Friday, April 30, 2004
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Olga's testimony
(Posted Jan. 2007) With Olga's permission, I am posting her testimony here. I have chosen to post this before I share details of our early days together as a family--which were indeed challenging, and bear great testimony to God's providence, mercy and grace. This is the testimony she wrote herself, and read--with a heavy Russian accent--to the congregation of our church (Feb. 2004) before her baptism which was joyfully carried out by my DH, her dad!
Hello, my name is Olga. Most of you know that my parents adopted me from Russia in September 2002.
Life in Russia was hard. When I was 4 years old, my father died. After that, my mother started selling drugs to make money. She was put in jail for that, and I had to live with my grandmother and uncles. For 10 years my family had lied to me about my mother being in jail and that my father had been killed. They told me that they had gone to another country. My uncles started doing drugs and sometimes I had to help them give themselves drugs.
When my mother got out of jail, I went to live with her and her boyfriend. They would leave me all day, and I would fall asleep waiting for them since they usually came home around midnight. Often I would go hungry. I would cry all day until it was red under my eyes and my eyes hurt bad. When they got home, her boyfriend would sometimes hurt me and my mother. There were even times when my mother would hurt me, sometimes real bad.
I lived with my uncles again for a little while, but one day they tricked me, saying that I had to go to the hospital. After the hospital, I was taken to the orphanage on December 29, 1999.
At first I thought that this might be good, since I had uncles and aunts in the same orphanage after my grandmother died. Some of the orphanage workers were nice, but others were mean to us. They would tell us that we were trash and that our parents didn’t love us so they threw us away like trash.
Sometimes they would put us with a family. One woman that I lived with would use bad language with the kids and use us like slaves. She would often feed us soup made with only water, salt, soup bones, and would put bread in the soup. She was supposed to use the government money to take care of us, but she used it to buy nice food for herself.
Later on, I found out what happens to kids after they leave the orphanage. Kids are put out on the street around 16 or 17. Some have to beg for food and many die from starving and from the cold. Girls usually kill themselves, knowing that life will be so hard when they get out. Some of them become prostitutes and are often killed. Many kids steal for food and are put in jail and raped or hurt by the police.
In May of 2002, shortly after I turned 12, I tried to kill myself. Things weren’t going well in my life. I had no hope and was not interested in living. When I woke up in the hospital, I was so scared and I began to think that God would never forgive me for trying to commit suicide. I stayed in the hospital for 6 weeks. But then in July, 2 crazy Americans came to meet me and came back in September to adopt me!
When I was living in Russia I thought that hurting or hating people was okay. Even after I came to America, I had a cold, stony heart and I treated my Dad badly. But I also thought that if you did more good things than bad things you can go to heaven. When I was little, I tried praying for my mother and me, that God would take care of us and give us food. I prayed that God would give us a miracle, but it never happened. When I was 9 or 10, I was baptized in the Russian Orthodox Church, and I thought that could save me, but it did not change anything in my heart. After being baptized, the Russian church gives you a cross to wear and you always have to wear it because they tell you if you don’t wear the cross demons can be in you. I heard about Jesus and the cross, but I thought it was just a story.
I realize now that God used all of those things to prepare my heart to receive Him. And it made me realize that I must receive Him now because I’ve learned that there may not be a tomorrow. God has also used things in my new life in America to prepare my heart. When I first came to America I was amazed at how many people in my family and in our church loved me even though they didn’t know me. I thought it was kind of weird, but also pretty cool. Soon after coming to America, I found that I loved coming to GBC and wanted to be like the people here.
During the last three months I’ve felt so bad about my sin. I have been sorry for my sin and sometimes I would cry over my sin until I fell asleep. When I talked bad to my Dad or Mom, I would feel so sorry and this would also make me cry at night. When I shared these things with my parents, they told me that maybe God was softening and changing my heart. And He WAS changing my heart!
Two weeks ago I told my parents that I wanted to be saved. So they talked to me to be sure that I understood the gospel. Dad read me the book “Ultimate Questions” to make sure that I understood the gospel. When I first came home to America I read this book in the Russian language, but I didn’t really understand or care about it then, because my heart was still hard and cold. Later that evening when I knew that I understood the gospel, I asked God to save me!
