Friday, January 12

We have had a good day visiting with Alex - they had another performance today (he was back in his bunny outfit again), and we tried on some more clothes. Alex was much more receptive to trying them on today. We first started putting the clothes on us, and then he wanted them on him... He fell for that one didn't he.

This is a nice orphanage. They have performances all the time. We have seen Pappa Frost about six times now. Some of the kids have something they will go in front of everyone and recite, and then Pappa Frost will give them a present. They come back to their seat happy, and all the other kids just miss out. Then they are all given a bag of fruit or candy at the end (donated from someone in the community). Who knows how long these New Year's plays will go on?

The market we've been buying Alex's clothes from is a large area with lots and lots of little booths where women have one or two types of things for sale ranging from winter hats to high-heeled boots (very popular here) to curtains to chickens to produce. This is where you can get the best deals on clothing for children. Sorry, Laura, I know you're dissappointed, but we have not haggled with them any. The difference it would make in dollars is very small.

Humorous comment for the day - There is someone who has our cell phone number who keeps calling us. They don't speak English and don't seem to understand that they have the wrong number, even though Igor has told them in Russian. At random times during the day and night, we will get a phone call and answer it only to find out that it is these same people trying to reach someone named Nicholai. Sometimes they have called when we are in the middle of meeting with officials and other important people. Once we hang up on them, they keep calling back so we end up having to turn our phone off. As I say often, "that's so annoying."

Journal entry (Chris) 12-27-06
We are now at the point where we know Alex is the one for us to adopt as our son. We are trying to speed the process up so that we can get the court hearing before the holidays begin because if we don't, it will extend our stay in Ukraine by about 10 days. Everything we try to do hits some sort of roadblock. We spend hours waiting inside taxis on Igor to convince someone to help us. Even the taxi rides make you feel like you have no control and that your life is in God's hands. The seatbelts don't even work and they drive very recklessly. We've gone with Igor to talk with the adoption director, inspector, notary, and court clerks and judges. It seems that in everything we do and everything we attempt, we have no control over the situation. I've never felt this powerless before in my life. Someone may say they are going to do something, and we are counting on them to do it, and then they don't do it, and we have to scramble to get it done. We have spent so much time praying "Lord, please just help us out of this bind we're in." We can do nothing; we are so dependent on God.

Romans 8:28 - 8:39 (cliff notes version)
God will work out his perfect will for those who love him. He who gave up his son for us, will he not graciously give us all things? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine....? Nothing can separate us from the love of God.