21/22 Feb
Saturday / Sunday,
Yesterday we had a nice long visit at the Orphanage. We spent most of the day in Katya’s room talking with her, Olha, Olha’s daughter (who speaks English) and Tanya. It was interesting for me (Tim) to listen to the conversation. I understood enough words sprinkled throughout the conversation to get the gist of things, but I was ochen proud of Charlene for here ability to communicate! We really had a nice time talking and learning many things about life in the small, and shrinking, village of Gorodnya.
Oles continued his Russian lessons, teaching me a song about trees in the forest. Something like “tree and behind it another tree, and behind that another tree, but wait are there more, yes, tree, and behind it another tree, …..” I think you get the picture – it can go on a long time. I also learned the perfect answer to the question, “why?” (My phonetic spelling) – pah-ta-musch-ta zjay-sin Tah-ka-yah (something like – “because that’s life”. I tried to use the saying during our conversation, but apparently used the word for “wife or woman” instead of zjay-sin. By dumb luck (really God’s grace) it actually fit in the context and the Ukrainians got a good laugh out of my unplanned play on words.
Charlene asked me to comment about the primitive living conditions in the village. I’ve included a picture of one of the houses (very colorful) and the communal well on the street. Each house has a small outhouse in back and one had a large barrel on the roof with a hose running inside for showers. Katya assured us that somehow the water was heated, but it sure looked mighty cold to me.
I read in a book that many Ukrainians think it’s important to go outside every day. That sure seems to be true because no matter what the weather, the village seems to always be bustling. It’s very interesting to see a new car with fancy rims and rap music blaring at an intersection with a motorcycle & sidecar, horse drawn cart, and famous Ukrainian snow bicycle.
The adoption process seems to be much slower that two years ago. There are now two court appearances separated by 5 days instead of the 1 we had before. Also, it’s common knowledge that they’ve instituted an additional 10-day wait for the passport that didn’t exist before.
As best as we can tell, we are waiting for the inspector to issue her recommendation on the adoption before the first court date. Oles seems less optimistic than last time that things will happen smoothly or quickly. I told him that I needed to have the 2nd court date before the 9th of March so I could make it to my meeting in Kyiv and he wasn’t sure if it is possible. Consequently, we are praying, and ask that you do to, for the Lord to direct and control all the people and processes that need to happen for the adoption to move forward.
Katya is a wonderful girl and we’re happy to be with her. She can’t stop smiling and moving her hands.
SDG,
Tim and Charlene
Saturday / Sunday,
Yesterday we had a nice long visit at the Orphanage. We spent most of the day in Katya’s room talking with her, Olha, Olha’s daughter (who speaks English) and Tanya. It was interesting for me (Tim) to listen to the conversation. I understood enough words sprinkled throughout the conversation to get the gist of things, but I was ochen proud of Charlene for here ability to communicate! We really had a nice time talking and learning many things about life in the small, and shrinking, village of Gorodnya.
Oles continued his Russian lessons, teaching me a song about trees in the forest. Something like “tree and behind it another tree, and behind that another tree, but wait are there more, yes, tree, and behind it another tree, …..” I think you get the picture – it can go on a long time. I also learned the perfect answer to the question, “why?” (My phonetic spelling) – pah-ta-musch-ta zjay-sin Tah-ka-yah (something like – “because that’s life”. I tried to use the saying during our conversation, but apparently used the word for “wife or woman” instead of zjay-sin. By dumb luck (really God’s grace) it actually fit in the context and the Ukrainians got a good laugh out of my unplanned play on words.
Charlene asked me to comment about the primitive living conditions in the village. I’ve included a picture of one of the houses (very colorful) and the communal well on the street. Each house has a small outhouse in back and one had a large barrel on the roof with a hose running inside for showers. Katya assured us that somehow the water was heated, but it sure looked mighty cold to me.I read in a book that many Ukrainians think it’s important to go outside every day. That sure seems to be true because no matter what the weather, the village seems to always be bustling. It’s very interesting to see a new car with fancy rims and rap music blaring at an intersection with a motorcycle & sidecar, horse drawn cart, and famous Ukrainian snow bicycle.
The adoption process seems to be much slower that two years ago. There are now two court appearances separated by 5 days instead of the 1 we had before. Also, it’s common knowledge that they’ve instituted an additional 10-day wait for the passport that didn’t exist before.
As best as we can tell, we are waiting for the inspector to issue her recommendation on the adoption before the first court date. Oles seems less optimistic than last time that things will happen smoothly or quickly. I told him that I needed to have the 2nd court date before the 9th of March so I could make it to my meeting in Kyiv and he wasn’t sure if it is possible. Consequently, we are praying, and ask that you do to, for the Lord to direct and control all the people and processes that need to happen for the adoption to move forward.
Katya is a wonderful girl and we’re happy to be with her. She can’t stop smiling and moving her hands.
SDG,
Tim and Charlene
Posts
4 comments:
Hi Tim and Charlene, Your pictures are so beautiful, the color and the content too. I had heard about the 2 court dates, I thought by now you would have a date, it does seem slow. We will make that a prayer priority! You rightfully should be proud of Charlene's ability to learn Russian so well, it is difficult and she has accomplished it. Give Kayta a hug from me, I never have wanted a child to be adopted more then her. She has come to America and knows life with her family and the difficulty of a new language, school, and all the other huge hurdles, yet she desires it with such passion. I pray that God will use that passion for His glory. She is a beautiful child.
Bless you all,
Fran
Just letting you know that all is well here. Gary is with the boys at the base and then breakfast. We will sit with the family together at church today then have invited them to go to lunch with us. They plan to baptize 38 between the two services today. Josh McDowell spoke last night and will speak again today. He was speaking on "Truth" and how it has a different origin now, just like our video series spoke of.
We continue to pray for each step to be God ordered and that God's favor will shine over you.
Beverly
we are flying to russia march 2nd to meet our referral! we will be there until march 8th...hope you are doing well. we pray for you every day! we'll keep you updated on our progress! dennis & nicole
We pray that your orphanage visits and travels all around continue to be blessed, and that the court date will be soon. We also pray a special prayer that you stay clear of the Ukrainian sneg velocipedes! Hey -- people here anxiously await the riddle answer...the one about the numbers...so, if you have a minute....
Sophie's haircut is darling! : ) I'll send pix!
~Jean, Jim, and co.
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