Hide-N-Go-Seek

Today, we visited the kids at the orphanage again. When we arrived some of the older kids were about to do a little production about Ukraine, its history and culture. Kaitlyn was one of the speakers and Broden was the "sound man." The audience was the younger children who all seemed to have a good time especially trying to answer some of the questions and get a candy!

When this was over we just hung out. They worked some on the alphabet, spelling their names and we got a lesson on the Russian alphabet. When that was finished they did not really want to go outside. I'm not sure why because it was a beautiful autumn day but instead we got into a fun game of hide-n-go-seek. We were playing in one room, but then we kind of got kicked out, so we moved to another room where we were ok to play. The problem was that there was not much of, as in no place to hide. Broden instantly ran to the corner and began counting. We three just looked around and scattered. Kaitlyn climbed under a desk, but Robert and I were not of quite the correct size or flexibility for that. So, I ran over and sat on a sofa-type chair and held a large stuffed elephant in front of me. Robert on the other hand was quite ingenious. He just stood in the middle of the room, pulled his black sweatshirt up over his head, zipped it up and did not move! Broden finished counting, turned around and just started laughing, took a few steps and then fell on the ground giggling! In the next rounds we all found much better places to hide.

Soon this game led to a fun game of soccer with ,large not fully inflated bouncing balls (the kind you sit on and bounce). The boys really got into this and soon sweaters were laid aside as every one was working up a sweat.

It was a great time with lots of laughter and teasing.

When it was time to go we gave the round of big hugs and told them we would call later in the evening. This has some what become a routine as the kids have numerous nights called us just before they go to bed to say "I love you," and to hear "I love you too, Good night." :-)

Allow Us To Introduce to You....

Dear Family and Friends,

We would like to introduce to you the newest members of the Clark Family.

Kaitlyn Viktoria Clark and Broden James Clark

On November 13, 2008, we were granted custody of these two wonderful kids. We were taken into a court room to appear before the civil court judge and his witnesses. There he led a formal hearing where we stated our names, birthdates, address and highest degree. We then heard the law related to adopting and our rights as the one petitioning the court for the children. The adoption lawyer and the person in charge of the adoptions and orphanages in Belgorod gave their approval that our adopting of these children would be in the best interest of the children. Following this there was an opportunity for questions, but nobody had any, so we were asked to step into the outer office while the court deliberated. This took all of 1 - 2 minutes and we were brought back in so that we could hear the court's decision, which was that they agreed! Then the judge announced the order for issuing new birth certificates and passports in their names with us as their adoptive parents. We overjoyed to hear all of this and then court was adjourned and congratulations took place. We thanked the judge and his witnesses and the attorney and person in charge of adoptions. We especially thanked Lyudmila for her constant help in all that we've been doing since we arrived. She's been so gracious and helpful to us and the Greers. After our court time the Greers came in for their court appearance and were granted custody of their new son, Justin.

Later that day, around 8pm, we were able to visit the orphanage to tell the kids. Kaitlyn, Broden and Justin along with about 15 other orphans had just returned from their festival performance in Odessa. We were greeted at the door by Kaitlyn and Broden and others saying, "Mama! Papa! First Place!". They had all done so well that they as a group of performers won first place for their variety of songs, dances and emcees! We got upstairs and sat them down to tell them of our good news as well. They were so excited that they started jumping up and down and hugging us. It was truly a special day! We had them talk to Lyudmila on the phone who explained what is happening now. Kevin Greer needed to tell Justin that he was leaving in the morning for Odessa, flying to Kiev and signing papers at the embassy. Then he would be flying to California to work and be with their other 2 children. We told Kaitlyn and Brody that I would be leaving on Sunday, but that Kim will be staying and after 10 days they would travel with her to Odessa to obtain birth certificates and passports and then to Kiev to finalize things with the US Embassy. I told them that I will go to California and we would all be waiting anxiously for their arrival with Mama.

New Court Date!!!

Yes! It's official! We found out this evening, Wednesday night, that our court date is Thursday morning at 9:30am. The Greer's time is still 10:00am on Thursday, so we're on track with one another now. Please be in prayer for us as we go to the court and hopefully finalize the Ukrainian side of the adoption. If successful the judge will call for the 10 day period of an announcement in the paper, issuing of their new birth certificates and Ukrainian passports (they'll travel to the US with these). Once the 10 days are finished (estimating 11/23) then Kim will be able to obtain the birth certificates and passports, then take off with the kids to Kiev for the US embassy side.

