Bockisch Ukraine Adoption: Glory to God/Hallelujah!

Since you all have been praying, we want to give you a real brief summary first and then go into detail. Praise God, by the end of the day today (Thursday) Elena said YES to us privately about being adopted. Tomorrow afternoon (our time- about 6 or 7 am East Coast Time), Elena will be asked before several officials and us if she wants us to adopt her. This is the 'make it or break it' meeting so please keep up your prayers.

"For you shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off". Isaiah 55:12-13

Now for a more detailed summary of today:

We greeted the sun early this morning knowing that we had been held before God's holy throne of grace and mercy in deep intercession. Additionally, we had full confidence that the Holy Spirit has been interceding with groanings. What a deep comfort that is to us! We had a calm assurance and readiness to accept whatever outcome the Lord would accomplish. On the drive to Lutugino, Lauren listened to Arise and Shine as this song keeps coming to mind. May the glory of the Lord shine upon the people of this desolate land. We were both praying silently as the driver, Oleg, likes his Russian music LOUD! Being able to listen to great worship music through an ipod was a wonderful blessing.

We stopped to buy the ice cream we promised Elena yesterday and then walked to the orphanage. Did we mention that we have been putting miles on our shoes and getting sorely needed exercise? We found out the children were taken to a lake to swim this morning. Since the government assistance could not provide the funding for most of the children to attend camp in the Black Sea area, they try to let the children go swimming at least once a week. You cannot imagine our fullness of joy when we were trying to spot Elena among the many children and she ran screaming "Mama!" up to Lauren and gave her a huge hug with an ear to ear smile! Then she gave Jay a really big hug too and was obviously very happy to see us. She also stayed with us the entire time when it wasn't her turn to swim.

Elena took great delight in showing the other children who gathered around us the photo album we had brought. Many of the photos were from the time we hosted her over the winter but we had also added photos of her room which is ready for her, the new bunk bed, and the garden with the prolific crop of lettuce God granted this Spring. She preferred to sit with us and not with her usual friends, however she did enjoy introducing us to several of the children.

When it was time to go, the caretakers had each child hold hands with a buddy as they walked back to the orphanage. However, Elena preferred to hold Lauren's hand the entire way back. She also told one little girl that she lives in Georgia and asked us the name of the city where we live.

We were told to return at 2 pm so we explored and found a nice cafe for lunch a few minutes away. Oleg, our driver, asked several folks walking along the way if they knew where the cafe was that was on the lake. We drove along many narrow dusty and unpaved "roads" and found this tiny restaurant with several caribbean style huts outside. It was very refreshing to be there since we found in Lutugino the townspeople openly stare at us. Since we are out in "no man's land" we really stand out!

When we returned Elena was woken up from her nap. All the orphans nap from 1 pm to 4 pm. We are allowed to meet with her in the front room area. We exchanged hugs and then gave Elena a coloring book with markers and showed her the blue nail polish we bought (she said she likes blue). Lauren then asked her if she wanted her toe nails polished and she nodded her head while grinning happily. Then Lauren polished her own toe nails the same color so they would match. Elena also wanted Lauren to French braid her hair the same way Lauren had hers done so they could have matching hair styles. Jay showed Elena more home videos until it was time to go. Ksenia was able to talk with Elena and ask her again (after we did) if she had made a decision. Elena said YES she wanted to be adopted and agreed to go before the officials and us tomorrow afternoon (Friday afternoon).

Please keep up your prayers as Friday is another big day for Elena and for us. A local family who knows much about the area and the adoption and orphanage world emailed us this comment which was very insightful:

Know, too, that often these children who can be adopted are made to feel guilty for abandoning their friends, often by those who cannot be adopted. Also, they are subject to physical abuse by older kids who are, too, jealous of the potential of being adopted. Finally, these adoptable children are often filled with lies that the adoptive parents want them only to make them servants, slaves and in some very extreme circumstances will live a life of abuse at the hands of the adoptive parents. Unfotunately, I don't think the orphanage does a lot to head-off these situations. I pray that God will break through these demonic barriers so she can think and decide clearly....tha the voice of God's Spirit will pierce the darkness that surrounds her.