Living at Internat Longmont

Not a lot has happened in the past two weeks, so we took a break from the blog to get settled into Internat Longmont. Besides, the Internet at home isn't working yet. We are all moved in, but the vast majority of household goods are in the basement and garage. We are still living out of boxes, too. We manage to unpack a little every day. The TV is still on the floor, every bed except ours is still in the garage, and the fridge just arrived last week. The funny part is, we don't have window treatments yet, so we have to turn off the lights and dash from the bathroom to bed. Ugh, we have to put an end to the free neighborhood peep show, lest we scar small children for life!

We talked to Zina again this morning. She said that she is getting our text messages every time. She can read most all of them and the ones she doesn't, she asks her English teacher to translate. She was happy that we called with a translator this time. She was in a "tizzy" about her registration and immediately launched into the topic. Someone there told her that she is not on the adoption list and that she could never be adopted and this made her very upset all week. She took it upon herself to schedule an appointment with her Director on Monday to talk about her need to be adopted by us and to ask him to help her get on the list. We explained to her that we have told her numerous times that this is indeed the case and that we are taking steps to get her registration issue resolved. We told her that was a big reason for our trip in April and that we made good progress. We asked her to not make her Director upset. Lastly, we emphasised to her that we would never give up working to get her registered, adopted, and home. She understood that it will take a long time and she calmed down for the rest of our conversation. She even told us that she felt better getting it off of her chest and that she trusts us to do all we can. We spent the next hour talking of pleasant things such as her new bedroom, the trip in April, her summer camp plans, and Rimma's excitement with our visit to Odessa. Zina is a very smart and mature 12 year old young lady. We can't wait to hear how the meeting with her director went. I'd like to be a fly on the wall for that one - Zina can be persistent!

Rimma seems to be doing well. All of our texts to her have been in vain, however. Zina confirmed that she dropped her cell phone in some water, somehow. Zina said that Rimma will be coming home on May 25th. So, until then, we will not be able to contact Rimma. One day when she reads this blog, she will scorn me though. She didn't want to take a picture with that ugly chicken head, but Heidi persisted. I can hear her now, "Dad, why did you put THAT picture on the web!!??"

"Uhmm...Mom"

We have had a busy couple of weeks since returning from Ukraine. I (Felix) caught a cold from traveling on the plane and we both went back to work the next day. Add to this my two week ANG obligation, a 3-day-a-week volleyball coaching schedule, and the closing of the Internat Longmont, you can see how a couple of weeks can get away from you. We are presently moving our furniture and household goods ourselves every night after work…we should be done in a couple of days. Our friends, the Fetters, the Stoezs, the Volfs, the Keenes and the Carmans have helped us move. We really appreciate it, guys! I get a big joy of seeing the kids (6 total) run around the house. It makes the new house feel more like home and reminds me of what it will be like once we fill it up with our own kidos.

It occurred to me that we never reported back on the garage sale. Sorry! Here’s the scoop. It became cold and eventually started snowing. The UOO’ers sold almost all of the items and we made $3500! It’s not enough, but it got us closer. We are getting a few donations and we are on track to meet our goal of $22K for the camp. In fact, we have already made payouts to cover some of travel expenses. I think Kris S. bought airline tickets last week after we found out that the kid’s passports were completed. So it is happening! We will have 8 kids here this summer. Get to Colorado and be part of this wonderful opportunity! See the UOO website http://ukraineorphans.org/for contact information and how you may help in ways other than financially.

We’ve been talking to Zina every weekend now and we continue to text both of them every morning. We wrote letters to R & Z this week, too. I keep hoping we can nail down the return texting problem so that we may hear from them on occasion. Zina’s English is getting better but she is still limited in vocabulary, so are we with our Russian vocab. I can hear and feel her frustration when she wants to ask or tell us something really involved. She regularly asks for the translator. But, as we have been calling more frequently and the translators aren’t available as often, we don’t have help. It's just good to hear her voice, even when we don’t understand each other. She starts most conversations with, “Uhmm… Mom”, followed by a few seconds of “mmmmmmmm” as she formulates the words. Hearing that and seeing Heidi’s beaming smile makes it all worthwhile!

