Elena and her cousin Natasha playing cards
Yesterday we had another wonderful day with Elena and her friends. We had several highlights:
Elena, Lauren and Jay spoke to our friend Natalia, who is from Ukraine, on skype from the orphanage (we have a wireless modem that works in very remote areas here). Natalia has been a great blessing, helping us translate and communicate with Elena during the time we originally hosted her. The first thing she told Natalia is that her parents (she meant us) said that they would visit her and now they are here. Natalia told us that she clearly was talking about us. This is a great blessing to us as we transition Elena from orphanage life to our family. It is great to see that she considers herself as part of our family.
Elena and her "Mama"
We are continuing to bond well with Elena. Everyday we spend about 5 hours with her at a lake or the outside area by the orphanage. Since there is no school we are able to spend extra time with her. In the morning she is waiting for us and runs up to Lauren and gives her a big hug. When we leave in the late afternoon/early evening she asks us to stay longer.
The main orphanage building
We have been given a rare opportunity to interact with many of the kids here. Yesterday we brought crafts over for the kids. They enjoyed making necklaces, bookmarks and a special memory quilt for Elena. Many of Elena's closest friends were given a white square piece of fabric to write their names on and draw a picture. Lauren is going to assemble them together into a quilt for Elena to remember her friends. This will also allow us to remember to pray for these precious kids after we leave.
The kids having fun making a memory quilt
Elena's friends making bookmarks
Sasha shows off his bookmark
Kolya shows off his bookmark
Elena continues to surprise and bless us with her wonderful photography skills, she loves to take pictures and really seems to have an "eye" for good shots.
Picture of a flower that Elena took
Another flower picture
Kids playing football (soccer), taken by Elena
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Loving your blog and the pictures! Brings back so many memories of our trip there! We see several children in your pics who are being hosted here next week. Our guys are at camp and will return there today. So happy for you that things are going very well! Blessings! Melanie
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is such an awesome idea! The kids look like they are having so much fun. What a blessing!
ReplyDeleteMelanie - if you let me know your guys names, I can get pictures of them for you.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I are adopting Kolya! I found this blog looking for street maps of Lutugino.
ReplyDeleteHave you adopted Kolya? Sorry for the delay, we don't typically check the blog anymore.
DeleteIn the second picture of the kids doing a craft...do you remember the name of the boy in camouflage? I think our friends are having a difficult time adopting him and his brother...I am quite certain its the same childrens home.
ReplyDeleteRuslyan and Rusik. Have your friends been able to adopt the twins? Sorry for the delay as we don't typically check the blog.
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