Friends :)
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Even the Sparrows…
(Photo of Papa taken by John)
Ok so today started off rough. We got to the metro stop to meet G and he informed us that at this time we can’t adopt Z. He has only two siblings, one of whom is under guardianship someplace (we think adopted already) so that leaves the two boys, and the inspector does not want to separate them. We totally understand that. We totally agree with what we are hearing as a rational. It doesn’t however change the fact that we are devastated by the fact that we can’t bring home one of our sons. It took us the rest of the day to go get papers notarized and then drop them at the inspector’s office. Today was the first day that we have felt like we got kicked in the guts and our first day to feel like we wasted time in a big way. We ended up sitting in the notary’s office for a while waiting for her, she was a really nice lady and we enjoyed meeting her once we got in there. We left from there, went back to the inspector’s office by way of the market to get more candy and paper(whatever, and note, I’m not at liberty to really discuss my mood so just grab it with a grain of salt tonight) then stood waiting to drop off the paper and one copy of some thing they needed for their files.
Finally (note I am rushing through b/c I don’t want you to feel like you had to stand in line with us) we got to go out to Niveki to see the kids. We got to 21 went through the gates and waited with Valera in the hall till the boys were done with their studies. Kevin found us first. His smile was sunshine that started to melt the chill of this day out of our bones. We moved up into the hall, and shortly down the way came John. Huge grin on his face, and a big “hello” to us, it was just what we needed. G. had to leave to go back to the SDA and drop off a document so we flew solo with the kids. It was wonderful!
We hung out in the hall way and played with a deck of alphabet cards. Suzette, V. came by and hung out showing off his awesome skills at reading through all the cards in the deck A-Z… amazing! He left after a while and John really started trying with Kevin. Kevin was loving the game and we played with those cards an hour which surprised me and thrilled us both. We gave the boys each a jacket thing that I had picked up, and it was good they both liked them, and said thank you. They fit! Score Mom! Thank God! They each got a game to play with and a disposable camera (thank you Nanny) to take pics of things they want to remember with. We have several for each of he kids so they can really get good pictures of whatever they want to try to hold on to and make into books later. They got new toothbrushes, not something that was a thrill, but something that was necessary! Most of all we all got time together. John took Mark outside and they entertained themselves with the digital camera while Kevin and I finished our alphabet game. At the end, he looks up at me and he goes,
“hmmm… hmmmm… ummmm Mom!”(super loud on Mom) like he wants to make sure I am really focused on him… “Mom… I go” and he is pointing up… then he goes “America, I go” pointing up… I was lost about the pointing up part at first then he starts flapping his arms… “Oh!!! You want to know when we are going to America!?” “Yes!” about that time Mark and John were coming back in and Valera told them maybe March. So they were very happy and I was thrilled. Why? Kevin is getting very comfortable calling me Mom, and he really tried his English. It was wonderful.
Valera let both boys walk us not only out, but to the bus stop. When the four of us got outside the gate and realized we were alone we just all looked at each other. It was the best feeling. We gave the boys some money for John’s cell phone and when I gave money to Kevin (since the phone is John’s) John says, “for food for you” and it was so funny he was picking at his brother and it was really sweet. They asked questions about when we will come back, they are nervous because this is different and we are going to be back and forth between here and Zap. I know this is hard for them because it is not what they have seen. They are doing great though. I am really proud of them. Mark and I could not ask for two boys who were more willing to be flexible and try to understand the circumstances. They are so good ya’ll.
Kevin was asking about his brothers and sister in Zap. Please pray for them it was hard to explain that one of their brothers is not going to come home now. You could see the concern on John’s face, and Kevin was disappointed too. I also am fearful they are worried that something could happen to mess them up. Please just pray that we will all be able to get on the same page and in the same place soon. If we can get a quick court date in Zap that would help a lot.
We leave tomorrow night to go down. Mark and I are going with G. down, then Nina will meet us and Yana I will be our new translator for a while. G. will go back and forth to Kiev to get papers filed. Nina will either get me an apartment or there is another option which they may choose to house me at the orphanage where A is staying. They are still working out details and will make a choice after we get down there which will be better for them in getting me where they need me to be with the kids. M is at #3 in the city and A is at another place outside the city. Mark will stay with me through the weekend and then likely he will come back to Kiev so that he can keep up visits with John & Kevin.
I have to tell you, as bad as this day felt, there were God moments along the way to let us know He is with us. He will be with Z. and ultimately Z is now and forever will be God’s first and not ours. As we waited for the bus I watched a group of pigeons and sparrows try to pick apart a crust of bread. I heard my Dad paraphrasing my Father play over in my head as I watched them feeding, “Not a single sparrow falls that He doesn’t know about, and if He cares for them, how much more does He care for you? It is going to be ok Jenn.” Thanks Dad… I love you and needed that memory today. & as ever… Thank you to our Father who sustains and provides and walks with and before us on this journey.
With much love…
Jenn for The Smith Family.
Monday, January 28, 2008
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
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
Sign Here
Can you put yourself in the shoes of a nearly 15 year old boy and a nearly 13 year old boy for just a moment? After a two hour meeting with the Director and the Dr. at 21 in came John and Kevin. John was dressed in a suit coat and tie, and Kevin in his fleece jacket. The director sat them down across from her and they had to write out a paper that said basically they wanted the strangers sitting behind them on the couch to be their parents. They gave all they know of themselves to all they know of us, and signed a paper that says they are ready to belong to our family. All I can say is these kids are brave.
Our meeting with the Director was fruitful. We heard a lot about the kids that we will be ruminating on and am sure that we will find some of the information very helpful in the future. Some of the information as a Mama I took with a grain of salt and look forward to seeing God work the details out in. For the most part, I was just happy to be with the boys. Happy to see them, to wink at them, to hug them, to reassure them that we are moving forward and we really are here and we are really going to take them home with us as soon as the courts tell us what our hearts confirm each time we think about them.
Today we got to hear a little more about their lives from their point of view. Kevin really doesn’t seem to remember much that is concrete about his life. He is trying hard to piece things together but you can see there are big gaps. John’s picture is clearer to him, although there are some things he did not know for sure but honestly said, this is what I have been told, but I don’t remember for sure about some of this. The experiences he does recall make it clear to us that he has been abandon on more than one occasion, each time he thinks someone is really going to be there for him and keep him something happens and he ends up back in an orphanage.
I was happy when we got there to see two familiar faces out side shoveling snow. Pictures will be posted. Parents will be pleased. I am thankful we got to see them even though we did not really get to talk. I think that perhaps there is a movement afoot right now to keep us in a private space with our boys, and not mix us with the other kids. There was mention that this stirs things up and it is too difficult to have a quite talk. Not sure but will keep trying to get in there and interact with the other kids too. Maybe that was just a today thing? I was good with it to a degree though because we really did need a space to just be with them and listen and love on them. Leaving today was a bummer because we wanted to just stay and spend time with the kids. We had to scoot b/c G. was going to try to get papers to a notary. Turns out that the notary was closed already so he will go tomorrow and then we will meet him at 11 and sign some papers and then we get to see the kids again at 3. I think we will get to speak to S. tomorrow for a meeting. We are thankful for this she has been super busy with her Mom and while we love G. and are thankful for all his hard work, we miss our S. too!
There was a lot that happened today that we are just thankful for… you could see the boys personalities emerge more, take for example the “family picture” where Kevin could not wait to put his hand up over John’s head and John looking so serious in the picture has no idea till later that his brother was fooling around. However as any great big brother would, he put it to Kevin earlier when they saw the pictures of Rolly Pohlee and when I said they like kids, they will love you boys, John, knowing Kevin is afraid of dogs, says, “Yes like Sausage,” then looks to see Kevin’s reaction! What a slick move! Kevin just leaned on John like it doesn’t matter you will take care of me. And I think he will. It was really just a great day ya’ll. Thank you for praying with us and for us.
We love you!
Jenn
Our meeting with the Director was fruitful. We heard a lot about the kids that we will be ruminating on and am sure that we will find some of the information very helpful in the future. Some of the information as a Mama I took with a grain of salt and look forward to seeing God work the details out in. For the most part, I was just happy to be with the boys. Happy to see them, to wink at them, to hug them, to reassure them that we are moving forward and we really are here and we are really going to take them home with us as soon as the courts tell us what our hearts confirm each time we think about them.
