And Now For Something Completely Different!

Kim shared with us in an email that they had an opportunity to go with Pam Greer and Justin and walk around town.  It was a good experience as it showed that she and Kaitlyn and Broden are getting closer to one another.  Plus, there were some interesting things to observe, not the least of which were some technology that we take for granted, but these former orphans have probably never seen...

"We went into town today. It was nice to see justin and pam. The kids all had a great time. They were enthralled with a revolving door and the escalator. Pam said justin watched her washing machine for 30min and then freaked when it spun and started jumping. (You can read a more detailed account of this with pictures on the Greer's blog - www.kevinandpam.blogspot.com) The kids are doing well. They each grabbed my hand at different times to hold it as we walked. As we were walking there was a boy having to hold and guide his drunk father. All 3 kids got very uptight, slowed down walking and really kept their eyes on him. They were obviously afraid and were pointing him out to us nervously. Broden motioned that the man had drunk alcohol and used drugs. It seemed that they had very bad memories. Kaitlyn was really affected. I had to hug her as we walked and tell her, not in our family (drunkenness). She relaxed. It was interesting." 

This would figure since part of the neglect they experienced was a household that had 6 adults + an invalid grandmother.  None of them were working and most likely they were drunks, drug users and abusive.  Please pray for wisdom as we help them adjust. 

Urgent Prayer Needed!

Dear Family and Friends,  

Changes and surprises can be very sobering and can happen quickly.  I received an urgent call from Kim early on Friday morning.  The reason for it was that she had received a call from the US Embassy in Kiev, Adoption Unit/Immigration Visa Services.  In a nutshell, they discovered that a form from Immigration Services (I-600A) and our home study reflect adopting 2 children that are relatively healthy.  Since HIV has not been taken off the list and probably won't be taken off now for immigration visas (only tourist visas have seemed to be approved on this), then I need to provide an amendment to the home-study and the I-600A (in that order) through our agency and the Los Angeles DHS office.  So, I need an amendment reflecting the change in the health condition of a child.  The potential timing delay is big.  I have been in contact with our agency here and will continue to be until I can get the home study amendment and then get into that office in Los Angeles hopefully Monday.  

As you can imagine it is both a surprise and shock.  It sure woke me up in a hurry at 6:20 this morning!  We thought we were complying completely with all requirements and that the waiver was the way of reflecting the change in health condition.  That's not the case though.    Please be in prayer for this as I need to be able to obtain these documents quickly.  When it comes to dealing with these sorts of things a one day delay here can turn into a week or more in delays there.  The embassy is willing to even contact the DHS office and encourage them to expedite our amendment.  They can't demand it but they can earnestly suggest and encourage it so that they will be able to continue on our behalf.  I would ask you to earnestly ask the Lord to move all barriers so that we can bring Kim and the kids home soon.

It is quite interesting too, and I share this with a sober heart, but on Wednesday I was stuck in some traffic a half hour and I had taken with me my copy of Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, which I only usually have on my nightstand.  While sitting there I read the following and it caused me to pray and even on Thursday send it to Kim to try and communicate the Lord's working in my heart through it:  From the prayer The All Good...

You are all my good in times of peace, my only support in days of trouble, my one sufficiency when life shall end.  Help me to see how good your will is in all, and even when it crosses mine teach me to be pleased with it.  ..... you are a bottomless fountain of all good, I give myself to You out of love, for all I have or own is yours, my goods, family, church, self, to do with as you will, to honor yourself by me, and by all mine.   There's more of course.  I recommend the book very much.

Needless to say, I had no idea we'd be facing this sort of situation today.  Sometimes it is 3 steps forward and 2 steps back, but it never catches the Lord off guard.  My hope and prayer is that this is just another "hiccup" in this whole thing and not a delay.  The embassy said they will work with Kim as far as they can (passports, visa, visa rejection, waiver documents) so that perhaps the only thing needed is the receiving of the amendment from DHS in LA.  Of course I can't get that until the amendment related to the original home study is in hand.  Honestly, I have had moments of depression and anger over this today, but the Lord has been good to me in those moments and the peace that passes understanding and correct thinking and action that is explained in Philippians 4 4-9, have been also evident to me as well.  Philippians 4:4 says "Rejoice!".  Verse 5 tells us to let our forbearing spirit be known to all men.  I curiously looked up forebearance and it says, "patient self-control, restraint, tolerance".  Synonyms are very helpful too and some of them are, "patience, resignation, endurance, fortitude and self control".  Verse 6 reflects this further with imperatives like, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication (to appeal to, call on, ask and request) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."  Then it says, "And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Please pray for Kim and I and especially our children as well, to not lose heart or grow faint-hearted with all of this.  Even before I had time to tell Kelly what has happened today she came to me asking when Kim and the kids would be coming home.  So, I tried to explain this situation to her and that we need to continue to pray, because the Lord knows that exact day and time that they will come home.  Thanks for praying and listening.

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.

Tuff Tuesday!

I've received an email today from Kim and have pasted necessary information about their day here...

 "Well what a day. We all met at the court at 9am. At 11am we had the final letter and we all took off. I went with Ludya and Gene(taxi driver) to a village N of here. It took 2hrs going sometimes 160 Km/hr! Went thru Moldova for a short bit. The official found a mistake and would not do new certificates so we had to come back to Belgorod. Natasha (adoption lawyer) called the judge and he gave a new letter. So, at 6:45am Gene will come for me, we will get the kids, go back to the village with the new letter, get the new certificates and then go to Odessa. Pam had no problems and went on to Odessa."

She went on to describe that Kaitlyn is having a hard time.  She saw Pam Greer leave with Vladi (now Justin) and she cried.  Please pray for her as it's all very emotional for her (wanting to leave and then again not totally wanting it).  It was a very frustrating day for Kim as you can imagine.  Pray for her. It's hard for her on her own.  It was good teamwork between us when I was there and so it's hard.  Even though it went as it did today, they might not lose a day if this new letter works and they get off to Odessa from there.   I hope to call using our computer and Skype tonight at the time that I know they'll be leaving,  or have left the orphanage, to try and encourage them that it will be alright.  Hopefully the translator will be with them, but if not I'll at least show them that I and the other kids are anxiously waiting for them.  Thanks for praying.