Last Sunday

Last Sunday we went to a pool party that our Va Beach adoption service hosted for families that have adopted in recent years. Most of the children were from Ukraine, but several were from Guatemala. At least five of the kids were from Katya's orphanage and are close friends of hers. We took pictures and will take them to Ukraine (which will be very soon, at least for Beverly). A team of 11 adults from our church leave this Friday for a two week service related mission trip at the orphanage in Uglegorsk. Beverly will have some time to spend with Katya. So this coming Saturday or Sunday she will be able to show Katya the pictures. I would post some of them, but don't have permission from the parents, so I won't just in case they might object.

I wish I was able to go this Friday, but I can't because I need to take off from work now and then again in August when we go for the adoption. I am really happy that Beverly can go, because at least one of us needs to spend some time with Katya. She seems somewhat reluctant to leave Ukraine, especially without her friend Anya. We would have adopted them both, but Anya is not registered (i.e. available for adoption). And she won't be for about 10 more months.

It has to be so very scary for a 14 year old girl to think about what her life would be like away from the country and friends she has known all her life, and move to a country with two essentially strange adults, where she doesn't speak the language. BUT..... Beverly is such a wonderful person and I know Katya will warm up to her right away.

Hopefully, seeing recent pictures of happy friends here will help relieve her fears of coming to the US. Her friends have their struggles with their new parents, but they are all happy and well cared for (loved and supported). It is amazing how quickly they are learning English. One of the young girls that arrived last November already speaks really well. We are hoping that Katya picks up the language quickly without a lot of frustration.

That brings me to school. That will a be huge adjustment for her since she hasn't even been to public school in her own country. All the children at Uglegorsk are taught in the orphanage. Katya will be going to a public school here in Va Beach. They will start her in an age appropriate class (9th grade), which means high school. Middle school would be scary enough, but HS will even be more scary. The cool thing is that we have a young girl that lives right next door that will be starting 9th grade also. She is a wonderfully sweet young lady, so I'm sure she will help Katya get acclimated and watch out for her. There are also kids from our church youth group that also go to the same high school.

Well, g2g and help Beverly get ready to leave on Friday.