Back in Alabama

We had to go "dark" on the blog postings because we changed our plane tickets to leave 2 days early.  We decided to surprise the kids back home, so we busted in on them during church service. It was funny because they were so surprised, but could not say hardly anything!  Thanks to Alan Thompson for picking us up.  I am so ready for turkey and dressing.  

While it was good to get back to things more familiar, I have to say that I miss being in Ukraine.  I especially miss my daughter, whose days are numbered there.  I can't wait to go back to get her.

By the way, I posted a photo from court so that you can see Ashley.  When you see a smile like that, it is easy to see why we love her.

May the Blessing of Christmas be Yours this Holiday Season.

Ande & Paula

Back In Kiev

We survived another train ride last night. We made it back in this morning at 6:00. After handling things at the Embassy, we went on over to Friday's for some good food from home. As it stands now, I (Ande) am planning to come back over in the second week of January to get Ashley finished up with visa and passport. It is the strangest feeling to have an official daughter sitting in an orphanage here. I am a bit sad, but after all this time, I will surely get through it. I will post a photo as soon as I am able to have access outside of an internet cafe.

Please pray for Paula, as she is not feeling very well at this stage in the game. Thanks for hanging in there with us.

Blessings,
Ande

It's Official!

After 2 long hours of court, thanks mainly to an over-zealous 25-year old prosecutor, Ashley Kate is officially our daughter!!!!!  We were asked why we wanted her, if we could afford her, if we could take care of her, etc.  The judge finally stepped in and said basically, "for the love!"- this was when the prosecutor asked me if I had to stay home with the kids or if I wanted to.  The judge said, "James makes plenty of money.  She doesn't need to work!" Considering what the young guy probably makes, it seemed a little ridiculous to ask us if we could take care of Dasha better than an orphanage!

After it was all over, the judge asked me (Ande) to stand for one last question: "Do you like boxing?"  I told him that I had seen some of the big fights on tv, but not really.  He told me that Mike Tyson signed a contract to fight Ukraine's top guy.  I told him that I thought Tyson was crazy and he agreed.

Oh, well!  We spent all day running around getting notaries (remember, Day 5 of Christmas). We had to say goodbye to our lovely new daughter, who we will miss.  We are taking the train back to Kiev tonight so we can sign documents at the Embassy. 

Thanks for all who have journeyed with us thus far.  We feel very blessed and highly favored!

God bless you all,

Ande and Paula

Take 2

Ok, first of all, thanks for all the love from the 12 Days of Ukraine Christmas.  It was as fun writing it as some of you had reading it.

Now we are approaching the thing we came here for, which is the court date.  George the Jedi secured the signature and is preparing to board a landspeeder from Kiev.  He will arrive in the morning just a few hours before the Most Imminent Jedi Council convenes at 10:00 am to hear our case.  We expect it to be routine, but why?  Nothing here is routine.  Anyway, we have faith that all will go well.  Pray for our daughter, who is nervous.  

Anyway, we are off for our curtain call English lesson with Yana.  

Blessings,

Ande & Paula

One Freakin' Piece of Paper

Well, George the Jedi's mind powers were not enough to get ONE signature on the form we needed to have court today.  He stayed there all day Monday, but apparently getting the form done would have put somebody out too much.  So, back to the coffee shop we go to eat our favorite dessert, shacaman (a sinfully delightful chocolate cake).  As of now, court is set for Tuesday morning at 10:00 am.  That's 2:00 am for you Americanskis.  Please pray for this because it will just about be the only way we can make our Monday flights back in Kiev to get home.

On a lighter note, I deliver to you the 12 days of Christmas as it is now in Ukraine.  I realize that this will mainly cater to those of you who have been through this process, so maybe more of you need to get over here!  Go ahead and sing the song in your heads.  Ahem....

On the 1st day of Christmas my facilitator gave to me a bogus Tuesday court decree.

On the 2nd day of Christmas my facilitator gave to me 2 expensive train tickets.

