The other side of the world...day 32

Another early, busy day today, but so exciting.  Of course, many people wouldn’t think that being stuffed in a little car with five adults and one child would be all that exciting I don’t suppose. I will tell you though, that when those people are Me, Cathy, Tully, Evan, Marina(the facilitator, not the child), and the driver Roman and we’re heading to do the errands that will bring us sooooo much closer to getting our precious children out of the orphanages forever, that my friends is about as exciting as fireworks on the 4^th of July, or waking up to that first winter snow.   I can’t even put into words how wonderful today was. 

We first had to pick up some documents at the social worker’s office.  Then we  went to the city passport place they have to prepare all of the documents to take to the “big” passport place.  We were told that those papers would be ready by 3pm.  Ok, next to the bank waaaaaay across the city so that the Bachmans could close Marina’s(the child, not the facilitator) account.  More on that in a minute. After that, we dropped them off at home, and went to the bank that Timothy’s account is.  We collected the money, closed the account, and headed to his baby house to give the money to the orphanage director.  Then I got to go home for a little while, with instructions to be ready by 1:45 to be picked up again.

At 1:45, I was picked up and we headed to the baby house to grab Timothy, and one of the nurses (I still have NO idea why one of them needed to come I must remember to ask Marina (facilitator again) next time I see her).  He was so excited to see me, and then when we headed to the car, holy cow, he was scared but so curious.  I don’t think he’s ridden in a car before.  We went and picked up both Marinas, and Cathy at the other orphanage (same car as earlier, this time with five adults and two children! For those of you who aren’t familiar with this country, they don’t use child safety seats, or even seatbelts for that matter, so the children sat on our laps in the back seat.), and headed to the offices to get the passport stuff done.  At the main one the children had to have their picture taken.  It took about 5 tries for Timothy because he kept looking away and pointing at things.  I will say though, the girl did get a couple of really cute shots.  I wish she could have printed them out for me.  LOL   He’s so little that they had a little booster seat for the regular chair AND they had to add two HUGE files (think Atlanta telephone book huge!) so that he’d be tall enough for the camera.  hehe

Today was the first time I’d met Marina Bachman (child again hehe).  Ohhhh my goodness!!  She is the SWEETEST little thing!!  She and Timothy were just so stinkin adorable!  They were instant pals.  Once she warmed up to me, she liked me too.  hehe  I took some pics today, but will need to upload them with the high speed internet at the mall tomorrow. 

It took a little while at the passport office but once we were done, we headed back across town to the bank because there was a mix up that needed to be taken care of.  We finally delivered Timothy and the nurse back to his baby house at a little after 5pm.  We dropped Marina (facilitator, not child) at her apartment because she had an overnight train to catch so that she can be in another region (10 hrs away!) for court in the morning for another RR family!  After that, we dropped off little Marina and finally came home. 

Getting the important stuff done was the best part of the day.  We also found out that we MIGHT just be able to pick up passports on Monday instead of Tuesday!  PRAY!!  If that happens, we’ll be leaving on Monday(to head back to Kiev)!  Which of course means that “Gotcha Day” would be on Monday.  YAY!!  Did I mention, PRAY!?  lol

The other really great part of the day though was the time spent with Marina (the facilitator).  She is such an interesting and sweet and kind woman.  She is VERY serious about her business, and does a GREAT job at getting everything done that we need, but to spend some time just chatting as we rode from place to place was really cool.  She loves her job, and the children that she works for.   At one point, when we were leaving the bank today with the money from Timothy’s account, the ladies who work there said “Thank you for loving our children and giving your special one a family”.  I was touched.  As we left, I told Marina that I am the one who is thankful for the wonderful little boy that God gave us.  I also told her that she has been awesome and thanked her (we gave her a small gift as well that she will get a LOT of use from and she promised to think of us when she uses it), she said that she just does the paper work, God is the one that finishes things.   So true.

About the money that is in the bank accounts.  This is money that is put in from funding that is given to the baby house/orphanage by the governments.  The director is in charge of making sure that each child gets an account, and has deposits made so that if they are never adopted, they can have that money when they “age out” of the orphanages and are basically sent on their way to make their own lives.  Sometimes that is 16, sometimes 18.  Sadly, some children don’t have very much in these accounts because the directors don’t care about the children’s futures, so it isn’t as important to them to make sure that they have something to start life outside.  Anyway… our director has been very diligent about making sure that “her” kids have something.  It is customary to close the account and donate the money back to the orphanage.  Some people think that the money is for their child so why give it back?  I asked specifically about that, and Marina (the facilitator) said that the money will be divided into the other children’s accounts immediately to help build their accounts.   So, to me, it is like we are helping those we have to leave behind, even if I can’t give them a family, or a home, it’s something.  I know, not the same, but…  

Please continue to pray for our journey.  We are coming to the end and it has been a tough one, but God is still in control!!