wonderful day

3-19-07

It really has been an incredible day. We didn’t sleep to well last night, we set the alarm for 7:00, but woke up before it went off. We got up and showered and got ready for our appointment at the SDA. We had breakfast with Janice and Dave and were ready to go. Natasha was picking us up at 9:00, she called and was stuck in traffic, and didn’t arrive til 9:25. We went down the stairs, 6 flights (the lift is still broken) and started on our way. We went about 5 minutes and Natasha asked if we had our passports, good thing she asked because we only had a copy with us. So we turned around and came back to the apartment and got our passports and then drove to the SDA. It was about a 10 minute drive. We went up to the door, just a side door behind a gate was the entrance. The gate was closed and a man in uniform behind said it would by a few minutes, that another couple was still there. We waited for about 5 minutes and they let us in right at 10:00. We went up a flight of stairs and Julia came and met us and invited us into the office. She introduced us to Olena, the psychologist. She asked us if we were there to adopt S. L. and we said yes. She told a few vague details that were in her file, things we already knew. She asked how we knew L. and Steve told that she came to Utah in the fall for a couple of weeks through a hosting experience and we fell in love with her and wanted to add her to our family. She then proceeded to say, “tomorrow you may come pick up your referral letter and then travel to Sumy to proceed with your adoption process.” They wished us good luck and we were done. We asked them if they wanted to see some recent pictures of her (they only had the old one from the database, we hardly recognized that it was here). They were excited to see the pictures we had brought from our hosting experience and commented how beautiful and happy she was and how much she looked like the family. We left our appointment, it was probably less than 10 minutes. The only thing they asked to see was our Passports. They were pleasant and kind.

We met Natasha outside and then went sightseeing. We went to the Lavra and some museums inside. It was really nice – more about that later. We got lunch at the food court in the underground mall (The Globe) and had wonderful visit with Natasha. She is a Klasna lady.

We took the subway home and got here about 4:00. Then we went to the Institute building with Dave and Janice and saw were they do there stuff. It is really nice. There on the bulletin board was a picture of Elder Bogdan. He served with Cort in Sumy and is from Kyiv. He is serving as the Institute President. Everywhere we go, there is someone here that knows someone we know. We saw 4 Elder and 2 Sister missionaries at the mall today and talked to them. Actually Natasha noticed them first and said aren’t those your friends. They were excited to see someone from SLC.

After dinner tonight, Dave and Janice were hosting FHE for the YSA. 19 of the sharpest kids came and had a family home evening. Two had prepared a lesson about Families and I of course cried through it. It was so touching how they shared their stories in addition to how they want to have the gospel in their homes. Most of them were the only members of their families and first generation Mormons. Several of them were return missionaries and a few of them had their mission calls. Boy and girls alike. They had college degrees and good jobs. I think all but 2 that were here tonight spoke and understood English – most of them fluent. There were also 3 young girls here from Utah and Montana who are teaching English in three elementary schools. That would be brave. It was such a nice spirit here and it was wonderful to see and share in there strong testimonies. Dave and Janice live right down town so it is quite a ways for all or them by Metro or taxi. Dave asked us to tell about why we were here and of course I couldn’t get through without crying. It touched my heart for I have such tender feelings about my family and soon we will all be together, they first time in almost 6 ½ years.

We also spent several phone calls arranging things with Cort. Elder B. called back to the mission office and said Cort could do whatever he needed and would not have to stay a full time missionary. He will be partially released by Pres. Anderson. He was trying to get a ticket to fly back to Kyiv tomorrow with they other missionaries. I guess he couldn’t get a ticket. Too bad they cancelled last week. So now he will be traveling alone from Donetsk to Sumy on Wednesday and we will see him there. This has got to have been an emotional time for him. Such a strange and unpredictable way to end his mission. We feel bad he has had so many changes in what would be allowed. Oh but it will be good to see him. We will all have long rides to Sumy. What will be going through our minds, the emotions, apprehension, the wonder, the excitement, the speculation of what is going through each others thoughts. It will be a wonderful reunion. I can hardly imagine.

Well, it is midnight. I guess the girls couldn’t get through the phones. We hope all is well at home. Trevor called and talked briefly with Steve before the call was dropped. Just to know there is some connection makes me feel alittle better.

It’s been a good day. We are so blessed. We can definitely see how God’s hand has played a part of this from the very beginning.

Good-night.