Since that night, I have noticed that it seems easier for me to obey my parents. I also have a desire to be more patient, I enjoy listening when others talk about God, and I like to read more about God. I like to spend time with God everyday. I know that He has forgiven me for all my sins and has given me hope and joy and peace!
Hello, my name is Olga. Most of you know that my parents adopted me from Russia in September 2002.
Life in Russia was hard. When I was 4 years old, my father died. After that, my mother started selling drugs to make money. She was put in jail for that, and I had to live with my grandmother and uncles. For 10 years my family had lied to me about my mother being in jail and that my father had been killed. They told me that they had gone to another country. My uncles started doing drugs and sometimes I had to help them give themselves drugs.
When my mother got out of jail, I went to live with her and her boyfriend. They would leave me all day, and I would fall asleep waiting for them since they usually came home around midnight. Often I would go hungry. I would cry all day until it was red under my eyes and my eyes hurt bad. When they got home, her boyfriend would sometimes hurt me and my mother. There were even times when my mother would hurt me, sometimes real bad.
I lived with my uncles again for a little while, but one day they tricked me, saying that I had to go to the hospital. After the hospital, I was taken to the orphanage on December 29, 1999.
At first I thought that this might be good, since I had uncles and aunts in the same orphanage after my grandmother died. Some of the orphanage workers were nice, but others were mean to us. They would tell us that we were trash and that our parents didn’t love us so they threw us away like trash.
Sometimes they would put us with a family. One woman that I lived with would use bad language with the kids and use us like slaves. She would often feed us soup made with only water, salt, soup bones, and would put bread in the soup. She was supposed to use the government money to take care of us, but she used it to buy nice food for herself.
Later on, I found out what happens to kids after they leave the orphanage. Kids are put out on the street around 16 or 17. Some have to beg for food and many die from starving and from the cold. Girls usually kill themselves, knowing that life will be so hard when they get out. Some of them become prostitutes and are often killed. Many kids steal for food and are put in jail and raped or hurt by the police.
In May of 2002, shortly after I turned 12, I tried to kill myself. Things weren’t going well in my life. I had no hope and was not interested in living. When I woke up in the hospital, I was so scared and I began to think that God would never forgive me for trying to commit suicide. I stayed in the hospital for 6 weeks. But then in July, 2 crazy Americans came to meet me and came back in September to adopt me!
When I was living in Russia I thought that hurting or hating people was okay. Even after I came to America, I had a cold, stony heart and I treated my Dad badly. But I also thought that if you did more good things than bad things you can go to heaven. When I was little, I tried praying for my mother and me, that God would take care of us and give us food. I prayed that God would give us a miracle, but it never happened. When I was 9 or 10, I was baptized in the Russian Orthodox Church, and I thought that could save me, but it did not change anything in my heart. After being baptized, the Russian church gives you a cross to wear and you always have to wear it because they tell you if you don’t wear the cross demons can be in you. I heard about Jesus and the cross, but I thought it was just a story.
I realize now that God used all of those things to prepare my heart to receive Him. And it made me realize that I must receive Him now because I’ve learned that there may not be a tomorrow. God has also used things in my new life in America to prepare my heart. When I first came to America I was amazed at how many people in my family and in our church loved me even though they didn’t know me. I thought it was kind of weird, but also pretty cool. Soon after coming to America, I found that I loved coming to GBC and wanted to be like the people here.
During the last three months I’ve felt so bad about my sin. I have been sorry for my sin and sometimes I would cry over my sin until I fell asleep. When I talked bad to my Dad or Mom, I would feel so sorry and this would also make me cry at night. When I shared these things with my parents, they told me that maybe God was softening and changing my heart. And He WAS changing my heart!
Two weeks ago I told my parents that I wanted to be saved. So they talked to me to be sure that I understood the gospel. Dad read me the book “Ultimate Questions” to make sure that I understood the gospel. When I first came home to America I read this book in the Russian language, but I didn’t really understand or care about it then, because my heart was still hard and cold. Later that evening when I knew that I understood the gospel, I asked God to save me!
Since that night, I have noticed that it seems easier for me to obey my parents. I also have a desire to be more patient, I enjoy listening when others talk about God, and I like to read more about God. I like to spend time with God everyday. I know that He has forgiven me for all my sins and has given me hope and joy and peace!
Sunday, January 18, 2004
Born Again! (January 2004)
This picture was taken at church the Sunday after Olga made her profession of faith--she was so excited to share her news with everyone, we all were!
