Changes Ahead

A week ago we said goodbye to Annie on the campus of Lubbock Christian University. Nathan parted from us and drove back to Abilene that same day. Mark and I returned to Albuquerque and an empty house. The kids' closets and drawers are empty. We miss their voices, their messes, their laughter. It has been a week of adjustment for Mark and me. It has been, in many ways, like experiencing a grief, although we keep saying to each other, "They're not dead. They're only away at college!"

I shared all this with a friend at school and she said, "See, God is telling you, you need more children in your home!" I guess that's right. At any rate, it is evident and clear to us that God is at the helm of all this. Whenever we falter and doubt, He rushes in with direction and momentum.

We've struggled with several issues as of late, and God's mighty provision has poured down upon us. We were so concerned about the financial aspect of all this, but people have already been graciously contributing to the special fund that has been set up for the adoption. As of today we already have about $4300 that has been given to bring Jana and Ella home. Thank you, God! Just in time to send in the first installment to the adoption agency of $4500. We signed a contract with Cornerstone Adoption Services in Florida. They specialize in international adoptions and have experience with adopting children from Ukraine.

We have been concerned about getting a Christian social worker to do our home study. We contacted some faith - based adoption agencies here in Albuquerque to inquire about beginning the process for our home study, but they couldn't do it because it's an international adoption. We finally contacted New Mexico Christian Children's Home in Portales, and they can do our study. We feel very comfortable with them, and we will receive the paperwork soon. It is a very involved process. We must get fingerprints and background checks and medical physicals. We must give complete financial information and have references from employers and others. Mark and I and each of the kids must write up an autobiographical account of our life and family life. It will take time to get all this done, but again, we trust in God that it will all happen expediently.

We have been concerned about communicating with the girls, and hoping that they hadn't given up on us. God provided a wonderful translator for us in Ukraine by the name of Valya. Valya is a Christian, and a teacher there in Ukraine. We have been emailing and Valya told us that she is planning to travel about 3 or 4 hours to Mariupol in September to visit the orphans. She offered to translate letters to the girls so we can begin to communicate with them. We will mail her some pictures that she can also take to them. We're so thankful for this and so excited about the lines of communication being opened so we can get to know our daughters.

God is so good. He is carrying us through the adjustment of the empty nest and on to the excitement of new children. We are so thankful to Him. We continue to ask for your prayers on behalf of Jana and Ella, and all the orphans in Ukraine and all over the world. This verse seems so appropriate: "Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children." Lamentations 2:19 It is comforting to us that so many others care and are lifting the names of our children up to God for a new life. As you look at the faces of our girls, we think you will see, as we did, those gentle and quiet spirits that hunger for the love of family and God. We long to have them in our arms.

With Blessings and Grace,
Dawn

The Hand of God

What a week this has been! We've been home from Ukraine only two weeks now, and have jumped fully back into our lives and activities here, all the while seeking out answers and direction concerning our desire to adopt the girls.

As we've talked about it, and shared with people we know, and asked them to pray about it, it has been amazing to us how God is answering those prayers. It seems that threads of connection are being woven all around us that lead us to the paths we need to make this happen. Last week we were given the name of a missionary who lives in Kiev as a possible source of information. He referred us to a Christian adoption agency in Florida that specializes in international adoptions. We emailed and made contact with a woman who works at the agency. She and her husband have also adopted two children from Ukraine. We made arrangements to speak with her personally by phone last Sunday afternoon. We had an hour long conversation. She was very kind, but very honest. She gave us lots of information, but also related many personal experiences of her own family and others who had adopted or attempted to adopt from Ukraine. Some experiences are positive, but others were difficult.

We learned that if we want to do this we'll need to begin the process right away and make every effort to complete the paperwork by October or November. All paperwork will have to be sent to Ukraine to be translated and finalized by January. In February the Ukrainian government looks at all adoption applications, both nationally and internationally. They only allow around 1500 children to be adopted in or from Ukraine each year, so it is very important that the paperwork be there and finalized, or we would have to wait another year and begin the whole process again. She also told us that it will cost about $25,000 to adopt the two girls. Mark and I agreed that we wanted to begin the process, so she emailed us the application and contract forms.

Mark and I talked about it more that evening, and discussed all the pros and cons. School started here on Monday, so I was back in the classroom. I don't know if I was feeling stressed from that, or still dealing with adjustment and lack of sleep from travel, in addition to "hitting the ground running" when we returned. Whatever it was, I began to have doubts about the whole "adoption thing" on Tuesday. I think I just panicked a little when I thought about how involved the whole process would be, including the money. I talked to my sister, Debbie, on Tuesday evening and she was asking all kinds of pointed questions about the process and life beyond - when we'd actually have the girls with us to raise. I realized as I was talking to her that having the responsibility for the girls once they are with us is not worrying me at all. What I was worried about was the process of getting there. As I hung up the phone I knew I was struggling and needed to pray about it. I prayed that if this was God's will that He would make it all clear, and if I was having a lack of faith, He would just show me that He's taking care of it.

Well, God really showed me! Mark called me at school at lunchtime on Wednesday and said he had talked to Jackie, who works for Eastern European Missions (EEM) and went on the trip with us. She just learned of a family living in their town who had adopted three children from Ukraine. She gave Mark their number. Mark called this woman, and found out that not only had they adopted from Ukraine, but from the very same orphanage (Mariupol) that our girls are in, and not only that, their two new daughters know our girls and longed for them to be adopted, too! This woman, Rhonda, told Mark that she had some contacts in Ukraine, and she would inquire to try to find out if Jana and Ella are truly adoptable. She promised to call us back soon. On Friday she called back and told us her contact is almost 100% certain that our girls are adoptable, and not only that, their paperwork is already in order to allow that! Isn't God good?

