Birth Certificate and Passport

Our day started at 7:30 am. We first went to the judge to get our decree so that we could finish the paperwork. Then we went to get Katia's birth certificate, they weren't working today, SURPRISE! So Natasha got on her phone and called the woman she said she would come at 1:00 and have it ready by 2 for us. So we went to the notary and got the other papers notarized, the court decree. Then we wen to get Katia from the camp permamently. They were really picky this time they had to see the court decree and everything. Katia said goodbye to her friends, it was sad, especially since I don't think those kids will have a chance of being adopted with the way things are in that region. We found out they are still upset about Katia being separated from her brothers that they have involved the KGB. Irena has an appointment with the KGB today. Natasha pointed out to the director of the orphanage that it is against the national law to stop adoptions that the SDA have approved. The SDA had no problem with the separation. We went to lunch then headed back to get the birth certificate for Poltava then we headed to Krememchuk. We had to keep it really quiet while we were there, we didn't want to cause any more problems. It was 5:30 and Natasha and Vld talked to the passport man and he said he would meet us at the passport office in Poltava between 7:00 and 7:30. So another wild ride. Vladimir is such a crazy driver. So at about 8:30 pm we return to our apartment. We have Sara's new birth certificate and her passport.

Sunday

We went to church at the Poltava Branch. It was good to be with them again. The cute sister missionaries are coming home in a couple of weeks, so we have asked them to help teach Katia. The members are so friendly and are curious about the process of adopotion. So when we go we answer alot of questions. The branch is growing and the missionaries usually bring an investigator with them every Sunday.

Saturday Activities

Saturday morning Irena went and got Katia from the camp so she could get her money from the bank. Needless to say it wasn't as much as what they thought. So Katia won't have as much money in her account when we get home. We got our cute translator, Marina, and went to lunch at the pizza place. Then we walked around Poltava. Katia has never seen the sights here in Poltava so it is to bad that we didn't get to spend more time outside of camp with her. We went to a couple of parks, the fountains were going(they only turn them on on the weekends) and all the brides. Saturday is the big wedding day around here. On the way to the park with the dumpling monument there is a building where the justice of the peace is. All the brides are lined up outside the door waiting for their turn. The cars are all decorated up, they put bows and ribbons on the front ends. Katia could only spend a couple of hours with us before we had to take her back to camp. Only a couple more days of saying goodbye to her.

Oh What Do You Do.....

Sorry that I haven't posted recently. But all we do is sit in our apartment and then in the afternoon go to the camp to visit Katia. Bob and I saw all the sights in Poltava last year, some of them twice. We wanted to take Katia with us but they won't allow haer out of the camp. Natasha even recommended that we don't go to the camp everyday, because they are watching us. So Bob has read 2 books, I am on my second and have finished crocheting around a blanket and burpcloth. They are for my new grandbaby that is ready to be born any day now. We are hoping that he/she won't make an appearance until we are home. Our daugther Shemay had a baby girl the Thursday before we left, I hope she hasn't grown to much while we have been gone.

Here we are with the judge.

Sorry we had to keep it quiet when our court date was, we have had so much controversy over our case.

The Court

Well today was our court hearing. It went really well, the judge was kind. It only lasted about 30 minutes. Of course the orphanage was there saying they did not approve it, but the city inspector said that we had met all the requirements and therefore they approved. The prosecutor asked how many children we had and how would we be able to take care of Katia, we explained that most of our children were living on their own. Then he said that he approved. The Judge asked Katia why she didn't go with her brothers and she said that she loved us and want us to be her mom and dad. Her courage to stand up and say what she wants is what has carried us through all the people that don't want this adoption to take place. She has never wavered. The judge asked us how we would communicate we told him sign, pantomime and he just laughed. Then we told him that Nadiya and Stephen would help, he said now that you will have three children maybe you need to learn Ukrainian. The Judge and his helpers left the court room for all of 5 minutes to make their decision. When the judge came back he declared us her parents and that her birth certificate would be changed accordingly with the name Sara Kateryna Fuhriman. He shook our hands and congratulated us and then we got a picture with him. When we got in the car Natasha called the director of the orphanage to see if Katia could stay with us now. She told her no, the region lady is keeping an eye on us, she knows when we go to the camp, what we do there and where we go when we are there. She still thinks Katia shouldn't have been separated from her brothers. She is really causing problems, all the children are still in the camp after their court hearings. The region lady is meeting with the orphanag3 director about twice a week to stop her from internatioanl adoptions. Actually international adooptions have increased this year in this region despite her. So we will just play along and not cause anymore ripples. By the way one of the people who sat on the board of guardians, she voted against separation, had a heart attack on Monday, she was worried about her job. so we took Katia back to the camp after she had been with us most of the afternoon. She was not real happy about it but she understood.

Church in Poltava

We went to church on Sunday, it was wonderful to be with the saints. We tried to go last Sunday but they had moved the location. We went to the building that it was at last year and it wasn't there so I looked it up on the church website and found the address. It is a much nicer building than the last one but it doesn't have AC. We walked in the door and was greeted by the missionaries, they thought we were the new mission president, he was arriving soon. After we told them who we were and why we are in Poltava, some of the members recognized us from last year. The Pattee's, the senior couple, just left a couple of months ago. The cute young man that translated for us last year married the Sunday School teacher and is now the Branch President. The elders and sisters translated for us, they are so helpful. One of the sister's was talking to Bob that we need to take pictures of the children and encourage others to come and adopt. It is so difficult to adopt in the Poltava Region, I would have a hard time encouraging others. It was wonderful and I had my cup filled.