will this take, how long will that take, can we have dinner with Grandma before we leave, do you have tickets home yet, etc, etc.
Galia asks more questions about home, wondering what life will be like there. Pasha just smiles and hugs. He hugs a lot. He loves to read. Reminds me of JD at that age.
Andrei just asks how much longer.

We took the bus back toward the city center around 5:30pm to attend an evening prayer/small group meeting at the apartment of a gentleman we met through the church on Sunday. Carol took a catnap on the bus. Kinda scary to start getting that comfortable here! The meeting was like old CCC "group" days for those of you who remember that. It was comforting to be with believers. Afterward we had a nice evening walk the mile back to our apartment. The city is really nice in the evening.

Thursday we went with our friend, Lena, to the local SecondHand store and the Privoz Market to buy clothes and things the children will need for the next few weeks. That was an experience! We prayed for deals and the Lord blessed us abundantly. Each of the children have at least an outfit, lightweight jacket, socks and shoes.

Today we will visit both #4 and #9, so it will be a busy afternoon. Please continue to pray for all the children at both locations. They are all so deserving of a family of their own. Also pray for the directors, that the Lord would touch and soften their hearts toward the children, and that He would show Himself to them both in a very personal way.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

1 comment:

  1. I can understand the stress and relief and more stress that you face on a daily basis...wanting it all to be over, dealing with everything of having kids at #4 & #9...granted we only had one at each...but you just want to get home, knowing that God puts every little thing in your path...it might be years before you realize certain things were put there, but He will reveal in His time...

    In our Prayers...the O'Haras (Sean, Tracey, Alyona, Tanya, Declan, Alexis & Kim)

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