Katya's Story
In order to truly understand the frightening experience we went through in October of 2008, you will need to read our story from the beginning to the end. Each email was written at the time it was actually happening. Our current situation is that we now have guardianship of Katya, she is living with us at home in Kiev, and we have started the one year long adoption process. Click the links in order to read each section of Katya's story.
Day Ten - Guardianship Granted
October 16, 2008
This email includes:
- Waiting in the Corridor
- The Council of Nine
- A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words (when our tongues can't)
- Katya Comes HOME On Tuesday
- "Slava Bogu!"
- Telling Katya and the Kids
- Prayer: "We're Standing on Our Knees For You"
- A Peek at the Last Page
- Finding Comfort in Your Company
WAITING IN THE CORRIDOR
Mike, Ivan, and I sat in a corridor on the third floor of the administrative
building for this region of Kiev, located just a block from our apartment.
We were the first in a growing line of people waiting to have their cases
heard. Ivan looked through his documents a final time, Mike silently
went over our story in Russian, and I put some pictures in order of
Katya in our family. There were a couple family pictures, a closeup of
the four kids together, a good one of us with Katya's family, one of Mike
and Katya hugging on a recent walk in a beautiful park in Kiev, and my
favorite -- a darling picture of Mandie, Sammie, and Katya playing dolls
on Katya's bed when Mandie was home in August. We were hoping
they might warm some hearts.
There was a nameplate on the door. The blonde woman we'd met last
week, Mia, is the associate administrator for our region of Kiev. She has
a lot of power, and we were very thankful that we'd already met with her
to explain our situation. It was good to not be coming in cold. We felt
that she had listened to our story and cared.
THE COUNCIL OF NINE
Irina called us into the office. Irina is the kind social worker who
approved our documents yesterday in place of the director of Social
Services, who is still sick. We know that the director did not want to
have guardianship dealings with a foreigner, so that is one of several of
God's miracles of intervention/ circumvention.
There were nine council members in all, seated in a half circle. Three
chairs had been placed together for us. We sat down, and Mia
introduced us and briefly stated our case. There was no sign of
recognition or warmth from either Mia or Irina. The council members
were completely serious. We felt tension, because there were no
smiles, no glances of interest, no expressions whatsoever. We had no
idea what they were thinking. Mia opened the book of documents that
Ivan had prepared and began reading them aloud to the council
members.
There was a flicker of interest concerning the letters from Katya's oldest
brother and her sisters, stating that they did not want guardianship of
Katya. They recommended Mike as guardian. We did not have to get a
letter from Maxim, because he is 17 and a minor. Because he is a
minor, Mike and I would not have been able to legally separate Katya
from Maxim. The government will not separate children who are minors.
However, the courts already separated Katya from Maxim when they
terminated their mother's rights over Katya. Tanya's rights were NOT
terminated over Maxim, so he is still under her authority. This was a
huge benefit to us.
A PICTURE SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS (even when our tongues
can't!)
After reading the documents, Mia asked Mike to share our story with
the council. Mike did his best, though the tension in the room caused
him to struggle with his Russian grammar.
I thought this might be a good time to hand out the pictures, so while
Mike was still speaking, the pictures passed from one council member
to the next. Finally, we saw sparks of interest and emotion. I heard
whispers about how much Katya resembles our children and me -- eyes
were traveling from the pictures to me. I could tell when each person got
to the picture of the girls playing dolls on Katya's bed. There were actual
smiles and expressions of warmth.
KATYA COMES HOME ON TUESDAY!!
When Mike finished, Mia asked a few more questions, most of which
Ivan and Irina answered. Mike and I understood very little of what was
being said, because they were speaking mainly in Ukrainian. The
question was raised about Katya's education. This is always a touchy
issue. NO authority is happy when he discovers that Katya is attending
an international school instead of a Ukrainian school. Mia looked very
serious and said something we did not understand. My heart froze and
sank to the pit of my stomach. I was almost sure she had denied us
guardianship. But then she said something more and seemed positive
and ended with the word "today." My heart leaped from the pit of my
stomach and nearly out of my throat! Before I could stop myself, I had
blurted out excitedly, "TODAY??"
The council laughed. They all understood that I'd thought Mia was giving
us permission to take Katya home today. Mia said, "No," and explained
a little more. Then she leaned back like she was finished. Mike and I did
not understand. "What does this mean?" I asked. "Did we get it?"
"Da," Maya smiled. ("Yes"). "You got it. We will have the documents
prepared by Monday night. You may take Katya from the orphanage on
Tuesday."
"SLAVA BOGU!"
