A Day to Remember

January 28, 2008

Our day began earlier than most of other days, as we had to meet G on the blue line @ 9:15am. It was a very cold morning here, and every direction we walked in it seemed the bitter cold/snow was in our face. It had snowed 2-3 inches in the night, so everything had its white blanket on, except the main thoroughfare. We began by heading back to the inspector’s office, to get paperwork to be able to visit the boy’s director, and then the boys.

It was a short visit in the waiting room of the Inspector, just receiving papers, and then we were off to Orphanage 21. The director was glad we came when we did, saying we were just in time to meet with her. She immediately served us tea, cheese, pastries and chocolate. We began the meeting at 11am and finished at 2:45pm. In that frame of time, we met with the Director, one on one, and we met with the Doctor of the orphanage, and the Director, and G and the Director and Assistant director prepared many documents and stamped them. They gave us good information about the boys and their background. The director encouraged us and gave us a lot of wisdom on how to raise up good boys. She said both boys are good boys, and should not give us much trouble. She really favored John, and said he was a friend of hers. At about the half way point, she called in the boys and had them sign that they consented to us coming to adopt them. We took pictures and it was a pretty amazing memory. She did not try and talk them out of it in front of us. The director seemed genuinely happy for John and Kevin, and her assistant was a big help in directing them to sign, and write other necessary information. At 3pm we led down to the teacher’s lounge (where we had met on our last visit with Reaching Orphans with Hope), where we spent the next hour and a half looking through the life book Jenn created, and asking and answering questions. It was awesome! We got to see a little more of their personalities. John Benjamin is going to make a great big brother. It is more and more evident every time we are around him. G helped facilitate some questions that we had for them, and we got even more information from the boys about their past. It was a lot of fun to joke around with Kevin intermingled throughout our time with the boys. His attention is a little more easily diverted I will say, and is not the sit up straight and pay attention in rigid form type of kid. John Benjamin seems to be more serious when he knows its expected of him, while Kevin is checking out the differences of the pen clicks and looking to see what Lori is taking a picture of. He is more the ham of the 2 at this point. We took more photographs together, and let them know we would be back tomorrow. We promised that this was not like the last time we saw them, and that we would be back the next day.

Soon thereafter, it was big hugs, and the oldest taking pride in being able to walk us out to the gate. He did stop to pick up some snow, and I think he was thinking about throwing it at me, but decided against that bravery just yet. Haha … can’t wait for some wrestling and snow ball fights … but all in good time. God is so good. Today was really wonderful. I did catch myself thinking about the challenge of the language barrier, and got a little anxious about the first time there would be no one to be our voice to each other. Again, we are planning on doing some good set-up for that time, but I admit I am still nervous about not being able to communicate freely. We have really relied on Lori and G (which is to be expected since we know very little Russian), and I know we can communicate in other ways … just not as always as direct as one would like. So, that is my abbreviate version.

Thank you all so much for praying!!! It went so well today, and it was exactly what we needed. On that note I will share a prayer concern that we found out in the midst of our day today. We got word that the only way we will be able to get Z is to get signed consent from his older brother that he is abandoning the right to be adopted and allowing Z to be adopted. We will more than likely have to be the ones to ask him this. Can you imagine that conversation. Basically, we will be asking this older brother to give up what could be his only offer to be adopted (except we are not really offering that to him) and give his OK for his younger brother to go to America. It is a very selfless act. God is going to have to work a miracle, were the words from the mouth of G. So, God, I am asking for a miracle, for you to move on the behalf of Z if this is Your will. Only time will tell how this will turn out.

Blessings to you all faithful prayer warriors. Until next time! Paka

Until He is known,
Papa Mark