Thursday, December 25, 2003
Tuesday, September 30, 2003
First Family Vacation ~ Colorado 2003
Georgetown/Silver Plume ~ narrowgauge rail train ride
Nature sketching near The Loch in Rocky Mountain National Park
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Mother & Daughter Tea ~ 2003
Our very first Mother & Daughter Tea (I've always loved wearing hats, Nina wasn't nearly as confident about her first hat wearing experience!)!!
For many years, I've collected china tea cups and saucers--simple, fancy, inexpensive, and expensive--how thrilling it was to allow Nina to choose a cup and saucer from my collection to use at the Tea!
Wednesday, December 25, 2002
Wednesday, October 30, 2002
Welcome Home Party ~ Oct. 2002
You can't see it in this picture, but we're standing next to our minivan which is FILLED to the brim with gifts for the girls from the "Welcome Home Shower" given to us by our church family. The girls were visibly shocked and amazed at the festivity in their honor, and the abundant gifts!
Monday, September 30, 2002
Pictures - Going Home
This picture was taken in the Ykaterinburg airport as we were beginning our journey home via Moscow.
After a fellow-adoptive father (his wife and new son are in the background, along with another adoptive mom and her mother) took this picture he was approached by a very official looking (in uniform) person and told that he/we could NOT take any pictures in the airport. Whoa! That sure was sobering to us all.
After a fellow-adoptive father (his wife and new son are in the background, along with another adoptive mom and her mother) took this picture he was approached by a very official looking (in uniform) person and told that he/we could NOT take any pictures in the airport. Whoa! That sure was sobering to us all.
Saturday, September 28, 2002
Pictures - Farewell Party at the Orphanage
This is at the orphanage during Olga's and Nina's "farewell party".
Olga let us know (through our translator) that she wanted to throw a party for the kids before she left. So, on that day the orphanage driver, orphanage director, translator, and our little family went shopping for balloons, fresh fruit, flavored tea, and some special cakes!
The kids had a great time and at the end of the party (and picture taking) in unison said, "spa-cee-bah! (thank you) with great enthusiasm!
(Olga is standing, fourth from the right. Nina is sitting, first on the right)
Olga let us know (through our translator) that she wanted to throw a party for the kids before she left. So, on that day the orphanage driver, orphanage director, translator, and our little family went shopping for balloons, fresh fruit, flavored tea, and some special cakes!
The kids had a great time and at the end of the party (and picture taking) in unison said, "spa-cee-bah! (thank you) with great enthusiasm!
(Olga is standing, fourth from the right. Nina is sitting, first on the right)
Wednesday, September 18, 2002
Pictures - Court Hearing
This picture was taken right after the judge (seated) approved our adoption of Olga and Nina! The proceedings went smoothly, but had some "tense" moments! Left to right: Papa, Mama, Nina, judge, Olga, prosecuting attorney, orphanage director, social worker.
Tuesday, August 27, 2002
Adoption Update - August 2002 - Court date set!
Please rejoice with us and give God ALL the glory!!! We received "the call" today and we have a court date to adopt our Olga and our Nina!
After almost two long years (Sept. 27, 2000) of much prayer, much waiting and wondering, we are going to get our children--our girls!!!!
We are to arrive in Moscow Sept. 14 and our court date in Ykaterinburg is scheduled for the 16th or 17th!! We will return Oct. 2, Lord willing!!!
Love in Christ, Connie, John, Olga and Nina!
After almost two long years (Sept. 27, 2000) of much prayer, much waiting and wondering, we are going to get our children--our girls!!!!
We are to arrive in Moscow Sept. 14 and our court date in Ykaterinburg is scheduled for the 16th or 17th!! We will return Oct. 2, Lord willing!!!
Love in Christ, Connie, John, Olga and Nina!
Thursday, August 15, 2002
Adoption Update - August 2002
Dear friends and family,
So sorry we've been so quiet since returning from our first trip in Russia! You can't imagine how incredibly busy we've been!!! MORE paperwork, house projects, work, church, and life in general goes on!!! As a matter of fact, the project that we started only three days before we received "the call" (on July 8) is still going!!!
