A fun last day at the orphanage

This morning we had a fun visit. It may be our last day to visit so Jonah and I had fun putting some little toys around the play areas for the kids in the groupas to find. We hid some tiny babies in the purses that they often play with and put animal figures in the sand and a couple jump ropes and play dishes. Not much really but to them….it was exciting!!
There was a huge commotion of kids running around with excited voices, running to the caregivers to show them, running to the doctor who came out to show her too, and running to us and talking to us! A couple of the smaller kids came over saying “Spasiba” with big smiles, and Maxim (the girl our Naomi liked last time) was holding a baby telling me something—wish we could understand more Russian! It such a joy seeing them have joy—from something so very small. It made me cry as I wish we could do so much more but we thank God that we could give them a reason to smile. You should have seen them playing horse with the jumprope –looked like something our kids would do  Jonah blew bubbles too –which they loved. When I had previously showed Naomi a picture of Maxim I thought she’d be excited and she was, but her response was …but she’s sad and naked Mommy! It was nice today to see Maxim in clothes and smiling (she's the one in the bottom picture with the blue shirt and bandana; Karina is in the same picture in the middle) The caregivers didn’t let them play with us for long and soon made them come away from us…oh well, it was nice while it lasted.





The children showing us and thanking us for the toys


By the way, I've been enjoying taking pictures...and I started on a mission, looking for beauty here to keep my mind on the good when it would be easy to dwell on the bad...I've found alot of beautiful flowers and scenes, but there is nothing as beautiful as a child's smile :)


We saw our young friends outside the orphanage again…about 10 kids who we have been trying to talk to. Well, even though we can’t speak much to each other, we enjoyed playing ball with them. We also did bubbles with them and had a fun time while we waited for our taxi, which was late. Jonah gave them our inflatable beach ball—I think he’s learning it is more blessed to give than to receive…we all are.




The children who live near the orphanage

We had a nice visit with the kids. Taras seemed to smile and respond to us today more 
And his pressure sore on his back and the sores on his heel are getting better. Lusa’s rash seemed improved today. She enjoyed swinging—she fell off once and got dirt in her mouth but seems to be very tough like her brother Sean. She also pet a kitty today…Jonah made a friend in a cute kitty at the orphanage and she kept following him around. So cute, but no we can’t adopt her as much as he’d like to!




Jonah found a kitten friend at the orphanage


Lusa petting a kitty probably for the first time :)



Happy Taras