Sunday update

Can you imagine being cooped up in a 500 sq ft flat with 2 boys and a sick husband?? Well, I was and badly needed some way out. I checked email and there it was. A saving email from our friend, Ben. He said he could get us to his church for the 4:30 service if we wanted to come. So, I got the boys dressed and myself ready and we headed out. I was venturing out alone with some grievna and a cell phone. I have no idea where I am. Ben had to call our facilitator to find out where to send the taxi. We go outside and look for the taxi. Don't see one. David comes out and says that Ben says it's around the corner. We go around the corner-no taxi. We walk back toward the flat and see a taxi sitting in front of the flat. I look inside and sort of motion toward us three and getting into his taxi. He nods. We get it and I pantomine phone call. He says da. So, we get in and I pray that this guy is taking us to the church. We end up at a building with the #3 on it. Ben said to look for a #3. He asks me something in russian. I say da and give him some money. He gives me change and we go in. Thank you, Lord, this was the right place.

We find Tanya and Ben. We recognize some of the music. Tanya takes the boys outside to play in a little courtyard with some other children, including their Emma. Ben had introduced this man from MS that was there to adopt 4 children with his wife. This man, Tony, was going to preach. I thought I had missed it this morning and am thrilled to know I get to hear it. His wife sings a song and her voice is beautiful. Tony's sermon was on the parallels of adoption into God's family and families adopting orphans. Gal 4 was the scripture background. As he is talking, I started thinking "Wait a minute. His story sounds really familiar. I think I have heard of him through some friends who go to his church."

Afterwards, I go up and introduce myself and we start chatting. Not only does he know my friends from MS, but he knows our pastor and his wife and knows the Hall family. Incredible how in this foreign land, I cross paths with a man and his wife who are from MS, who have a common passion for orphans and who knows friends of ours. They also met our friends who are here in Poltava adopting. We ended up going out for pizza with them, Ben, Tanya and Emma. It was a very nice evening with old and new friends. I will put a link to Tony and Kimberly's adoption blog up on my blog. Please pray for their journey, as they are in the middle of their 10 day waiting period which follows court.

David says he is feeling better. He slept while we went out. As I said, tomorrow is our court date. We will let you know as soon as we can how it all went.