Happy Sisters!

Oksana and her husband, Marlen did it! They drove four hours each way to visit the girls for us! They took the girls a texting capable, camera equipped, slider phone that Zina wanted. The girls were very excited to see them and to know that once again, their parents are going the distance and are consistently caring and concerned for their welfare. Oksana said the girls were so sweet. The girls and their caregiver invited them to come again as well. She said that she will do it, "with pleasure".

Oksana said that the director would not give any information to her and she agreed that she, as a stranger, probably shouldn't be privy to such information. She said that the director thinks that we should come there first and he spoke of what amounts to an invitation. This is a good sign as we want to visit this summer and discuss the girls situation with him. Oksana said that he is a good director and that the girls are in a very good orphanage. Zina said that he is a caring person and he cares about "his" kids. It is great to know that the girls like and respect their director and not dreading every waking hour.

So, that's the latest update. We are planning a visit to Ukraine to see R & Z in June. Keep praying for us and keep the UOO Garage Sale in your mind. We appreciate you donations of gently used, second-hand items! April 26th is right around the corner!

We need your stuff!!

Before I get to the latest happenings with Rimma & Zina, I want to say, "We need your stuff"! That is, Ukraine Orphan Outreach (UOO) needs your stuff! UOO is having its first annual garage sale on April 26th. This is one of the many ways we raise needed funds to host children. We need about $22,000 to make the hosting camp happen and we are halfway there. In case you didn't get a newsletter, the camp is slated for the July 28- Aug 15 2008 time frame. We are busy collecting items and we aren't above dumpster diving, bugging friends for stuff, and of course this plug! You can save your items for your own personal garage sale and donate the proceedings or you can let us come pick it up for you! See the UOO website at http://www.ukraineorphans.org/ under contacts for phone numbers. Now, you may be thinking, "Felix, I want to have my own garage sale and keep the $$." Can ya hear your conscience talking to ya? It's saying, "C'mon, give it to the orphans!" OK, I made that part up...but we really need your help! We will offer receipts for donated items that may be used at tax time, too! So, let go of that collection of David Cassidy albums, already. Somebody else needs that!

Now for the news. We received 2 more letters from Zina. The letters are in Russian, of course, and we are having them translated now. A Valentine was included in one of the envelopes in the shape of a heart. I said, "I Love You" in English and Russian, in Zina's writing. The letters have cute drawings on them and are brilliantly colored. She puts a lot of time into each one of them!

Our friend, Fran, was not able to travel to Kherson. She is having all sorts of trouble getting Marina home early. We understood that she needed to focus all of her energy on Marina and we are grateful for her attempts. Fran is full of the Holy-spirit, but we could tell in her postings that she was getting worn down by the bureaucracy that is Ukraine. Alas, the Rahn family at home will have to wait a year to get Marina. God bless you Fran! Read their story at http://www.rahnjourney.blogspot.com/ . Nancy Hathaway with Heart for Orphans (traveling with Fran), did make it to Kherson and we will talk with her soon about her findings.

Our friend and translator, Lilya, has a friend that lives in Simferopol. Her name is Oksana. She and her husband are driving to the Kherson orphanage this Sunday (March 16th) to bring R & Z a cell phone with texting and camera functions. Oksana and Lilya used to work together in the orphanages, so her heart is with helping the orphans of Ukraine. We gave her Zina's number and she said that they had a long conversation about R & Z's needs. Since Oksana knows Lilya, Zina was at ease and trusted her. Oksana is eager to go and she will bring the phone, more stamps, and talk with the director again about the registration issue.

We have met so many wonderful people all over the world to help us with R & Z. Too many doors are opening for it not to be God's hand in all of this. Keep praying for Rimma & Zina. We can feel it and they can too...

...and call us to come get your stuff! Heeheeheeheehee! Thought I forgot about it, didn't ya!

Hello from Kherson

We talked with our girls this morning. They said that they had been waiting for us to call and they were their usual "bubbly" selves. We chit-chatted about Karen's visit, asked them if the jeans fit, if they got the stamps and envelops we sent, and if they needed anything. Zina, as usual, needs nothing. Rimma said she is growing up and as a result her clothes are getting small; she asked for some tops and pants. Zina said her jeans fit perfectly and Rimma said hers are a bit too big in the waist, but she knew she would grow into them. Rimma liked the sparkles on the jeans. Both girls were extremely grateful.

I got to use some of my new Russian words with them and they thought that I was good with what I knew. Zina wanted to try some English and it was great. They are really trying hard, we can tell. Rimma shocked us with a perfect sounding "Thank You" after we complimented her about something. I say shocking because I was expecting all Russian and she just popped it out.

We ended the call by asking them what each wanted to grow up to be. Zina wants to be a fashion clothing designer and Rimma wants to be an actress. Please God let us bring our girls home one day so that they may realize their dreams and glorify your works.

Staraz Burivka Kids

Here is one of Karen's photos from her visit Friday to the Staraz Burivka orphanage - these are more of the kids from our December camp. Oooooooohhhhhhh my. Good kids. I miss them all.

More good news. Today I found a translator for our telephone call to the girls on Saturday. She's a native Ukrainian and lives in Thornton. Wish us luck!

Kherson Kids

More good news. Today we received an email and many photos from Karen Springs. She visited the children at both orphanages last Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

In this photo Zina is letting us know that she got the gift we sent her via Karen. We wrote, "We love you Zina" on a UOO business card and tucked it in the pocket of her new jeans. Here she's holding it up for us to see! Smart girl!!

No specific news on the registration of the girls yet. The director told Karen that he is working on it...

Another Door Opens

Great news! Yesterday we heard from Oksana, a friend of Lilya's who lives in Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine. Oksana and Lilya worked together for Project Sasha - a group dedicated to helping homeless children, underpriveledged children and orphans.

Oksana's heart is with the children (just like Lilya) and she has offered to help Zina and Rimma and UOO with our goals in Ukraine. Despite the generous help we've received so far, we still have a long list of needs for the girls...a new cell phone with texting capability, an English tutor, and help planning a visit for us sometime in the future.

We feel very blessed about the ever increasing army of people standing with us to help our girls!

Friends on the move!

We talked with Karen Springs of CBN this morning. She is departing in the morning for orphanage visits in the Kherson region. We told her that we will pray for her and to have a safe trip. She will see our girls and give them the jeans we sent a few weeks ago. She will give them hugs and kisses from their parents and take some photos for us. We didn't want to muddy the waters with our dealings for the girls and the work we are partnering with between CBN & UOO, so this is all that will come of Karen's participation. God bless you, Karen. Thank you!

On the other hand, Fran & Nancy of Heart For Orphans, are leaving today from the US. Fran is going to get Mariana. Then, both Nancy and Fran are going to Kherson on HFO business. While they are there, Fran will ask the director about R & Z's registration. They will also see the girls for us. Can you imagine the impact that these visits will have for R & Z? For 10+ years they have had no contact with anyone outside the internat, and now in one week two sets of people on our behalf...for them! Can you see that we are serious, Mr. Director??!! Please register ALL of your children, so that they may have the opportunity for forever families.

No news on our dossier or how it is going. Thank you for your continued prayers. It really works!