Sorry this post is late in coming. Busy times. Cort and Steve are on the other computer telling about yesterday and today. It won't be a detailed, but maybe thats better.
Just went over to post some pictures from Court and they aren't on my flash drive. I hope I just forgot to copy them and they are still on the computer. That will be way sad if they are gone. I will look again later. All our luggage is locked in the Branch building and after we meet some of the kids from the Branch today at 4:30 we are taking a taxi (no bus this time even if it costs more, yesterday was not fun) to Dnper and we will arrive probably at 10:00p.m. I'm guessing. Below is what I wrote the night after Court.
3-28-07
Today was Court day. We took and bus part way, then got off and walked the rest of the way to the Court Building. Today is sunny and the wind is calm. It is very pleasant. Natalie met us at our apartment to take us to Court and Vladimir picked up Laina and Andrew and met us at the building. We went inside and were ushered up the stairs to the 3rd floor.
We waited in a big foyer with rooms all around. They were all numbered, with the and said Cabinet (in Ukrainain). Garrett’s appointment was scheduled at 10:00. They were invited in at 10:10, they came out just a few minutes later. We were invited right in after, we didn’t have to wait til 11:00 for our appointment. The first question we were asked was how many children we and ages. He asked why we wanted to adopt Laina. What we did for a living. If we lived in an apartment or a house. Then he asked Laina if she wanted to be adopted and she said yes, she loved us and we were a cool family. Then we were asked to leave the office and they would make their decision. A couple of minutes later we were invited back in, us and Garretts, and the Judge said the adoption had a favorable ruling, he said, “love our children and treat them well.” Then we were done. It was only 10:30, in less than 20 minutes our anticipated court decision had been made. We went outside the building and took some family pictures. It was a wonderful feeling.
While we were waiting, I asked Laina if she was nervous, she said a little bit and that she had butterflies. While Garrett’s were in their interview, Laina asked how we picked her to adopt out of all of the kids. We told her our story, the condensed version. It sure is nice to have Cort here to translate for us. It has been awesome to see the two of them bond and have fun together. They act like brother and sister already and like to tease each other.
Concerning the adoption process, our 10 day wait begins. In our case, the 10th, actually on the 11th day we can pick up the official court decree, as long as no one comes to appeal the Judge’s decision, will land on a Saturday and of course the offices are not open. Then it is Easter and Ukraine will have a holiday on Monday for Easter, so we will not be able to pick up our Court decree til the 10th of April at 5:00 p.m. Then while we still need to obtain a new birth certificate. We will travel to her birth place, about an hour drive to make this official. Vladimir went to this town today after court to speak to the office involved and to make an appointment. They have agreed to wait for us Tuesday (the 10th) to make the new birth certificate. Then on Wednesday the 11th we will get the travel documents (passport). Once that is completed, we will be free to go to Kyiv for medical checkups and appear at the Embassy and also obtain a Visa for her to enter the country. (At least this is how I understand the process.)
This afternoon we went to a lady Cort has met in Sumy who paints on eggs (wooden) and on plates incredible pictures. She is incredibly talented and we picked up a couple of things that Cort had preciously ordered from her. The majority of things she does, she replicates many religious art pictures and from photos that people give to her. She does beautiful work. Of course she had soda pop, some sweet bread and chocolates for us when we arrived, as do all Ukrainians when you come to visit.
Then we went to the Internat and met with the Director. We discussed the gift to the orphanage and also asked for permission to take Laina with us tomorrow when we were leaving to travel to the areas where Cort served in the mission. Permission was denied because of the laws and restrictions. He still has responsibility for her until we receive the Court decree. Laina’s mood changed dramatically after we told her we were leaving for several days and that the Director would not let her go. She was much more solemn, but also much more affectionate the entire day, after the court proceedings. She knows now, she has a family forever.
We went to our favorite pizza place to celebrate the day. We toasted to Laina and Andrew and to the McGinty’s and Garrett’s. After dinner we took and bus and walked to where the Branch meets. Tonight the missionaries were teaching free English classes as they do every Wednesday and Saturday evenings. This is where the majority of the investigators come from, is those attending English class. It was fun for Cort to see several of his old friends from when he was doing this a year and a half ago. They teach 3 classes, beginning, intermediate and advanced. There were probably more than 75 people there total. It is an amazing site. The missionaries are having trials right now in all Ukraine. The missions need your prayers. We said goodbye to the kids and Natalie took them back to the orphanage. That was hard, she is being such a good sport about it all, we will miss her. We had hoped she would be able to travel with us and to see more of her country, but it was not to be.
While waiting for Pizza, I asked if she wanted us to call her while we are gone? With Cort translating she said “It is not a want, it is a need, actually it is a requirement that you call.”
