The Big Reveal

I know you've been wondering about the details from our second appointment. So . . .

Bus driver! Move! That! Bus!

The file brought to us at our second appointment (the one we weren't supposed to see) was a sibling group - 2 girls and a boy. All are healthy. At first we didn't consider them seriously, because our paperwork is for 2 children, either gender, from 3-7 years old. We were not qualified for them. But the more we looked, the more we became convinced that this was our match. In particular, our girls perked up at this file and showed more interest than they had at any other point in the process.

The youngest is a girl, 3-1/2 years old. She is in an orphanage in Bilhorod-Dnistrovs'kyy (about 1-1/2 hours south of Odessa). She is very small for her age, and a favorite of the staff there.

Next is a 6 year old girl. She is in a different orphanage - we think in Izmayil, about 3 hours away from the youngest. She is also a favorite with her staff.

And finally, an 11 year old boy. He is in the same orphanage as the 6 year old girl. He is "good boy" according to our facilitator, and well liked.

Because our paperwork did not qualify us for this match, we had to request a homestudy update from our social worker in the States. That paper had to be authenticated by the State and then sent to our facilitator in Kiev. Separately, we must arrange with USCIS (immigration) to bring 3 children home instead of 1 or 2.

All of that gave us a week+ of vacation in Kiev while we waited for the paperwork to arrive.

Yesterday we went to Bilhorod-Dnistrovs'kyy to meet the youngest (separate post). SDA gave us permission to visit her while we wait for the paperwork to process for a referral to see the other two. This also took all three kids off the "available" list. We should have that referral on Tuesday or Wednesday. Then it is back to Odessa region.

Please know that we firmly believe that your prayer support contributed greatly to the outcome of that second appointment. Many, many things happened there that we attribute directly to the intervention of prayer.

That said, please continue to pray for our USCIS paperwork to clear. For our referral for the older kids to come sooner rather than later. For our next trip to the region to meet the older kids. For paperwork to go smoothly. For a quick court date. And for us as we are away from home, friends and family for at least another 2 weeks or so.