It’s been a while since we have updated the blog. Having the girls here for Christmas and starting a new year has really taken a lot of our time. The time we spent at Christmas was fantastic! On January 14th we had to send the girls back to their orphanage in Ukraine. It was a very emotional day for all of us. You could tell that the girls were sad but they tried to be very strong and not show their sadness. It was very neat to see Zhenya transition from a sister to a guardian at the airport. As we said goodbye, she lovingly took Katya and Kristina under her arms to comfort them. Since their departure we have been able to talk to them on the phone on a weekly basis. They are very excited and can’t wait to be home. Below are some updates of several things that have been happening over the last several weeks. You may want to start at the bottom and work your way up. Lots has been happening and moving rather quickly (not as quickly as we want, though). We can’t wait for our travel date so that we can finally get to see them again. Please continue to pray for us, the process and especially Zhenya, Katya & Kristina.
Sincerely,
Jack & Stephanie
2/23/10 (Today)
Adoption process update: All of our documents have been submitted to the SDA in Ukraine and we are hoping to hear any day (quite possibly tomorrow) when we will be traveling to Ukraine to finalize the adoption of our new daughters. God has done so many amazing things over the past few weeks. Our faith has been tested and strengthened. I can honestly say that we’ve never been more sure of God’s direction or more reliant on Him to complete the work he has started (could it be that He meant for those two to go hand in hand?). Our best estimation for a timeline: We should find out this week our appointment date for the State Department on Adoption in Kyiv, Ukraine. We think it will be about March 17th. We would leave around March 15th and stay in Ukraine for approximately 2 weeks. We will travel to see the girls in their orphanage (a 14 hour train ride from the capital) and then will prepare all the documents necessary to appear before a judge to have our adoption court hearing. After the hearing, we will say good-bye to the girls for the last time and return home during the mandatory 10 day waiting period after court. A quick 7 or 8 days at home and we’ll be back in the air to go get our girls. The second trip should be only 7-10 days. We will obtain new birth certificates, new passports and then say farewell to the orphanage and take the girls to the US Embassy for immigration paperwork. If all goes well, we are hoping to all be home and have our entire family together around April 18th or so. Please pray for us as we prepare for travel and as we leave three children at home for such a long time. We can’t wait to update you while we are in Ukraine. We know God is going to do more than we can imagine!
Post on 2/22/10
So glad to get a call from DFCS today! (who ever says that?) We were approved for one-time adoption assistance – that’s $4,500 toward our adoption. Yippee!!! Praise God!!!
Talked to Zhenya & Katya this morning. I tried to make conversation with Katya and she broke in and said “Mom, please just tell me when you’re coming.” I explained that we didn’t know yet and we’re hoping to hear something this week. We told them we’d call back on Thursday & maybe we would know something. Kristina never came to the phone – we talked for an hour… not sure where she was. Zhenya seemed to be doing well and after she left, I asked Katya if Zhenya has talked about being adopted and she said that Zhenya has said yes – she wants to be adopted. Wooo hooo!!! Keep praying for her… that she will remain steadfast. Their older sisters are coming to visit them this Sunday – pray that they encourage them to come & not discourage them or make them feel guilty.
Post on 2/10/10
We got confirmation that our dossier was submitted in Ukraine while we were sleeping! Now, we wait for a travel date – hope to know something in 2 weeks! It looks like we will not be held up at all by INTERPOL… the families who have been stuck for weeks in Ukraine waiting, received word today that they did get their clearance and can now have court. Yeah!!!
Post on 2/9/10
just received word that INTERPOL issues in Ukraine seem to be getting solved! Praise God!!!
Post on 2/8/10
talked to the girls this morning – they have received more letters we sent and Zhenya got her suitcase!!! She was very happy! The girls seem to be doing well – can’t wait to go see them!
Post on 2/7/10
Our adoption documents will be presented to the officials in Ukraine on Wednesday. Please be in prayer – there is a new requirement that is holding up Americans who are in Ukraine adopting right now… an international criminal background check through INTERPOL. The US is currently refusing to work with them and there is no resolution in sight.
Post on 2/1/10
Had a great conversation with the girls – 40 minutes! Today they received the letters we mailed two weeks ago and they said the New Horizons team will be at their orphanage tomorrow – they will get gifts from us then. Zhenya asked when we are coming & Katya said she wants us to come soon… Kristina mostly listened, but says she loves us and misses us. Zhenya still doesn’t have her suitcase, but talked a lot!
Post on 1/28/10
Received this from a friend: “Whenever he asks us to do something, it is always because it will lead to greater good. If we are committed to following hard after God, we must do the things he tells us to do. But the risk of obedience is that it will often make no sense to us at the time. It is counter-cultural to obey the things the Holy Spirit reveals to us in the Scriptures. Radical obedience sometimes flies in the face of human logic, but in these times our loving Father tests and reveals the quality of our trust and dependence on Him… our greatest task in the spiritual life is to will to do his will, to love the things he loves, and to choose the things he sets before us for our good.”
