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!

Девочка ест, мальчик пьет!

I bought, (or should I say I invested), in Rosetta Stone's language software for Russian this past Friday. WOW! What a language! And what a price tag! We want to learn so that we may better communicate with the Ukrainian people when we go there. I can foresee two adoption trips and two visits a year to see R & Z until we get them home. Even though Zina & Rimma and our other adopted children will have to learn English, I want them to retain their valuable Russian language shills. Wouldn't it be cool to have two nights a week at home that only Russian is spoken!

Rosetta Stone jumps you into full immersion, no translation at all. RS says this is the way you learned your native language as a child. I have to say, I agree with their system. I got started and I dreamed the words in my sleep last night. There I was trying to say something to Zina & Rimma, and they were giggling at my pronunciation!

The only news on the adoption front is that our friend Fran is traveling with Nancy (of the Williamsburg hosting group) to Ukraine tomorrow. Fran is going there to get Mariana. You can read more about her journey at http://rahnjourney.blogspot.com/ . Fran and Nancy know Rimma and Zina and they were praying that the girl's would find a forever family; enter us! Well, Fran is going to make a special trip down to Kherson with Nancy to see all of the kids that the Williamsburg group and UOO hosted. They will visit R & Z for us and find out about their registration. We have been unable to call the internat director due to translator issues. Pray that R & Z have had their registration started or completed. You may remember that the director told us that he resubmitted all of the children's registration paperwork when they returned to the internat. He asked us not to call him until mid-February for the status. We have honored his wishes, but we are prepared to hire a Ukrainian lawyer if nothing has happened.

By the way, if you're wondering what the Russian title to this post is...it is lesson one of RS. The photo should help you. It says, "Girl eating, boy drinking"!

A Father's Oath

Needless to say, I too am estatic about Rimma's request that we become her parents. Early on, before Rimma and Zina arrived, I saw their pictures and God drew me to them. Heidi and I have been charged by Him to care and provide for these two little girls. As a father, I feel I must protect them and keep them from harm. I was troubled when Rimma wasn't a part of the adoption plan and I vowed to do all that I could for her as she grew into a young lady. Now, I can concentrate on the final goal...I want them here at home.

I came upon this simple Father's Oath to his daughters the other day. In hopes that R&Z will someday read our blog when they are home, I want to post it here for them.

• I will love you unconditionally today and all the days to come.


• I will love and support you as you encounter life but I will not spare you from life’s lessons.


• I will not interfere with your right to grow, to make mistakes and to learn from them.


• I will support your right to autonomy.


• I will not become impatient with you as you perform a task.


• I will not diminish your achievements.


• I will offer discipline in your life and utilize opportunities to instruct, build character and teach responsibility and assist you in finding solutions and alternatives.


• I will teach you that beauty is secondary to character and self respect and experiencing meaning in life. Appearance and good grooming habits are important, but your efforts, achievements and performance are much more important.


• It will be a goal of mine to assist and guide the development of your self esteem so that you are only concerned about measuring up to your own standards.


• I will encourage you to take calculated risks, meet new challenges, overcome obstacles and deal with the real world.


• Although you will always be "my little girls," I will respect you as women in the years to come.

Jessica, Jordan, Zina and Rimma...I love you all and miss you all terribly. You all are in my thoughts and prayers each and every day. Love, Pappa.