Monday morning was a tough wake up. Though our bodies know that the light means that we should be up, they feel like they should be asleep! Our facilitator met us and we walked up hill and down (mostly up) to the back of a small unassuming building where many hopes are begun to be fulfilled. We joined several other people, couples and individuals waiting to be seen by someone at the ministry of social policy for some reason or other. It is mostly quiet as we stand there. The view from outside is amazing! We are high over parts of Kiev there and have a stunning view. Right beside us is a beautiful old cathedral, St. Andrew's. It has the domes I associate with Russia and is blue and white with green roofs like several other cathedrals we see as we look around. St. Sophia's and St. Michael's included. While we wait, we met another family adopting 3 sisters. We find other English speaking adopting families to be like long lost friends.
After a while we are shown into an office to meet with a serious faced director who is also kind. She wants to know why her? Why disabled? It is important that this is answered. They want to protect all children and want to hear our motive. We told her that all children deserve a family and to be loved. She nodded and said nothing. Gord spoke up telling her that it is because of Jesus loving us and that being a follower of Christ is why we do what we do. She responded that it is mostly only families from the US that take the disabled children. She proceeded. We got to read her file and more of her birth history. We signed in the book that confirms that this is the file, this is the child that we want to become part of our family, our daughter.
We went to celebrate at a Ukrainian restaurant for lunch. $ 15 feeds a family of 5 till we are full with delicious food.
This morning, Tuesday, we received word that our little girl was off a ventilator and breathing on her own and being moved to a regular room! Thank you for your prayers for her! That's more than we knew of her condition. Apparently they thought she would die 2 weeks ago.
This afternoon, we got to go back up the hill to receive our referral and sign once again, passports in hand. Tomorrow is the day!
A regional inspector and a representative from the orphanage must all meet us at the hospital and inspect our interaction with her. They need to sign approval of our interaction, we saw her, we interacted, we know what we are getting into. Then I think we drive outside Kiev 45 minutes to her orphanage to meet with her Dr. and discuss her care and needs.
Its a big day, tomorrow. We will meet our newest family member and try to communicate to her something of Jesus and His love which is ours for her too.
After a while we are shown into an office to meet with a serious faced director who is also kind. She wants to know why her? Why disabled? It is important that this is answered. They want to protect all children and want to hear our motive. We told her that all children deserve a family and to be loved. She nodded and said nothing. Gord spoke up telling her that it is because of Jesus loving us and that being a follower of Christ is why we do what we do. She responded that it is mostly only families from the US that take the disabled children. She proceeded. We got to read her file and more of her birth history. We signed in the book that confirms that this is the file, this is the child that we want to become part of our family, our daughter.
We went to celebrate at a Ukrainian restaurant for lunch. $ 15 feeds a family of 5 till we are full with delicious food.
This morning, Tuesday, we received word that our little girl was off a ventilator and breathing on her own and being moved to a regular room! Thank you for your prayers for her! That's more than we knew of her condition. Apparently they thought she would die 2 weeks ago.
This afternoon, we got to go back up the hill to receive our referral and sign once again, passports in hand. Tomorrow is the day!
A regional inspector and a representative from the orphanage must all meet us at the hospital and inspect our interaction with her. They need to sign approval of our interaction, we saw her, we interacted, we know what we are getting into. Then I think we drive outside Kiev 45 minutes to her orphanage to meet with her Dr. and discuss her care and needs.
Its a big day, tomorrow. We will meet our newest family member and try to communicate to her something of Jesus and His love which is ours for her too.