Home: Mission Accomplished!!!!

On Thursday night Cari, Inna and Rada arrived exhausted from their very long trip.  A big group was there to meet them.  For Inna friends Vika, Katia and Zhayne were cheering her triumphant arrival joining them as an ex-orphan, joining a loving family in Virginia Beach, Uglegorsk FOREVER in the rear view mirror.  The shrieks of joy from Vika and Katia were heartfelt passionate expressions of liberty and shared history.  For Rada the outpouring of love was yet more overdue attention filling her cup.  Seeing the Uglegorsk alumni was great for her also.

Avie our  friend who serves as a missionary in Sevastopal, Ukraine was able to come to as her flight was put off until monday.  God Bless Avie, her ministry and above all her heart for orphans!

The girls are doing GREAT!!  Rada has been having a blast jumping on the trampoline, playing with our dogs Hobbs and Tucker (she is a big time animal lover), and going on errands with her Dad.  We also took her shopping for clothes (which she desperately needed) and on the way home went to the beach and of course had ice cream.  More cup filling for her... big time!  Inna has been very happily printing out many hundred photos and making up gift boxes for friend in Ukraine.  She has been less excited to go out as Rada, but still having fun on her own terms.  We went to church today for the first time all together.  Wonderful, and ironic (it was orphan sunday at our church), and we sat with Avie on her final sunday before returning to Sevestopal. Please pray her Visa will be approved to continue serving there long term.

Please pray for our bonding and integration with both Inna and Arianne.  Inna is missing her friends left behind.  Understandably hard for her.  Next step is to engage them in their school work and English education!

Friends and family welcoming home the Lance girls

Inna greeted by long time friend Zhenya

And Katya and Vika

Zhenya, Vika, Arianne, Inna and Katya all lived in Uglegorsk 

Orphanage for a time and now live in Virginia Beach

Arianne and Avie

Homecoming meal catered by Carolyn and Wiley

At home together at last!

Visas in hand Virginia Beach here we come!

Praise the Lord! After a day's delay due to unpredictable computer technology, we received the girls' Visas today. Thankfully we had tickets to fly home tomorrow and not today. God knows...I am so thankful for his faithfulness. He has given me total peace during this time that whatever happened he knew ahead of time and was working through each instance  for us.  

The girls have throughly enjoyed their time walking Kiev's century old streets, exploring monuments, beautiful parks, monasteries and cathedrals and trying out their tastebuds on new cuisine. At the US Consulate we ran in to Lisa and Paul Peeples again from Oklahoma. I met them applying for our children's passports in Donetsk. They are adopting 2 brothers so the kids visited a little while we waited for our Visa packets. They return to the US friday. We also met Tanya and Scott Hall from Ohio adopting a son Eli from a remote part of Ukraine 11 miles from the Russian border.

We are packed and ready to go.  The girls were very excited today as we toured town knowing they are finally flying to America tomorrow.  Every time Arianne saw a plane flying overhead she pointed and said "To America!"

We have cherished your partnership of prayer with us and thank you once again. Please continue to lift us up as we do you. Looking forward to the reunion of family and friends. Blessings in Him,
Cari

Independence Square in Kiev

Independence Square distance marker of cities from Kiev 

Arianne and Inna

Arianne, Anya our interpreter and guide, Inna

At Last-Outprocessing in in Kiev!

Hike to Overlook of  Balaklava Bay, Genoese Ruins, 

Gold and Silver Beaches and Sleeping Beauty Peak

Before we left Sevastopel we saw ruins of the ancient Greek city of Hersones about 2500 years old, took a hike to see Balaklava Bay which is mentioned by Homer and the Panorama painting depicting battle scenes of the defense of Sevastopel in 1854-1855. It was hard to say goodbye to Ira who has been such a help and encouragement to me and to our family during this time. I think the girls see and trust her as a big sister. As Ray has said before, words are inadequate.

After attending church yesterday with Ira, Anya, Ariana, Inna and I flew to Kiev in a little over an hour instead of taking the 19 hour train ride. It was much better getting a good nights' sleep instead of waking every hour at the station stops. We are settled in an apartment near beautiful St. Sofia Square for the duration of our time.  

Viktor picked us up at 8:30 am  this morning for our appointment at the US Embassy. We processed paperwork for the girls' Visas and they took Inna's fingerprints since she is 15. That took about an hour, then on to their medical appointments required by the Embassy before we can leave.  

