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 emails in order to read each section of Katya's story.
The Preparation - Worries
Monday,
October 6, 2008
This email includes:
- Mike's Story
- Panic!
- Find that Lady!!
- Ivan's News
- Lesson from a Child
- Important Meetings to Pray For
Dear family and friends,
We were really touched by how many of you responded to our last letter
with encouraging notes, reminding us of Scripture and assuring us of
your prayers. You lifted our hearts and minds to Jesus. Thank you SO
much!
MIKE'S STORY
Mike was very busy Thursday and Friday, fitting in nine appointments to
doctors and labs for various check-ups and blood tests. Since medicine
is specialized here, you must go to doctors of individual areas of the
body to get a complete physical. He had one form that every doctor
must write the results in and stamp with their official seals.
On Friday evening, at the end of all his visits, he went to a clinic for his
final blood test. They didn't want to do it, because they were about to
close for the weekend. They had time to do the blood test, but after his
blood test he would need to go to a bank several blocks away to pay his
bill, then come back to the clinic and give them the receipt to show
proof of payment. They thought it would take too much time. This is the
system that many of the state-run clinics still have. They don't handle
the money themselves. They have an account set up at a nearby bank.
Mike was without Natasha and did his best to explain the situation and
the need to get it done immediately. If Social Services in Chernigov
called a meeting with us on Monday, we MUST have the medical
document completed. They listened, and since Mike had a car, they
allowed him to proceed because he could drive to the bank and back.
They told Mike to leave his medical form with them, and he did so,
assuming that they would fill it out while he ran to the bank.
PANIC!
He got back with the receipt of payment and asked for his medical
form. "We don't have it," they said. "You took it."
"I didn't take it," Mike said. "You told me to leave it with you."
"Well, we don't have it."
"What do you mean, you don't have it?" Mike exclaimed in horror. "You
HAVE to have it! I spent time and money getting all those doctors to
sign that form by today ... and you told me to leave it with you. You
HAVE to have it!"
The front desk lady finally did remember that he had left it with her, and
she searched the desk, but it was gone. I am quite sure that Mike
looked rather sick by this time. He had seen nine doctors in two days in
the midst of a busy teaching schedule -- running to doctors, back to
class, out to doctors again. He'd spent hours waiting in lines, not to
mention the cost! Proof of EVERYTHING was on that one document!
FIND THAT LADY!
The office gals thought of a possibility. One lady had come to the front
desk with her documents soon after Mike had left to pay at the bank.
Could she have accidently scooped up Mike's paper with her own
documents? They had an address for this lady in their file, but no phone
number. They called a number for information and found a phone
number for the address. They called that number, and thankfully
someone was home. She had this lady's mobile phone number. They
called the lady, and she did indeed have Mike's form!
She had left the vicinity, and that caused another problem. By this time,
the clinic was closed. The form had to be stamped by the head doctor
of the clinic, and she was ready to leave for the day. Her husband had
just arrived to pick her up. Mike and the office gals explained his plight,
and she took pity on him. She gave her husband her things and sent
him on home. She put her official stamps in her purse and climbed in
with Mike. They drove to where the lady had agreed to meet them. They
got the document from her, the doctor stamped it, and everybody lived
happily ever after -- or at least went home and ate supper!
We now have all of the documents needed for our meeting in Chernigov
and for applying for guardianship here in Kiev!
IVAN'S NEWS
And that's not all. Our lawyer's assistant, Ivan, called to tell us that he
had scheduled a meeting with Social Services in Chernigov for Tuesday.
We were pretty sure they would insist on keeping Katya after this
meeting, and I was going to have both Katya and I packed for a two -
week stay in the orphanage. This is the part where your prayers come
in. Ivan said, "Mike, they made a verbal promise to me over the phone
that they will not take Katya away from you."
"What??"
"They promised me that they will not keep her after the meeting."
LESSON FROM A CHILD
Friends, we don't know the details. We don't know WHY the change,
but we thank and praise the Lord for it! May this be an encouragement
to you as much as it has been to us. God cares about the things that
affect us, and He is completely in control of what happens to us. We did
not know which way He would choose to answer. We knew that either
way would bring Him glory. It occurred to us that maybe God would
want Katya and I to go and spend some time hanging out with Social
Services authorities ... or staff and kids in the orphanage. We were
willing to go.
On Thursday, Mike and I decided to tell Katya that the authorities might
put her back in the orphanage, but we told her that if they took her, she
wouldn't be going alone. Mommy would be going with her. "Really?" she
squealed, all excited.
"Katya," I said, "this is NOT an adventure. I don't really want to go and
live in the orphanage. And this would not be good for your move into 5th
grade."
"Oh yeah, you're right, Mom."
It was, however, very heartwarming to see that Katya had absolutely no
fear of being taken -- if Mommy was coming too. It made me think that I
must view life like my child does. Everything is ok -- as long as Jesus is
with me.
IMPORTANT MEETINGS TO PRAY FOR
Our meeting with Social Services is tomorrow (Tuesday). It is a two hour
drive to Chernigov, NE from Kiev. We hope the meeting will be quick,
and that Mike can be back to teach class at 4:00 in the afternoon. Ivan
is going with us. He speaks good English, so that is a great help to us.
He knows the laws, and he can also act as a translator when needed.
We have another meeting scheduled on Wednesday with authorities
here in Kiev. We will submit all of the documents we've gathered and
officially apply for guardianship. Please keep these two important
meetings in your prayers. Thank you!
With much love,
Judy for the family