No Longer Orphans: A Few Sights and Sounds and Smells of the Big Day

Kimberly and I made in to Kiev this morning around 6:00 AM. We then had a full morning of drama at the Embassy and the medical evals, and of course, with four kids in a little apartment (which currently has no water). We are going on about 30 minutes of sleep right now. But the instant mashed potatoes seemed to have calmed down the munchkins for now. The worst mistake we made was buying each of them a hand held tetris game, because you can't turn the sound off. They are so enamoured with this 3 dollar toy, that I've decided to endure it becaue I don't have the heart to tell them to do otherwise.

Yesterday was one of my most emotional days that I've had all year. I could recount particular moments in which I turned into a weeping prophet, but I will refrain. But I will mention my most broken moment. It occured once we got the kids to the train station and all of the folks who had been working with us for about 35 days or so were there to see us off (a total of four).

Our driver, Oleg, probably only said 50 words during these days, but he was pleasant and kind. We paid him about 20 dollars a day to drive us thirty-minutes back and forth to the orphanage. Some days he sat and waited on us at resturaunts and other places. Some times he helped us get groceries; he fixed our light; our washer; and always got us where we needed to be. He didn't say a word about what we were doing. He just took us to our places, and at times, loaded up six of us in the back seat of his little black car.

So, when he carried our luggage on the train cart for us, I gave him a sizable tip, and told him, "Bal Shoi Spaceba" ("Big Thanks," with obvious misspelling). He said, "Vhat you are doing is very good. I vish you all the best. Seriously, you are doing a very great thing. These kids have no hope in our country." I lost it. I think because it was so sincere, and I knew it was true, and the fact that we were finally leaving to be alone with the kids for the first night.

During the train ride, we played cards, ate food, watched a movie, and slept. I didn't sleep all night. I think I listened to 5 sermons or so. But I could hear James and Angela, snoring. It was the greatest sound I've heard in years. Two kids, sleeping no longer in an orphanage. Granted, it was in a hot train; but they don't have to sleep in a room with 22 kids any longer.

Pray for us as we try to overcome the obvious challenges (other than the current smell of our bathroom), like the language barrier, and knowing how to discipline at this early stage. The kids are fragile and we don't want to provoke them to anger, but they also want to test us. So pray for wisdom.

And pray for our trip home. Our flight is supposed to get in H'burg at 8:30 PM on Saturday (Lord willing). If so, I will try to preach. This will follow about a 2 1/2 hour flight to Amsterdam, where we have a 6 hour lay-over; then a 10 hour flight to Memphis, with a 2 hour layover, and then to the Hub City, to meet Kimberly's parents, and our dog Titus, and to tuck the kids in their new beds.