Friday - Extreme Sportin’ around town!

As we were about to leave the Christian Clinic our missionary host mentioned to us that riding in the taxis are an ‘extreme sport’ in this country. Well, today we had lots of that. We jumped in the taxi to visit the kids. It was a work in the garden day for them, however, B was waiting at the gate for us. He was so excited to see us. We went around the building and he called to V who was tilling the ground with some other kids. She dropped the tool and came running to us! We spent some time playing with them in the garden and more picture taking. Then we got a call that we had to go pick up another letter and make some copies. So, a taxi came and we zipped off, picked up the letter, took a taxi ride to the notary to make more official documents, took a taxi ride to a building that was falling apart (not unusual), went in the side door, thru a little hallway and in to a very small room where people ran a little business making copies. The taxi waited and it was back to the main orphanage (the kids are in a different location about 1 km away), then back to visit the kids and wait. So we played some little games with the kids to practice their English and learn a bit more about them. We had a deck of cards and so we worked on numbers and suits. They liked trying to get the suits and numbers right before the other one and it was good practice for them! Soon a teacher came in and she had the children write an official letter stating that they agree and want to be adopted by us. Once that was done it was off in a taxi again to get the packet of documents from the main orphanage office and hustle to the Department of Education before she left early on this Friday. As we entered, her assistant told us that she was doing an interview for a local newspaper so it would be a moment. At least she was still here! We had a short wait before she returned and began going through all our documents. While she was doing this the reporter some how found out that some Americans were in the office so she wanted to interview us about the American holiday of Halloween. We agreed, so she asked her questions and she snapped our picture for the article! Wow! In the mean time our paperwork was all in order so the official agreed that she would file it today with the judge and hopefully by Monday evening we will know when our court date is. We jumped back into the taxi and through town, around the potholes and we were back at our place, ready to crash and spend some time in total amazement at God’s work.

Thank you to every one who is faithfully praying! We rejoice that God is good and things are going quickly. We realize that on the other end of things with the American visa it may well go slower for our situation and God will still be good for He is in control!

Please keep praying for the judge to meet with us quickly. We have heard that the judges in this area can be difficult and delay meeting with people dragging the whole process out. We have flights for Nov. 15^th but would love to come back early if at all possible because then the back end of the process can be bumped up by a week so I am not trying to come back with the children on Dec.23^rd as it currently stands.

The Greers will arrive to Belgorod tomorrow morning so we are eager to see them and spend some time together! Pray for their travel on the night train to be safe.