Parents with Internet temporarily!

Here I am sitting at an old samsung computer in Independence Square, Kiev. I am crying off and on as I read your comments and I of course cried when I read Kristen's entry. Do you see why we wanted more teenage girls?? I didn't utter a prayer request to her, but she hit them right on the mark. Thank you Kristen!

I would like to say WE ARE INDEPENDENT of any more requirements for papers!!! Our visit to the US Embassy this a.m. was awesome...if something like that can be awesome. We got the first appt of the day at 8:00. (I might add that the Embassy is closed the last Friday of the month, but they, if one requests it, will make appts for stuff like this-Praise God!)

Our last day in Odessa was good. We did some more waiting, but all of it was quick and productive. Sergei came up to the car on our last stop for the passports and did his normal..." they said we need to..." and then he produced the passports. Very funny, Sergei. One last time. Good he still had a sense of humor by the end of the Van Putten adventure. He was nice enough to run us to a Best Buy of sorts so we could buy the girls a couple CD players for the plane trip. I wanted to be sure they had some Russian/Ukrainian music to comfort themselves with while in OMaha. And something for the "waiting on adoption" board game. Gotta have the music.

We stopped at Beckers to drop off keys, cell phone, and thanks. Paul prayed for us and thanked God for all his care of Lena and Alla. What a witness of God that people who could certainly be satisfied with the family they have so excited to take these two girls, knowing it is not going to be easy. Who is like the Lord? I tried to get Tania to come with us, but I guess she has a life, so off we went.

It was fun to watch the girls on their first flight. They were so excited to fly from Odessa to Kiev. They seemed to be at least partially realizing that they were leaving their home. As we flew out of Odessa range, they said something to eachother across the aisle and motioned the tear running down the face sign. I was glad they were noticing the moment. I was sad too to be leaving Odessa, but not anywhere close to the same sadness.

For any of you who are thinking we've had too easy a time of this (people from the adoption community) know that we had a very difficult night Wednesday after arriving in Kiev. Kristen said we found a store, we didn't. We found conflict. I worried all night that one of the girls (nameless) would try to find a way back to Odessa in the morning. It was a night when I recalled Psalm 23 which gave me so much comfort in the weeks right before we left. I thought I was going to live with that Psalm on this journey, but I haven't. It sure was a great thought Wed night though. Psalm 23 doesn't directly talk about this conflict or anything, it just generally gives me peace.

I'm finding the Lord isn't so interested in success, but in dependence on him. While we are working to help Alla and Lena know they need to depend on us and not be so independent (a new concept for them!). The Lord is reminding me to see myself in them. Don't venture off independently, rely. Will you all help me remember this when I'm complaining in a day? thanks.

The visit to the American Medical Clinic (or whatever it's called) yesterday was an interesting experience. Their mission statement on the wall says they are "committed to evidence based medical care" or some such statement. I have heard little evidence based medical talk while in Ukraine so I was looking forward to some. Alla was unable to pass the eye chart reading in the hallway. The doctor? told me to limit her TV to 1/2 hour 2 times a day because she clearly has eye muscle spasms. I told Alla later, you need glasses. She's just so very happy about that. OK, she isn't at all happy about that. She's very not happy about that. I was going to try to use Sarah as an example of a family member who has glasses and likes them, but Alla pointed to the photo and said, Sarah no glasses. Doma no, but at school yes. And then we remembered, Sarah never wears her glasses, and we quit talking about Sarah. Jeff made a comment the other day (before this) that so few Ukrainians seem to wear glasses. I wonder if this is why. Or maybe they do,and they just wear contacts. ?? While at the clinic Lena was once again arguing that she isn't 15 years old. Have I told you this? She believes with all of her heart that she is 14. I'm willing to go with that. But, the doctor? told her since she was 15 she needed a chest x-ray and a STD test. Another reason she doesn't want to be 15. Not sure if she believes her age yet. But she got the 2 extra tests. I've noticed Lena seems to have a hearing problem. I wasn't sure if it was genetic from the Beckers (funny joke for the Beckers) or it was something else. I didn't mention it to the doctor at the AMC just waiting to see if she would mention it. She said it looked like Lena has a chronic ear infection. Someone told me Lena has a speech impediment. What if it's from hearing loss? possible no? I can't wait to get her on antibiotics and see if it will clear up.

I have great photos, but I'm not anywhere I can post them. I guess I'll take next week and post them all, you can keep checking back for the whole pictoral story...it will let you down gently from this adventure. I spent a day upset that we have to wait until Sunday when we are all done today, but this a.m. I woke up with a new perspective. I'm sooo grateful God does that for us. New every morning are his mercies. I love that. It occurred to me that our time, although I would have planned it differently, has yet to be shown to be a waste at any stage. I am convinced (or I guess I just believe it, haven't reached convinced yet-hindsight will be convinced) that the Lord is using our time now for some purposes. English lessons are probably not a bad reason. We haven't had a lot of time together when we could work on English until Kiev. The girls have been told every time they have contact with anyone that they need to work hard, learn English, take advantage of their opportunity. I can see it in Lena's face, her determination. For two kids who stood up in court and said basically that they are lazy students, they are taking a different route this time. At least for these days. I'll let you know how this holds up!! Maybe I won't. :)

Jeff, Lena and Alla have returned from running around looking for PJs. It's been our 3 day quest. What will we do when we find them? Maybe we'll take our time.

The plan now is to go to Aqua Park tomorrow to make the girls happy and kill some time before Sunday. I'm thankful right now for the Sunday flight. Our new friends adopting another girl from #4 got tickets for Aug 6th and they are done today too. Yipes. I was suddenly very greatful! funny how that works isn't it.

I don't know if we'll be back here or not. I wish the dial tone was one that would work on this internet card, but so far, we can't get it to work. Maybe it's best. My time is at one minute...bye bye LOVE YOU!!!!