On the 3rd day of Christmas my facilitator gave to me 3 apartment choices.

On the 4th day of Christmas my facilitator gave to me 4 trips to the inspector.

On the 5th day of Christmas my facilitator gave to me 5 NO-TA-RIES!!!!!!!!

On the 6th day of Christmas my facilitator gave to me 6 shots of espresso.

On the 7th day of Christmas my facilitator gave to me 7 people's dinner checks (ouch!).

On the 8th day of Christmas, my facilitator gave to me 8 pieces of chocoman (YUM!).

On the 9th day of Christmas my facilitator gave to me 9 free WIFI hotspots.

On the 10th day of Christmas my facilitator gave to me 10 different exchange rates.

On the 11th day of Christmas my facilitator gave to me 11 bumpy willage road trips.

On the 12th day of Christmas my facilitator gave to me 12 pots of chornay chai (black tea).

The Circus

Today was a great day.  Our best day with our daughter by far.  Yana, our translator, her and her best friend Galya, up at the orphanage this morning so we could go to the circus.  Now, let's remember, this is Ukriane, not Barnum and Bailey.  So, here's how it went: 

Horses,  no.  Llamas, yes.

Elephants, no.  Collies, yes.

Tigers, no.  Hyenas, yes.

And finally, a real dancing Russian bear in a pink tutu!  Her name is Yana, and this brown bear can ride a scooter and a bike.

Priceless!

It was precious to see our girl and Galya enjoying the circus.  They even asked for balloon flowers!  

Afterwards, we went and ate pizza and ice cream.  The girls were laughing and talking.  It was really a lot like watching a flower blossom.  She has been so shy and quiet, and Galya helped her feel much more secure.  We ended the day by going shopping.  We needed to buy something for her to wear to court, and I also bought some things for Gayla.  She doesn't have anyone in her life to care for her.  Typical story- no momma, papa in prison.

I will be so glad when we bring our daughter home, but I lay awake at night thinking about what will happen to the ones who are left behind.  Please pray for these children.  

We are still planning on having court tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. (that's 2:30 a.m. central time). Our facilitator is still at the SDA waiting for the last document.  

Blessings,

Paula and Ande

Please Pray on Monday

Because of a law change that took effect on the 1st of December, we had to get a document redone and certified at the SDA.  It has been promised to us on Monday.  It will have to brought down here from Kiev by George the Jedi, who will be our official interpreter for court.  

Please pray that nothing will stop this document from being certified and signed by the director, or we will not have court on Tuesday.

Thanks,

Ande & Paula

Our Sweet Little Nina!

For those of you who are new to our journey, this post may not be as meaningful.  To those of you who have journeyed from the beginning, you will be awed and amazed at the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father.  I pray that all who read this will be blessed.

Yesterday morning Ande returned our daughter to the orphange.  We were sad to have only had her for one night.  On the way back to our flat, Ande asked our driver to make a phone call for him. A little background...... our journey to Ukraine began 3 1/2 years ago when we met a little girl, age 8, named Nina.  She and our daughter came to America together.  The first day we met Nina, she asked me if I could adopt her and be her momma.  Oh, to be so bold!  We spent the next two weeks falling in love with both girls, and we began 2 dossiers to adopt them.  Ande and I came to Ukraine in March 2006 to visit, exactly one week before Nina was removed from the orphanage and put in foster care.  We were devastated.  We asked about her but the director would give us no info.  So, at Christmas 2007, we received an email with a picture texted from Nina to Momma Paula and Papa Ande.  She had sent the picture to the wrong person, and they found us.  It was truly a miracle.  We called her, sent presents, and had hoped to see her one day.  Well, that day was yesterday!