Today we got to hear a little more about their lives from their point of view. Kevin really doesn’t seem to remember much that is concrete about his life. He is trying hard to piece things together but you can see there are big gaps. John’s picture is clearer to him, although there are some things he did not know for sure but honestly said, this is what I have been told, but I don’t remember for sure about some of this. The experiences he does recall make it clear to us that he has been abandon on more than one occasion, each time he thinks someone is really going to be there for him and keep him something happens and he ends up back in an orphanage.
I was happy when we got there to see two familiar faces out side shoveling snow. Pictures will be posted. Parents will be pleased. I am thankful we got to see them even though we did not really get to talk. I think that perhaps there is a movement afoot right now to keep us in a private space with our boys, and not mix us with the other kids. There was mention that this stirs things up and it is too difficult to have a quite talk. Not sure but will keep trying to get in there and interact with the other kids too. Maybe that was just a today thing? I was good with it to a degree though because we really did need a space to just be with them and listen and love on them. Leaving today was a bummer because we wanted to just stay and spend time with the kids. We had to scoot b/c G. was going to try to get papers to a notary. Turns out that the notary was closed already so he will go tomorrow and then we will meet him at 11 and sign some papers and then we get to see the kids again at 3. I think we will get to speak to S. tomorrow for a meeting. We are thankful for this she has been super busy with her Mom and while we love G. and are thankful for all his hard work, we miss our S. too!
There was a lot that happened today that we are just thankful for… you could see the boys personalities emerge more, take for example the “family picture” where Kevin could not wait to put his hand up over John’s head and John looking so serious in the picture has no idea till later that his brother was fooling around. However as any great big brother would, he put it to Kevin earlier when they saw the pictures of Rolly Pohlee and when I said they like kids, they will love you boys, John, knowing Kevin is afraid of dogs, says, “Yes like Sausage,” then looks to see Kevin’s reaction! What a slick move! Kevin just leaned on John like it doesn’t matter you will take care of me. And I think he will. It was really just a great day ya’ll. Thank you for praying with us and for us.
We love you!
Jenn
This is the day that the Lord has made!
This was a good day posts to follow, but wanted to share some pics first!
Love
Mark and Jenn
John & Kevin
Some faces that you might be missing.
We were greeted today by these smiling faces and thought you might want to see them too!
With love from them to you...
V&V
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Just a spoon full of sugar…
So today was a good day. I admit it was not easy to be here today and not be with the boys. I kept thinking that it was good to have time but hard to be what I know to be about a 40 min trip away and not be with them. I have a chest cold and so going out in the rain this morning was not going to happen. I felt bad because I felt like not being at church was lame on my part but I just couldn’t see myself in the rain back and forth to get there and in the cold (which was a heat wave today in the upper 30s as compared to tomorrow which is going to be in the 20’s again)… it just didn’t seem like a good move.
I went back to sleep and Mark and Lori went to church. Amanda text messaged me from Germany at noon and woke me up. I was so glad to hear from her. I had a good quiet time. Prayed, read a devotion, and asked the Lord to speak to me from His word. I confessed I felt badly about not being in church today but that I was just not feeling good and I confessed also how I felt about some concerns I have over being able to get all the kids. He answered me with Psalm 127.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city the watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.”
Not only does He give to His beloved in his (my) sleep, He gives to me so much while I am awake. It was really good to just be with Him today and not be in the crowds.
We were blessed over again in that so many of you have reached out through email and the phone. Chelle called the other day, and Melissa called to check on us and then Jan Williams called from MS. to touch base and encourage us. We are so glad to have all of you as friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. We count ourselves as really rich to have such amazing people who would call us friends and who lift up our children and this adventure to God.
The best call of the day however came from my eldest Son. Ummm I love how that looks! My Son… I’ll just revel in that a while but the story for you goes like this, we had given John Lori’s cell number the other day in case he needed to touch base with us. He we waited until we heard an all clear from the SDA and then we sent an TXT to him saying it was ok, not to worry we are waiting on papers tell Kevin we love him too and we will see them soon. Then we waited. We didn’t hear back, until today. He called and Lori put him on speaker phone and he was like, “are my Mama and Papa there?” (in Russian but we got it) and Lori was like “Yes your Mama and Papa are here” and he wanted to talk to us and he spoke to us both saying he missed us and loves us and when will we come? He said “My brother is with me too” Ya’ll…. I not only understood him when he said my brother is with me, but get it… HE SAID… “MY BROTHER IS WITH ME.” As in, Mama and Papa I know Kevin is my brother and I am cool with that… as in I have bonded to this idea and I am taking this person on as my sibling. Our boys are getting it! God is making it clear to them and they are already loving one another as family even though they are not blood. They are brothers in their eyes and in ours and they are looking after one another. You guys I just stood there and cried. (Hush I know you are not the least bit surprised). I had a major Mama moment! You can hear in his voice how much he wants to be with us and he was excited about tomorrow. We are too. I am so thankful.
Later on I made dinner for the crew, Lori and Mark and I were getting ready to eat when Mama Olya came home and we sat together and had spaghetti with Chicken meat balls, which are quite tasty, and I have learned how to cook them for the kids. Mark seems to think the idea of “courses” is lovely and for keeps mentioning that Ukrainians are used to courses… I have tried to encourage him to enjoy this while he is here, because I do not do courses, nor do I plan to have time to with five children when I am home. He keeps saying I could learn. Hum guess we will see how that resolves!
Olya was really worried about my cold. She said I need vitamin C. I explain that I am taking some and she was like, “No you need some now in real fruit. You will eat a Lemon.” Oh yes. She wanted me to eat a lemon. Not a part of a lemon. Not a wedge or a half… a WHOLE LEMON. She said, “I will put sugar on it you will eat it.” This was not a suggestion good people. Olya was quite serious. She took the lemon cut it into slices put sugar on it and put a bowl of lemon in front of me. She sat on the stoop across from me and waited for me to consume the fruit rind and all. I had little help from Mark and Lori who were quite entertained at the prospect of my downing and entire lemon for their amusement and of course according to Olya my benefit. Lemon on top of a bowl of spaghetti makes for an interesting aftertaste is all I have to say.
Much love to you all… wear your hats when it is cold, or get the sugar ready!
Love,
Jenn Smith.
In the image of the Father
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
I was missing my church family today, and when Frankie would say this to get us to verbally repeat what our hearts are to be doing because of the love that is in us.
I was blessed to go to a Ukrainian church service this morning, and see many old friends from my times ministering with Radooga. In particular, Sergey, one of the humblest men I have ever been privileged to meet and serve with. I would never lightly say that someone reminds me of Jesus himself, because I know we all have a long way to go. None of us are perfect or without sin. If asked, who is the most godly man I have ever met, Sergey would be that man. I have much respect for him because I see so much of Jesus in him. The fruits of the spirit are evident in his demeanor, actions, and words. You cannot meet the guy without being filled with love. And I have seen the man on some early morning camp days and late nights, tired as all get-out, yet he still managed to praise God and encourage others. Sergey greets me the same way if we saw each other 10 minutes ago, or 3 years ago, with excitement and desire to fellowship. I have never known anyone like him. It was so good to see my friend. Sergey has always been someone whom I have seen Jesus in.
The service was nice, lots of good music and preaching. Another Radooga friend, Amberly, translated the sermon for me so I would understand what was going on. The visiting Pastor began in Exodus and shared the passage where Moses asked to see God’s glory, and also where he received the 10 commandments. His premise was we cannot look at God, enter His glory and not look different, not be changed. He then took us to Ephesians, where Paul’s writings echoed this. He also mentioned Christ saying, when you have seen me, you have seen the Father. This verse hit me in a different way than ever before as a new father. I sent a pic of John Benjamin to Jerry the other day, and he commented, “Mark, he looks like he could be yours.” The pastor also shared how many people think he and his wife look alike after 22 years of marriage. When we spend time with those we love, we are not only affected by their love, but begin to embody characteristics of their persona, personality, and mannerisms. This begged me to ask the question, what will I imbue to John Benjamin, to Kevin, to Z, A, and M? What will it look like for me to see those traits in them? Will they be ones I want to see repeated? Or will I be embarrassed of what I see? I hope I look enough like Jesus, that they will see Him in me. Most of all, I am glad I am responsible to point to Him, and not me.
