Trains and Taxis to Yuglegorsk

We boarded the train in Kiev 7 pm tues. evening and arrived wed morning in Donetsk about 7 am. A driver picked us up at the train station and drove us straight to Enakieva where we met with Galena who is responsible for the orphans in this region and her inspector. They viewed our photo album and asked us questions regarding why we want to adopt from the Ukraine, etc. Next, they sent us down the road to the notary who said they were not working today, but come back tomorrow and our papers would be ready to sign.  So we jumped back in the car and drove down up the street. The next place we hopped out of the car Viktor said|" Here we are, the orphanage". What? No shower, no breakfast. Well Karol, you did warn us.... So we met with the social worker Larissa who showed us Inna's file and talked about her history.  Then we were introduced to the Director who asked us more questions about why we want to adopt Inna, which we answered and then the door opened and in came Inna, smiling, laughing, looking great. After a brief visit, the director asked Inna if she wanted us to adopt her, to which she said, "Da, horosho," which means yes, very good. Inna took us on a tour of her side of the orphanage, introducing us to friends, taking photos, and getting photographed. Wow! A surreal experience only accentuated by a mind hazy from the brief few winks of sleep between Kiev and Donetsk.

After about half an hour with Inna, we left, got lunch, checked into our hotel, showered and were ready to join the three other couples who are here for three to six o clock visits of the children we are all adopting. It has been great to hear their experiences and share games and fun with the kids together. Holly and Bob are from New York along with her brother David and his wife Ingrid. Jack and Laura are from Indiana and I think the last couple is also from New York and friends of the first two couples.

Today, thursday, we signed official petition papers at the notary to adopt Inna. Then Viktor called us back to the orphanage to learn about two other girls, age twelve to observe and consider for a second daughter. It is surely overwhelming so much information to process and so many children with no family. We are praying for God's clear direction, ears to hear, ability to follow and to slam the door shut where he does not want us to go. We met Olga, Ruda and Oksana today during play time with the other children after asking Inna what she thought about having a sister. We had already talked to the boys about this possibility earlier. The next few days we will continue with the other couples to visit with our children being joined by one more couple before our time here is finished. If we adopt one more girl we will have to submit the request in Kiev in person tuesday or wednesday and wait a few more days to hear when our day in court will be.

Thanks for continuing to lift us up in prayer.  We appreciate you so much.  As Ray and I talked about the pain and plight of so many children last night, we identified with something I read in Ann Voskamp's book 1000 Gifts. If we had written their story maybe we'd have written it differently, but we have to trust that God is writing their story. He is  good and he loves these children.  He is listening to them. He is answering their prayers one(or two...)at a time. We are trying to listen to what he is saying to us and to follow.
Love in Him,
Cari