So, when Oleg called the number we had for Nina, the next thing we knew we have an invitation to come to Nina's apartment.  Our translator was teaching a class, so we had to use our driver as translator.  He only speaks basic English, but it was enough.  When we drove up, Nina was standing outside.  She looked exactly the same, but taller.  It was as if time had stood still the last 3 years.  The next thing we know, we're meeting her mom and sister, who are both wonderful.  The first she did was show me the bear with our family's picture that I had given her in March, 2006.  I fought back tears the entire visit.  She had every single gift and picture we had ever given her.  Her foster mom even showed me the first Barbie I ever sent Nina.  It was obvious that this family understood Nina's feelings for us and were not threatened at all. This is a single mom who chose to take in an orphan.  I can't explain how uncommon this is here- practically unheard of.  They were so gracious.  As we left, the tears came.  Tears of sadness and tears of joy.  Tears of loss and tears of gain.  This is definitely one of the most precious gifts I have ever received.  God does place the lonely in families and does not forget his children!

From Ande- Oh, how my back hurts.  Nina commenced to playing with me just the way she did back in the beginning.  In the apartment, she turned me into her personal jungle gym.  I have not played like that...well, maybe since the last time I saw her.  She talked about the time we spent on the trampoline in America.  

I too was amazed at the lady who took her in.  She gave no feelings of being threatened.  She was hospitable and gracious.  I cannot imagine how this may have felt to her because it was obvious all along that we were Nina's first choice.  She told us so in March of 2006.  This day was one of the most profound of my life.  Inside, I felt a bit of grief mixed with gratitude.  I do not know what will happen in the coming days, but I will always have another child in Ukraine; a little daughter who seems unscathed by the trauma she has lived through.  

Now my thoughts turn to praying for the single mother who is raising a special orphan.  It is James 1:27 all in one lovely package.

Chillin' Like a Villain

Well, we have been updating paperwork since we got to Zaporizhzhya.  It prevented us form going to the orphanage yesterday.  I hope that our daughter can get a glimpse of what we have been doing for the last 3 years to try to get her home.  I am drinking lots of espresso to stay awake and fight the boredom.

We went with our friend ,Yana last night to her English class.  We ended up teaching on everything from politics (kept it brief) to holidays.  The kids were very curious.  They were fascinated about our families and our homes.  All but one of the children was an only child! Most of their mothers were professionals and the fathers....well, they were more vague about that.

Today, Oleg, our driver, told us about his car loan.  It was done at 13% interest and in U.S. currency.  The banks here do not allow payments to be made in grivna; they demand dollars. The exchange rate has been at about 7:1 for most of the time we have been here.  Dollars cannot be found.  ATMs no longer give dollars as an option.  Oleg has to go out and find dollars at a 10:1 rate at a "market" just to pay his car note.  And he has 3 more years on it.  The future looks so bleak here and our heart breaks not just for our friends, but everyone here.  Yana was telling us that people now are parking their cars in front of the banks and leaving them because they cannot afford the payments.  Unemployment is skyrocketing.

I think we could not have come here at a better time.  If our daughter were having any thoughts of wanting to stay in Ukraine, they would be dashed by the events taking place.  Speaking of her, I will go for now because we are going to see her.

Blessings to All,

Ande

Court Next Tuesday, December 9th!

We thought today was going to be another relaxing morning followed by a trip to the orphanage to visit our daughter.  But we got a call at 10 a.m. (we were still in pj's) saying that the judge asked to see us personally.  This is really out of the ordinary, especially since he never even asked to see us when we got there.  Nina and our driver were there to pick us up at 10:30.  No breakfast for Ande, but he did have coffee.  We still really have no idea why we went, but we just do as we are told.  

There are many things that happened today that we cannot write about on a public blog, and they are all hilarious.  If you want the details, please email us or facebook Ande.  We'll sum it up by saying that if we did not have Nina, we would not have a court date.  She is very well-connected, and she really cares about these kids.  So....we are going to court next Tuesday, December 9th.  This is perfect timing for us.  We will work on new birth certificate next Wednesday, then take the train back to Kiev Thursday night.  On Friday, Paula has to sign papers at Embassy so she doesn't have to return in January.  And then we fly out on December 15th.