And wow!!! So we are now sitting here in our borrowed bedroom, taking turns on the internet, and Lori checks her phone, which had been on silence, and there were 2 missed calls from John Benjamin. So, we hurriedly call him back, and talk to him for about 5 minutes. How does one convey emotion through words. Sometimes the words just don’t describe what you are feeling. Our boy asked when we are coming to see him. He said, me and my brother (already embracing that I see which is awesome) are waiting to see you and really miss you. Jenn and I are both toast, Lori quickly joining us, but trying to stay calm to translate …lol. What father doesn’t want to hear that from his son? We let him know we love him (which for some reason I forget I know how to say in Russian when I am talking to him) and that if all goes according to plan, we will visit with his director tomorrow. Hopefully, we will get to see them too! So, for the first phone call ever from my son, that one made a pretty lasting memory in my mind. I am totally side tracked from my thoughts … But an encounter with Jesus can sidetrack you, if you allow Him the authority to steer your path. Glimpses of the Father in the Son … when you have seen Jesus, you have seen God. I am sensing a theme. If you never watched Superman Returns, it’s a good jumping off space to relate to what God is saying to me. Today’s sermon compliments it too, and the phone call, well, it is just the cake and icing too!
I hope that when people one day see John Benjamin they will see me in Him. But most of all I hope they see Jesus!
Blessings!
Until He is Known,
Papa Mark
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Forward Motion.
To start with we want to thank all of you for your love and encouragement, knowing that you are all with us on the journey surely makes it all the more an adventure to be on!
Today was an early morning for Ukraine. That is to say we had to be out the door at 8:45 to make a 10:30 appointment with the local inspector in Obolon which is the part of the city that John & Kevin's local social worker comes from. First I would like to observe the fact that the wind was brutal when we rounded the corner from apartment to street. It quite literaly took Lori off her feet. Now Lori is not as big as a minute (but as tough as a tiger and gentle as a lamb)even still we just both looked at each other like "man this really stinks!" Neither of us are morning people so it felt like Mark was jogging in front of us. LOL.
We got to the metro stop at Kharkivska and navigated the green line to the blue line to go to Obolon. I don't think that one has really lived until one tries to cram on and off the metro in any country pick one I note they are all much the same. I have the urge to "MOOOOO MOOOOOO" loudly as we pack like sardines into the alredy crowded car and it is not at all impolite to gently (I said gently) push and or shove the person in front of you if they are taking too much personal space. For example, this morning, Mark was behind me, I was standing in front of him facing out into the cab of the metro car and someone shoved the nice man who was already in front of me into my personal space (such that it was to start with) to the point where I can tell you with confidence he had something with Garlic and perhaps a beer for breakfast, and how much lint was in his pocket with the 2 other metro tokens I could count... and no, no dear friends I am not joking in the least. Lori said the Moooing is not kosher so I will continue to refrain at least until my last metro ride and then I may Mooo till my hearts content.
Onward... we got off the Moootro... er hum, I mean Metro and waited for G. on the platform. We climbed up the steps almost out of the metro station only to realzie we went the wrong way. We climbed back down and walked around to the next spot where G. went to the RR and we observed a Gentlemen outside who apparently did not have or did not choose to spend the kopets to do the same. Dead Serious. We navigate out of the bottom of the metro again and G. stops to make some copies telling us later that this copy shop is a good one because you can really make copies there all the time, not like some places that tell you with a sign "absolutely no copies" made here because some people he says are so insistant that they have to see a sign that says "absolutely no" before they will believe that they are really broken. We hop a bus go a few stops jump off and walk under a tunnel to the other side of the road past the people who are selling meat (hey, no worry about spoilage, it was not unlike walking in a meat locker all morning) and emmerge to this tiny building near a school. This is where the inspector's office is located.
We go in and take seats in the small lobby as G. goes to make introductions and find out if we can submit our papers now. While he is in the office, he gets a call, Zerina has found Z's file and by 5 tonight we will have permission to go and to visit him from the Govt. of UA. PRAISE THE LORD!
G. comes back and we wait a few moments for the social worker and the inspector to confir and then she invites us to her office. She is a woman with a kind face and we are put at ease as she explains she will be asking her questions in Russian and G. will translate for her. We are down with that, and she starts to slam us with a similar line of questions from the SDA. Cool under fire we navigate the answers and this time Mark seems to be more in the hot seat than I am. He is a pro, smiles answers her questions with confidence and she lobbs a few more at me. How will we proved for the kids? Do we understand how unusual it is for people who are not even parents of their own children to be seeking to adopt others and so many at once? How will we communicate? Can we offer them every opportunity in the world each of them and not just one of them? We do our best with all the questions and the verdict is:
Come back on Monday and we will have your papers ready for you to go and visit with official status at the Orphanage here in Kiev! Play Rocky's Theme Song here... We will also be listening to a short presentation about some of the needs of a children's school here locally and we will see what we can do to help with some sports equipment for one of them. I'm all about helping some kids. This makes Mark and I really happy since we have heard all kinds of requests have been known to pop up but this one is way reasonable and totally in our ministry ball park.
Back up on the street, back on bus, back to metro stop where G. tells us that he will be happy to take us sightseeing but we are like, Dude, take a rest, have a day off, you work to hard :) He agrees and we make a plan to meet back at Obolon station on Monday at 9:15. After which time we will go to the inspector's office get our documents and then go and meet with the Director for a meeting likely to last a solid two hours per G.'s knowledge of how things have gone in the past. She is getting her team of folks together and is suppose to be telling us the story on both boys to the best of her knowledge to include a Dr's report / psychological evaluation. Mostly we are just stoked that Monday is coming and that not only can we visit and get information and start this party offically but that we get to see the kids. Bless their hearts! G. also mentioned that it is possible that by mid week we may boogie south and start the party down there too. Not sure yet about that but we will keep you posted.
We left there and went to grab a bite at this mall near Lori's and then went to the Billa for some bread etc. for making dinner tonight. We are now happy and warm and safe and wonderful and blessed back in the appartment with Lori and Mama Olya is coming home soon to hang out with us for the night.
As a matter of prayer please remember that we can only submit docs for a court date in Obolon on Weds. and Fridays. G. made an interesting comment that the area is a little less likely to pull shenanigans than perhaps other areas. Please pray that
1. we get to get our papers in this Weds. to get a court date.
2. we get a good judge... period.
Please pray for the boys, they have seen this go differently for others, they have seen that your Mama and Papa come, they get to take you out you go places the process lasts a long time but you get lots of visits and time away doing fun things. This will not be quite the same because of the split location for adoption. We are going to make sure all of them have fun, and all of them get to bond with us and us to them and them to each other, it just may not look like what they have seen others get before and we do not want them to feel like they are getting slighted somehow. I'd so rather get them home and do cool stuff you know? We just need to convey that to them :)
Much love as the sun is setting here at 4pm in UA,
Mark and Jenn
PS spell check not working :)
Today was an early morning for Ukraine. That is to say we had to be out the door at 8:45 to make a 10:30 appointment with the local inspector in Obolon which is the part of the city that John & Kevin's local social worker comes from. First I would like to observe the fact that the wind was brutal when we rounded the corner from apartment to street. It quite literaly took Lori off her feet. Now Lori is not as big as a minute (but as tough as a tiger and gentle as a lamb)even still we just both looked at each other like "man this really stinks!" Neither of us are morning people so it felt like Mark was jogging in front of us. LOL.
We got to the metro stop at Kharkivska and navigated the green line to the blue line to go to Obolon. I don't think that one has really lived until one tries to cram on and off the metro in any country pick one I note they are all much the same. I have the urge to "MOOOOO MOOOOOO" loudly as we pack like sardines into the alredy crowded car and it is not at all impolite to gently (I said gently) push and or shove the person in front of you if they are taking too much personal space. For example, this morning, Mark was behind me, I was standing in front of him facing out into the cab of the metro car and someone shoved the nice man who was already in front of me into my personal space (such that it was to start with) to the point where I can tell you with confidence he had something with Garlic and perhaps a beer for breakfast, and how much lint was in his pocket with the 2 other metro tokens I could count... and no, no dear friends I am not joking in the least. Lori said the Moooing is not kosher so I will continue to refrain at least until my last metro ride and then I may Mooo till my hearts content.
Onward... we got off the Moootro... er hum, I mean Metro and waited for G. on the platform. We climbed up the steps almost out of the metro station only to realzie we went the wrong way. We climbed back down and walked around to the next spot where G. went to the RR and we observed a Gentlemen outside who apparently did not have or did not choose to spend the kopets to do the same. Dead Serious. We navigate out of the bottom of the metro again and G. stops to make some copies telling us later that this copy shop is a good one because you can really make copies there all the time, not like some places that tell you with a sign "absolutely no copies" made here because some people he says are so insistant that they have to see a sign that says "absolutely no" before they will believe that they are really broken. We hop a bus go a few stops jump off and walk under a tunnel to the other side of the road past the people who are selling meat (hey, no worry about spoilage, it was not unlike walking in a meat locker all morning) and emmerge to this tiny building near a school. This is where the inspector's office is located.