Ukraine Trip - Karen

Last, but not least, is our friend Karen Springs! Karen has been a missionary for CBN in Ukraine for five years and is doing marvelous work with the orphans there. She is well known by the children in Kherson and they flock to her when she shows up, as was the case when we went with her to see Zina the first day. Long before I met Zina and Rimma, I saw a picture of her with them on her website. When the "big picture" came into view in the past few months, we knew that God was working through her and us to give these wonderful young ladies a family and a permanent home.

Karen met us at the airport when we arrived in Kiev and she took us to her apartment to rest up. We were to eager to see Kiev, so we set out on a tour of downtown the first day. Karen went with us on the overnight train to Kherson to make sure we would get there OK. She went to church with us in Kherson and introduced us to Sasha. That night she boarded the train back to Kiev. She, in effect, gave up her entire weekend to be with us and traveled 24+ hours to get us started. Thanks, Karen! We talked with her frequently throughout the week and met her the next Sunday at the train station when we returned. Karen took us to her international church where we met many of her friends. We had a nice lunch out that day before sleeping overnight in her apartment. The hot shower at her place was a welcome respite from the weeks travels. We said our goodbyes Monday morning as we loaded into the taxi for the ride to the airport.

We miss you Karen, but we will see you again many more times. We love working with you and supporting your ministry. Thanks for all the hard work on the 2007 hosting trip and the Summer 2008 hosting trip. You are the best. We will be sure to let the kids know that Aunt Karen helped to get them to America this Summer!

Ukraine Trip - Sasha (Alex) & Vera

Before I ever met Sasha, I saw him on the DVD that Marianna left with us. (Marianna was the AGAPE caretaker that chaperoned the kids in our house last December). The way he conducted himself on that documentary moved me to want to met him one day. His passion for helping the orphans of Ukraine is very evident. I figured meeting him was out of the question since he was a "Big Guy" with AGAPE and had to do the responsibilities associated with being the president of such an organization.

(AGAPE, meaning God's Love, is a christian based organization providing bible study in the orphanages and to transitioned youth in Technical schools. They also offer free housing to transitioning orphans that may otherwise find themselves on the streets. AGAPE runs a free van rides to the transitioned kids to several bible studies each week in addition to many other services, all centered on orphans.)

The week before we decided to buy our plane tickets, we were distraught with the news from the director (see "Talk to the Hand" entry). We had talked to Karen about not coming and she said that she had an interesting conversation with Sasha with AGAPE. This conversation was about an American couple that was asking questions about two girls at the internat in Kherson. The director had asked Sasha if he knew these people, Sasha in-turn called Karen and asked if she knew these people, and of-course she did! It was us! Karen explained the situation and Sasha said to come to Kherson and he would secure visits with Zina and Rimma. He would also get us a place to stay at the HOB and let us us his driver to visit the other four orphanages. WOW! This compelled us to listen to God's gentile voice telling us to let go, trust him, and get on the plane!

We met Sasha the first day we arrived in Kherson. We were picked up from the train station by his driver, Vanya, and taken to church. Karen had talked to Sasha that morning and he had asked me to speak at the service. I quickly said a prayer and asked for guidance and in a flash, God sent me a message. At the service, when it was my turn, Sasha and I took the stage and he translated my words. I had met my Ukrainian Hero! Over the next week, Sasha asked me to talk a few more times to congregations and bible studies. His wife, Vera, helped us during the Teremok Baby House visit and she cooked us a very special Ukrainian dinner at their house one night, complete with Borscht. Sasha made it possible to visit Zina and Rimma and eventually we were given free reign at the internat. He accompanied us on a number of visits to orphanages and everywhere we went the children called him "Uncle Sasha".

