Touring and Shopping While We Wait.

Erin at the Berdyansk “Wishing Chair” (Oles the Facilitator/Translator in the background)

So let’s see, what’s going on? Well since the court hearing, Victor our facilitator has gone home for some well deserved time with his family. He started working with us 3 weeks ago after coming directly from his facilitation work with the Williams who just adopted a boy named Vasa. Victor only had 20 minutes with his family before hitting the train with us to Berdyansk. The good thing is that the Dave & Kathie’s facilitator just returned from some time off for a wedding and has been helping both families as needed. That said we are feeling a little more comfortable on our own too. Gary has managed to have the right Russian words when needed and Beverly seems to be able to figure out Russian signs and labels. Give us another 10 years here and we would fit right in ;-)
We have been having a great time with Erin, Vika, and Olga (the Henry’s [we pray] soon to be daughter) and Kathie & Dave and their 2 boys. We’ve ventured out into the crowded market place to pick out some new cloths for Olga from her State-side Mama and Papa, wandered around the waterfront, and took a taxi trip to the beach point about 20 minute down the coast. We were walking to the boardwalk on Saturday and passed by the Vital Statistics building where it was wedding day. One after another wedding was taking place and as the wedding party would come out of the building, a man played on an accordion out front. Then some of the wedding parties would walk the rest of the way to the beach for photos. There were cars lined up with double gold rings on top and decorated with flowers. Of course the children weren’t as impressed as their American mama’s and papa’s. There were at least 5-6 going on at the same time and the women were all dressed to the 9’s.

We know that some of the prospective parents heading to Berdyansk soon (we hope) might want to know the routine for picking up the kids each day so here it goes.
The biggest piece is that you must visit Galina the Director at the orphanage to ask permission. Once given, your facilitator must write a statement of protection in Russian basically saying you are responsible for their safety and safe return at 6:00 pm every night. She has been good about one letter working for the entire weekend since she doesn’t work on Sunday’s. Once you sign the letters then you are good to go. We show up at around 10:15 and the kids are usually waiting for us. Get in the taxi then go do whatever we want until 6:00 pm. For us that usually means some time in our room relaxing and having a few snacks, then touring or shopping, then a big late lunch usually in the hotel restaurant at around 2:30. They can eat again at the orphanage at 7:00 pm after they return but they are usually too full after the lunch. Once they are back at the orphanage they we usually just hit the Internet café or just crash for the rest of the day. This week is a little different as the kids have school off for the entire week. We have to return the orphanage this morning to ask permission to have them for the week and do the same letter again but it will be nice to have them almost up until the day we leave. Great timing by the school system we think.
That’s about it for now. Victor returns on Monday morning to start the going home process with the court decree. We are hoping to be on a flight on 10 or 11 November home but everything is booked right now. Victor has been working with the airlines and has us on a stand-by status but we do have confirmed reservations on Monday, 13 Nov. Please pray that something opens up for the weekend. We miss our family back home and have been away from them long enough. But we are still trusting God’s timing.

Also, a big Thank You to all who have posted to this site. We always look forward to reading your words of encouragement each day. We are so blessed by such a great family and wonderful friends.