Viktor says this part usually takes about 30 min.  Unfortunately, it took us 5 hours.  There are x-rays, a very brief physical and a few questions of the children. The doctor read the girls' medical records from the orphanage, wrote her own comments about her findings and told me her opinion. Note to self and anyone else preparing for this process: always bring snacks, drinks and quiet diversions, even if your facilitator thinks it will be quick. Your appointment may be the exception to the rule. Many people munched on snacks while they waited. I'm not sure if this clinic was understaffed, overbooked or just plain inefficient, perhaps a combination of all of the above, but I never heard one complaint from the girls. They were very patient.  Way to go girls! Tomorrow, we pick up their completed Visas at the Embassy!

Viktor, Inna, Ariana and yours truly eating after check ups

I felt the sting of tears several times today thinking about finishing the labor of paperwork, meeting the girls, quickly finding clothes for Rada and finally about to bring them home.  Soon we will move on to adjusting to the dynamics of living all under the same roof in their new country, city, family. Please continue to pray for adjustment as they leave behind everything and everyone they have known and for our boys as they open their home and hearts to their new sisters.  They have been enthusiastic and encouraging and I have been proud of them. Next step is where the rubber meets the road, as they say. Ray and I need God's wisdom and perspective parenting. The Connected Child by Karen Purvis, has been an outstanding book to read for adopting older children. However, I crave His direction, insight, perspective, presence more than anything.

It is late and I'll sign off for now.  Perhaps you'll next hear from me on the other side of the water. Lifting up you and yours. Blessings,

Cari 

Sevastopel

Lavidia Palace where Yalta Conference was held in 1945

Duke's Quay-the main entrance to Sevastopel from the sea

Monument to Sunken ships in the bay of Sevastopel during the Crimean War in 1853-1856

Our dear friend Avie is letting us stay in her flat while we are touring Sevastopel on the Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine. It was so nice to see Ira, and her friends from church, Galya and Nikolai yesterday out the window of the train as we were coming into the station. What a blessing to have a strong man there to help us get our bags off the train and up into the flat once we got there. It was so nice to wake up under the same roof with our daughters for the first time.

We wandered down to the city center even though it was windy and chilly enough to take your breath away. Waves were splashing up over the steps of the walk along the sea. The girls didn't want to stop they were so enjoying seeing this beautiful city. We left the flat at 11 and didn't get back until about 6 returning by trolley.

Today we spent on tour seeing the Alupka Palace, Lavidia Palace, the Sparrows Nest, Foros Church and the Yalta boardwalk. I asked the girls when we got back to Sevastopel what they enjoyed about the day. They couldn't pick favorites. They said it all was so spectacular. "Klas!" they kept repeating all day. What a grand finish at a Tatar restaurant. Cusna (delicious)as they say here! And although it was cloudy when we got up this morning, the Lord blessed us with beautiful sunshine just as we drove in to our first stop at the Foros Church and for the rest of the day. Blessings,

In Him,

Cari

Freedom Train to Sevastopal

Cari and the girls are at this hour on the train from Donetsk to Sevastopol.  Today was liberation day for Inna and Arianne.  Early this morning after overcoming car troubles with Sasha, the girls walked out of Uglegorsk as Lance girls, legally free to go home with their Mom and on to their new home in America.

They all went back to the apartment and the girls decided to stayed at the apartment with Anya while Cari and Viktor went to the vital statistics offices in Enakieve for Inna's birth certificate to be reissued and Novogrodivka for Arianne's.  Then they traveled to Donetsk with the girls for passports and then finally spent one hour and half shopping and resting before catching their train bound for Sevastopol to see our dearest friend Ira (my Ukrainian sister).   Cari said that the girls were all smiles so very happy to be free and at last embarking on the next leg of their great adventure.

They are set to arrive in Sevastopal at 6:00 AM.  Ira has a full day of fun planned for them tomorrow.  When I talked to them this afternoon everyone's voice reflected great joy.  Cari is so happy to have our girls with her and  on for the next great fun.  Will post pictures when able.  The girls will stay in Sevastopal until sunday night when they fly to Kiev for out-processing via US Embassy, touring and on November 17 home through Moscow and Washington, D.C.  You all can be sure that Garrett, Jake and I are overjoyed at knowing that our family with be reunited that day.  Thanks for all of  your kind notes and prayers.

Ray

Goodbye Uglegorsk!

