December 28, 2006

The fight back to the United States makes for what seems like the longest day that could possibly be. We flew on AeroSvit at noon to JFK. The flight takes about 10 and a half hours and there is a 7 hour time change so you get in at about 4:00 PM New York time. Then we have a layover till our flight out to Richmond at 9:35 PM. We will get hom at about midnight.

Immigration started better than the last time - Elliott's entry was in the US Computer system. Unfortunately about 30 other folks needed to be fingerprinted at the same time so it took a couple of hours before we got to the Jet Blue Terminal. The layover is going fast - they have free wireless and plug ins for the laptop!!!

Elliott and I are both just beat!! Can't wait to get home and shower and sleep!

Thanks to all who prayed for us!! God is awesome!!!

December 27, Again

The crisis is over!! God is soooo good!! All afternoon I was concerned that we weren't going to make the flight but I KNEW that God had come through so many times! It's like I tell Nicky all the time "Trust Papa!" I called the embassy at 3:30 and they told me that there was a problem. I thought to my self - keep your cool! But find out what is going on - I will need to know the entire story! So I asked to talk to someone who was familiar with what the situation was. I was put on hold for about 20 minutes - all the while I was trying to pray - more for my anger than for a solution to the problem. After the hold, the lady came back on and apologized for the wait and said I could come down and pick it up!!!! I thought for a nano second that I wanted to know what was going on but then I had a divine revelation - Ignorance is bliss!!!! So we are outta here at noon tomorrow.

To cap it off - we met Olas for supper. I was sooo happy to see him. The evening just flew by - I would still bethere laughing and talking but he had to catch a plane. Here is a picture of all of us!!! Thank you, Lord for Olas!! He makes you want to adopt more kids just so you can spend time with him!!!

Next stop - JFK and US Citizenship for Elliott!

December 27, 2006

Got up early and went to the US Embassy at 8:30 AM. It was nice because only a few people have been given appointments over the holidays. We were expected and all went well until our interview. I was told that since Elliott was 16, a check with the Department of Homeland Security was needed. the Embassy had initiated the check last week and they still have not received the results. This is not the Ukraine Police Check that they require - Yuri had gotten that completed last week. The embassy official said that they had put an urgent trace on it yesterday and told me to call back at 4 PM. If it isn't there then we can check at 8 AM. Please pray that this is received as our flight is at noon tomorrow.

Elliott has been practicing his English using the Rosetta Stone software that his sister Tobi and brother-in-law Tommy bought for him. His pronunciation of all words except those with a 'th' in them is great!

Had lunch at McDonalds for a second day in a row!! Had supper at Da Mario's last night - I really love that restaurant!! The grilled salmon is to die for.

December 24 & 25, 2006

December 24 and 25, 2006
I left Richmond, Virginia, at 2:35 PM on Christmas Eve day. I arrived at JFK at 4:00, got my luggage and went to the AeroSvit ticket counter in terminal 4. I was through security and at the gate by 5:15. I thought the airport was crowded for Christmas Eve! The Flight to Kiev was packed. I had a middle seat in the last section - between two Ukrainians. I felt really crowded - they slept and I had a hard time sleeping! I think I got about an hour's sleep. I arrived in Kiev at noon on Christmas day which is actually just another business day in Ukraine! It took about 45 minutes to get through customs and Nicholi met me at the arrival area.

Nickoli took me to Steve Weber's home at the CBN complex where Elliott had been staying for the last four days. He had been in Kiev for about a week. I met Steve's wife and their six children (three natural and three adopted). Their kids are beautiful, very friendly and just a lot of fun. Their littlest one is Andre and he is three and a half - he is soooo cute! They made me feel so welcome that I forgot Nicholi was waiting for me! I was kinda punchy anyway from being up so long. Yuri called me and told me that we had an appointment at 8:30 AM for the medical.

This is a picture of a hotel across the street from our apartment. It was snowing lightly all night and it felt very Christmassy for being away from home probably cause I was with my son!

December 26, 2006
Elliott and I woke up at 7:30 and got dressed and went looking for a placed to have breakfast. I forgot all about the appointment - probably because of the jet lag. I figured I had my phone and they would call me if they needed me. When Elliott and I got back to the apartment, Yuri called and said we were late!!! He didn't have my cell phone number. Yuri got us in for the medical even though we were late and we completed that at noon.

We had lunch at McDonald's (See the picture) - different from the one I had been to before and Nicholi will pick us up at 2:30 PM to get the medical results. Embassy tomorrow and then we're outa here Thursday

Elliott is in Kiev

We received an E-Mail Saturday night from Steve Weber in which he said that Elliott was now in Kiev. That was such exciting news. I (Dave) was concerned that someone was going to have to take a copy of the Birth Certificate to Berdyansk before he could leave. I am sure we will have to ensure that a copy gets to the orphanage but there won't be a time constraint on it. I have E-mailed Yuri (Project Manager from SENSE) with my itinerary and things should go smoothly.

Praise God for his provision!!

Plans Made for Return Trip

We heard from Oles and made arrangements to return to Kiev to get Elliott. Unfortunately we won't return before Christmas but we know that God's timing is always perfect! Dave will fly to Kiev - leaving the 24th of December and arrive Christmas day. We will get the embassy and medical done on the 26th and have a grace day on the 27th. Our return flights are on the 28th! Kathie and Nicky are going to celebrate Christmas in Illinois. We are making the necessary arrangements to get Elliott to Kiev so that this will be a quick trip. Please pray that all goes smoothly!!!