We go in and take seats in the small lobby as G. goes to make introductions and find out if we can submit our papers now. While he is in the office, he gets a call, Zerina has found Z's file and by 5 tonight we will have permission to go and to visit him from the Govt. of UA. PRAISE THE LORD!
G. comes back and we wait a few moments for the social worker and the inspector to confir and then she invites us to her office. She is a woman with a kind face and we are put at ease as she explains she will be asking her questions in Russian and G. will translate for her. We are down with that, and she starts to slam us with a similar line of questions from the SDA. Cool under fire we navigate the answers and this time Mark seems to be more in the hot seat than I am. He is a pro, smiles answers her questions with confidence and she lobbs a few more at me. How will we proved for the kids? Do we understand how unusual it is for people who are not even parents of their own children to be seeking to adopt others and so many at once? How will we communicate? Can we offer them every opportunity in the world each of them and not just one of them? We do our best with all the questions and the verdict is:
Come back on Monday and we will have your papers ready for you to go and visit with official status at the Orphanage here in Kiev! Play Rocky's Theme Song here... We will also be listening to a short presentation about some of the needs of a children's school here locally and we will see what we can do to help with some sports equipment for one of them. I'm all about helping some kids. This makes Mark and I really happy since we have heard all kinds of requests have been known to pop up but this one is way reasonable and totally in our ministry ball park.
Back up on the street, back on bus, back to metro stop where G. tells us that he will be happy to take us sightseeing but we are like, Dude, take a rest, have a day off, you work to hard :) He agrees and we make a plan to meet back at Obolon station on Monday at 9:15. After which time we will go to the inspector's office get our documents and then go and meet with the Director for a meeting likely to last a solid two hours per G.'s knowledge of how things have gone in the past. She is getting her team of folks together and is suppose to be telling us the story on both boys to the best of her knowledge to include a Dr's report / psychological evaluation. Mostly we are just stoked that Monday is coming and that not only can we visit and get information and start this party offically but that we get to see the kids. Bless their hearts! G. also mentioned that it is possible that by mid week we may boogie south and start the party down there too. Not sure yet about that but we will keep you posted.
We left there and went to grab a bite at this mall near Lori's and then went to the Billa for some bread etc. for making dinner tonight. We are now happy and warm and safe and wonderful and blessed back in the appartment with Lori and Mama Olya is coming home soon to hang out with us for the night.
As a matter of prayer please remember that we can only submit docs for a court date in Obolon on Weds. and Fridays. G. made an interesting comment that the area is a little less likely to pull shenanigans than perhaps other areas. Please pray that
1. we get to get our papers in this Weds. to get a court date.
2. we get a good judge... period.
Please pray for the boys, they have seen this go differently for others, they have seen that your Mama and Papa come, they get to take you out you go places the process lasts a long time but you get lots of visits and time away doing fun things. This will not be quite the same because of the split location for adoption. We are going to make sure all of them have fun, and all of them get to bond with us and us to them and them to each other, it just may not look like what they have seen others get before and we do not want them to feel like they are getting slighted somehow. I'd so rather get them home and do cool stuff you know? We just need to convey that to them :)
Much love as the sun is setting here at 4pm in UA,
Mark and Jenn
PS spell check not working :)
Friday, January 25, 2008
Saying see you later to Oksana ... she goes to visit her family.
So, Denis walked Lori, Oksana, and I down to take the taxi at about 9:45ish, and Lori and I accompanied Oksana to the train station. It was pretty exciting. I was out on the town on a Friday night, and then we road the Metro back to our stop, and got my briske 15 min. walk home, as the temp. read 0 degrees Celcius (32 degrees F for you Americans).
Have a good afternoon/evening. It is bed time and up early for our appointment. Dobre Ootra
Spice it up!
Ok Youth Group… you know how some times when you add just a dash of salt it can change the taste of what you are eating and make it extra good? Well, tonight, Mama Olya was not home, and Oksana was packing to leave for home, Lori had class till late so that meant finally it was my shot at the kitchen! You guys know how I can’t cook anything small so it was really cool that I was getting to cook for the whole family.
Lori and I went to the store a little ways from the apartment and looked through to see what stuff they had in the store to get. I found chicken, sausage stuff, and what I thought was like stewed/diced tomato… and what turned out to be kind of like a sweet tomato paste like ketchup in a salsa bottle. We got onion, a can of corn, and some soda and candy (dudes they have good candy) and we got in line. On the way home I was thinking “I hope this works!”
We got the onion going and the sausage and chicken followed it started to smell good. Oksana and Lori helped me make some rice, and we got the tomato stuff mixed in to the meat and onions… but it tasted like someone dumped sugar in ketchup. ICK! I was standing there thinking and it hits me ~ I have Tony’s with me! I ask every one if they are ok with some spice and every one is like yes we like spices! So I get the Tony’s and add it… then every one gets a fork and digs in and I wait for the vote…
SCORE! The crowd is happy and I am voted new American Ukrainian Mama!
A little seasoning and the whole dish changes… Jesus reminds tells us,
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and to be trampled under foot by men.”
As you get ready for the weekend you will be spending time with each other at Emma’s Sweet Sixteen, and Brent Roche’s going away time for college. Take a good look around at the people you are friends with and say a quick thank you prayer for the blessing of good Christian friends. Think of how nice it is to be around people who are salt in your life, they add this amazing flavor each one is different and each one unique. When one of your friends is missing for whatever reason it changes the dynamic of the group. Some of the flavor is missing.
Now think about this, there are friends of yours that are lost. Friends you love and who didn’t come to the parties you are going to this weekend. Friends who you know are at parties that they shouldn’t be at at all. Think about friends you wish were with you to have some fun with out the risk of getting into trouble or getting hurt. Think about their parents some of them might have been at the party with your own parents hanging out laughing and having a good time wishing Em a Happy Birthday too. But who is going to tell them about Jesus? Who is going to invite them to come and be a part of the group? What kind of a flavor would they add if they were there? Some spice? Some encouraging sugar? Something to calm the flavor down if it gets out of hand? Guys what are you doing right now to show your friends the love of Christ? Who have you invited to come and add their spice to the mix? If the salt looses the saltiness it is to be trampled under foot by men, it is no longer any good. What a waste of personality. What a waste of talent in the body of Christ… that is for you… don’t be bland. Be bold. Ask your friends to come to Student Life Tour. Ask them to come to the “no brainer activities” (you know what I mean) we have going on right now. Terry and Chelle would love to help you make your friends feel comfortable. We want to meet them when we get home… but we are here… we can’t invite them to Tour or to Power House. YOU CAN.
Be the Salt ya’ll ~ I know ya got flava!
Love,
Ms. Jenn
PS Happy Birthday to Emma! Happy Birthday to Emma! Happy Sweet Sixteen I wish we were at your Party Birthday to Emma!!!! Happy Birthday to you!!!
Lori and I went to the store a little ways from the apartment and looked through to see what stuff they had in the store to get. I found chicken, sausage stuff, and what I thought was like stewed/diced tomato… and what turned out to be kind of like a sweet tomato paste like ketchup in a salsa bottle. We got onion, a can of corn, and some soda and candy (dudes they have good candy) and we got in line. On the way home I was thinking “I hope this works!”
We got the onion going and the sausage and chicken followed it started to smell good. Oksana and Lori helped me make some rice, and we got the tomato stuff mixed in to the meat and onions… but it tasted like someone dumped sugar in ketchup. ICK! I was standing there thinking and it hits me ~ I have Tony’s with me! I ask every one if they are ok with some spice and every one is like yes we like spices! So I get the Tony’s and add it… then every one gets a fork and digs in and I wait for the vote…
SCORE! The crowd is happy and I am voted new American Ukrainian Mama!
A little seasoning and the whole dish changes… Jesus reminds tells us,
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and to be trampled under foot by men.”
As you get ready for the weekend you will be spending time with each other at Emma’s Sweet Sixteen, and Brent Roche’s going away time for college. Take a good look around at the people you are friends with and say a quick thank you prayer for the blessing of good Christian friends. Think of how nice it is to be around people who are salt in your life, they add this amazing flavor each one is different and each one unique. When one of your friends is missing for whatever reason it changes the dynamic of the group. Some of the flavor is missing.
