Take a walk/ Play some games

We don't have much in the way of "new" news to share today, but our day was blessed and simple. We got up leisurely this morning and after breakfast Mark and I took a long walk. Our goal was to walk to the Sea of Azov and back, but we kept walking and never found it, so we turned around and went back to the TLC. We asked Tanya about directions and learned we had been walking the wrong way! Oh well! We enjoyed our walk and we'll look forward to going to the Sea another day.

This afternoon we walked to the orphanage (only about a half an hour walk from the TLC). We arrived there about 1:30. The kids were eating lunch, so we waited for Zhanna and Ella to come. Meals are served on a different schedule here than they are in the U.S. Breakfast is usually around 9:00, lunch is at 1:30 or 2:00 and dinner is at 7:00 or 7:30. They will have tea in the afternoon sometimes and that might include a snack.

When Zhanna and Ella came they were surrounded by their friends, and they all wanted to go outside and play. The orphanage doesn't have much of a playground - really just a few old metal climbing structures and an old metal basketball goal - so we had to be inventive. We taught them how to play "Red light, Green light," and "Mother May I?," and "Duck, Duck, Goose." These games had little language barriers, but helped a little with learning new words at the same time. It was fun to play with the kids. We enjoyed being with Zhanna and Ella and Masha, Kristina, Vala, Andre, Ruslan, and Julia.

After we had played for quite a while everyone was ready to quit, except for Mark (the energizer bunny!), but he agreed to give everyone else a break. Then Zhanna and Ella and Mark and I went inside to the teacher's room at the orphanage - just a meeting room with a table and chairs in the middle and some sofas against the walls. We've been allowed to go there to visit with the girls.

We talked about lots of stuff - family and home and likes and dislikes. If we didn't know a word for something Mark would look it up in the Russian/English dictionary and we communicated what we needed to. Then we shared some chocolate we brought with us - the international language! We're glad Zhanna and Ella both like chocolate as much as we do. We gave the girls necklaces that Mark's mom and dad had given us to give to them, and we talked about "Babushka" and "Didushka" - Gammy and Grandaddy. Mark also tried to propagandize our poor, new little daughters by showing them his cap with the Bronco symbol on it and telling them it was very important for them to learn the words, "I like the Denver Broncos!" The girls figured out pretty quickly what he was up to and then we had lots of fun talking about "crazy daddy!"

We showed them the video we took of them dancing and singing in the performance yesterday, and it was wonderful to hear their giggles as they laughed at themselves and pointed to each other and their friends.

At 4:30 it was time for us to say goodbye and walk back to the TLC. The girls walked us out to the orphanage gate and hugged and kissed us, then we waited as they walked a ways back into the orphanage. They kept turning around to wave and blow kisses. Sweet stuff!

We're now waiting for dinner to be ready here at the TLC. We are so grateful to be able to stay here. They have been more than hospitable. The kids and the housemoms cook every night and we eat with them here. Then they all clean up. We're spoiled! We have our own private bedroom in the basement, right beside Tanya's office. We use the bathroom in the hallway next to her office, and it includes a shower. It's also fun to interact with the kids here. Most don't know much English, but they really are great kids, and they are fun to be with. We bought ice cream treats for everyone on our walk home from the orphanage today. We will share the surprise after dinner!

Much love to all. Our prayers are with you.
Dawn and Mark