Today it was -7 C when we drove up to the orphanage.  Icicles were glistening in the sun from the items of laundry the children had hung out to dry on the line in the yard. Inna and Arianne made made their rounds of the halls giving gifts to friends and teachers as they said goodbye.  It was a little chaotic, but Viktor says it always is.

I feel a sense of sadness saying goodbye myself to these children I have come to know in a limited way having been here for these weeks.  I wonder what will become of them, who will be adopted? I know the girls will be making phone calls by penny talk from time to time to keep in touch with friends.  The orphanage children are not allowed access to computer internet so e mail is out of the question.

At the same time, I am elated to be leaving with our daughters. Finally. On our way to see more of this country of their birth  then to Kyiv to out process.

Tomorrow we go to vital statistics in Enakieva to get Inna's new birth certificate.  Arianne was born in Novogrodovka about 45 minutes away so we drive there for hers, then on to Donetsk to apply for passports. Once that is complete we will board the 8 pm night train out of town: Destination- Sevastopel to arrive at 7 am. Sure would be nice to enjoy the scenic view by daylight, but this is how they travel long distances in Ukraine more often than by plane.

I can truly say that the words of Romans 15:13 in the Bible, God's word have been my experience these days here. It says "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Although there have been times I wished things would move a little faster or the process would be more efficient, God has filled me with his hope and peace, convinced of his complete orchestration of every step. When we can't see the map we just have to take the next step he makes visible and wait until he makes the next one clear.  Takes so much pressure off not having control just following him. He's the one who makes the promise to work it all out and complete his plan. I know he will.
Blessings,
Cari

Preeviet (Hi)! Ending day nine!

Ray and the girls with their necklaces at lunch after court

Saying goodby at Yuglegorsk before Ray catches his train to Kiev

Friend Cristina, left, Inna, Anya, back, and Rada practicing English

It's the girls' last Saturday in Yuglegorsk Orphanage. Inna has been here since she was 7 and Rada for the past 3 years.  Before that she was in another with her brother since she was a toddler. It is hard to believe I've been here 5 weeks and yet again...

After practicing vocabulary and reading today, we asked the girls what they have to bring with them so I can take it to the apartment with me tomorrow after our visit and pack. Inna said she has some summer clothes, the photo album and suitcase she brought back from Virginia in July when she visited us. Rada has just the outfit we gave her for court day and a small album of photos of her and friends at camp this summer. Period. 

Inna and Rada get more excited each day closer to departure day Tuesday.  And yet I know it will be difficult for them to leave some of the friends and teachers that have been with them for years. Some of Inna's friends  who started trade school in August have been coming weekends to see her before she leaves. Inna would have gone with them and been given a trade to train in had we not met her in July.  She would have been designated a construction worker, cook or painter and expected to find her own food when not in class. When we asked her then what her interests or dreams might be to study or become, she told us she never thought about it before because she knew she never had a choice. Now she is embracing the possibilities. She is so excited to learn! She practiced reading 2 hours of our visiting time today. Rada has made great progress on her alphabet, colors, counting and days of the week, a very willing spirit.

For now, spakoynay nochee (good night)!
In Him,
Cari

Practicing!

We've had a little trouble with our modem service, People Net, but thankfully it is working again tonight.  We are finishing day four here this evening. We have been practicing; myself on Russian and the girls on English every day. Rada has finished up the alphabet and colors. We have been playing numbers games and of course every day we get to practice  greetings, and survival phrases. They are pretty motivated realizing we will be leaving the orphanage Monday or Tuesday. Inna is even reading with Anya from a Russian language intro to English book called Step by Step by  Bonk.

The Yuglegorsk children have been working out in the yard the past few days sweeping up leaves when we drive in the orphanage gate. Most of the leaves have abandoned their branches now. They are swept up with brooms gathered up in cardboard boxes in piles to burn.

Ray called this morning before he and the boys left the house for school and work.  It is so good to hear the voices of  those you love. In my quiet time this morning I was singing the song "It's Amazing." The chorus  says, "It's amazing how you love me. It's amazing how you care. It's amazing how you're always thinking of me all the time and everywhere." I don't think I'll ever get over how God can love me like that, how he consistently loves each one of us.  It sure challenges me to let his love flow through me, to be a channel through whom he can give others a taste of himself. Acts 17: 28, one of my favorites says, "In him we live and move and have our being." So be it Lord.

You are a blessing to us through your prayers and your notes. Thanks for your encouragement on this amazing journey.
 Blessings to you,
Cari