UOO (Ukrainian Orphan Outreach) Camp

It's been a long, long time.

We are still figuring out what we want to do. Friday we went to our friends Heidi and Felix's home. They are part of an organization that brings kids to Colorado for a cultural exchange/summer camp. There are eight orphans visiting this summer. They are a nice group of kids and have been enjoying their time here. Events have included a trip to Miller farm to pick food, camping, the race track, shopping Walmart, crafts, church and the Zoo.

Check out their website for yourself: http://www.ukraineorphans.org/

I'll try to post a little more regularly. Teresa's folks 50th Anniversary is in about a week. Teresa is also doing two VBS programs this summer so we aren't going to be bored.

Click your heels three times-Home

Actually it was three flights but the ending is the same. We are home. Where do we go from here. We really don't know. Any thoughts?

We do appreciate all the prayers and support from family and friends both old and new. Thank you Donna & Larry for picking us up at the airport. Thank you Carol, Thom, Donna and Larry for the flowers and food that was so very thoughtful. Also to anyone else who was involved.

Thanks also to Eileen and Rolan the internet device was great. Very Helpful.

Also we appreciate so much in so many ways Kari, Jim, Heidi and Felix. You guys have been wonderful throughout.

I thought I was ending with the last post but I think I will still do a few more with what I learned.

The End???

We have been on a rollercoaster over the last four days as d changed his mind at least four times. In the end we believe someone was influencing/pressuring him, Teresa may write more later. We are accepting the last answer he gave which was no. We are taking the train back to Kiev and heading for home.

A Day Away

D is still at the hospital. We have permission to visit him both Saturday & Sunday. When we leave Sunday we are going to Kherson which is a little more than an hour away. We get to spend some time with some American missionary/church planters. It will be good to have a little break from the schedule we have been on and be with some people who share our outlook and background. The majority of Ukrainians have been as helpful and friendly as possible. (Just don't expect any acknowledgement of your existance when walking down the street)

More of the same

We are waiting and/or helping with the processing of paperwork. There is no such thing as a fast speed on that. It is frustrating.

The sun has been out almost everyday on this trip. That is a nice change and it means that we get to play outside with the guys. This is a good thing it helps us stay out of trouble with no mats that we are supposed to stay on. Also the other kids can come around and play also. D is doing well with Roller Blades. There is a nearly destroyed pair with plastic wheels that cuts into his ankle but he got to put the good pair on with real wheels and he does well. We were surprised that most of the kids had not seen play-dough. All enjoyed that activity our boys as well as the rest of the kids. It was another good reason to be outside, we might be just a little messy.

The boys missed out on school to go to the doctor and be checked out for some of the forms. These are not the ones for the US Embassy so they will still need those later. They said going to the doctor was better than going to school anyway. We think they might be developing short timers disease. The realization that they will be leaving in the middle of a school term and so how they score in classes doesn't matter.

They are adding new words in English faster than we can in Russian. New words today include Very Good, monkey, come. Teresa is going to have competition on who can take the most pictures. She has over 500 on this trip. The boys took about 200 in just two hours yesterday. We hope that we can build a good file for them of their friends and where they lived for a few years of their life.

Teresa has a birthday we're so Glad

Yes today is Teresa's birthday and she's how many years old? OUCH THAT HURT!

We got to spend three hours with the boys today. Even without a translator it was pretty good. One of our boys does really well with a perfect pout if he doesn't get his way. Another is always trying to trade for something we have. Little does he know that it is all his with parental supervision in a few days.

We are now on daylight savings time here. So we were an hour late for everything and overstayed our welcome at the orphanage. And unless it causes problems later we are not sorry. Bad Americans, and we still don't keep the boys bundled and zipped like it's winter. It was nearly 60 today, that would be t-shirt and shorts weather for Denver.

The guys now know how to work the Ipod, mp3 player, camera and so forth. Yes I posted the ipod picture twice. Teresa's crash up cars were a big hit. We are still not sure that we are allowed to post pictures of the guys so all you get this time is an unidentifiable picture.

Plus three makes five Sons

Teresa, here. The journey of Life takes so many twists and turns. It has now been three years since we decided to adopt children from Ukraine and we still don’t have children.

Our first trip to Ukraine was unsuccessful. We met and fell in love with three brothers. It seems a lifetime ago now. Just a few weeks ago we got a call from Ukraine saying the problem has been solved and the boys can be adopted now. What a roller coaster ride. Here we are back in a small town named, Kahovka. It is a place that brings back great joy and great pain all in one. It is very familiar as if nothing has changed but every thing has.

We first visited the inspector’s office. There we found out the orphanage director is sick with the flu. Oksana spent time talking to the inspector, Tatiana. When last I saw her she had tears in her eyes as I asked her how it is fair to the boys. She still has a red outfit on but it is not the red sweater we saw her in every day the last trip. Finally we were told we could see S and V in about 1 ½ hours. But that D would be Monday or Tuesday. At 1:30 pm we picked up Tatiana from her office and we are off to the orphanage.

My mind races as we get closer and closer to the orphanage. What have they been told? Will they be mad at us for just not coming back (even though we were not allowed to see them before we left)? I love them will they believe us since we left before? Will they be glad to see us? What do we tell them? There are hundreds of question and no answers.

As we waited in the orphanage computer room, I remember the last time we were here. Getting in trouble for getting off my mat to help the boys with something. I was brought back to reality as S comes running into the room. The joy I felt when S came running into my arms was overwhelming. He was happy to see us. Even V after a few minutes warmed up to us and we had a great visit. We gave them crash up cars as their Christmas present since we were unable to send them anything. They make noise. Lots of noise. Maybe the orphanage director will kick the boys out of the orphanage early to get peace in the orphanage.

I believed S and V missed us as we much as we missed them. Oksana was able to convince the orphanage director to let D come back to the orphanage tomorrow (Saturday)if we pay for the driver and nurse to pick him up. D was the one I was really worried about. The last time we saw him he really took his role as the oldest very seriously. We met with all three of the boys yesterday. We spent time explaining why back in December we didn’t come back and see them. It seems that every day for a month the boys asked why we had not come back and they were never give a reason. D comment was it really doesn’t matter why. The important thing is you are back. All three boys said they are ready to come home with us.

It will be Tuesday before we can start the paper work. I really hope and pray there are no more surprises as we work on the paper work. I am not sure I understand why everything happened the way it did but, God does have a plan for us all, we just have to trust.

Photograph of Oksana by Raymond S. Jensen