Urgent Prayer Request

Early this morning…We are driving to Chernigivka.  Actually at the speed we going it feels more like flying(150-160 km/hr)

I am having a hard time describing how I feel.  I so want to see Vika and yet there is fear trying to creep in.  We have been told that her being the first to be adopted from there will be harder for her.  She hasn’t been able to watch others leave yet still be in touch with friends through phone calls, letters, or Skype.  She has nothing to compare this to.  I just cannot imagine how much this is to deal with at 14.  I have prayed all morning for her.  I know the deceiver would love to see her remain in darkness and without hope but I refuse to let him win her for good.  I know that the prayers of many are with us!

We had a wonderful first meeting with Vika!  We walked in and all of the kids were in line to eat and she came up behind me and gave me the biggest hug.  It was absolutely incredible!!  She was so proud…especially to have Thomas there.  She picked him up and showed him off to all of her friends.  I also cannot begin to tell you how wonderful Alex, the Director, is!  He was so gracious and wonderful to us.  He told us all about the orphanage.  He brought the psychologist in, and she is wonderful as well!!  The kids really do have fantastic caregivers (that we saw).  I will also tell you that the children were fascinated with us being there.  They CRAVED any attention we gave them and were all so polite and appreciative.  The inspector (govt officials in the region who govern adoptions) came in and had Vika write her letter and sign that she wants to be adopted.  There was no issue there, but we do have an issue…

The inspector’s office will not separate Vika from her 17.5 year old brother without him agreeing and signing a letter.  Our facilitator, Sergey, and the inspector spent all morning finding him.  When they did find him (his name is Sergei) he said he wasn’t sure he would sign and wasn’t sure he wanted her to go.  We also learned that he was with her at Chernigivka up about 1.5-2 years ago when he left to go to a trade school.  The Director told us he drank a lot and that he left the orphanage early.  He has a wife and daughter of his own already.  We are now driving back to Zaporzhzhya (where we just came from this morning!) to talk to Sergei in person.  I am posting this now because we really need your prayers.  Sergey (our facilitator) thinks we can convince him and Vika said to tell him this is what she wants.  Even if he signs there still has to be special committee convene to approve it and sign off that it is in her best interest.  So it will Sergey’s job to see if we can speed that up. 

So many prayers have been answered but we need your prayers more now than ever.  If Sergei won’t agree then nothing can happen for Vika, at least not until he is 18 and loses the right to control this decision for her.  Please pray that he will agree.  We are meeting him in about 20 minutes.  Beyond that, if he does agree, then we will need prayers that the committee will meet quickly so we aren’t delayed too long.  Thank you all in advance for the prayers.

For other Chernigivka families…Sergey said he has NEVER met a Director so wonderful.  Alex had lunch made for us (and it was WONDERFUL!) and he had us served with Vika in his office.  He wanted pictures taken with us and made us promise that he can always stay in touch with Vika.  I was able to deliver the presents to the other children that we brought for families back home.  We took pictures and I will send those to you privately tonight.  I hugged each of them and Sergey translated for me to EACH of them that you all love them and are working so hard to be there yourselves.   He explained that some files are processed faster than others and none of it is the fault of the families.  They all understood and said to tell you thank you and that they love you too. They are all so precious.  We have decided that after tonight we will stay at the orphanage.  This will give us a lot more time with the children and will give me more time to spend with your children as well.  Again, Sergey cannot get over how open Alex is being with us and the access he is allowing us to the kids.  Take peace and comfort in knowing that!

I want to share details about the area where Chernigivka is and the drive (ugh!) and the building and a lot more.  I promise I will do that tonight.