4 More Days until Court!

 Papa holding Elena

 Elena's photo of herself (do you see that new knot on her forehead)!?

Just four more days until court! Slavabogu (Praise the Lord)!!!  The court date is set for Thursday June 24th at 11:00 am.  We are trusting God with the many details surrounding that big event!  We are savoring our time with Elena and enjoying the rare opportunity to spend most of the day with many other children also!  How thrilling to know God set this unique schedule so we would have such plentiful and unexpected time with Elena and many of her peers!  We can see they are loving the time and attention we give them.  As soon as siesta time is ended, the children flock around us and instantly engage us to play with them. Though scrawny and dirty their bright eyes and wide smiles radiate joy in spite of less than ideal circumstances. It will be very sad to leave them behind when in our hearts we want each of them to be in a loving home.  Will you join us in praying for each of these precious children?

 

Jay playing with some of the precious children

Immediately following court, Jay must leave to begin his journey home so he can get back to Hannah and Micah as soon as possible! First he will get another indescribable race car 2 hour ride from Lutugino to the Doneskt airport.  Following that he flies into Germany and then onto Charlotte, NC.  He and Grandma Sharon drive back to Atlanta for the last portion of his trip home.   Lauren will stay in the region for the 10 day waiting period and continue to visit Elena at the orphanage in the morning and then join the Adventures in Missions team from early afternoon through the night!  It is exciting to be able to pursue what is already in her heart to do!  We are in awe of how God worked out the timing perfectly and had it all set up before we even knew that was a possibility in this remote region of the world!!!

Our day started with a new adventure on Friday.  Our driver's (Oleg) car broke down on our way to the orphanage.

Our broken down car on the way to the orphanage

Scott trying to hitch us a ride to the orphanage

Since we arrived at the orphanage later than usual, Elena had been outside in the play yard looking for us. Even though the gate was closed, Elena saw us and before we got out of the car, she came running up  to the gate and ran into Mama's arms with her usual scream "MAMA"!~  Of course, she gave papa a huge hug and he lifts her up and spins her around. 

It wasn't long before Elena needed to join her class to eat lunch so we walked to town and called a local family who helped us find a local restaurant which sells pizza, kvass, salads, etc.   Definitely Ukrainian style and excellent (though very different) food! We enjoyed the fellowship and then returned to the orphanage refreshed.

We usually start in the  morning and leave the orphanage between 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm.  Saturday we stayed until 7:30 pm.  We play games, do crafts, etc. with Elena and her friends for hours.  Jay and Scott were picking up the kids and hanging them upside down and spinning them -all in fun like any dad would do with his kids.  However, the caretakers didn't like that one bit.  She came over and "spanked" Scott on his bum with her empty water bottle.  She also gave Jay a stern reprimand!  So, we came up with other ideas to engage the kids and especially the boys who are starved for good male influences. Jay started thumb wrestling and arm wrestling with the boys and before long, all the boys and girls wanted to thumb wrestle with us both!  Then Jay took some of the kids and spun them around with their arms (instead of hanging them upside down).  This seemed to be acceptable and the caretakers didn't give him a "spanking"!  

 

 Jay and a boy arm wrestling (this is the strongest boy in Elena's group)

 

Scott with one of the boys

Before we knew several of the children were leaving tomorrow (Monday) for camp at the Black Sea, it was on our hearts to bring the fabric squares and fabric markers for Elena and her friends to each decorate a square in order to make a memory quilt for Elena.   What a blessing to have completed that especially while Elena's closest friends were still at the orphanage.  Those who are not leaving for camp at the Black Sea are leaving for America to be hosted through the New Horizons for Children hosting agency (the same one we hosted Elena through).   We tied the squares with colored ribbons and showed it to the children and caretakers.   The caretakers were nodding their heads with approval!  They LOVED it and even helped a few of the younger boys add nice details to their picture squares.   We look forward to completing this project in the future in order for Elena to have a memory quilt/decorative wall hanging with all her friends unique designs and names in Russian.

Elena and Mama holding up the memory quilt