3-28-07
Today was Court day. We took and bus part way, then got off and walked the rest of the way to the Court Building. Today is sunny and the wind is calm. It is very pleasant. Natalie met us at our apartment to take us to Court and Vladimir picked up Laina and Andrew and met us at the building. We went inside and were ushered up the stairs to the 3rd floor.
We waited in a big foyer with rooms all around. They were all numbered, with the and said Cabinet (in Ukrainain). Garrett’s appointment was scheduled at 10:00. They were invited in at 10:10, they came out just a few minutes later. We were invited right in after, we didn’t have to wait til 11:00 for our appointment. The first question we were asked was how many children we and ages. He asked why we wanted to adopt Laina. What we did for a living. If we lived in an apartment or a house. Then he asked Laina if she wanted to be adopted and she said yes, she loved us and we were a cool family. Then we were asked to leave the office and they would make their decision. A couple of minutes later we were invited back in, us and Garretts, and the Judge said the adoption had a favorable ruling, he said, “love our children and treat them well.” Then we were done. It was only 10:30, in less than 20 minutes our anticipated court decision had been made. We went outside the building and took some family pictures. It was a wonderful feeling.
While we were waiting, I asked Laina if she was nervous, she said a little bit and that she had butterflies. While Garrett’s were in their interview, Laina asked how we picked her to adopt out of all of the kids. We told her our story, the condensed version. It sure is nice to have Cort here to translate for us. It has been awesome to see the two of them bond and have fun together. They act like brother and sister already and like to tease each other.
Concerning the adoption process, our 10 day wait begins. In our case, the 10th, actually on the 11th day we can pick up the official court decree, as long as no one comes to appeal the Judge’s decision, will land on a Saturday and of course the offices are not open. Then it is Easter and Ukraine will have a holiday on Monday for Easter, so we will not be able to pick up our Court decree til the 10th of April at 5:00 p.m. Then while we still need to obtain a new birth certificate. We will travel to her birth place, about an hour drive to make this official. Vladimir went to this town today after court to speak to the office involved and to make an appointment. They have agreed to wait for us Tuesday (the 10th) to make the new birth certificate. Then on Wednesday the 11th we will get the travel documents (passport). Once that is completed, we will be free to go to Kyiv for medical checkups and appear at the Embassy and also obtain a Visa for her to enter the country. (At least this is how I understand the process.)
This afternoon we went to a lady Cort has met in Sumy who paints on eggs (wooden) and on plates incredible pictures. She is incredibly talented and we picked up a couple of things that Cort had preciously ordered from her. The majority of things she does, she replicates many religious art pictures and from photos that people give to her. She does beautiful work. Of course she had soda pop, some sweet bread and chocolates for us when we arrived, as do all Ukrainians when you come to visit.
Then we went to the Internat and met with the Director. We discussed the gift to the orphanage and also asked for permission to take Laina with us tomorrow when we were leaving to travel to the areas where Cort served in the mission. Permission was denied because of the laws and restrictions. He still has responsibility for her until we receive the Court decree. Laina’s mood changed dramatically after we told her we were leaving for several days and that the Director would not let her go. She was much more solemn, but also much more affectionate the entire day, after the court proceedings. She knows now, she has a family forever.
We went to our favorite pizza place to celebrate the day. We toasted to Laina and Andrew and to the McGinty’s and Garrett’s. After dinner we took and bus and walked to where the Branch meets. Tonight the missionaries were teaching free English classes as they do every Wednesday and Saturday evenings. This is where the majority of the investigators come from, is those attending English class. It was fun for Cort to see several of his old friends from when he was doing this a year and a half ago. They teach 3 classes, beginning, intermediate and advanced. There were probably more than 75 people there total. It is an amazing site. The missionaries are having trials right now in all Ukraine. The missions need your prayers. We said goodbye to the kids and Natalie took them back to the orphanage. That was hard, she is being such a good sport about it all, we will miss her. We had hoped she would be able to travel with us and to see more of her country, but it was not to be.
While waiting for Pizza, I asked if she wanted us to call her while we are gone? With Cort translating she said “It is not a want, it is a need, actually it is a requirement that you call.”
One thing I realized is how difficult the English language is going to be for them. We were talking about going to Court, but for the last week they have been with Cort. So when we say in English, Tomorrow we are going to Court.” It has to be confusing figuring out Cort, Court (judge) court (as in basketball), and then there is quart.
WELCOME HOME CARLY AND WELCOME TO THE WORLD RYLEE ANNE! Can't wait to see you both! (Niece home from mission and new grand neice 6 1/2 weeks early)
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