As we get ready to leave tomorrow, I wanted to post some pictures of the orphanage…the home of Lusa and Taras and our Sean for their first 3-4 years. These scenes remind us of life here. What I can’t show on here of course are the other senses…how it always smells inside of soup cooking… how you hear the sounds of kids playing, sometimes crying loudly, caregivers singing or scolding in Russian…how you feel mosquitos often biting, or how your heart feels.
We have so many mixed feelings here….
Happy to be with them, sad to be away from our other children.
Grieved to see so many little ones without families, to see children running around usually in underwear, being shuffled like cattle, scolded in Russian and not allowed to interact with outsiders.
Appreciative of the beautifully sculpted flowers around the orphanage, but not understanding why the play areas are overgrown and not mowed!
Happy to see their sweet faces and smiles and greetings, sad to know we can’t help them. Puzzled to see how Lusa is kept in sitting in a stroller while others play or not allowed to help feed herself but thankful for the genuine expressions of friendliness and careful attention they show her.
Sad to see the bedridden children in cribs all day, glad to see some special needs kids being strolled around (which we rarely saw last time).
Homesick for our children, our home, where we understand the language and for familiar surroundings… but enriched by learning about a different culture and interacting with people that are much like ourselves.
Walking around the orphanage
Caregivers at work (this one by the way was very kind and good with Lusa)
Bare cribs
Long hallways and stairways, leading to many rooms where chidren live in groupas...eating, sleeping, dressing, playing with their caregivers.
Animals abound here...there are a few cats and 2 dogs (the dogs are old and not too friendly) here at the orphanage...we also see many stray dogs and cats around Izmaiill!
Groupas huddled around their caregivers hearing a story
Sweet babies everywhere...always intrigued to see a Mama and a Papa
Overgrown play area
Beautiful flower gardens
This is the main hallway from the front of the orphanage...
they've painted a scene on the wall since last time we'd been here which was nice to see!
Linen or clothes hanging
We are so ready to come home—I can’t wait…I can hear it in a couple of the kid’s voices at home that it is getting harder…and I pray so much for grace for the youngest ones who don’t understand. God is so good and has sustained us. The kids have been doing so well, are having a lot of fun, and the baby is eating very well and the milk supply is lasting. Our friend Danielle has done a remarkable job caring for them with all her heart and soul—she is a gift from Heaven to our family. It seems God is working out the timing for us to come home. Our translator is on her way here so we hope that means the Interpol also is on the way.
We will never forget our experience here. Despite the things we don’t like or don’t understand, we are thankful that Lusa and Taras’ birthmothers gave them life and that they are cared for here for all of their lives. We so appreciate the warm affection and enthusiasm we’ve seen in several of the caregivers and doctors here for the children. We will never forget these orphans and they will always be in our prayers. We hope God will show us how we can advocate for them and share the blessing of adoption with others.
Taras with the orphanage gate in the background...soon we will be outside that gate, Lord willing!
1 comment:
So glad to hear you got your INTERPOL clearance!
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