Adoption update - June 2002

Dear Friends,

We thought this would be a good time to send out an adoption update since our dossier (the required paperwork that introduces us to the Russian officials) is now in the hands of our agency, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, we have found another young girl we hope to adopt!

Our dossier arrived at our agency last Monday (06/03). After they review it, it will be forwarded to Russia (possibly next week) and eventually delivered to the officials in the region from which we hope/plan to adopt Olga and Nina!

Here’s what we know about Nina: she is 8 yrs. old, she likes to draw and color, she likes to dance, her favorite subject in school is math, she makes all A's in math, as a matter of fact, she is proud of the fact that she makes all A's in all her subjects at school, she likes "to make hairdos" on dolls, and she has been described as being very responsible and a leader, even among the boys!

The children at the orphanage are all at summer camp now and will be till late August. We understand that this will not necessarily delay or hinder our adoption process, but only time will tell. Once the regional officials review our dossier and determine exactly when both girls are officially available for adoption they will let us know when our first trip will be. It is very unlikely that we will receive more than a 10-day notice to travel. Wow! Won’t that be a hoot! We are still anticipating that our first trip will be in August which will last only about a week. We will go back and officially adopt the girls three to eight weeks later, that trip will last about three weeks.

Our hearts continue to bind to Olga, she is reportedly scared, as any 12 yr. old would be, but she is looking forward to her parents (us!) coming to get her! Here’s what we know about Olga: she just turned 12, she likes to read, she likes to crochet/knit and sew, she doesn’t like to ride a bicycle because she doesn’t know how (we’re looking forward to helping her learn!), she has a sweet, quiet, personality and tends to ponder things before acting, and she likes to take long walks.

Now that the major paperwork phase has past (there will be MORE paperwork later), we are focusing on getting things here at home ready for the girls. We’re clearing out our spare bedroom so we can paint the walls and make room in the closet for all the"girl stuff" for TWO girls! We’ve already received some very kind donations for our girls, a set of twin head and foot boards for their beds (we have located one inexpensive used twin mattress set, please let us know if you know of anyone wanting to sell a gently used set), and clothing for Olga! We continue to work on our Russian (we’re actually enjoying that!), we’re planning our approach to homeschool the girls, and we pray daily that the Lord will protect our girls till we can bring them home!

Oh, here’s a bit of trivia (that only an adoptive mother would mention!), Olga’s b-day is 6 days from Connie's b-day, and Nina's is 6 days from John's! Isn't that a hoot? As always, we appreciate your continued prayers on our behalf and our girls. Please pray specifically for their well-being physically and emotionally, pray for their spiritual condition that the Lord would even now prepare their hearts for the true gospel, that the Lord would be pleased to continue building in them a desire for a family, and that He would bind us together as a family as only He can do. Much love, John & Connie