It us evident that Sasha and AGAPE need help with their ministry in Ukraine. We toured his offices, the transition houses, and the classroom programs that his organization sponsors. AGAPE always accepts financial contributions, but they need much more than that (AGAPE is funded via private churches in California). For example, AGAPE just bought a 5000 sq/ft house for transitioning orphans that needs renovating. While we were with Sasha one day, he took numerous calls from an organization in California that is sending him a furnace for the house. The problem is that no one there knows how to install American heating systems. They mostly use radiant heat. So Sasha needs contractors, home builders, volunteers with hammers, volunteer house parents, etc. Most of all, AGAPE needs Christian visitors to show the transitioning youths and his fellow countrymen that we are willing to journey there to speak, comfort, and offer our time to "the least of these".

If you would like more information on volunteer opportunities with AGAPE, post a comment and we can send you the contact information. Thank you.

Ukraine Trip - The House of Bible

I want to say something about the fine folks at The House of Bible. Yep, that's what it's called, and that's where we stayed. When Heidi and I made plans to go to Ukraine, we were told that we would be staying at a place near the orphanage, and that it was cheap. Heidi usually program manages our trips to the finite details. But this time, we just let go and let God guide us on our journey. Now, to the ordinary person, this sounds preposterous - traveling halfway around the world without reservations for a place to stay. We really felt calm and at peace as we put all our trust in God and our caretakers from AGAPE and CBN.

We arrived at The House of Bible on Sunday, before we went to see Zina. What we saw was a nearly-new two story building with fantastic landscaping and exceedingly clean. It is a gated structure with a security guard posted at the front door. On the first floor, The HOB has offices for it's staff, a meeting room in the back, and a bible and book store. Travel up the side staircase and you go up to the second floor where there is a TV room, a kitchen, and a single room. It is in this room that we stayed. It was wonderful and clean! It had a queen-sized bed and a separate bathroom. We loved it! As promised, the HOB was only two blocks from Zina's orphanage. It was a quick 10 minute walk there and another 20 minute walk to the market area where we bought groceries, changed money, went to the Internet cafe, etc.

Enough about the place, HOB was more than a structure. The people that worked there were special and wonderful followers of Christ. It wasn't a job to them, it was a place were friends and family came to do God's work. There were a few faces there that I still see and I remember our host, Svetlana, the most. I don't have a picture of her, but I can still see her smiling face every morning and her eagerness to serve. She made breakfast for us each and every morning. It was the full course, too. We were very impressed with her presentation and ability to make a several course meal everyday. What a wonderful person and friend. We didn't speak each other's language, but we understood her generosity. We saw Svetlana a few times at different church services throughout the week, too. On the last day we gave her a gift. She adored the scarf that Heidi had picked out for her. We tried to give her a small cash gift too, but she wouldn't hear of it. She explained that we were her friends. She said that she loved us several times in English and it was very hard to leave her. We hope to see her again, next visit.

Ukraine Trip - Sergei

My friend Sergei, what a fantastic guy! Sergei is a twenty year old Christian man introduced to us through the AGAPE ministry. I first met him at the AGAPE Monday night Bible study for transitioned orphans. He was a wonderful translator, having learned English in school and practicing it for further use in translation work. He said that he was a realtor, but that it wasn't working out. His great love is Christian hard rock music and he wants to play music for a living. Sergei translated for me while I spoke to the young people that came to the Bible study. We were filmed together when AGAPE asked me to be on their new DVD that they are working on right now. This is a big deal and AGAPE only puts out a new DVD every two-four years. This DVD is sent around the world to raise awareness and we saw the last DVD back in December when the kids came. I pray that this exposure helps Sergei in his future endeavors and that he gets noticed for the fine person that he is.