Ande typing here- I was particularly impressed with the courthouse here.  I have never seen so much crammed into a Soviet-era building. We have a lot to learn from them in America.  I mean, there is no room for boredom.  They thought of everything to make it a one stop shop for getting a kid.  If you didn't bring enough money to...uh, well, you know, there is a bank on the 1st floor.  If the judge doesn't like my haircut, well I can go down to the barber shop and get that handled.  If the proceedings go too long, do not worry, there is a cafe with a plethora of snacks.  When the proceedings are over, run down to the flower shop and buy some flowers.  There is even a shop to buy school supplies. 

Tomorrow we will be going with our translator Yana to her English class.  She asked us to come and help teach.  This is so weird for us.  Let me explain- it's as if life has now come full circle.  We met teaching English classes in the former USSR (Kazakhstan) to Russian-speaking teenagers.  Now, 15 years later, we are back in the former USSR teaching English classes again.  God has such a sense of humor.   And we are amazed how he gave us a heart for Soviet-region children back then, and now we are here adopting our second child in a year.  God's heart definitely is with these precious children that we call orphans.  Praise Him that He has not left us as orphans but has adopted us into His family by His grace.  

By the way, please be praying for our friends the Williams who are here trying to adopt a 15 year old boy that also came to America with Dasha in 2005.  Their judge is awful, and she refused to have court yesterday.  They have already been here 2 months.  She told them to come back for court on Dec. 16th.  They are heartbroken!  Pray for peace and God's perfect will to be done.

Thanks for al the prayers!

Ande & Paula

Submitting for Court Tomorrow

Pictured Top- Paula and I with Yana, Marina, Nina and kids out on the town. Middle- Hanging in the flat. Bottom- Us, the Plaias, and Nastya (translator from 2005) with husband Kostya.

We meet Yana and Nina in about an hour to sign another piece of paper for the court submission tomorrow. Nina is the unofficial mayor of this town. She knows the judge and everyone else here. Think of Clara on the Andy Griffith Show, but much nicer and not quite as nosey!

I am going into withdrawls without our daughter in the apartment. It is so strange for me to have a 14 year old girl around who has not always been with us. My other kids are used to my weirdness by now.

Pray for Oleg, our driver. I believe God may be opening a door for conversation about the Gospel. He works 2 other jobs in addition to being a driver. He bends over backwards to help us here because he is so happy about what we are doing for the children of Ukraine. He said that he would like to do something for them as well, but he cannot afford it. The taxi company and the governement take 60% of what he makes driving a cab. What can I tell him? Work hard and all your dreams will come true??? The Gospel is the only answer for them here.

There are many here that feel the same way he does. Capitalism only works well if 3 components are in place: 1) Political freedom, 2)Freedom from too much regulation, and 3) Moral restraint. Thomas Jefferson said that democracy can only thrive and last when it is has a moral foundation, the Judeo-Christian ethics (paraphrase). Ukraine is like a 3-legged stool that is ready to topple. We have had the opportunity to talk with several Ukrainians (all over 50) who grew up in the USSR, and they all remember it like the "good old days". Perestroika, which brought freedom, also opened the floodgates for every immoral and lewd act to be brought out into the light. You can't imagine their TV commercials- it's as if a half-naked woman is necessary to even sell cat food! Paula and I have spent a lot of time talking about what our lives might be like if we had been born here in communism, transitioned through Perestroyka, and now left to fend for ourselves. God has blessed us somewhere between this and we call the "American Dream." I know He loves us all the same, but the differences are staggering, profound....and absolutely heartbreaking.

Please pray for those we have a lot of time with- Yana (translater), George and Nina(faciliatators), and of course Dasha. Pray that they will see Christ in everything that we do. I desperately want them to know Christ. Yesterday Nina was telling what she liked most about America (she's been twice when the kids were hosted). She said the people in America are so different than here. Ande remarked that is because she has always been around Christ followers. We tried to explain that these Americans are different because their lives are centered around Christ. Pray that God will open hearts and doors.

Blessings to All,
Ande

Ephesians 2:10- "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do."