We had emptied the room that is now fondly called "the girls room" and moved all that junk into our living room and lining the hallway! What a mess, but we are making progress painting the room,etc. We are, however very tired of living with just a path through our living room and miscellaneous boxes lined up throughout the house! It is coming together nicely, just very messy and disorganized for now!
We shipped off our second batch of paperwork today to OKC to be certified. Hopefully we'll get that back early next week so we can send it off to Russia early next week. Please bear with us over the next few weeks as we work out all the details, I'll try to email you, but if I forget, our friend Beth P. will be our official "contact" person again this time. She will post updates as we are able to contact her via phone and/or email. She'll be able to keep everyone posted as to how things are going and when we will return. She'll have all the details regarding our daily plans and return arrival. If you plan to come welcome the girls home at the airport she'll have all the details. She'll also have a list of local motels in case our return is late in the day/evening.
We continue to receive good reports about our girls and understand they are anxious for our return and to officially become family! Thanks for all your support and encouragement. We appreciate your prayers for the coming weeks and especially for the girls as they (and we!) adjust to their "new" life! Love, Connie & John
So sorry we've been so quiet since returning from our first trip in Russia! You can't imagine how incredibly busy we've been!!! MORE paperwork, house projects, work, church, and life in general goes on!!! As a matter of fact, the project that we started only three days before we received "the call" (on July 8) is still going!!!
We had emptied the room that is now fondly called "the girls room" and moved all that junk into our living room and lining the hallway! What a mess, but we are making progress painting the room,etc. We are, however very tired of living with just a path through our living room and miscellaneous boxes lined up throughout the house! It is coming together nicely, just very messy and disorganized for now!
We shipped off our second batch of paperwork today to OKC to be certified. Hopefully we'll get that back early next week so we can send it off to Russia early next week. Please bear with us over the next few weeks as we work out all the details, I'll try to email you, but if I forget, our friend Beth P. will be our official "contact" person again this time. She will post updates as we are able to contact her via phone and/or email. She'll be able to keep everyone posted as to how things are going and when we will return. She'll have all the details regarding our daily plans and return arrival. If you plan to come welcome the girls home at the airport she'll have all the details. She'll also have a list of local motels in case our return is late in the day/evening.
We continue to receive good reports about our girls and understand they are anxious for our return and to officially become family! Thanks for all your support and encouragement. We appreciate your prayers for the coming weeks and especially for the girls as they (and we!) adjust to their "new" life! Love, Connie & John
Tuesday, July 30, 2002
Getting Acquainted During Our First Trip ~ July 2002
We had only a VERY brief visit with Olga--three hours one afternoon--during our first trip in July. Fortunately, we got to spend the previous day with Nina!
Wednesday, July 17, 2002
Pictures - Meeting Our Girls
This picture was taken during our first trip to Russia in one of the govt. offices while we were signing the necessary documents declaring our intent to adopt Olga and Nina. Olga is 12 and Nina is 8.5 I'm certain that behind those beautiful smiles there are lots of questions and fears.
Sunday, July 14, 2002
First Trip - Day Three: Moscow!
July 14, 2002 - We arrived in Moscow at the Sheremetyevo airport. I've got to tell you, looking out the airplane window at the landscape of RUSSIA was surreal, then arriving at the airport was like stepping back in time!
It's late right now (real time!!), so I'll add "the rest of the story" tomorrow!
Saturday, July 13, 2002
First Trip - Day Two: JFK to Frankfurt, to Moscow
July 13, 2002 (Saturday)- After spending a restless night in NYC, this morning we were up early and on our way to the JFK airport where we would board a Lufthansa flight arriving in Frankfurt, Germany the next day, Sunday. From there, we'd catch a flight to Moscow!
Having flown large and small U.S. airlines the Germany Lufthansa plane and service were beyond our expectations--really nice for the 8+ hrs. to Frankfurt.
We arrived at the Frankfurt airport VERY early in the a.m. and waited for our flight to Moscow. The airport was nice and clean and soooooo quiet that early in the morning. As we sat in a waiting area, I noticed a "beer house" not far down the corridor. I commented to John that we'd see how serious Germans are about their beer if they opened the beer house early that morning--and on a Sunday (I was raised in the Bible Belt, you know!!). Sure enough, around 7:30 or 8:00 they were open for business--what a hoot! We decided that we'd pass on the opportunity to taste real Germany beer that early in the morning!