Now think about this, there are friends of yours that are lost. Friends you love and who didn’t come to the parties you are going to this weekend. Friends who you know are at parties that they shouldn’t be at at all. Think about friends you wish were with you to have some fun with out the risk of getting into trouble or getting hurt. Think about their parents some of them might have been at the party with your own parents hanging out laughing and having a good time wishing Em a Happy Birthday too. But who is going to tell them about Jesus? Who is going to invite them to come and be a part of the group? What kind of a flavor would they add if they were there? Some spice? Some encouraging sugar? Something to calm the flavor down if it gets out of hand? Guys what are you doing right now to show your friends the love of Christ? Who have you invited to come and add their spice to the mix? If the salt looses the saltiness it is to be trampled under foot by men, it is no longer any good. What a waste of personality. What a waste of talent in the body of Christ… that is for you… don’t be bland. Be bold. Ask your friends to come to Student Life Tour. Ask them to come to the “no brainer activities” (you know what I mean) we have going on right now. Terry and Chelle would love to help you make your friends feel comfortable. We want to meet them when we get home… but we are here… we can’t invite them to Tour or to Power House. YOU CAN.
Be the Salt ya’ll ~ I know ya got flava!
Love,
Ms. Jenn
PS Happy Birthday to Emma! Happy Birthday to Emma! Happy Sweet Sixteen I wish we were at your Party Birthday to Emma!!!! Happy Birthday to you!!!
Who’s on First, What’s on Second
January 25, 2008
So we received a call from G this afternoon that he picked up the paperwork for John and Kevin. So as of right now, we have permission to visit with M, A, O, & O. G was also told they found the file on Z’s brother, but nothing yet on him. So, not sure what this means at this point. We will go Sat. (tomorrow) morning to the Inspector and get the official paper to visit the kids to go along with what G has already picked up, at 10 am. Monday morning, we are invited at 10am to visit the director of John and Kevin's orphanage. Hopefully, we will also be allowed to see them. Maybe by Wed. we will be able to submit all papers for court here and see what happens with a date. If a date is relatively soon, then we will stay and continue this party. If it is more than 2 weeks, we may travel on down to Zap to get things started there. Either way, we should know the plan maybe by mid to end of next week.
What we are looking forward to for now, is going to meet with the director on Monday, and getting to see the boys! Trust me, it will not come soon enough for this Papa. I have felt a little like we are not moving forward, even though I know we are. Many of you who have walked this are thinking, just wait, you have only begun to feel like you are having some idle time. Well, this is where I am now, and I am being honest. Today was another rest day, except that we got a phone. Which, at this point I can’t really use to call anybody, (haha) but it felt like another accomplishment in moving forward. I just want to be with the kids … no offense to the company I am keeping, but dude! Let me at them … there is so much to learn, so much time to catch up on. All I can think is that we saw them, and now they are like, “where have they been for the past week?” “Was that real, did we dream that? “ Not for me, it was so real, and the memory is great, but I am ready to make some more like that! It has been good to connect with a few of you on IM. Chelle, Terry, Ben, and Pam. I hope to see more of you on when we are able to connect to home.
Family! Mom Dad Lisa, and Mike if you are all checking, I love oyu and appreciate your prayers!!! Mom and Lisa thanks for posting and for the personal emails!!!
Love getting your thoughts and comments.
Simon family!!! I really appreciated your kind words, and knowing you are eager to read daily means a lot. I will do my best to keep them coming, even though writing is more Jenn’s forte’. But as long as the idle time holds out, I will try and do something constructive. As soon as we can get a photo opportunity and are able to share some good pics, we will post, I promise. We can’t keep taking pictures of Lyova to much, don’t want to damage his eyes.
Youth and Members of Olivet … thank you so much for your faithfulness to pray, to ask how things are, to call, to comment on our blog! We miss you guys so much! I can’t believe we are only just over a week now. In many ways it seems like longer, and then there are times where it only feels like a few days have passed. Most of the time I am trying to remember what day it is, without my routine events and reminders of what is on the schedule for each day. I hope you know we are praying for you all. We miss your hugs, your faces, we miss worship with you. I can’t believe we will miss Student Life Tour too! Oh, but good news, our friend Ben Bryant and his youth will be joining us for camp at Student Life in June. We are so excited to be able to share that experience with them. He is another one of those crazy BSU people you hear us talk about all the time from our college days. He is as crazy as Teri Tolbert or Jerry Howard. You will love him.
So those are some of my thoughts about life tonight. Jenn and Lori went for a walk, maybe to the market to find something to snack on.
So that is my report from Friday. Up and at it in the morning, church on Sunday, and Monday to the orphanage!
Love you all! Tune in next time for the Smith update.
Blessings!
Until He is Known,
Papa Mark
So we received a call from G this afternoon that he picked up the paperwork for John and Kevin. So as of right now, we have permission to visit with M, A, O, & O. G was also told they found the file on Z’s brother, but nothing yet on him. So, not sure what this means at this point. We will go Sat. (tomorrow) morning to the Inspector and get the official paper to visit the kids to go along with what G has already picked up, at 10 am. Monday morning, we are invited at 10am to visit the director of John and Kevin's orphanage. Hopefully, we will also be allowed to see them. Maybe by Wed. we will be able to submit all papers for court here and see what happens with a date. If a date is relatively soon, then we will stay and continue this party. If it is more than 2 weeks, we may travel on down to Zap to get things started there. Either way, we should know the plan maybe by mid to end of next week.
What we are looking forward to for now, is going to meet with the director on Monday, and getting to see the boys! Trust me, it will not come soon enough for this Papa. I have felt a little like we are not moving forward, even though I know we are. Many of you who have walked this are thinking, just wait, you have only begun to feel like you are having some idle time. Well, this is where I am now, and I am being honest. Today was another rest day, except that we got a phone. Which, at this point I can’t really use to call anybody, (haha) but it felt like another accomplishment in moving forward. I just want to be with the kids … no offense to the company I am keeping, but dude! Let me at them … there is so much to learn, so much time to catch up on. All I can think is that we saw them, and now they are like, “where have they been for the past week?” “Was that real, did we dream that? “ Not for me, it was so real, and the memory is great, but I am ready to make some more like that! It has been good to connect with a few of you on IM. Chelle, Terry, Ben, and Pam. I hope to see more of you on when we are able to connect to home.
Family! Mom Dad Lisa, and Mike if you are all checking, I love oyu and appreciate your prayers!!! Mom and Lisa thanks for posting and for the personal emails!!!
Love getting your thoughts and comments.
Simon family!!! I really appreciated your kind words, and knowing you are eager to read daily means a lot. I will do my best to keep them coming, even though writing is more Jenn’s forte’. But as long as the idle time holds out, I will try and do something constructive. As soon as we can get a photo opportunity and are able to share some good pics, we will post, I promise. We can’t keep taking pictures of Lyova to much, don’t want to damage his eyes.
Youth and Members of Olivet … thank you so much for your faithfulness to pray, to ask how things are, to call, to comment on our blog! We miss you guys so much! I can’t believe we are only just over a week now. In many ways it seems like longer, and then there are times where it only feels like a few days have passed. Most of the time I am trying to remember what day it is, without my routine events and reminders of what is on the schedule for each day. I hope you know we are praying for you all. We miss your hugs, your faces, we miss worship with you. I can’t believe we will miss Student Life Tour too! Oh, but good news, our friend Ben Bryant and his youth will be joining us for camp at Student Life in June. We are so excited to be able to share that experience with them. He is another one of those crazy BSU people you hear us talk about all the time from our college days. He is as crazy as Teri Tolbert or Jerry Howard. You will love him.
So those are some of my thoughts about life tonight. Jenn and Lori went for a walk, maybe to the market to find something to snack on.
So that is my report from Friday. Up and at it in the morning, church on Sunday, and Monday to the orphanage!
Love you all! Tune in next time for the Smith update.
Blessings!
Until He is Known,
Papa Mark
A Song for YOU!
Kristi Spears this is for you as we are thinking about your mission trip in May to Africa. It is also for anyone who has ever gone on a mission trip anyplace because you can easily insert the name of any city or country in the world. ~
This is our "word for the day" we love you guys!
Caedmon's Call ~ Two Weeks in Africa ~ Overdressed
Johannesburg to Capetown,
the plane had barely touched down.
She was taking photos for the friends back home.
This was always where she felt her heart belonged.
She was finally here,
the sky was bright and clear.
(Two weeks....)
And we all can feel the calling,
(Two weeks....)
to make the world a little smaller.
And so a girl got on a plane,
for two weeks in Africa.
