God is Good (and so are His angels) ...

We went to our SDA appointment this morning.  Konstantin met us in our lobby and we walked to the Adoption offices, arriving right at 9am.  They opened the gate within a few minutes and up we went to the office of the "child psychologist" who would present us with the files of the children available for adoption.

We had come with a print-out of two sisters who Joni, my dear new friend through adoption (who also set up this blog for me!), had emailed to me about a week before we were to leave.  She had noticed the girls on the SDA website, which is really meant to be used by Ukrainians, I guess, but anyone can view it.  She and her daughter had discovered the darling sisters on the site, but their family is looking at adopting one child at this time since they already have four kids!  The girls are so cute, born in 2000 and 2002, and we knew it was a long shot for them to be available to foreigners, but we decided to at least ask about them when we got here.

The office we were escorted into was much more comfortable than we had anticipated.  We sat at a small sectional sofa in the corner with a coffee table in front of it and desks at the other side of the cozy room.  Lots of books on bookshelves, a lovely window ... we were expecting something much colder and more sterile, so we were very pleasantly surprised.  The child worker was quite young, in her late twenties, with a kind and pretty face.  Blake was asked to say a little something about our family and then what type of child or children we were seeking.  That's when we mentioned the sisters and presented our copies of their postings from the SDA website.

The child worker looked at it and she and Konstantin talked a bit back and forth.  She then got up to make a phone call.  Konstantin told us the ph# to the girls' social worker was on our copy, but no last name.  SDA files go completely by last name and/or birthdate, neither of which were listed on the print-out I had.  Meanwhile, she left and brought back a few files of other children to look at.  We were presented with two sets of sisters.  We didn't feel any connection at all to these children, I'm sorry to say.  She then ran in with the files of Karina and Victoria, the girls we had asked about, and said that they were, in fact, available for international adoption!  She and Konstantin then talked quite a bit more and both were on their phones talking with various contacts of theirs, trying to get more info on the girls.  Meanwhile, we were shown another set of files of a brother and sister sibling group (once you mention that you might possibly be open to two, I guess that is what they decide to show you!).  Again, unfortunately, we did not feel any interest for those children. 

At this time, both Konstantin and the sweet SDA worker were off their calls and relayed to us that Karina and Victoria had been in state care since 2008.  They had been on at least one hosting trip to Italy, and possibly one trip to the U.S., too (little discrepancy there) and had also turned down adoption requests from a Ukrainian family as well as a foreign family.  These girls certainly know what they want!  There also had only been positive reviews on them from their various child care workers.  So, long story short, we are going to meet them on Friday!

They live in Donetsk, which is the second largest city in Ukraine, and quite a distance from here.  We will take an all-night express train tomorrow night to arrive Friday morning.  Konstantin is setting up an apartment for us with our translator and in-region liaison.  I will send more info as I receive it. 

In the meantime, here's a link to view the girls' info (this is what Joni, who I now call our "adoption angel", had sent me and what I had printed out):

http://sirotstvy.net/ua/child_needs_family/2452.html?pg=2

 

http://sirotstvy.net/ua/child_needs_family/2453.html?pg=1

I will write more later.  We are on our way to grab dinner and are famished!  Just wanted to get this info out sooner than later and thank you all so very much for your prayers.  Blake and I clearly felt the hand of God in the meeting this morning and totally felt the peace and clarity that we have so fervently been praying for.  We will continue to need prayers as we continue through this process, particularly in meeting the girls.  We remain open to whatever it is God has planned for us.

Much love!  xoxo