More paperwork, May 31

Thursday, May 31, 2007


We went in search of breakfast and could only find McDonald's again. (which we were thankful for) We were in a different part of Kiev again so everything was a new search and we could not find a grocery store. Only the McDonald's drive-thru was open in the early morning so here we are walking through the drive-thru. Fortunately, some Ukrainians were doing the same thing.



It was a beautiful morning for breakfast outside.
Alexy picked us up and we went to get the official health check-up for Tanya and Lienna. We then went to the US Embassy to get the visas. We were thankful they took our US bills there. We have learned that when you travel to other countries, you should get newer, crisp bills. Any little tear or too much wear is cause for rejection when you try to exchange it. We had been concerned that we may run out of money because some of our bills were rejected.


The visas would be ready on Friday so now we could make plans to fly home. Our round trip tickets were for a return of June 6. We were ready to go home now!! So we started to call to get an earlier flight. No flight on Friday, no seats on Sat or Sun! The earliest tickets were possibly Monday and Tanya and Lienna's cost much more than expected. This was a cause of stress for us. Mentally, emotionally, and financially we hit the wall and had to get home. The fatigue of traveling with four girls for three days and finding no real food was taking it's toll. After much prayer, we did get flights to Cincinnati. The Delta lady in Kyiv said it would be cheaper to get a ticket in Cincinnati for the two one-way tickets from Cincinnati to Sioux Falls. It didn't make sense to us (and we later found out she was WRONG!) At that point we were just thankful to get flights to the United States. At least we would be able to find food and be able to communicate. Later, we found out just how bad she messed up our flights.



Later in the day we went for a walk around our apartment to see if we could find a store for shoes, clothes, and food. Tanya and Lienna were both given shoes that were too small for them and they needed some clothes also. Fortunately we made due on the clothes since Tanya and Morgan were close to the same size and Lienna had one wearable outfit. Just don't be surprised when we are in the same outfit in most pictures. We packed very light for this trip so had few outfits to choose from. (that meant more washing though) In our search for food, we did find one restaurant. It was Ukranian food and had an English menu! This was a treat for Tanya and Lienna since it was a little different than the orphanage food and it was a nice change from crackers and Nutrigrain bars. It was nice for us also. All we found that day were stands with food and miscellaneous items. We were told we shouldn't eat the food at these stands and wouldn't have known what to order anyway. We went back to our hot apartment for the night. We would continue our search tomorrow for shoes.

Train to Kiev, May 30

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

We got up and left the seminary at 7:30 to get downtown by 8:30 to the passport office. While Seroge went to stand in line, we went to find breakfast. We were just looking for a grocery store for something quick. After walking awhile we found a McDonald's. But of the six times we ate at McDonald's in Ukraine, they have never been fast food! They also do not have hot breakfast. Others there were ordering burgers. Fortunately they had muffins in the counter case which did make it easier to just point to order. On the walk back we went by a beautiful city park that has just been redone. We had been there eleven days earlier and there was black dirt. Now there were flowers and grass.

The new fountain and gazebo.

This was the usual sit and wait. Not much waiting this morning though. We got our passports, found a notary, found a store for bananas and water and headed to the train station for our 11:47 train. Seroge helped us find our train and get settled in. The stewardess studdied our tickets a bit and we found out why later. Right after Seroge left, she came to check tickets again. She had a great concern and voiced it in Russian while pointing to our tickets. The tickets said June 30 instead of May 30! We panicked and searched for Seroge's phone number since the train was about to leave. God answered prayers again and Seroge wasn't too far away. He came back and after some discussion with her it was settled Ukrainian style. She was happy but no one had time to buy new tickets. We were thankful the car was mostly empty but were a little nervous when it did stop to board new passengers since we did not have an official ticket in our hand.

Leaving Odessa.

The trip to Kiev was eight hours. This is Tanya, Morgan, and Jon in their compartment. It sleeps four and was fairly comfortable. Amber, Lienna, and I were in the other compartment. The door latch was broken on ours so if we shut it we could not open it from the inside. That was a bit un-nerving for me. We tried to prop it open but it would sometimes slide closed and I would have to bang on the wall in hopes that Jon would hear and come let us out. It makes me ill just retelling it now so God was obviously calming my fears then. I was really thankful that we were about the only ones in the car so we could leave the door open.