Johannesburg to Houston,
she came home on a mountain.
But school was starting, things kept moving on.
Before you knew it, seven years had gone.
She found a picture of her,
standing, smiling,
arms around the starving kids.
She swore not to forget,
she swore not to forget...
(Two weeks....)
And we all can feel the calling,
(Two weeks....)
to make the world a little smaller.
And so a girl got on a plane,
for two weeks in Africa.
And if we follow our dear sun
to where the stars are not familiar.
Faces turn to numbers,
numbers fall like manna from the sky.
Why, oh why?
Oh Father, why?
One village in Malawi now has water running pure and clean.
One church alive in Kenya's full of truth and love and medicine.
We put the walls up, but Jesus keeps them standing.
He doesn't need us, but He lets us put our hands in.
So we can see, His love is bigger than you and me.
(Two weeks....)
And we all can feel the calling,
(Two weeks....)
to make the world a little smaller.
And so a girl got on a plane,
for two weeks in Africa.
CELL PHONE / UPDATES
We officially have a cell phone number posted at the top of our page over the clock in red (that was for you Puff). And instructions on a website you can go to if you are wanting to do prepaid min. to call.
Update for the day is short but good.
G. called and said:
1 that he has in hand a referal for our visit to Zaph to get A&M.
2 that he will have in hand by 5pm our referal for John & Kevin.
3 the answer to if they can find Z. in the system or not for a referal to see him.
4 they will have the current location of the Zaph kids for him tonight.
so this means IF Alla is ok with it and IF the office of local administration is able/willing to issue an official invite then we can see the boys as soon as we get said paper. Until then, we are at the apt. hanging out with the fam, studying, and watching "The Office" or "Friends" which I have to tell you is hysterical, not for the shows, but for listening to Denis when he crackes up at stuff. He is awesome.
Oksana leaves tonight for a home visit down south, pray for her as she takes the train at 10pm and we will not see her again till like Feb. 5/6.
Miss you guys and love you.
Peace out.
M&J
Update for the day is short but good.
G. called and said:
1 that he has in hand a referal for our visit to Zaph to get A&M.
2 that he will have in hand by 5pm our referal for John & Kevin.
3 the answer to if they can find Z. in the system or not for a referal to see him.
4 they will have the current location of the Zaph kids for him tonight.
so this means IF Alla is ok with it and IF the office of local administration is able/willing to issue an official invite then we can see the boys as soon as we get said paper. Until then, we are at the apt. hanging out with the fam, studying, and watching "The Office" or "Friends" which I have to tell you is hysterical, not for the shows, but for listening to Denis when he crackes up at stuff. He is awesome.
Oksana leaves tonight for a home visit down south, pray for her as she takes the train at 10pm and we will not see her again till like Feb. 5/6.
Miss you guys and love you.
Peace out.
M&J
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Marky Mark says "what up dog?"
Puff, this is for you. I know you would be proud Mark was way smarter than I was and he had his hat on.
shhhh don't tell Rolly Pohlee.
Ok, so I had to show you that I have made this friend :)
This pic is for the Cat Lovers in the Youth Group.
Love you guys!
Ms. Jenn
Day off?
Parents, is there ever such thing as a Day off? -- Jan 24, 2008
Today has been restful and productive. I joked with Chelle yesterday that today would be a down day, to basically do nothing. Well, on further thought, that was not checking in my spirit. So I mentioned to Jenn last night, that today, since there was nothing officially on the schedule for us, we should do some pre-planning for when we get home and start our “new life” with the kids. Jenn thought that would be a swell idea so after around noon we got started putting our thoughts together and recording them on the lap top. We first discussed things that we wanted to communicate with the kids before we left UA, while we still had the blessing of language-speakers nearby! Praise the Lord once again for Denis, Oksana, Lori and G! We began talking with Lori about some of our ideas, and we will continue to tweak these as time gets closer to the end. We are not sure where any of the kids we are adopting are in their English understanding and speaking, so we need to make plans as if we are starting from scratch. We think John and A might understand some, more than they are attempting to speak when we have been around them, but can’t say for certain. We began to think ahead to that jumping off of the language barrier, and made plans to discuss such things as travel and navigating the airport, what life would be like at home, meeting our families and church families, school and daily schedule, discipline and how it would be handled, family time together, and some overall goals about how to succeed in all these areas.
Wow, sounds like a lot, but I know that doesn’t even begin to really scratch the surface. Can you imagine back to when you were age 12-14 and the things that were already going on in your life? I can. I work with students and do my best to help them see God through this pivotal time in their lives. Change is one thing, but all these major life changes (cultural, family, home, school, introduction of God in heavy doses, language… and the list can continue) is huge. This equals CHANGE in mass quantities … and we gripe when one little thing changes in our own life and feel that uncomfortable itch that just begs to be scratched. How do you scratch so many itches? Haha TMI (too much itching for those of you Olivtians that remember Joseph’s famous response to Mrs. Jenn).
The only answer is Jesus. Yes, it sounds like the common Sunday School answer, pray and read your bible, but it makes much sense when you think about it. How did anyone throughout scripture deal with change? Think with me for a moment about how Paul dealt with change? He met Jesus, and everything he had done leading up to that point in his career made him a persecutor of Christians, and thus of Christ himself. Yet, Jesus shows up, and at first He is given the gift of salvation and then the gift of blindness. Yes, I said the gift of blindness. How could something so unpleasant, debilitating, crippling, inconvenient, and unusual be a gift? Read it with me and remember for yourself, or see for the first time in Acts 9:1-20. Paul is on the road to Damascus, and Jesus appears to him and he is struck blind. Not the typical salvation experience most of us expect to hear about or experience. Hey Paul I am Jesus, I have a message for you, quit persecuting me and my followers, and go to this place that I will tell you to go to and wait for direction. Paul must be thinking … um aren’t you forgetting something Lord? I can’t see. How can I go anywhere? Is this my punishment for killing Christians? Will I be like this forever? Oh, the questions I can think of, and I am not even experiencing it. Can you imagine what kind of change of life Paul now found? He needed total dependence on others for sight, where there had been total independence before. Paul now required help for daily activities. Scripture tells us that he didn’t eat or drink, but if he had chosen to, he would have had to have help to do that. One of his main senses was gone, and he didn’t know if it was ever coming back, or if he could develop other skills to compensate. We are told he became weak, and nothing else is said about comfort, or any other message from Jesus during those three days. Are you starting to feel Paul’s situation? Ok, the complaining and sarcastic side of my personality says, “Welcome to Christianity, no thanks!” This doesn’t sound like an abundant life to me.
Now, picture this. You are a 12-14 year old orphan. Society has said you are basically worthless, or at least subpar to other people. Others in your orphanage are getting to leave and be part of families in other countries, and you hope for the day it will happen to you. You have visited America and other places, and maybe even deeply yearn for family because of what you experienced there. Your past haunts you, because you are lied to and told that your desires, hopes and dreams will never happen and you are wondering why this is all happening to you. Why were you abandoned? All you can think is that you are destined to have a miserable existence. Then, a ray of hope, a family comes from another place and invites you to join their family. Wow (excited, hopeful, good news), Wow (oh no what, have I agreed to? Can I do this? Will I succeed? Will they send me back?) A flood of unknown. A choice is made to go into the unknown, and there is an immediate crippling, if you will. Whether it comes in the form of blindness, speech/language, adjustment issues, a new culture to navigate, you can see how this “gift” may seem more like a curse. All you hope for is someone to relieve this blindness. Someone take it away. And with time, it is relieved, or you given the strength to compensate. But there is a definite period of discomfort; a period of change that you can’t escape.
Now, this didn’t happen or will not happen the first time we meet with our kids here in Ukraine. But eventually, it is something that will occur in one form or another with our children. Guiding our children through this time is imperative for their survival in one of the biggest changes of their life. I pray that as we endure this space, as many other families we know and love are enduring this space now, that we have an end result something like Paul’s. I pray that we will be used as Ananias was, to provide healing to the hearts of these 5 children. I also pray for other Ananiases like each of you reading our blog that can provide healing in areas that we cannot in the lives of our children. I rejoice for the lifting of the blindness even now in our children and for the day of their salvation. Like Paul, I know each of them is destined for more than they can imagine right now. Would you join me in prayer for them and their response? May their response and ours be like Paul, who immediately got up and was baptized. He immediately professed Christ and followed Him.
Though this process will come with discomfort, I am trying to look forward to the bumps in the road, because I know what blessing there can be along the way and what joy occurs when sight is restored or new senses are found.
