The last three days...

Our sweet Anya!Our precious Tanya!

Let me catch you up...

Saturday morning, our sweet friend, Katia arrived!! Then all three families with translators loaded up and headed to the camp to see the kids. We stopped at a really nice grocery store on the way to buy food for the kids. You know how in the states you can eat a full meal on Saturdays just from the samples? At this store the sample representative was quite a bit different than back home! She was dressed just like the cigarette girls in night clubs from the 40's. She had on a cute red outfit with hat and all. She carried a tray strapped around her neck with delicious samples of cookies! Of course we tried them! Her advertisement worked and we bought some cookies for the kids along with fruit and other goodies. Mark especially got for Tanya her favorite, dried salted anchovies. Yuck! But she loves them!

Tanya, Yulia, Katia

When we arrived we were greeted by Tanya at the gate. Mark was the first off of the bus and she came right up to him and gave him a big hug!!!! As soon as I was off she gave me a hug too!! First real hug from her! Then up came Anya with the rest of the kids. Anya also greeted us with hugs! Tanya took us to her room and was so cute showing it to us. She was all smiles!! She had posters of Avril Lavigne and Ranetke (a popular Ukraine girl band that has a TV show). The room has 3 beds and a dresser in it and is very tiny. The room was about 8x10. The beds are very crude, springs with maybe 3 inches of poor quality foam on it. They sagged terribly. Makes Riverbend Retreat Center seem very high end! The room was tidy and all beds were made.

After that we walked around a bit and ended up at Anya's dorm. We could not go in because some were dressing. Louda, one of Anya's best friends, walks around the corner with wet hair and just a towel wrapped around her! She came up and gave all of us a hug then went inside to dress. Modesty is no where to be found amongst the orphans. Shoot! Modesty does not really exist in Ukraine! Unless you are a babuska! It's kinda shocking to me, one who is extremely modest!

We hung out with the kids, walked to the store by the river, took pictures then it was time for the kids to eat lunch. We reluctuntly said our good byes.

On the way back home we stopped at a huge beautiful field of sunflowers. These fields are everywhere and are the most amazing sight! We took tons of pictures! It was so much fun! Then we all ate lunch together at the Botanical Restrauant. Walking home from lunch we saw a bride and groom taking pictures. It was so neat. Once home we talked on Skype a bit and rested.

That evening we joined the others for dinner. We were headed to a Greek restaurant but it was packed with a private party. So we headed to another restaurant. We all got excited when we realized it was the first restaurant we ate at in October. Mark loved the food there! He got a grill sample of beef, chicken and pork with mixed grilled veggies which included brussels sprouts. I got spinache and cheese ravioli and it was deeelicious! Once home, Dara and Katia stayed up and watched High School Musical 3.

Sunday morning we got up and said good bye to Dara and Katia. I think Dara was very homesick plus there is need for Dara to be here because the girls cannot be with us. Katia had to get back to work. We met all the families at 8am to head for Harkov for church. Rebecca and Barry, one of the families adopting with us, went there 5 years ago on a mission trip and wanted to visit. Also, there was a mission group there from Alabama. It was a 2 1/2 hour drive. Lots of beautiful wheat and sunflower fields along the way. Harkov was once the capital of Ukriane and boasts to have the largest square in all of Europe. It was pretty amazing! While waiting on the mission group from Alabama, we all took a short walk to the square and viewed an exhibit of sand sculptures. So cool! We then loaded up and went through the city to get to church. The city is huge but seems to have a lot of poverty. We were greeted warmly by the pastor who speaks excellent English. He just returned from a 4 week trip in the states. Before the sermon Mark and I spoke to one of the ladies from Alabama. She had been to Ukraine several times on mission trips. We talked about the weird superstitions and beliefs of the Ukraine people. She told us that when working with kids in a village she had the mothers standing over them at all times because the Ukrainians believed Baptists eat children! What the heck???

