Day Seven!

Hello Everyone! Hope all is well with you back home. It is hard to believe that we have been here a week already. I was actually more homesick the first couple days then now, just being in a new country can really take you for a spin! Also, the kids sound like they are having a wonderful time, and that really makes me feel good. It has been a great experience so far. The culture is really very different then ours. We have been learning so many things from Helen, our translator. Everyone eats soup at least once a day- and we have had some delicious borsch- is comes in different varieties (look it up on the web!) We have found a favorite café that we’ve been to at least once a day while here in Kherson. The hostess is a beautiful lady and very kind. We have met a lot of really nice people here. Yesterday we were basically running around all day doing our paper work. Last night around 5 pm we took a trip to the village where Valero was born. It was about 2 hours from Kherson, but we needed to pick up a paper from the local officials there. We had this neat taxi driver, grandpa type- he was so happy to hear that we were adopting. He was driving about 75 mph, which seemed like a 150 in this small car- I wasn’t sure we would live, but our translator kept saying- “Oh, he’s a good driver!” Well thankfully we made it to the village. We went to pick up this paper at this ladies apartment and she wasn’t home. Helen knocked on the neighbor’s door to see if we were at the right place. We were, but she just wasn’t home. This couple (Sasha & Elena) asked us to come in their apartment, offered us tea and we were there over an hour. They wanted to know what we did, where we live and why we were adopting. He could speak a little English. It was amazing to me- can you imagine stopping by a stranger’s apartment on a Friday night and being invited in for tea and some chit- chat?! There are some simple things here that are lost in America. Everyone talks to each other like they know each other for years- Jen – I’m sure you know what I’m talking about! Most people are thin, they eat healthy, but they need a Surgeon General- I think most people smoke! We have done a lot of walking- I heard we would and it is true- it makes you feel good! Amy, you would love it here- hardly anyone has a dryer and they hang out all there wash! Matthew would be right at home- everyone takes off their shoes and puts their “house shoes” on at the front door!

We had a wonderful visit with Valera yesterday. The Director brought him in the office and asked him if he would like to have a Papa and a Mama. This is another moment I won’t ever forget. He is so sweet. He had to go up to his classroom and write a letter stating that he wanted to be adopted (see picture) He did so well and really worked hard. Today we had a great day with Valera-by the way we need to put his official name on his passport application at some point, and that name will be Daniel Valera Moyer! We told him today and he smiled. We will still call him Valera while he is at the orphanage and see how he feels about his American name later- we don’t want to do something that he is uncomfortable with.

We asked the Director if we could take him to the zoo. He is so kind; he had no problem with that. It was about an hour from the orphanage, and Valera was as patient as could be. We went around the zoo and he would say what the animal was in Ukrainian and we would say the English word and he repeated it! What I noticed the most is that kids are kids- he is just a normal kid! At the end of the day, we stopped by the souvenirs- what cracked me up was he picked out exactly what Nate would have at that age- a plastic animal and a rubber yo- yo with goo and bugs inside! We were able to buy some for all his friends at the orphanage and he couldn’t wait to give them theirs. I am happy beyond words that he will have a family- but he will miss the only family he knows- the teachers and good kids at the orphanage. I really only have positive things to say about the orphanage. It is a much better environment than these kids would have if they were with people that were unable to care for them or in the street. They eat 5 times a day, they learn and they have each other. We learned today that they take a bus to church every Sunday for worship! It is very hard not get attached to all of them- I can’t tell you how blessed I feel to have been given this opportunity- and I know that the last day we are here will not be easy.

Thanks for your comments and your prayers. Continue to pray for the adoption paperwork process to go smoothly and for a quick return. I could spend time each day at the orphanage forever if I could, but I really miss Nate and Rachel back home. Daniel Valera is very excited to meet his brother and sister and those two dogs! He is very excited to ride the 4-wheeler and to shoot hoops. He is an angel and God’s plan is amazing to me.

Enjoy the Thanksgiving meal tomorrow at Dawn’s – we will really miss not being there! I am very thankful for all who will be- Lord willing we can call in the afternoon. It gets me through the days when I can talk to the kids! PS- can you let the dogs out after the meal (I looked on the schedule and I think I forgot about the afternoon-THANKS!)


Love,
Doug and Glenda

Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. Isaiah 49:1