Blessings to you all!
Until He is Known
Papa Mark
Today has been restful and productive. I joked with Chelle yesterday that today would be a down day, to basically do nothing. Well, on further thought, that was not checking in my spirit. So I mentioned to Jenn last night, that today, since there was nothing officially on the schedule for us, we should do some pre-planning for when we get home and start our “new life” with the kids. Jenn thought that would be a swell idea so after around noon we got started putting our thoughts together and recording them on the lap top. We first discussed things that we wanted to communicate with the kids before we left UA, while we still had the blessing of language-speakers nearby! Praise the Lord once again for Denis, Oksana, Lori and G! We began talking with Lori about some of our ideas, and we will continue to tweak these as time gets closer to the end. We are not sure where any of the kids we are adopting are in their English understanding and speaking, so we need to make plans as if we are starting from scratch. We think John and A might understand some, more than they are attempting to speak when we have been around them, but can’t say for certain. We began to think ahead to that jumping off of the language barrier, and made plans to discuss such things as travel and navigating the airport, what life would be like at home, meeting our families and church families, school and daily schedule, discipline and how it would be handled, family time together, and some overall goals about how to succeed in all these areas.
Wow, sounds like a lot, but I know that doesn’t even begin to really scratch the surface. Can you imagine back to when you were age 12-14 and the things that were already going on in your life? I can. I work with students and do my best to help them see God through this pivotal time in their lives. Change is one thing, but all these major life changes (cultural, family, home, school, introduction of God in heavy doses, language… and the list can continue) is huge. This equals CHANGE in mass quantities … and we gripe when one little thing changes in our own life and feel that uncomfortable itch that just begs to be scratched. How do you scratch so many itches? Haha TMI (too much itching for those of you Olivtians that remember Joseph’s famous response to Mrs. Jenn).
The only answer is Jesus. Yes, it sounds like the common Sunday School answer, pray and read your bible, but it makes much sense when you think about it. How did anyone throughout scripture deal with change? Think with me for a moment about how Paul dealt with change? He met Jesus, and everything he had done leading up to that point in his career made him a persecutor of Christians, and thus of Christ himself. Yet, Jesus shows up, and at first He is given the gift of salvation and then the gift of blindness. Yes, I said the gift of blindness. How could something so unpleasant, debilitating, crippling, inconvenient, and unusual be a gift? Read it with me and remember for yourself, or see for the first time in Acts 9:1-20. Paul is on the road to Damascus, and Jesus appears to him and he is struck blind. Not the typical salvation experience most of us expect to hear about or experience. Hey Paul I am Jesus, I have a message for you, quit persecuting me and my followers, and go to this place that I will tell you to go to and wait for direction. Paul must be thinking … um aren’t you forgetting something Lord? I can’t see. How can I go anywhere? Is this my punishment for killing Christians? Will I be like this forever? Oh, the questions I can think of, and I am not even experiencing it. Can you imagine what kind of change of life Paul now found? He needed total dependence on others for sight, where there had been total independence before. Paul now required help for daily activities. Scripture tells us that he didn’t eat or drink, but if he had chosen to, he would have had to have help to do that. One of his main senses was gone, and he didn’t know if it was ever coming back, or if he could develop other skills to compensate. We are told he became weak, and nothing else is said about comfort, or any other message from Jesus during those three days. Are you starting to feel Paul’s situation? Ok, the complaining and sarcastic side of my personality says, “Welcome to Christianity, no thanks!” This doesn’t sound like an abundant life to me.
Now, picture this. You are a 12-14 year old orphan. Society has said you are basically worthless, or at least subpar to other people. Others in your orphanage are getting to leave and be part of families in other countries, and you hope for the day it will happen to you. You have visited America and other places, and maybe even deeply yearn for family because of what you experienced there. Your past haunts you, because you are lied to and told that your desires, hopes and dreams will never happen and you are wondering why this is all happening to you. Why were you abandoned? All you can think is that you are destined to have a miserable existence. Then, a ray of hope, a family comes from another place and invites you to join their family. Wow (excited, hopeful, good news), Wow (oh no what, have I agreed to? Can I do this? Will I succeed? Will they send me back?) A flood of unknown. A choice is made to go into the unknown, and there is an immediate crippling, if you will. Whether it comes in the form of blindness, speech/language, adjustment issues, a new culture to navigate, you can see how this “gift” may seem more like a curse. All you hope for is someone to relieve this blindness. Someone take it away. And with time, it is relieved, or you given the strength to compensate. But there is a definite period of discomfort; a period of change that you can’t escape.
Now, this didn’t happen or will not happen the first time we meet with our kids here in Ukraine. But eventually, it is something that will occur in one form or another with our children. Guiding our children through this time is imperative for their survival in one of the biggest changes of their life. I pray that as we endure this space, as many other families we know and love are enduring this space now, that we have an end result something like Paul’s. I pray that we will be used as Ananias was, to provide healing to the hearts of these 5 children. I also pray for other Ananiases like each of you reading our blog that can provide healing in areas that we cannot in the lives of our children. I rejoice for the lifting of the blindness even now in our children and for the day of their salvation. Like Paul, I know each of them is destined for more than they can imagine right now. Would you join me in prayer for them and their response? May their response and ours be like Paul, who immediately got up and was baptized. He immediately professed Christ and followed Him.
Though this process will come with discomfort, I am trying to look forward to the bumps in the road, because I know what blessing there can be along the way and what joy occurs when sight is restored or new senses are found.
Blessings to you all!
Until He is Known
Papa Mark
Soups On.
There are so many things that you guys are all doing for us while we are gone. The system of running our lives back home is in your hands and we are so thankful that each of you are playing the parts you are to keep things going. If that is our ministries, cars, our bills, our home, you guys have stepped up to help us and we can�t say thank you enough. More than anything at home you can do for us though, we thank you for the way that you have allowed our children the privilege of the blanket of prayer that you lay over them and us through the day. In their short lives I am daily more astounded at what I am learning that these children have been through and how they are still the people they are today. Grace� oh grace.
They are sub-society here. We were told that one of the guys who helps to get apartments is not thrilled at all that he is finding them for people who are adopting. He doesn�t like to rent with people who have children in the first place but �orphans� oh no. They are scum. There is not a place for them in this society except the bottom of the pile. That is it for all of us isn�t it? In the spiritual realm are we not really bottom dwellers because of our sinful nature? Only by grace are we invited, adopted, to be a part of His family. Only through this invitation to family are we taught what it is to love, and serve, and serve in love. Only through adoption are we legally His and therefore are we due the full rights and privileges of that position in His family. Only through Christ is that legal sin debt paid and the transaction completed because of His sacrifice on our behalf. His blood cancels our sin through the grace of God�s forgiveness.
Watching Chris Underwood eat at Fridays when we first got here was precious. He was eating food he could not have provided for himself, it was a feast, and it was the richest of fair for him. We are invited to get full at His table. We are invited to slurp up His word with the delight of a child relishing in the taste of fettuccini and our favorite drink that doesn�t run dry. Something more than the mush of what the world has fed us for so long. It is more than all we could afford for ourselves but the Ultimate Parent is picking up the tab so get what you want out of this delightful invitation to supper.
I hope that as you go through the day you will choose to make a space and pull yourself up to His table. Smell all the good things cooking in His word. As you would in your own family�s kitchen allow yourself to be served up the goodness there in. As you munch on what He teaches you call someone else and tell them about the flavor you have encountered. Pass along a recipe He shares with you. You never know what someone else is in need of and what you have just been served might just be the nourishment someone else hasn�t thought to try. Maybe it is one of their favorite dishes but they don�t know how to make it and the Holy Spirit has given you the main ingredient and they just need that special spice right now to help them to get the mixture down right for their own lives.
When we were in college, Kyle Matthews and his lovely wife Susan, led worship for us. They are in Tennessee last we heard. They are running a mission camp there I think. We ran into them one day at a Chick-Fil-A, where else but the Christian Chicken right? Anyway, Kyle used to sing this song, �Welcome to the Best Stuff in the World Today Caf�.� It is one of the songs that when we first heard it helped to shape an image for us of service and a sense of balance in the Christian life of who we are to one another. All of us are customers and all of us are servants. Like when Calyn Reber or likewise Valerie Hall got in the game at the respective Waffle Houses because the staff was so busy and needed a hand. Who does such a thing? Servant hearted people who are looking for a practical way to show the love of Christ to someone in a way that I KNOW had to have made a lasting impression!
