Passports

Monday we did some sightseeing. We went to the museum of minatures. There were some amazing things there. On Wednesday the passports had arrived in Poltava. So here we go driving all the way back to Poltava about a 4 hour drive. We got there at 2:30 and had to wait until 5:30 for the only man with the stamp. Then we headed back to Keiv. Today, Thursday,WE ARE FINISHED!! First we had to be at the Embassy to get Stephen fingerprinted, then went to get their medicals, Stephen hadn't had an HIV test so they had to do that. Both children had to have vaccinations. Then we waited for the results of the HIV test. Then we hurried to the Embassy for our appointment. They talk to you for 5 minutes then you wait for an hour while they print the visas. It feels so good to have that done. Tomorrow we are going to the museum under the open sky.
For those that want to know we will be flying home Saturday August 9 Delta 97 arrives 8:11 pm

We are in Keiv

We arrived in Keiv on the 1st of August. We are excired to be in a new environment. Maybe we won't be so bored. Saturday we layed around the apartment and did some laundry. It was nice to have a washing machine, it is really hard to wash levis in a small bathroom sink. Sunday we went to church at the International Branch. Natasha went with us to make sure we found the church and it made her to late to attend hers, so she went with us. We doubled the attendance with the five of us. Everyone is on vacation in that branch and they will get a whole group of interns in the fall. It was very enjoyable, it was all in English. But maybe it would have been better to go to the ward in Keiv, that way Nadiya and Stephen could have understood it. We are waiting for passports. With the new passports it takes about 5 days, especially if you are adopting a child 14 or older, they have to do a background check. Hopefully their passports will be ready on Wednesday. Stephan also has to have his fingerprints taken, that takes 24 hours. So while we wait we are going to see the sights. Keiv is browner than Poltava and very hot and humid. Our apartment doesn't have air conditioning but usually at night there is a pretty good breeze that blows through. It has a kitchen so we can cook our own meals, it is so nice to eat home cooked food. The apartment has three bedrooms, Bob and I, Nadiya, and Natasha, Stephan sleeps on the couch fold out.

No we haven't disappeared

It was hard to get to the internet cafe in Poltava the last few days we were there. We had to stay in our hotel, because the KGB was involved. I will tell you more when we are safely on American soil.

We are still here!

We went to the Space and Areonatics Musuem. It was very interesting, it had parts from the Sputnik( russian satelite) It also had pictures and planes fromWorld War I and II. There was a large globe in the front of the exihibit, we were trying to show Nadiya how far we had to travel to get home. Our translator told the lady there that we were adopting Nadiya and taking her to America. The ladies eyes lit up and she told us thank you for taking care of their children. Then she said something to Nadiya in Ukrainian of course. It made Bob and I feel really good that we are making a difference in a couple of children's lives. We went to the library, don't bother going there, there are guards everywhere. You have to ask to look at any books and to check one out they have to copy your passport and it takes one month. Not a very friendly atmosphere. Alona told us they don't use the libraries very often, I know why. The circus was across the street in the park. (Of course it wasn't very well attend because they all live in one every day) It was one small tent, with everyone smoking, we decided not to bother. Then at 10:00 they shot off fireworks, right on the curb of the park. They were big ones too. We enjoyed them they were right outside our window, closest we have ever been to fireworks. Of course we missed Hannah Montana.(comment from the luggage) One month in a foreign country is a long time!

What do you do in Poltava?

Well you can go to musuems but.....sometimes they just close because they want to. Natasha could never figure that out. And by the whay don't plan on being allowed in the musuem an hour before closing, the ticket lady has already gone home. There really is not much to do in Poltava you can only see the horseshoe gazebo so many times.
Last night we had dinner at the senior couple, the Pattees, apartment. On the outside the apartment looks really run down, but inside it was very nice. There was another couple with us, the Lees, they are with the church humanitarian projects. They travel all over Ukraine. Right now they are teaching parenting classes. They told us about all the things that they have helped to accomplish here. Amazing the things the church does in other countries that no one ever knows. The Lees had a cute girl as a translator with them, she really helped with Nadiya. It was wonderful to have a home cooked meal.

Some of you were wondering about Katia, we weren't allowed to adopt her.

Life after Court

Well I guess you finally saw the pictures. The first one is a monument honoring National Dumpling Day. You can order any kind of dumpling you want. We tried to get Nadiya to sit in the spoon but she wouldn't. Nadiya's picture, Stephen's picture. Then all of us together. Then just the kids in their best right after they were approved to be ours. Stephen's named was to be spelled Stephan but it was misspelled on the documents and it is a headache to change it all so from now on it is spelled Stephen. Life after the court is rather boring, we have seen alot of sites but....even Nadiya has said "Let's go to America". she hasn't even been there but anything would be better then going to an art musuem. Bob and I enjoy the musuems but Nadiya get yelled at. We took Stephen back to the camp on Saturday, he was bored and he really didn't want to go to musuems, he wanted to say goodbye to his friends.

Pictures!!