Update day 9 & 10 in Khelm

Hello everyone! Here is an update of what has been going on since I posted in the car after dropping Jenny off at the airport in Kiev yesterday morning.

Shortly after going through the McD's drive thru, we were pulling into a parking lot of what appeared to an apartment building somewhere in Kiev. Anna gets out and Koysta says "wait here. we'll be about 20 minutes". I said OK and off they went. I looked around and everything seemed safe enough. I was plenty of people walking around. There was even a playground with lots of children with moms and dads. After two weeks here there are a few things I've learned: have plenty of food with you becasue you don't stop and eat (McD's was an exception), don't drink too much because there aren't many public bathrooms and the ones there are you don't want to have to use, you are told anything unless you ask and then the answers are worth much, and it's normal to not know much about what's going on. So I thought "no big deal", got out a book, turned on my i-pod. About 15 minutes later, my phone rang and it was Illona, one of the faclitators that is in Kiev. Jenny had talked to her but not me. She introduced herself, asked if everything went well getting Jenny to the airport, and then told me that Anna and Koysta were in her apartment and was mad at them for not inviting me to come up with them. I assured her that it was ok. She told me she would send Koysta down to escort me up so she could meet me in person. So in a few minutes, there was Koysta and we went up 15 stories in an elevator about the size of a shoe box. It was a very nice apartment building and the elevator looked new so I wasn't particulally worried (like I was in the apartment we stayed in in Kiev). We met and visited for about 1/2 hour and then we were back on the road again. Illona was very gracious and friendly. She told me that she was very pleased with how well everythign was going and that Anna and Koysta would continue to work hard so I could get home as quickly as possible. Then we were on the road again! (By the way, that was a name of a Willie Nelson song from a movie Honeysuckle Rose that will be stuck in my head the rest of the night.) I put my headphone on, hit shuffle, and settled in for the 4.5 hour ride to Khelm.

Soon we were out of Kiev and into the Ukrainian countryside which caught me eye on the first trip out to Khelm. This time I wanted to really see what it was like so I began to watch as we drove past villages and towns. What were the people like, what do they do, where do they live. We learned that Maks, Alona, and Natasha were from a small village an=bout an hour outside of Khelm. Earlier in the morning, Koysta even pointed out the road that would take us there in a week or so. I felt the need to know about where our children came from. I know where Keely, Max and Isabelle came from. I lived it all with them. But for Maks, Alona, and Natasha, I don't, so I need too. About 2 hours into the ride, I noticed some unfamilar scenery (weird how I knew that given that I've only been on this route 2 time now). I must have looked a little concerned when Koytsa looked in the rear view mirror because he said "don't worry, it's ok, Khelm is this way". I said "we'll see", laughed, and went back to looking. Remember Jenny writing about "what if" vs "what is". We'll there wasn't any need for me to ask the "what if's" and if I did, no one outside the car could understand me anyway! So I went back to looking at the world where our children in the Ukraine are from. About an hour later, Anna turned around and told me that we were in the village where the children were born. How cool is that. God caused a detour just at the right time for me to get to see there birthplace without the disruption of any business we will be there for next week. We even stopped and asked directions for a man outside a small market and I wondered if they knew Maks, Alona, and Natasha. I'll never know. We found the right road and arrived safely in Khelm around 5pm.

I put some things away in my flat and walked to dinner. I chose to eat at the Greek restuarant because it had been a few days since we there and because they have a menu with pictures. I strategicaly found a table on the patio up wind from all the smokers and just as I set down, Demitree came over. We met Demitree the first time we ate there. Demitree is the owner who is Greek but speaks very good english. It was pleasant visiting with him and he was kind enough to ask about the adoption and my wife. I updated him and asked if he would mind taking my order since it is much easier than trying to get accoss what I wanted by pointing to the pictures. He was kind to help and I enjoyed my dinner of cesaer salad and some kind of eggplant casserole he had recommened one time before. The cesaer was it's standard good, and the eggplant thing a bit lacking.

After dinner, I returned to my flat and watched the Bucket List to help pass time while I waited for Jenny to arrive in JFK. At around 11:30pm, I started cat napping and then sometime around 1am I got to talk to Jenny, safely on American soil.

I slept in this morning until around 9am, showered, and started a load of laundry. While straightening up, I noticed that I forgot to put the hand towel from the bathroom in the wash. So, I stopped the washing machine (it's one of the front machines that I don't know how to use) pulled on the door handle, and "snap". The handle broke off! "Not good" I thought. Then, I started it back up figuring that the door was shut and I still needed to get the wash done - right? I figured that I would Koysta to explaing to Tatianna later what happened and went outside to the main street to see what was going on. Today is the start of a 3 day holiday celbrating the victory of the Soviet Union over Germany in WWII. It' called "Victory Day" and there was going to be a parade. I was just a few minutes late as the parade had just passed by. I would have like to have seen it.

Around 11:15, Koysta and Anna called and said they were ready to take me to see the kids. On the way, I explained to Koysta what had happened to the door of the washing machine and asked him to try and appoligize for me and let Tatianna know I will be happy to pay to get it fixed. He said he understood and would talk to her. I asked what their plans were for the day and he told me that Anna's grandmother was very sick and that they were most likely going to go home for the week and be with Anna's family. I told Anna I was sorry to hear that I that I would pray for her and Anna's family and ask Jenny and others to do the same. She thanked me and started crying. PLEASE pray for Anna's grandmother, Anna, Koysta and Anna's family. (Later I asked Koysta in private is she was going to be OK, and he said that she probably won't make it but a few days.) They then told me that thye had talked to Tatianna about finding me a driver and would let me know what they got worked out when they picked me up later.

I had a great afteroon with the children. Same stuff - ballons, running, jumping, playing, riding bikes, rollerblades, gameboy, i-phone, etc. There weren't many other children out today for some reason so we pretty much had the outside to ourselves. It was nice getting to spend time with them. They all three played very well together. I noticed them playing with each other more today than in days past. It was good to see.

Around 4pm, Koysta and Anna picked me up and gave me all the details about Tatianna's son-in law driving me around while they are gone. They told me that he speaks english and shouldn't have any problems. We arrived back to the flat, had a converstaion with Titianna about the washer which went well! Figured out to open the washed without the door handle, and said good-bye to Koysta and Anna. In case you are wondering - we are in the 10 day waiting period that is customary (plus an extra 3 days because of the holiday) so there isn't anything for Anna to be doing these next few days.

At 4:30ish, I went outside to the main street and Skyped with Jenny and the kids. It's great getting to see them while we talk! Jenny was tried, but super glad to be home!!!!

Around 5:30, I walked to Lemon Cafe and had a wonderful shaken iced tea, cesear salad, and Italian cheese soup. All three things I had had there before. (After last nights eggplant, I was sticking to what I knew.) One the way home I stopped and watched a talent show that was going on as part of holiday celebration on the city circle. I must say the talent was pretty good. The was even a group of teenages that did a "high school musical" type dance routine.

Got back to my flat around 7:30pm, folded my laundry which was dry on the line, and settled in to write what's been going on.

I can't wait to see what God has in store for me tomorrow. It's the Lord's day so I'm going to try and fine some special way of worshiping Him. I'm also going to see the kids here, and figure out someway to celebrate Mother's day with those at home.

Good night and blessings <><,

David

Group eating lunch
Natasha and David
Alona with art. She did one on right. Maks ddid the one of left.
Maks with painting he did yesterday.