I gather a goodly sum of you who are choosing to follow the shenanigans (or �Shenackagans� if you are Sarah Jo Bone) of the Smith family are a part of God�s family already. If you find yourself curious over His family, this concept of Christ, why do these people seem to refer back to God so much, or any number or combination of these questions you are someone we would love to serve. We would love to share with you, as much as we can in our limited knowledge of our Unlimited God, answers He has given to us. Will you walk through our �cyber caf�� and sit at the table? Will you ask us what is on the menu today and allow us to give you the King�s choicest portions? We are here not only to expand our family through adoption, but because of His grace and love to us His family as well. Introduce yourself, we will do our best to reply if not now for sure when we arrive home. There is always room at the table for another brother and sister. We welcome you to the family and hope you will decide to stay with us a while, or forever which ever comes first.
Waiting for you at the table�
Jenn for the Smiths
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Confidence
This morning we woke up to Mama Olya fixing pancakes and coffee and tea. We came out to eat with she and Lori and Oksana and as we talked I asked her about how to handle today. We have never been before someone who is essentially a director of a high level of Government Office like this lady we were to meet with today. This is the equivalent of going to speak to someone who is at the level of a head of state in D.C. One stop below the Minister of the SDA herself. I asked Olya, since I am not from here I do not know how it would be best to approach this lady? Olya said, you speak sincerely but you go in with confidence. You go in sure that you are the mama of these children and you let her know it. You speak with confidence and as if this is already a matter that is basically settled. I mused over what I learned. I would never have gone in that way. I would have gone the way low humble way... what I heard was be honest and humble, but carry yourself in a very sure way. I heard Elise in the back of my head saying, "You just need to sing the Confidence Song from Sound of Music" so for the rest of the day I had that and a few other not so secular but oh so encouraging sound bites playing in my head.
We left here under blue skys and with a good chill in the air. By the time we made it half way to the metro stop I was sure Mark had a pocket full of packing peanuts he was shredding and chunking at me. It was snowing, but it looked like what happens when the popcorn ceiling comes down. Not a normal snow to me it was real clumpy. So we keep going, get to the metro and make it to down town at the bottom of the hill near St. Andrews. We gave in and got a cheese burger at McDonalds (we are all about not doing American food while we are here, and why would we when the Ukrainian stuff is sooooo good!) but it was close and we had time to kill and most important it was warm inside.
We left from there and rode on this cool thing that was like a sky tram up that enormous hill to head up to where you could find St. Andrews. We waited outside the SDA for G. It was like 2:45 when we got there we thought we had to be there around 3. Mark says he knew all the time that it was 3:30 oh how Lori and I had wished we had remembered that because the sky got grey at St Andrews and as we waited for G in our under-dressed attire the snow came across the river and dumped down like a nice heavy rain. It was funny for a few minutes but then it was like wicked when the wind chimed in to beat it into our American brains that we needed to dress a lot better and for any kind of weather change if we feel like it or not. Cheri called about the time that I was thinking man it would be good to get some word right now about if we have a good chance or not. What she said was, well according to S. your boys are ready to come down and explain it the Director themselves! I thought if things don't go well we might find a way to let them!
G. was helping Paula Underwood and Chris finish their final papers at the US Embassy. He hurried in and we went inside to wait our turn to see the Vice Director. Standing in the tiny hall way to the underground again I am thinking to myself, "Lord you go before us in all things, You know what is to come of this, you know these are our children. You know you planned them for our family. Grant us your confidence God." and I hummed I have confidence quietly to myself. Lori (b/c she was a friend and was helping us) was allowed to wait in the hallowed halls of the SDA for us and she learned a lot just from being there and seeing how things went on as people wait on the steps inside for their appointment times. Only facilitators today and "special cases" such as ours.
It was our turn. We step into the room where the two desks meet and make an L and there is a couch and one chair situated across from the only other one in the room. We went in to find a very important & stern looking (now there is a surprise) woman dressed in a green that brought out her eyes. She was serious and G. gave her our papers and the short version of our story. She was not digging what she was hearing and G. got a little uppity with her and chucked out all his credentials to include his passport his POA for us and diploma which she let him know she did not need ( I am learning Russian in context only ) anyway he tells her more of our story and I see she isn't buying it. I pull up the book I made before we left with the pics of us and the kids. She sees I have something and G. says I can show her. I stand up and position myself dead across from her sitting in the seat. She sees pictures of M. asks to see A. then we show her the pics of Z. so she can see that they are friends and know one another. The next thing is that we show her John and Kevin's pics. She is starting to see we have history with the kids.
She looks at me leans back in her chair and launches into her first argument against such an idea of this which is what do we know about kids this age basically and how will we take care of them, ending with the question "do you feel prepared?"
Game on.
The Holy Spirit reminds me to look her dead on and not at G. but to let him translate as I engage her fully. I explain that we know we are ready for this, that we anticipate that there will be trouble at times but a family always has seasons and that we can just learn to go through things together. G. tells her this, and the next step is that she wants to know "yes but what about their behavior. They may not be good for you all of them. what experience do you have with discipline?" I explain we have had a chance to observe them here in their own surroundings as well as to spend time with them in the hosting program. We are sure that we have had a good sample of their behavior and that we can take on any trouble one step at a time. Still not sold, G. tells that Mark is a Youth Minister. and we both work with lots of kids. (er hum Young Adults) Then she says, well you know as they get older their true nature comes out they can be tricky and you can fall for their personality now but then you will want to put them in foster care and not keep them. What will you do then?
The answer flew out of my mouth, "These are my children, they aren't going anywhere but home with me. We will take care of things as a family together. My God has been very patient with me. I can be very patient with my children."
Game over ~ she leans back in her chair tells G. they are "still her kids" and then looks at me again, puts her glasses back on and begins to write in her book. She is now telling G. that she will do a search to make sure the 3 boys are in fact listed and by Friday we can meet with Zerina our social worker and confirm if they find them and if in fact these are the children that we would like to adopt.
We rise, shake hands and she tells G. "This is a very brave family." If she could have only seen my knees shaking as we were talking a moment ago. The woman was wonderful. She was really looking out not only for the children but for us too. I appreciated her candor, her position even her very intentional opposition to what we had come to talk to her about. I can see why she is the one in her place in the SDA. In the long run however I am thankful mostly for Mama Olya's advice and God's grace in all things.
We went outside to see Paula and Chris they came to say goodbye to the lady who used to work at the place Chris, John and Kevin are from. We talk to them shortly took a picture in the snow outside that I know I look like a babushka in since I had no hat but had put a scarf up around my head b/c by now fashion was out and warmth was in, and then Paula disappeared with Chris, Katya and Lena headed for 21 to say their final goodbye before leaving for home tomorrow. Chris could care less about anything but getting on the plane! He is like, "Tomorrow, bye bye go to America, Yes!" I am so excited for him and I know Paula is ready to get back to Ande and the kids and get some rest. She has been so good for so long and just really needs a break. She remarked she is ready to just be home and watch her kids and you could see that she is glad that the journey has been successful but is over from this end. She said she will see the boys and as best she can tell them it is ok and we will be there soon. We know they must be wondering what is going on.
We got home and Olya had fixed Dinner and she got tears in her eyes as we told her our story. Mom and Dad called and it was so good to hear from them and to hear that Nana is doing better and should be home soon. I needed to hear from them. To hear your Mom's voice is so much encouragement and to hear your Dad's for me is always that final nod of "it is going to be alright" even just to hear a "hello."
Your comments are awesome. We love you guys and miss you each so much. Thank you for your encouragement. Thank you for your friendship and prayers!!!! Thank you for the comic relief and our rap song and all of you who are going to check on Rolly Pohlee! I know that they are in good hands with Ms. Peggy but it is always good to get a report from "their church family" too. I miss my puppies but I am so thankful that we are able to be here and have a peace about them being well looked after too.
For the kids in Ms. Williams class ~ Thank you so much for praying for us and for following our journey. I am going to put up a few more pics soon of these pretty dolls they make here. We saw them today at St. Andrews. Ms. Williams can teach you about them. You guys could look on the internet for them and learn more about them! They are mostly imported from Russia here now but some people in Ukraine still make them too. I learned that from a man today at his shop. Be good for Ms. Williams and study hard! :)
We will rest some tomorrow and tell you what the outcome is on Friday but we are believing they will find all the kids and we will get permission to see Z also and our official permission for John and Kevin too! New prayer is that we will get our papers processed here and get them submitted to the court by next Weds. to petition for a date for court in Kiev.
Love you guys,
Mark and Jenn
