10/24/12 Part 2

A few notes from Jocelyn to supplement Curt's post from today.

Back to Enakievo.  *Big sigh*  A world away from Kiev, for sure.  This is a heavy industry area, with mines and steel production and I'm sure other assorted factories.  There is a constant, awful-smelling thick haze that burns my eyes and sinuses.  I'm starting my inhaler again, as I'm sure I'll be feeling the effects soon.  Just imagine the long-term health effects for the unfortunate people who live here.  Yet, just when I was thinking "there couldn't possibly be a worse place on earth to live," Nicole Pilet, who was a missionary in Mongolia for several years, said that Enakievo is a lot like where they were in Mongolia, but Enakievo is so much nicer!  I know you've heard me say this before, but we in America have NO IDEA how good we have it.  I'm trying really hard to not complain about the little things.

We had such a wonderful conversation with the Pilets, the family adopting Olya.  We are hoping we can meet up with them again soon.  All of the adoptive families we've meet this past 10 months or so have been awesome.  It's like a special club, where there is instant connection and trust.  

Victor was in the zone today.  Even though we don't speak Russian, it's fascinating to watch him work.  It seems many people who work in the government offices are more concerned about their job security than they are the orphan's welfare (understandable, given the horrific state of the economy in Ukraine), so Victor will sometimes use his masterful persuasion skills to "help them make the right decision."  It's obvious that Victor really cares about these kids and will do whatever he can to get them adopted into loving families.  We are fortunate to have him on our side.

I had mixed feelings, being back at Uglegorsk.  Of course it was wonderful to see Illya and Svyatik and get official confirmation that they want to be part of our family.  It was also heartbreaking to see their classmates again--these sweet, loving boys who want a family just as much as Illya and Svyatik.  Their classmates all recognized us and greeted us warmly.  We even got some hugs.  When we were out in the halls some of the older kids would come say hello and just stand there and smile at us.  For a LONG time.  Many of the boys seem to have hardened by 14-15, but there are a handful that really seem to want to reach out and connect with us.  And how can they all be such beautiful children?  It's tough.  Even though we are not telling them "no" directly, it's evident that we'd made our decision and it wasn't them.

When we were with Illya and Svyatik in the play area, the rest of their class came in to change into their outside clothes.  Having NO modesty (John Warner, you were right!), a dozen or so 10 year old boys stripped to their skivvies to change.  Oh my, they are so very thin.  It was hard not to stare, and hard to hold back the tears.

On that note, it's past my bedtime.  I haven't slept well since we arrived in Ukraine, and we have an early start to a long day tomorrow.  Be sure to give your kids an extra big hug tonight.