The Alabama group had a quartet that sang an upbeat gospel song. The pastor introduced each of the three families to the congregation then the group from Alabama. The sermon was in English and Russian, not in Ukraine...Harkov speaks primarily Russian. In the congregation were several black people. After the sermon they all introduced themselves. They came from Africa to Ukraine to study. They were all very kind. Some were from Uganda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and several other places in Africa. Mark and I met Steve from Kenya and talked with him in length! What a precious man! It was a definite blessing! He got my facebook and email address.

Afterward we went to a huge mall and had lunch at McDonald's. All I have to say is...not the same as back home! After lunch we headed to a site that was purchased for a transitional home for the 'graduates' of the orphanage. This home will help teach them life skills and trades. It will be a privately run home, no help from the government. It is set on the outskirts of a village with a veiw of beautiful hills. Dennis, a man involved with this project, said that they will not have tv or phones in the home so the kids will be able to focus on their studies.

While there our taxi driver got a call stating a big storm hit Poltava. His entire roof was blown off. We left there in a hurry to get him home. We were still 2 1/2 hours away. We felt so bad for him. The kids were calling us also telling us not to come to the camp that evening because it was not safe. They said the wind was blowing hard and trees and limbs were breaking. While driving back we got a call from Alina, Anya's friend, saying Tanya and her friend Lulia went into Poltava to be with us! I YI YI YIIII! They took a train and were waiting for us at the flat. Ok...so you know you are a mom when you freak out that your daughter is out by herself with no phone and in a terrible storm. Sue said she thought it was encouraging that she left the camp just to be with us! (She is pretty good about seeing the glass half full! ) We get home, no Tanya nor her friend. About an hour later we got another call saying Tanya and her friend were back at the camp and were safe. They took the train that morning and arrived at our flat around 10am and waited all day for us and got back to camp around 8pm! She left without permission. She did not get caught thankfully because it could have caused her problems as well as us with the adoption process!

That evening some of us call a taxi and go to the Equator Mall to go grocery shopping. I bought food for the girls...sandwiches, chips, fruit, juice, water and soda. Also food for Mark and I a couple of dinners, breakfast and lunch. I had 5 or 6 Large bags full to the top and it only cost a little more than $50. Food is so cheap here!

The next morning we head out to the camp. Once again greeted with big smiles and hugs from all the kids. Bill brought a soccer ball and played with Vika and Sergey, siblings. Oh my goodness they are cutie patooties. I met them in October. Vika is 10, looks like 8 and Sergey is 7 but looks like 5. They are not adoptable. From what I understand the grandfather will not allow it. :( Also hanging out with us is Denis and Oksana whom I met in October as well. Precious kiddos! We had a great time with them but, again, we had to say good bye... all to soon! Each time gets harder and harder! Soon it will be all over and they will be with us!

After our visit with the kids we went to Sasha's (our taxi driver) house to view the damage. His home is nicer than most but the entire roof was gone. We saw a huge tree that was uprooted and blocking the road and the village had no electricity. The situation was very grim. Sasha asked us to please use him as much as possible so he can earn money to pay for the damage.

Once we arrived home, Mark and I cleaned the flat and started dinner. We had the other two couples over for dinner and a movie. It has been a tremendous blessing to have others here with us.

This morning, Tuesday, we slept in.....awww so nice! Mark made oatmeal. I asked if he bought it on the pet food isle because it was more like oats for a horse. It had a lot of the husks in it. Well....I have had my fiber for the next week! During our breakfast, Alina called, Anya's friend. She asked if I would please bring her some chips. She is such a sweet girl! We plan to take chips, chocolate and juice to all of their friends. It is so hard to bring food to our girls and not to ALL of the kids at the camp. While in Tanya's room the other day we saw a plate of food. It was gray oatmeal that looked horrible! Some of the kids at the camp have come from different orphanages and are terribly malnourished. Please pray for all of these kids. I wish I could take them all home with us! I have threatened to buy a larger suitcase to stuff a few in! My heart is full of all emotions right now... love, hope, faith but also full of despair, hurt and sadness. I hope Mark and I can return with a group from the states to try to make a difference here. It starts with one!

Now you are all caught up! I will try to be more disciplined and blog every day! Today we will sight see and then purchase goodies for the kids. Keep praying and stay tuned....