Today's Visit...

     We decided to try and visit the kids a littler earlier this morning.  Our taxi and translator picked us up at 9:30 AM to begin our day, putting us at the orphanage around 10 AM.  The older two were in class when we got there so we decided to try and spend a little time just with the younger two at first.  Sophia and Joy came running out of their classroom with their stuffed animals and sketchpads in tow and threw their arms around us.  We took them to the upstairs playroom (if you will - actually it's more like a sitting room with dormitory rooms on each side).  We enjoyed playing a little hide and seek, piggy back rides and going back and forth to the restroom.  You can only spend so much time up there before the kids' curiosity is peaked at what is in the sleep-rooms (i.e. older kid's personal stuff, things that don't belong to them...).  

     At 11:30 PM we took them back downstairs to "rescue them from temptation" - ha ha.  Grace was able to join us for about 40 minutes downstairs in the small ones' sleep-room.  She gave us big hugs and wanted to just sit in Tony's lap with all his attention.  Meanwhile, Sophia, Joy and I made a game out of moisturizing Tony's bald head.  It went like this... the girls would run to me with their hands out, I would put a small squirt of lotion in their hands, then they would run down and rub the lotion on Tony's head all the while a giggling mess.  It was quite entertaining... for awhile (ha ha).  Then they moved into the classroom to the piano for a few minutes... then on to the tv... restlessness was kicking in and it was time for lunch.  The youngest, Joy, was getting tired and had a brief crying spell.  Before we had to leave (so they could each lunch and resume their schedule), Joy came to me with her teary eyes and let me scoop her up to comfort her for the first time.  Her favorite words have been "I do it" (in Ukrainian of course).  So, this was special to have her seek to be held.  

     After we left the girls, we waited outside of the lunchroom in hopes of seeing James for a few minutes.  Though we knew we didn't have much time, we wanted to at least hug him and show him on a calendar to help him understand the adoption process... why it takes so long and why we can't take them away today.  While we waited outside the lunchroom, several teenagers surrounded our translator, Jana (pronounced "Yah na").  She used to teach there and is familiar with several students.  The longer I sat there and observed the harder it became to hold back tears.  So many students, these is particular are around 14 and 15 years old... so many different stories... so many different heartaches... Did they know their mother?  Their father?  Do they know there is hope?  One little boy just came and sat next to me for a few minutes without saying a word.  He just wanted, it seemed, to be a part of the group.  His eyes were very sad.  Oh, how my heart aches for these who are surviving without the comfort or stability of a loving home.  Please pray for these orphans.  May they know that our Abba Father cares for them and that there is hope - Jesus.

"Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!  I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.  Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.  When his breath departs he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.  Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.  The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.  The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.  The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!"  Psalm 146

     We only had a few minutes to see James after lunch.  His teacher is very strict and we don't want him to be punished for our being there.  Pray that God would give him peace, patience and understanding.  It was very sad to see him for only 5 minutes.  We did get to show him the calendar and talk through the process, etc...   All in all, it was a good day with the kids.  We look forward to tomorrow's time with them.  

A lady walking to the bus stop across the street from the orphanage...

The bus stop across the street from the orphanage...

Back at the Apartment...

     Before going home we stopped at store basically called "OK".  We wanted to buy some soup for occasional meals, some coloring books, and were hoping to find some watches for the kids.  The two older ones have asked for watches and we are on the hunt with hopes to give them each one following court on Tuesday.  "OK" did not work out "ok" on the watch hunt :).  When our taxi and translator dropped us off, we were locked out of our apartment!  Evidently some sort of service came by (the real explanation got lost in translation) and bolted the door (a separate lock than the one our key works with).  So we waited for an hour on the stairs until they owner could find the right key to let us in... too funny.  

Our view for an hour... (ha ha)

Hanging out in a Ukrainian stairwell with groceries... 

I'll leave you today with something I wrote in my journal, somewhat as a prayer, yesterday...

To You alone be the glory

For Your Great Name alone is worthy

As we follow Your ways

Grant us grace for each day

To proclaim Your redemption story

May our Gracious God make His Name great in Ukraine, back in the States and to the ends of the earth!  Blessings to each of you!