IN KIEV!!!!

Dear Family & Friends,

Jim, Roman and Matt are in Kiev! They arrived there in the evening last night. When Jim texted me yesterday afternoon I just assumed that it took a while to get the passport and that they headed for Kiev after receiving it. However, I heard from Jim after they were in Kiev and he said that he, Matt and Roma left for Kiev in faith as the passport had not arrived!! He explained that whoever was supposed to have sent it over the weekend forgot and therefore it was not going to arrive until sometime early Tuesday morning. Jim said that they decided that they would head on to Kiev while Svetlana stayed behind in Vinnytsa to wait for the passport. The plan was for her to call on Tuesday morning when she had the passport in her hands so that she could give them the passport number, which would allow them to proceed w/the U.S. Embassy appointments necessary today, and then she would take a taxi to Kiev asap. Jim said there were no guarantees that the passport would arrive Tuesday morning.

Jim texted me this morning to let me know that Svetlana DID receive the passport this morning AND she was on her way back to Kiev AND they were on their way to the U.S. Embassy for their first appointment!!!!!! Praise the Lord!! We are so relieved to know that they are officially in the home-stretch of this journey...

About Roma and leaving the orphanage and traveling...Jim said that he was holding back the tears when Ruslan showed up at the flat to pick them up. We have waited for the day we could take him home for so long...it just seems so surreal. They drove over to the orpahange just as the workers had Roma dressed and ready to go outside for a bit w/the other kids, but the workers could tell that Jim had "the bag" (the bag w/Roma's new clothes, jacket and shoes to take him in) and so they took him back inside and undressed him. Roma was so excited to change into his new clothes...Jim dressed him one piece at a time all the while holding in the emotion of the moment! (How I wish that I could have been there!!--they did video each step of the way). Once he was dressed and ready to go they went outside where the Director, Maria, was waiting for them...she kissed Roma and told him that he was going to go w/his Papa and Uncle and go on airplane home--it was a very tender and precious moment. They waved goodbye to the children and the workers and hopped into Ruslan's van and drove on to Vinnytsa. Jim said that Roma was so excited to get inside the van and that as they drove he was fascinated by all that he saw...like a typical boy he got really animated whenever he saw a big truck on the road!

Once they arrived in Vinnytsa they dropped Svetlana at the passport office and then Ruslan took them to his home where they waited for a few hours before heading to Kiev. Ruslan's wife, Archie, had prepared a great lunch for them--to use Jim's words: It was Awesome!--and Roma enjoyed it too. After lunch Roma explored the house a little and actually learned how to go up and down their steps--Jim said that he really liked doing this...he has never really been up and down steps before since the orphanage was all on one floor. They waited a while and then made the decision to head to Kiev. Roma had NO motion sickness at all the entire day--not from Tulchyn to Vinnytsa NOR Vinnytsa to Kiev!! A direct answer to much prayer...

They arrived in Kiev sometime in the early evening hours and are staying at a great flat right in the heart of Kiev...and right near McD's! :) Jim gave Roma his dinner and he ate just fine but after that it was apparent that he was nervous and a bit afraid. Jim said that Roma's eyes became a little red and it was clear that he was holding in the tears...so they turned on Madagascar on Jim's computer and he was delighted to watch that. Eventually he fell asleep watching the movie and Jim moved him to his bed and snuggled w/him for a bit. He fell back to sleep w/out a problem. It is apparent (and we expected this) that Roma is nervous and unsure of all that is happening...so much change! Please pray for Roma and the anxiety and sadness that he is experiencing...as this is so hard on him...pray that the Lord would enable Jim and Matt to meet whatever needs he has and pray that Roma will feel and accept such love and care. He is so tender right now...

Thank you for your prayers...Hopefully Jim will be able to update a little later w/some pics!

Love and Blessings,
Karen (for Jim, Matt & Roman!)