When we boarded our flight to Moscow the plane was not nearly as luxurious or large--understandable--and we quickly noticed that we were apparently the only native English speakers on the flight! Even though we both have traveled outside of the U.S. and have been around foreign languages, this was the beginning of "culture shock" for us, and the beginning of our "reality check" as we neared our much anticipated destination.
Friday, July 12, 2002
First Trip - Leavin' for Russia!
July 12, 2002 (Friday) Here we are in front of our local airport just four days after receiving "the call" telling us that we could go meet our girls! We departed in the afternoon, had a short lay-over in St. Louis, then spent the night in New York City at the cheapest (and safest) place we could find near the airport, a Comfort Inn! The flight for both of us from home to NYC was a 'gift' from dear friends who wanted to help us with our travel expenses and GAVE us their frequent flyer miles--God's amazing grace and provision!
Monday, July 08, 2002
"THE" phone call!
July 8, 2002 (Monday) It was like any other Monday--until about 8:30 a.m. John and I drove in to work together, I arrived early, greeted coworkers and chatted briefly about their weekend adventures, and then got busy in my office.
Around 8:30 I answered my phone, on the other end of the line was Jodi S. from our adoption agency. Her first words were, "Connie, are you sitting down?" When I told her that I was sitting down, she replied, "Seriously, are you sitting down?" I assured her that I was in fact sitting down. Jodi proceeded by saying, "You both will need to be in Moscow on the 14th, on the 15th you'll fly from Moscow to Yekaterinburg where you'll meet the girls and sign the necessary paperwork. You'll spend the night in Yekaterinburg and return to Moscow on the 16th. You'll leave Moscow on the 17th and return to the U.S."
After hearing this little itinerary I casually commented, "In August, right?" Jodi then said, "No, July!", to which I responded, "THAT'S THIS WEEKEND!!!!!" Once the reality of this timetable sank into my brain I asked Jodi to repeat everything she'd already told me! We discussed various details, instructions regarding obtaining our visas, suggested flight plans, details about our host families in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, and various other matters.
I got off the phone and immediately called John at his office! He was just like me--in a state of shock and disbelief! We had known things could--and most likely would--move rather quickly at some point, but up until now we'd understood that our turn would most likely not come until August or September!
After telling John, I eagerly told my boss and coworkers--all of whom were very excited for us. My boss suggested that I take the rest of the day off, and I didn't argue. I tied up as many loose ends as possible in my office that morning and decided to have lunch with John--which normally was working out together at the YMCA nearby.
After our "working lunch" together, I headed for home and began to operate what I lovingly began to call "command central" because not only was I emailing and phoning friends and family to share our news, I was working the phone and internet trying to arrange flights for halfway around the world in less than a week!
Around 8:30 I answered my phone, on the other end of the line was Jodi S. from our adoption agency. Her first words were, "Connie, are you sitting down?" When I told her that I was sitting down, she replied, "Seriously, are you sitting down?" I assured her that I was in fact sitting down. Jodi proceeded by saying, "You both will need to be in Moscow on the 14th, on the 15th you'll fly from Moscow to Yekaterinburg where you'll meet the girls and sign the necessary paperwork. You'll spend the night in Yekaterinburg and return to Moscow on the 16th. You'll leave Moscow on the 17th and return to the U.S."
After hearing this little itinerary I casually commented, "In August, right?" Jodi then said, "No, July!", to which I responded, "THAT'S THIS WEEKEND!!!!!" Once the reality of this timetable sank into my brain I asked Jodi to repeat everything she'd already told me! We discussed various details, instructions regarding obtaining our visas, suggested flight plans, details about our host families in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, and various other matters.
I got off the phone and immediately called John at his office! He was just like me--in a state of shock and disbelief! We had known things could--and most likely would--move rather quickly at some point, but up until now we'd understood that our turn would most likely not come until August or September!
After telling John, I eagerly told my boss and coworkers--all of whom were very excited for us. My boss suggested that I take the rest of the day off, and I didn't argue. I tied up as many loose ends as possible in my office that morning and decided to have lunch with John--which normally was working out together at the YMCA nearby.
After our "working lunch" together, I headed for home and began to operate what I lovingly began to call "command central" because not only was I emailing and phoning friends and family to share our news, I was working the phone and internet trying to arrange flights for halfway around the world in less than a week!
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