Wonderful Wednesday! Much To Be Thankful For!

Dear Family and Friends,

We talked with Kim and the kids late on Wednesday and again on Thanksgiving day.  They were able to make it to the little nameless village that the kids were born in, received their birth certificates and then took off for Odessa.  There they were able to get in for passport photos and apply for their new UA passports.  Following that they made it to the place they are staying and waiting at in Odessa.  

I had arranged with Kim that I would call on Skype to her phone when they were in the car and on their way to the village. I hoped it would encourage them to hear from me and that we are waiting expectantly for them.  This turned out to be a helpful call as there was much emotion for them when they were leaving (both excitement about going, but sadness about leaving friends).    Kim said I made them smile.  Kaitlyn also had some trouble with the drive with feeling sick to her stomach, but I guess it was okay.

On Thursday they needed to go to a particular pharmacy in Kiev to get an additional supply of medicine for Broden.  Kim had what she thought she needed from the orphanage doctor, but the pharmacist would not fill the prescription and would not try to understand at all.  Kim called Ludya to translate, but they didn't know her so it was a still a "nyet".  Then she got in touch with the adoption lawyer and the orphanage doctor.  Finally, after some pretty rough communication they agreed to supply her with more of Broden's medicine.  

The kids were especially intrigued by the place they are staying in Odessa.  They were told they'd be going to a hotel, but it's a Bible Institute and they have the whole place to themselves, so they were confused.  But Kim explained to them (she's trying Russian and using her Czech to get by and help with communicating) what the place was and why they are staying there, so it was fine.  The people they've been meeting there have been so kind and encouraging.  There are missionaries and Ukrainian believers that have been very kind and interactive with the kids.  For Thanksgiving they were invited to spend it with ABWE missionary Caleb Suko and his family and others.  Apparently it was a very special time.  

Now they are waiting.  Please pray that the application for passports won't have any difficulties for the release of passports.  Apparently everything must match and no irregularities (ie: mistakes) or it will seriously hamper the process of getting them.  She hopes to have the passports by Monday.  Meanwhile they are enjoying each other.  Kim and the kids are playing card games a lot and Carcassone a board game that Kim took with her.  Kaitlyn now knows how to shuffle using a "waterfall" style and her and Kim are playing lots of Speed.  Kaitlyn told Kim she wants to get fast enough to beat Tiffany, who is the family speedster.  They are trying to use English more and more.  While I was there at the orphanage I taught the kids the Name Song (you know:  Broden, Broden, bo Broden, Banana Fana fo Froden, me my mo Mroden, Broden).  He really thought this was great and has practiced it a whole lot and when Kelly and Tiffany spoke to him on Thanksgiving he launched, no he flew, into that song using their names...it was really a funny time and he's really fast at it. 

We have much to be thankful for at this time as we look at this whole situation.  The Lord has been watching on us the whole time.  Kim shared with me in an email the following, "I was quite calm yesterday considering it all. I had a peace and can relax in God's timing. I hope the same will be true in Kiev :-)".  The people that He's put into our life there to help get finished with the process in Belgorod has been great.  Even His work in the heart of important officials that we needed documents from was obvious. Lyudmila was a constant encouragement as she helped us there.  Though the situation of an orphanage is never ideal, the orphanage director and her workers did take good care of these kids.  We've heard stories of other orphanages and this seems to have been a much better orphanage upbringing.  We were especially thankful to be able to see part of their world as they prepared for and won first place at the festival.   There are other things that I can't share now, but will share at a later time when they are on their way here, that really show the Lord's protection and provision.  Meanwhile, they aren't here yet and we ask you to pray for the Lord to continue to orchestrate it so that they do get all that they need to accomplish the adoption in Odessa and Kiev and as soon as possible.  Pray too that Kim can find a suitable and affordable place to stay in Kiev.  Solving this has been a bit elusive.  She'll be trying the Baptist church we know about in Kiev on Friday and there might be some families that she could stay with.  Now that she's waiting in Odessa and not driving all over she'll be able to try and finalize that.  Thank you again for your prayers.