Sergei accompanied Heidi and me on the long trip to see Rimma. Not once did he complain or not want to be there. On the trip we learned that Sergei's family adopted two little girls. All week he spoke of his love of his sisters. When we asked him about them, we learned the story. It turns out that we share almost the same story as him and his family. This only drew us closer and his determination to help us talk with the girls and with his people intensified. Sergei was with us when Rimma came running into our arms and he saw first hand the love and concern that we have for her. I told Sergei many times that day that I was so very appreciative for helping make a little girl, whom he never knew, so happy. He told me and Heidi that is was evident that this girl is our daughter. He thought that she was very smart and observant for taking her time to decide about her adoption by us.

Friday would be the last day that I saw Sergei. We invited him up to the House of Bible after we got back that night. He had lots to say and was grateful to have the opportunity to serve. We told him that we would see him on the next trip and that we would pray for his future. Sergei, thank you for helping us all week. You were a great help when Andrea could not be with us. God sent you our way and it was his plan. May you be blessed in all your endeavors.

Ukraine Trip - Andrea

The next several posts will be about friends and helpers we met on our recent trip to Ukraine. I personally wanted to write about the two young men that helped translate for Heidi and me. They were Gifts from God...as are the other folks we will introduce to you.

First, there is Andrea. He helped translate for Zina and went on three orphanage visits with us. I believe Andrea said that he is 16. His father is the pastor of the first church we visited just moments after stepping off the train in Kherson. Andrea and his father along with his mother and sisters lived in Binghamton, NY for several years. In fact, his mom and sisters are still there and he and his dad came back when the pastoral-ship was offered to them. He said his mom will be moving back, too. Andrea looks like any American kid and he speaks English perfectly with an Ukrainian accent. We joked that he looked American and stood out in Ukraine, even to us. He remarked about my southern accent, too. He was in the US long enough to tell the difference.

I first met Andrea at the first Sunday service when he was asked to translate the service to me. I remember not looking at him directly, rather the side of his face as her did a wonderful job, hitting the highlights and important parts. I didn't realize at the time what a remarkable young man he is and that we had just started a lifelong friendship. God has a way of bringing his children together.

Later, after service, Andrea announced that he would be accompanying Heidi and me on most of our excursions and helping translate. I knew that he had school to attend and was concerned that he would miss it. His father and he explained that this experience would be good for him and more valuable than what he would learn in missing a day or two of school. So we relented.

Andrea was invaluable to us because he was younger, and our girls related to him more. He also understood American colloquialisms and sayings, so he "got it" when we said something out of the ordinary. Zina and Vika warmed up to him immediately and hit off from the start.

As Andrea traveled around with us, his eyes were opened to the plight of orphans and I sensed that he was moved by our's and AGAPE's mission. He worked extra hard to help us and volunteered many hours in doing so. Sometimes he just hung out with us old folks to exercise his English skills and to be with his new Christian/American friends. Andrea was always the translator that accompanied us on visits to see Zina and joined in on the fun when we played outside with her and her groupa.

On our last day with Zina, he saw a kid riding a worn out skateboard and commented that the one he had at home was in way better condition. I asked if he still used it and he said no and was thinking of selling it. I told him that he should bring it to the orphanage and donate it to them. I didn't give it much thought and the moment passed. While we were sitting on the plane in Kiev he called me and wished us a safe trip. He commented that he was going over to the internat with his skateboard to give it the kids. Andrea had not forgotten my off the hip comment and had taken it to heart.

Andrea has a compassion and heart for the kids he met while with us and has pledged to continue to visit the internats and orphanages long into the future. He even promised me to look in after Rimma and Zina from time to time and help keep them safe. I suspect that we will start receiving texts, calls, and letter from the girls more often due to his help. I know that we and the girls have made a lifelong friend and brother.

Andrea, you are a wonderful young man and I am proud to call you my brother and friend. Come stay with us anytime and keep in touch as we will do also. God bless you Andrea, thank you for bridging the gap for us between the girls and the people of Ukraine.