The Promised Land is Closer than it was Yesterday

Hi family and friends,
My meeting with the adoption officials was wonderful. I am jubilant and at peace with the direction I believe the Lord gave me today. Thank you for your prayers.
Is the uncertainty over? Not on your life. Not for many days hence.
And tolerance for uncertainty has never been my strong suit. I want a place of certainty. And I want it NOW! This adoption journey cuts to the heart of my brash impatience.
The journey continues on a 12 hour train ride to the Donetsh province of Eastern Ukraine. At least I don't have to worry about missing a connecting flight :) Small consolation,
but the good news is that after that 12 hour ride, I will meet an 11 year old orphan girl named Christina who desperately needs a home. Everything I have heard about this child says she is a possible match, but relationships have to be forged. If I choose her, she must choose me too.
I am told she was removed from her mother because of neglect. An aunt took her in but gave her up to the orphanage because she couldn't afford to keep her. Tragically, this is an all too common scenario in Ukraine.
My scenic train tour of Eastern Ukraine to visit Christina starts Saturday night to arrive Sunday morning.

Many of you know that there was another orphan named Julia who was on my heart. We even communicated through several letters. However, several days before my trip, I found out that Julia has a very complicated family situation in Ukraine i.e. older brothers and a sister ( not in the orphanage). She is very attached to them and does not want to leave Ukraine, even though her family may never be reunited. I didn't think it was right to pursue her at this time. If it doesn't work out with Christina, I still have the option of a second appointment to pursue another child. I will continue to pray about Julia.
If there is one thing I've learned from my friends who led the way in Ukrainian adoption : keep an open mind about the child or children you ultimately adopt!
In yondermost Ukraine, I can say with surety that the accommodations will be spartan and internet access sparse. There will definately be no McDonalds. I hear the snow cream is pretty good though. My translator laughed and said "yes" when I asked about phone service. It is not an unreached people group.
I'll try to update the blog when I can.
Your prayers are carrying me. I FEEL them. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Please prayfor my meeting with Christina on Monday.
Love to you all,
debbie
p.s. I LOVE BORSCHE! It's my favorite Ukrainian food so far.

Expect the Unexpected

Hi everyone,
I am happily situated in Kiev in a quite nice WARM apartment with internet access.
I have two observations so far: it's not as cold as I expected and elevator space is at a premium. You get really get up close and personal with all fellow elevator travelers. I smile pleasantly as my wonderful translator Helen makes small talk with other passengers and hope we don't run out of oxygen.
Kiev is a beautiful city and much more modern than I remember. Interestingly, I feel right at home here. On prior international trips, I remember an almost physical sensation called "culture shock". This time, no culture shock , no doubt due to the many prayers prayed for me.
However, my travel to get here was was quite eventful and hence, the title of this blog.
Just a heads up, some Delta connections are far too close for comfort especially when your plane has mechanical problems before it gets out of the gate.
I arrived at the Norfolk airport to receive the news that the flight to NY was going to be delayed for two hours. arriving one hour past the time of my next connection.
Well, I ended up being rerouted through several American and European cities. I ate my first Ukranian meal on Ukranian International Airlines from London to Kiev.
Tomorrow is the big day. The appointment with the adoption officials. I need favor, favor, favor. The process has changed from prior years in that they are quite proactive in identifying possible referals i.e. children that would be suited to you. If you don't accept their referrals, it can be weeks before another appointment is granted. Please pray that all will go well.
Tonight I am having dinner with two other American couples here to adopt. It's great to compare notes with other Americans and laugh about any frustrations.
I hope to write again soon.
debbie
#end

Blog Test Posting - boring, but it should get better.

Hi Family and Friends,
I'm still in the USA doing a "test" page posting to my blog.
I want to make sure I get this down before I leave.

I depart Norfolk on Monday at 2:20 pm
Depart New York around 5:30 pm.
Arrive Kiev the next morning
Tuesday I plan to sleep, shop and find the nearest McDonalds
Wednesday is another "free" day. I'll probably shop and sight see.
Thursday is the BIG day.....my appointment with the adoption officials at the SDA. Not to be confused with the CIA or FBI or KGB or even Seventh Day Adventists.
The wonderful people at the State Department of Adoptions guide prospective adoptive parents to their prospective adoptive children.

I'll be in touch with another post when I get to Kiev.

debbie