Tanya and Morgan in their bunks. They had fun jumping from bunk to bunk and all around the cabin. The scene from the train was mostly trees with glimpses of the country in the breaks in the trees. I wish they had not planted all those trees along the tracks. The country there is so beautiful and would have made the trip go faster if we could have seen it. We did see each town as we went through. Every house in Ukraine has high fences all around their property. Every inch of the property is planted with garden, fruit trees and flowers. No lawn to mow. They don't waste it on grass when it can be used for food. These are not very good pictures. Most of the trip was trees so I didn't have my camera out.

Arriving in Kiev!

This was the roomiest car we rode in. Seven of us with our luggage. No problem! Alexy drove us to our apartment and we arrived about 8:30 pm. Again we found no place for food. We were told that McDonald's is about the only fast food in Ukraine and we couldn't find groceries that late either. Our food for that day: McDonald's muffins and juice, crackers, a Nutrigrain bar, bananas, and beef jerky.

Tues May 29

I am now going back to try to recall what happened since we last had internet to blog. It seems like so long ago! We had no internet access for the last week so just called details to my sister to post.


On Tuesday, May 29 we got up early to go to the orphanage to pick up the girls. Jon posted most of the details that day but, of course, I have more to add. The huge blessing that day was our van. If you recall, our ride to Odessa was quite memorable(see May 16 post) and I did not want to repeat it. God provided a great van and driver this time! We were able to rent the van used by the baptist churches in the Odessa region and their driver. We were thrilled that morning to see such a spacious van! That was also such a blessing because the eight of us were in it so much during the day. Besides the driving we had to wait several hours in the van in the hot afternoon sun while waiting for Seroge to get our paperwork. Our driver was also better but when the time crunch came he did step it up to normal Ukranian driving. We had to race back to Odessa to try to get our passports done before the office closed and he broke plenty of traffic laws on the way(if there are any traffic laws that is). We really didn't notice though due to our previous experience. At least this driver drove as if he valued his life.


As Jon mentioned in the post last week, we were at Andrijevo on the last day of school to see their graduation. These were some of their ninth grade graduates.


The ninth grade graduating class. These children now leave the orphanage for the next stage of their life.


Flowers are a common gift in Ukraine. I think these went to the teachers. Of course, we did not understand anything said at their ceremony. These are some first graders.



This is how we spent most of our time during the adoption process.....waiting.

Some of Tanya's classmates


After much waiting around we finally got to pack the girls up and leave. We drove a couple hours to the town where their birth certificates were located. The official took her time reviewing our papers and finally got the birth certificates done. Here is the town we were in and Amber, Tanya, and Morgan are just trying to kill time.


We then went to Odessa but the passport office had already closed. We were able to get to another office and get a stamp on the birth certificates. Seroge took us to get our train tickets to leave the next day. Again we were thankful for our big van and safe driver because we could leave the girls in the van to wait. We saw a McDonald's and finally got to eat about 7:30 PM. Up til then we had only had some trail mix since our light lunch at the orphanage. Despite no food and little water and lots of time in a warm van, all four girls did great.


We had to call and find a place to stay for the night since we had hoped to be on a train to Kiev. Thankfully the seminary had a couple rooms for us again. While at the seminary this time we were able to meet the seminary student our church is supporting. He helped us carry our luggage and find our rooms for the night.















Sunset over the seminary as we were arriving.

They are in the United States!!!

posted by Lynette - Saturday, 9:30 pm

I just talked to Janell and they have arrived in Cincinnati. They are in their hotel room and they were able to get tickets for their whole family. Praise God! They will be coming into Sioux Falls at 10:45 on Sunday morning.

Coming Home Soon!

Friday, June 1st - 8:00 am
posted by Lynette(Janell's sister)

I visited with Janell last night and they are very anxious to get home. They were going to spend the day getting their passports and getting rested up to begin the trip back home. They are leaving Kiev on Saturday and arriving in Cincinnati around 7:00 pm and spending the night there. Right now they only have 4 tickets to leave Cincinnati. They need all of our prayers so that they can all come home together that morning. The scheduled flight is suppose to be around 10:30. Janell will let us know any additional information as soon as she knows.

