Heading Back to Mississippi

After we'd returned to the apartment, Rob and I ventured forth into the busy streets to do a quick shop. We found a small grocery store on the next street and got into line with all the others waiting for bottled water, yogurt, sausage, and more wonderful dark bread.

My Russian got me through and next morning we had a lovely feast, during which the boys were allowed to finish off the Nutella. They cut bread to fit inside the jar and took turns wiping it clean of every bit of choc-o-lat. Then afterwards Dad read Psalm 24, "The Lord is my shepherd," and asked them each to memorize verse 1. We tried not to smile when Sasha Peter said, "Da Lord ees my Shec-o-lat. More laughs later as we took turns storytelling in English. When it was Peter's turn, he got up in front of us and told about a girl named Red Cap who walked to her babushka's housewith a basket of food, and a wolf ate her.

He is such a helpful boy. So is James, who particularly enjoys patiently stirring and stirring whatever I have on the stove until it is a pulpy mass. It is Peter, though, who loves helping with meal clean-up. So while he did the dishes like a little expert, James and Rob scooted out to the livingroom to compete against each other, bouncing pingpong balls on paddles. Although it is clear the boys love each other, I am seeing the wisdom of separating them at times, so they don't get into each other's space and have a little "orphanage scuffle."

Soon it was time to leave for the Borospil Airport. To Rob's delight there was no speed limit on the freeway and he took great interest in noting our speed in kilometers, which no doubt he will relay to his friends at school. Once we arrived, God sped us through security check, and then, despite the crowds of people pushing all around us at the Airlines Check-in, a pleasant woman gave us a row of seats all together. She only smiled at the two inquisitive boys breathing down her neck, until their papa snatched them back to his side.

Next stop was the biggie, the Ukrainian passport check, where we submitted all our passports and adoption decree. The guard then asked us to step aside and wait, which we did for about 15 minutes. During this time Bob reminded me of God's word's to him as he woke the morning of our first day into the trip, "Do not be concerned about anything. I am with you."

God had already said that He would open double doors, go before us and make crooked places straight. But it was the part in Isaiah 45 where He says, I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron that made me smile. There is even a verse in there about asking Him things concerning His sons. So we asked Him to tell those security gaurds that the boys whose passports they were scrutinizing were Gods' sons even before they are sons of Ukraine.

Soon the man returned and freed us to go on board the plane. I did not realized Peter had been aware of what was happening, but once we were released, he looked at me and said, "Whew!" I know now he understands more English than he speaks.

Once in the plane, he grabbed my hand excitedly, while Rob and James took empty seats on another row, so they could see better. If James was afraid he did not show it, just sat staring with wide eyes during take off. In fact both James and Peter have shown themselves to be very confident and very adaptable. It seems orphanage life has forced them to take things in stride. And, of course, James has been through so much hardship in his short life, that most things are no big deal for him. It was his peaceful little face that first drew me to him a year ago.

The flight to England went fast, and then it was time to get into yet anotherline in the hotel to ask for the 2 adjoining rooms promissed us at the airport. Again our good and generous heavenly Father gladly provided these for us, and the boys stepped into their first western style spacious be sitting room and said, "Wow!"