Second Meeting with Older Kids

The next day we had another meeting with the children.  This time we were in the same building as before but in an open area where other kids would walk by on their way somewhere else.  I must admit that none of us slept well the night before, and we were all a bit subdued after the previous meeting.

Game Boy brought picture albums of his trips to the States.  As it turns out, he has been twice to the same family.  He clearly had a wonderful time, and the family obviously enjoyed him.  He told us all the things they did together.  Giggles was with him for the second trip in December.  We eventually figured out that they were visiting Minnesota (lotsa snow!)

Giggles was just the same.  She seemed a little surprised to see us again so soon, but she quickly jumped on my lap and started the "Mama, noooo!" silliness of the previous day.  She also showed us how she can do a cartwheel (pretty good one, too!).  And of course she took over the camera again.

We colored with Giggles.  She has proper grip and colors quite effectively.  She didn't want to color.  She wanted to be silly, but I got her to help me choose colors and before I knew it she took over and wouldn't let me color for a while.

Game Boy spent much of this meeting talking with Zhenia.  They even disappeared together for a quite while to talk with one of his teachers and maybe even the director.  Apparently this teacher went with Game Boy to the States, knows this other family, and keeps reminding him that they want to adopt him, they are coming for him, and he promised them.  We also found out that the family sometimes calls to talk to him and that he was expecting a call that night.  So we didn't see much of Game Boy and when we did see him, he wanted to play the racing game on Cliff's phone.  He was friendly but more withdrawn than the night before.

Also in this area were two other families adopting kids.  One family we didn't really interact with much; they were not there very long.  The other family is Italian, and they are adopting a boy that Giggles knows well.  Giggles and this boy were taking pictures of each other as they took pictures of each other.   Very funny!  Interestingly, this boy also went on the hosting program and had an American family interested in him, but he decided to go with the Italian family who came to Ukraine to see him.

After we left, Zhenia filled us in on the conversations that took place away from us.  He told us about the teacher who seemed to him defensive and almost angry that Game Boy would even consider another family.  This is Zhenia's impression.  We were not there.  The director did not know that the host family was interested in adopting Game Boy.  SDA did not know that there was another family interested in Game Boy, because they have  not filed a letter of intent.  Legally we can pursue the adoption.  So really we don't know what this other family told Game Boy or what they intend to do.  We both feel terrible for them if they DO want to adopt him and just haven't gotten the paperwork done.  But at the same time, what if they just like the idea and never produce any papers?  And there he is waiting for something that will never happen when he could be with us?

This was a difficult meeting - partly because we spent so little time with Game Boy and partly because the time we did spend with him was him re-living his time with the other family.  We are encouraged by his clear ability to bond quickly, and we enjoyed the lively descriptions of his trip and the family.  We understand, but it is still hard.

So this is why I posted the prayer request at Urgent Prayer Needed.