T minus 3 Days and Counting!

I just got off the "Skype phone" with Kim and told her I would send out an updated post.  The last few days have been interesting when visiting the orphanage.  Kaitlyn and Broden are of course excited to be with her and they are getting time to play and interact with Kim. However, there has clearly been moments of emotion or quiet sadness and even tears.  Kaitlyn has been much more quiet, by Kim's side and even sitting closer together when playing games or looking at pictures.  Even when I was there we would give a big hug and kiss the top of their head at the door when we left.  We'd tell them what time the next day we'd be there, hug and say goodbye.  The other day Kim was about to leave and Kaitlyn gave her a huge hug and was obviously not going to let go quickly.  She then looked up into Kim's face and said, "Tomorrow Mama, right?".  Kim reassured her that yes she'd be returning the next day.  Turns out it was a wise move to have Kim stay there during these days.

For a couple of nights now Kaitlyn, Broden and the Greer's son Justin, have been separated to downstairs rooms near the doctor's office.  It is not clear yet what the reason is, but we could imagine it's related to potential jealousy among other children OR  just as an anticipation of their departure so that it is not so sudden.  Please pray for the kids as this has been the only home and only friends they've really known and there will be lots of mixed feelings.  They were told their last day at school in town was Thursday, however they were told this on Thursday night!  Kim says it doesn't seem to bother them at all.  Broden has been asking practically every day if they had to go to school any longer. Brody is just a bundle of energy.  Some conversations with teachers have shown their concern for him being "weak".  We've translated what they've trying to get across as their concern for him being frail.  Well, this is true.  He's not a big kid at all, but he needs a higher calorie intake to help that situation!  Kim has been told that she'll receive medicine for him to take us beyond the December 3rd supply he already has.  Each night they text Kim or call her to say goodnight. 

Looks like Kim (probably Pam Greer too-though I'm not clear on it yet) will be going Monday to Odessa to get the birth certificates (they were born in a village near Odessa somewhere).  Then she'll come back to Belgorod and Tuesday the children will be released.  They now have housing arranged in Odessa at a Bible Institute in the northern part of Odessa.  We were able to make contact with an ABWE missionary in Odessa and the institute has 2 rooms available there and a little kitchenette as well.  Please pray for the birth certificates and passports to be provided quickly. Once they have these things, then it's off to Kiev.  Pray too that we'll be able to make contact with  a Baptist church there which has rooms available for those working on adoption.  

It's pretty cold there now and so Kim has been purchasing whatever they need, since they must leave all the clothing they've been using at the orphanage.  

This brings up another couple of prayer items and needs:

~We are in need of a day bed for a girl that could be either a loaner situation, giveaway or for a low cost.  If you have a used day bed or know of someone who does please let us know. 

~We need clothing which still has "life" in them, for a 13 year old girl (size 14 slim) and 12 year old boy (12-slim):   T-shirts, jeans, pants, sweatshirts and sweatpants, long-sleeves, dress shirts, dresses, leggings, socks, lightweight jackets, sweaters.  If you or someone you know have giveaway clothing in these sizes and would like to donate it to Kaitlyn and Broden we would all be very appreciative.  We would essentially go through what you have and give back what doesn't work for us or pass it on to someone else or Goodwill if you don't want it back.   This will certainly save us money and time too as we'd probably be spending lots of time at thrift stores and garage sales to find it all.  

If you or someone you know has any of these things and can help us, then please contact us about it at Robert.Clark777@yahoo.com or 949-702-4632 or  via the comments on the adoption blog.

Thank you for all your prayers and please keep praying they'll get home soon.  Robert (for all the Clarks)

Good to be with our other kids in California! Praying for Kim, Kaitlyn and Broden!

After 2 days of travel it was good to get back to the smiling faces of our other kids.  They are obviously glad to have me home, but we are all missing Kim, Kaitlyn and Broden.  

I arrived Monday night to LAX after traveling from Odessa to Budapest to London and to JFK in New York.  In London I had to wait for a flight the next morning, but it wasn't going to be a problem as I figured to just pick a spot in the terminal, tie all my bags to me and sleep light.  The plan was good and I was even directed by a worker to the correct terminal (or so I thought).  About 11pm a security worker came by telling me that I couldn't stay in that terminal.  They were very sorry and sympathetic to my situation, but the terminal for staying overnight, like I wanted to do, is Terminal 1.  I was in Terminal 3.  Since I couldn't go to terminal 1 my only option was to go out through customs to the arrival terminal.  There I spent a restless and uncomfortable night in a cold building.  Oh well, our best laid plans can easily change.  I guess I should have asked a few more questions.  

Around 5am I heard the noise of others who were in my same situation.  They were making their move over to the departures building.  After an hour I was back on track in terminal 3.  I caught my flight to JFK and later to LAX.  I usually sleep on flights, but had the hardest time doing so.  I think I ended up with about 5 hours of sleep (2 of which were in the cold arrivals building of London Heathrow.  But I didn't really care because I was getting back to our kids, which Kim and I agreed was the best move.  They've been well taken care of by our friends the Weavers and Calvis, but it has been a long 3 and a half weeks.  

Upon my arrival to LAX I rented a car and went to The Master's College (TMC) to see Tiffany.  I wanted to visit with her since I was already more than halfway there at LAX.  Traffic slowed me down, but I was able to get there to watch her audition for a part in a play at TMC.  She did very well in her audition and I really was grateful to the Lord for allowing me to make it to that and visit with her at Starbuck's.  I showed her photos that she hadn't seen yet from Ukraine and shared other items about our trip.  Then I had to get on the road to home.  It was 10:30 before I left and I was getting tired.  There were two moments where I got too tired so I started to rub my face a lot, sing to K-eaRTH 101.1 and do some Tarzan yells.  Hey, whatever it takes, right?  The thing that really woke me up was seeing a bad accident, though nobody was injured.  I arrived home about 12:30am on the 18th.  It was good to see Kevin, but Jason and Kelly had already gone to bed.  Kevin and I talked for awhile and then we went to bed.

Please pray for Kim, Kaitlyn and Broden.  The count down over there now is 5 days.  She now has a place to  for all of them to stay in Odessa while getting the birth certificates and Ukrainian passports.  She's still trying to find housing in Kiev, but a Baptist church there might have rooms available.  Please pray that she'll be able to find ways to save $ along the way.  We found the price of some things to be less expensive than expected, but she has to provide clothes, shoes, etc. for them because all that they have now must stay at the orphanage. The temperature there in Kiev has been under freezing, but no snow yet.