Instantly, Mike and I were wiping tears of relief and joy. I KNOW I heard
sniffs of emotion from a few of the council members, as well. Mike lifted
my hand in victory, and we thanked the members of the council
profusely. We praised the Lord aloud, saying, "Slava Bogu!" Mia and
most of the council members smiled and gave us nods of
encouragement as we left the room with Ivan and Irina. As soon as the
door was shut behind us, Mike and I enveloped Irina and Ivan in big hugs
of thanks. This would not have happened without either of them,
especially Ivan. Ivan -- what a dear friend he has become. We told him
that we'll invite him over for a celebration dinner when Katya comes
home.
Now that it was over, Ivan told us what had happened last night. Irina
had told him yesterday, that he must get a document faxed from the
director of Katya's orphanage, recommending Mike for guardianship.
Ivan called and asked Victor for the document, but he wouldn't give it
without the order of his supervisor. Ivan called his supervisor, but she
refused to give the order. Ivan talked to her for an entire hour, explaining
our whole story, pleading with her to change her mind. She finally gave
in and called Victor, who faxed the document. Ivan had it for the
meeting. We probably would not have received guardianship without it.
Ivan hadn't told us anything about this. He did not want to give us
anything new to worry about last night.
TELLING KATYA AND THE KIDS
We called Katya. Mike and I used the speaker on my cell phone so we
could share the news together. "Katya! We got guardianship! "
It was fun to hear her reaction. "REALLY?" she squealed. "Oh, thank
you, Lord! I'm SO happy, Mom and Dad. When are you coming to get
me?"
"We can get you on Tuesday!"
"I can't wait!"
We told Kate to go somewhere and celebrate with the Lord, alone. We
really don't think she should tell anybody about it. It may change how
she is treated. She agreed.
Sammie came home when Mike and I were laughing about something in
the kitchen. "You guys sound happy," she said. "Does this mean we
got guardianship? YEA!!!" We told Luke and Mandie by phone. They
were SO happy and relieved. We will soon be a family again.
PRAYER: "WE'RE STANDING ON OUR KNEES FOR YOU"
We prayed with Mike's students before we left them to go to our
meeting, and we prayed again with Ivan outside the administrative
building. Our missionary community in Kiev was praying. Our kids'
school was praying. Our Ukrainian church family was "standing on their
knees" for us. I love how that is stated in Russian. Our church is made
up of mostly new believers. Some of their first prayers were for this. How
wonderful for them to see God's ability to direct our course through a
difficult situation -- steering us around obstacles -- witnessing the reality
of God's love and care.
We know that literally hundreds of you were praying too, including many
new internet friends whom we have never met. We felt completely
blanketed in prayer. There were a few times that we felt very tense. It
was a questionable thing to grant guardianship to a foreign family. The
council members were so serious. But in the tense moments, we
remembered the amount of people who were praying ... and we sensed
God's presence right there with us. He filled us with His peace.
It is our prayer that you will be built up and encouraged in your faith
through all that has happened. May you praise the Lord along with us!
A PEEK AT THE LAST PAGE
On Tuesday night, my last night at Nadia's hata in Komorovka, I sat on
the edge of my bed and prayed. I'd just put Katya to bed and walked
home in the darkness. I was aware of the spiritual darkness, as well. I
was going to have to leave Katya again the next morning, and I was
discouraged. "Lord, please let this end soon," I prayed. "I don't know
what we'll do if Katya has to stay here for a long period of time. I need to
be here with Katya, but I need to be home for the others, too. Will you
please help me find some encouragement in Your Word?"
I picked up my Bible, and it opened to Psalm 68. I began to read. My
spirits lifted as I read the first three verses, and then came verses 4 - 8:
4 "Sing to God, sing praise to His name, extol Him who rides on the
clouds -- His name is the Lord -- and rejoice before Him.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy
dwelling.
6 God sets the lonely in families, He leads forth the prisoners with
singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land."
My heart and mind were filled with God's peace, and I had an assurance
that everything was going to go well at the guardianship meeting on
Thursday (today). I felt like I'd peeked at the last page of a book and
then just needed to go back and read the whole thing to find out how
everything was going to come about. I went to sleep with a light heart
and slept peacefully. And now everything has come about according to
God's plan.
FINDING COMFORT IN YOUR COMPANY
Thank you for reading my letters and walking along beside us as we
went through this difficult situation. We took great comfort in your
company and the knowledge of your prayers. We feel so much better,
knowing that our little girl can come home soon.
There is one more part to this story that I can't wait to share with you,
one more piece to the miracle of attaining guardianship as foreigners.
(Our lawyers know of only 5 families in this country that have attained
guardianship as foreigners.) This last miracle story will have to wait until
the guardianship documents are signed, sealed, and delivered ... and
Katya is safely back home.