2-6-09 & 2-7-09

Finally, updating blog.We have not been able to update over the last week.We did get a modem that will work in this area of eastern Ukraine on 2-13-09 late in the evening went through 100's of e-mails 95% of which was spam. Will try to keep it short but no promises.

2-6-09 Friday= We picked up our official doc. from the SDA on Friday at 4pm , then boarded a train from Kiev to Donetsk in the lower eastern section of Ukraine at 7pm. Arrived in Donetsk on Saturday at 6:30 am.The train ride was long but the time went by quickly even though we hardly slept.The train was very nice the only problem was the heat was on high and no way to turn it down.

2-7-09 Saturday=When we arrived our facilitator/translator "Austop" met us at the station. Chris took a quick shower at the train station changed clothes, then we headed to meet the Inspector for the older child to get permission to see him. Then off to see the Inspector of the region where the 2 younger childern live. Luckly everything worked out since this was one of thier working Saturdays to make up for time off at Christmas & New Years. We fell in love with all 3 children as soon as we met them.We knew these were the children we had been waiting for. All 3 of the children are cared for by professional, but very loving, people. Everyone has been very helpful & nice (Inspectors,Orphanage Directors,Social Workers,Medical Directors,Staff etc.)Austop's wife called to set up an apartment while we were making our long trip in Austop's car to visit the the children.This gave us plenty of time to get to know Austop. We were able to talk/play/interact with the 4 yo"D"& 5yo "E"for around an hour and with the 10yo "Y"for close to the same time. We greatly appreciate the effort everyone made to get the papers signed to allow us to meet with the children. It is very difficult not to refer to them as "our " children.We are just praying that nothing occurs with process that can't be fixed.