Pray for the kids as they are in Odessa on Thursday for their festival event. We have been able to sit in on most of their practices before dinner each day and have seen the whole performance. It's been a lot of fun with them. V came looking for us today as they were practicing and we were sitting in another room. She wanted us to come in and see the dress rehearsal. Everything from beginning to end went very well. V was really excited to have us in there for the dress rehearsal. We had to buy her another pair of pants because the director said what we had bought her the other day was not dark enough. So today we found her some black jeans and a glittery belt to go with it. She was very excited and her face lit up when she showed us how it fit. I just told Kim, I guess we hit the mark on that one. :) We'll post something more after our court date. Thanks for praying.

Wait! Check That!! Court Date to be Rescheduled!

The use of the internet over the weekend and into the week was impossible because the clinic’s internet server was not functioning. So, we’ve been unable to post or do much of anything. That’s just some of the bad news. Our translator Lyudmila told us right after we received our court date last week to not make any changes in plans (flights, etc.) because often court dates get rescheduled. She was right. On Sunday evening we received a call saying that a paper that is necessary for the court date to proceed was needed from the SDA in Kiev and it had not arrived yet. This might be because of at least one holiday last week. So, we are in a holding pattern. We waited all day for a call that might come to either get us in for the court on Monday or give us another date. We called Lyudmila and she said that when this happens we essentially have to wait for Natasha, the adoption lawyer. When she gets information on it, then we’ll get a phone call from her right away. Meanwhile, Robert is scheduled to return to the states on Saturday, Nov. 15. But given the situation that may have to change. Please pray that we’ll get word from Natasha on a new court date on Monday night or Tuesday, which will give us time to make plans.

Meanwhile we have been getting some extra time with V and B. On Friday we were able to watch them practice for an upcoming festival in Odessa on Thursday the 13th. Many of the orphanage children will be performing. V will be part of a dance troupe of girls that will perform a Ukrainian folk dance and also a more modern dance to a fun little tune called “Chihuahua”. B is part of an emcee team of 4 boys for the event. They needed clothes for the event and so we were asked to go out and purchase the clothes for them. So on Saturday we spent the day from 10am to 3pm with them in the center of the city. It was a nice chance for us to be together and to experience the buses and city with them. They pointed sights out to us along the way. We visited the open-air market and some of the department type of stores near it. We found B his pin-striped suit and bow tie eventually. We found V her dancing shoes and special jeans for the festival event. We also took the opportunity to get them some clothes for traveling with Kim to Kiev and then the USA. We found B a beanie, sweater and winter jacket and we found V a sweater and winter jacket. It was a lot of fun and after searching so many booths at the open-air market we felt we had a successful time. We then went to a local restaurant for some lunch. They were so excited to share with others what we had bought them. They essentially leave with whatever we provide for them because their clothes stay at the orphanage. So, this means we have more shopping to do.

We attended Lyudmila’s church on Sunday, which is an Evangelical Reformed Church. They have a one-year old building and are trying to make an impact in the community. It’s a hard, atheist area with many who are transplants from Russia. We (the Greers and us) were asked to share our stories of how we came to be there and why we were adopting. We shared about the last 15 months and about the way people are praying for us and the children. Pastor Sergey is Lyudmila’s husband and he said that until recently orphans were considered generally to be second-class citizens and that adoptions were not well thought of. However, he said that this is changing and he thought it would be good to hear our stories and our heart’s desire for adoption. We shared about the Lord’s heart for it and that is why we have a heart for it.

We spent Sunday afternoon with V and B and a bunch of boys as we played in the little fitness room of the orphanage. They did gymnastic tumbling, wrestling, weightlifting, etc. We took lots of pictures of them. On Monday we went late in the afternoon to spend time with V and B. They weren’t as upbeat as they have been and we weren’t either. I think all of us were tired or even down due to the court date delay. We hope to take them on a trip on Wednesday and let them show us the fortress of Belgorod. It sits right on the bay at the point of land that juts out into the bay. This will be a good trip if we can get it arranged. Pray that the Lord will give us this time with them and the Greers and their little boy V. We’ll post our new court date as soon as we get it. Some good news though…Kim’s Blackberry phone (it’s red and black so we call it her Raspberry) began working (not for talking on it, but the international data function that we activated for this trip allows her to do email and Facebook from it).