A Full Day

Tuesday May 29 at 9:30 pm

Got Jon writing this time...Janell will return soon :)

We were off early this morning at 6:00 am on our way to the orphanage. We arrived to see the last day of school ceremony take place. It was quite a presentation. The ninth grade class graduated as well. We then waited for Seroge and the Deputy Director of the orphanage to go and get the court decree signed. We have a story about that to tell when we get home. All went well and after they returned to the orphanage we packed up Lienna and Tanya's things. Mostly toys. They did not have many clothes with them. Another story to tell when we get home. The girls said their goodbyes and it was tough for us to know the reality of that situation for our girls and for the other kids still at the orphanage.

We headed to Bilivka, about a two hour drive, to get their birth certificates. We were there for over two hours as they checked every detail of the court decree. We then raced to Odessa trying to get to the passport office before it closed. We missed it by about an half hour. We did make it to the Odessa vital records office, just as they were closing, for another stamp on the birth certificates. We will get the passports first thing Wednesday morning and then board a train to Kiev at 11:47 am.

Thank you for the prayers today. We waited around for many hours but the girls have done well. We are hoping things in Kiev will go smoothly and quickly so we can make it home soon.

All for now.

ten day waiting period over

Posted Monday, May 28, 2007 at 5:00 pm

Amber writes…Well it is hard to believe that we only have a few days left until we come home. I think I am ready to come home. I had fun at the orphanage spending time with the kids and getting to know some of them. Even though they have so little, they found things to give me as a gift to make my birthday special. I will miss some of them when I leave. I thank you for all your prayers. God has been really good to us on this trip.

Janell writes…..Yesterday Jon preached again at our sister church. We then had another meal and visited. We have really enjoyed the people we have gotten to know here and learned a lot about their church.

Pastor Alexander presented us with a gift at the end of the service.
Jon preached the second out of the three sermons at this Sunday morning service. If you think our Sunday services are long, try listening to three sermons with two in a different language. We have someone interpreting during the Russian message but with no pauses. It is hard to hear with two languages going at the same time and our interpreter has to talk fairly quiet. It amazes me how someone can interpret and listen at the same time. I have a huge appreciation for people who can do that and will do that. I was so thankful to our friends for interpreting. When Jon preaches he pauses after each phrase and the translator repeats in Russian. That is easier to listen to but harder for Jon to deliver the message. For those of you who have traveled to other countries and visited their church services, you know that we in America have no reason to complain about long services. Maybe we have it too easy as Christians in America if we are not eager to hear more teaching from the Bible.

This picture was taken after Wednesday night bible study. Their church has been under construction for several years. We know what that is like.
Pastor Alexander and his wife Lubov.

In the evening(Sunday), we walked to a salt lake with our friends, Tanya, Liza, and Dennis. Tanya is Vasily's wife and Liza and Dennis are 5 and 2. Tanya speaks English and has also been great to have as an interpreter as well as a friend. This lake is as salty as the dead sea. The salt and mud are therapeutic to people with all kinds of ailments. There is a large clinic here where people will come for treatments. The locals just go down to the lake and cover themselves with the mud. The lake is very large but shallow enough to walk across. The one drawback: the mud stinks. It was interesting but I opted out of the mud bath. Morgan, of course, loved it. I was mostly worried about her getting the coal black mud on her clothes because we have so few clothes along. I know, I know, I should just let the kid have some fun!

Today (Monday) we are preparing to leave. We walked several miles to a mall and found pizza. It tasted so good! We only order ham and pineapple because those are the only words we know. The other choices here seem to be salami, chicken, fish, and veggies. The crust has always been thin, very little sauce, and the cheese is a little different. We think maybe it is Russian cheese. We got a few other supplies and headed back to pack.

We leave tomorrow morning very early for the orphanage to pick up the girls. If all goes well, we will be on an overnight train to Kiev Tuesday night. On Wednesday we could complete documents and be ready to leave on Thursday. Then we will have to try to get two plane tickets for Tanya and Lienna and change our four for an earlier flight home. That may be the toughest step. So we don't know when our next blog post will be. Maybe we will be headed home when you see it next! Hopefully we won't be in Kiev another week.