It was if God was saying very clearly, "Just trust in Me! I've got it under control, and this is what I want you to do!" My faith lapse was turned around very quickly! In additon to all this, we are learning through many contacts, of people in Albuquerque who speak Russian, and would be willing to help with language when the girls come. We had no idea that there was anyone in Albuquerque who spoke Russian! God is putting together all the pieces of the puzzle beautifully. We've stepped out in faith, and it is exciting! All we have to do is hang on and enjoy the ride!

As to the finances, many people this week have asked us if we are going to start a fund to help with this. Everyone has been so gracious and excited for us. I think this is God's way of letting others grow in the joy and grace of this experience along with us. So, we've started a fund through our church to help with expenses. If you'd care to contribute please send your donation to:

Riverside church of Christ
3100 La Orilla NW
Albuquerque, NM 87120
(earmark your check - adoption fund)
These donations would all be tax deductable for charity.

More than anything, we appreciate your prayers. Please pray for God's continued leading and for our wisdom to follow. Please pray for Nathan and Annie as they go away to college this week and have this to think about as well as everything else. Please pray for Jana and Ella, that God will give them peace and hope, and that they won't think we've forgotten them. Thank you, friends and family. We'll continue to share as God leads us down this new, exciting and blessed path. Your support means so much!

Love, Dawn and family

Back Home!

August 10,
Hi everyone!

We're home from 3 weeks in Ukraine! Our trip was challenging and amazing. We all four feel so blessed to have been able to go.

The conditions were difficult. Picture this: 30 or more people (some who only spoke Russian) sharing a dirty bathroom with one shower and 2 toilets. No tools or cleaning products available and no privacy. Sleeping in 55-year old sagging metal beds with torn and stained sheets and woolen blankets. That was a challenge.

Picture this: Pushing and shoving your way onto a crowed Soviet-era bus where everyone is standing, the windows are closed, everyone must hold onto overhead bars, and no one wears deodorant. You are an armpit away from the next person! Whew! Two buses we rode on broke down in the middle of the route. The driver got out and tried to tinker with the engine, but pretty soon everyone just got out and walked to the next bus stop to wait for another bus. That was challenging.

Picture this: Eating a mystery-meat-meatball every morning, along with cold oatmeal or barley with 2 chunks of cucumber on the side. No cold drinks, only hot, and no refrigeration available. Heat in the high 90's. That was challenging.

Picture this: Working with 55 orphans at the camp, many of whom were literally climbing the rafters and grabbing everything in sight. They needed to be taught manners desperately, but we didn't speak the language. The best we could do was lovingly and firmly show them how to behave. They hung onto us.

But picture this: Russian- speaking orphans who latch onto you and immediately begin calling you "Mama." Sweet smiles and hugs in abundance. Bibles given to the kids who will stand in line for an hour to get one, and then immediately sit down and begin reading them. Some of the kids read their Russian children's Bible within a day, and came back and asked for an adult Bible.

Picture this: Working with the oldest kids in the camp (non-orphans who were 15 or 16 years old). These were the star soccer players and dancers and fun leaders of the kids at camp. But given a choice of going to play sports or come to our class and do child-like crafts, they came to our class. It was hilarious to watch the big boys juggle the craft on their lap (no tables), and put the stickers on. Even these kids are hungry for love and attention.

Then picture this: The morning our team was preparing to leave the camp, nearly all the children - big and little rushed out to the front gates where we drug our luggage to wait for the bus. They were crying and we were crying. They would hold onto us, saying "Don't go!" in Russian. We would hug them and tell them, "Ya lyoobof vas," which means "We love you all." As we finally got on the bus and looked out the windows all the kids were waving their arms with tears streaming down their faces, and they ran after the bus as it pulled away.

That is our experience in a nutshell. We have so much more to tell, and I'm sure we will as time goes on. The travel alone was quite a grueling adventure. But for now I just want to share with you that Mark and I are considering adopting 2 of the orphan girls we met. They are sisters and their names are Jana (pronounced Zhana) and Ella. They are 12 and 11 years old. They've been in the orphanage for 3 years. We talked to them with the help of our translator, and they gave us information, but we're not 100% sure they are really adoptable or not. However, we are going to pursue this as fervently as we can. These two girls reached a special place in our hearts. They are both beautiful and gentle and loving. Our translators told us if we can adopt girls, do it. When they reach the age of 16 the orphanage puts them out on their own, and many of them resort to prostitution. That simply perpetuates the cycle of the children in the orphanages. We have a home and love to give and we feel we could make a difference in the lives of these girls. Nathan and Annie are all for it, as well. So, please pray about that for us, will you?

Well, just wanted to touch base and let you know of our adventure. Our normal life and routine seems so insignificant compared to what we've seen and experienced, but we're getting back into it. School starts again here tomorrow, so I'm back in the classroom already. Nathan leaves to go back to Abilene next Monday. We take Annie to Lubbock Christian next Tuesday the 19th. We'll have an empty nest for awhile, but then maybe God will fill it again!


Love,
Dawn and family