We Are Home At Last!!!

Dear Friends and Family,

After two years of prayer and planning and 36 days of rigorous travel Roman James Weaver arrived home around midnight on Thursday escorted by Pa-pa and Uncle Matt. Here is a photo summary of our last five days in Ukraine.

Sunday night was our last evening in Tulchyn. All together I was in Tulchyn for 28 days living out of a rented apartment right in the center of town. On our last evening in Tulchyn Matt and I invited our friends Ruslan and Archie (from Vinnystia), Sasha and Natasha (from Lideszian), and Svetlana (our facilitator) to join us for supper at Tulchenka. I am so thankful for the brothers and sisters in Christ God has given me in these places. These men and women took us in to their homes and assisted us at critical points in the process. I've learned so much about caring for the orphan from these veterans.

After dinner we all went back to my apartment in Tulchyn for a time of fellowship and worship. We invited our land lady, Albina, and her entire family to join us. We had planned this evening to be an opportunity to open God's Word and share the gospel of Jesus while having the translation help of our Christian friends. After singing some familiar worship songs in both English and Ukrainian I shared a message from Galatians 4 on our adoption in God's family. We sensed the Lord really at work during this time of sharing and conversation that followed. I am confident that gospel seeds were sown.

First thing on Monday Ruslan picked us up at our Apartment and we drove to the oprhanage for the last time. I cannot put into words the thoughts and feelings that were running through me as we drove to the orphanage. These moments were surreal. I was on the verge of tears as we drove through the gates of the orphanage and saw children from Roma's group out for some play. I walked through the doors and found Roma's caregivers getting him ready to go outside and play. I scooped him up and carried him into the play room and began taking off all of his old clothes. What an emotional time this was for me. It was clear that Roman understood that this was "the big day". He was so happy as some of the ladies told him that he was going to be leaving with his Pa-pa and that he would have a new home now.


I had long anticipated the day when I would walk into this orphanage and dress Roman in his new clothes!











A friend from home had modified this Land's End jacket for Roman--shortening the arms so that they covered his hands but also allow him to slip them out when needed. After clothing Roman I picked him up and walked him around the orphanage one final time.










As soon as we walked outside Roma was eager to get in the big truck and go! All of his friends lined the road to say "Pa-ca" which means "Goodbye". If you look through the window behind me and Roman you can see some of them. Roman did not seem the least bit afraid to get in the van and drive away.






Roma sat on my lap for the first leg of this trip--to Vinnytsia to pick up his passport which was to arrive later that day. The trip to Vinnytsia is about an hour. We listened to some Christian music and spent a lot of time just looking out the window at all the new sights and sounds. Uncle Matt let Roma wear his hat.









We arrived at the passport office in Vinnytsia only to receive this disappointing news that the person who was to mail our passport from Kiev did not. We had spent a lot of time praying about this and were convinced that today was the day we were to leave. It was suggested that we stay overnight in Vinnytsia until the passport arrived and drive to Kiev on Tuesday. However, if we did not make it back to Kiev sometime on Monday it would be impossible to fly home on Thursday. We decided that we were going on to Kiev without Roma's passport (uncharted territory) and that Svetlana would stay behind in Vinnytsia and bring Roma's passport to us on Tuesday.


Uncle Matt was a huge help as we worked out all of these details. It would have been impossible for me to bring Roma home without his help. Not once did Matt complain or appear frustrated by all of the waiting and unexpected surprises. We had such a peace during all of this as God had shown us so many times that He was in such control.









Uncle Matt, Svetlana, and Roma on the streets of Vinnytsia after finding out that our passport was not going to make it. We went back to Ruslan's house to discuss our plan of heading on to Kiev without the passport and to have lunch. Roma enjoyed exploring Ruslan's home and especially enjoyed the yummy lunch that Archie made for all of us.








About four hours later we arrived at our apartment in Kiev and before long Roma was fast asleep. I wasn't sure how he would do going down to sleep his first night outside of the orphanage with two men. He seemed a little afraid when we first arrived, but he settled down and slept well.








First thing on Tuesday morning we took Roma for his medical exam, necessary to obtain his US Visa. The doctor who examined Roma was the same doctor that examined Nicholas last year! He spoke to Roma in Ukrainian which was unexpected as Russian is the predominant language in Kiev. (Roma has not heard a lot of Russian). He did great! Everything the doctor asked him to do he did well! He wasn't the least bit afraid. The doctor told us that his heart and lungs sound strong. He obviously very small and has some mental/cognitive delays. He will need a thorough work up once we arrive home.


While in Kiev Uncle Matt and I took Roma to Kiev's premier mall located underneath Independence Square. Our flat was a short walking distance. I was so proud to hold his little hand and strut through the mall. We got a few weird looks as people caught on to Roma's appearance.









On Wednesday morning Svetlana (our facilitator) came by the flat to see how we were making out. She was not to happy to find out that we were already feeding Roman McDonalds. She has grown very attached and protective of Roma. She told us how she tries to not get attached to the children she is working with because it is too hard when families leave. With Roma, however, she was unable to stay detached--she had fallen in love with him and was so proud of him. A few days earlier when we were in Tulchyn buying some baby food for Roma a woman expressed concern that we would be adopting Roma to sell his vital organs on the black market and Svetlana set this woman straight explaining how we actually loved and cared for Roman. What impressed me the most about our last meeting with Svetlana is her comment how my message about our need for adoption into God's family had impacted her and how she called her sons and other family members to tell them everything. She told me that I was her "teacher" and that she had learned so much from both Karen and I over the last year. She made other remarks that suggest she is really processing a lot spiritual truth at this time. Karen and I will stay regularly in touch with her and water these seeds as we update her on Roma's progress.


The first couple of night I could just lay for hours next to Roma and watch him sleep. In these moments prayers of thanksgiving and prayers for Roma's continued health and growth just flowed so easily. He is so happy and playful at bed time--and sneaky. On Wednesday night I decided to lay him down alone in the room while Matt and I watched a movie in the other room. Well, lets just say we caught him getting out of bed "super sneaky" three or four times.





On Wednesday morning we walked to the office of Bethany Social Services to say goodbye to some of our dear friends. From left to right--Oksana, Roman, Daddy, Taras, and Dasha. These friends where the ones that found Roma in Tulchyn and made his plight known to Bethany Christian Services in the US. They have looked after Roma his entire time in Tulchyn--visiting him, etc.





We flew out of Kiev at 12:30 on Thursday afternoon. Roma loved the airplane and was exceptional the entire flight. He sat still and enjoyed flipping through magazines and eating snacks. Our entire trip home was about 24 hours and he used the portable potty I had purchased the entire time. We had prayed that God would give us special favor on the airplane and in the airports and He did. Airline attendants were especially helpful, courteous, and enamored with Roma. When we arrived in JFK it was as if God was carrying us on the wings of eagles--no waiting at passport control or customs.


After long delays in JFK due to weather we finally left for Philadelphia. In Philadelphia family members and Big Jim where waiting for us. I can't tell you how great it was to see all our family waiting for us. Roma wasn't quite sure what to make of all of this. The first sign of "fear" came when we got into our van to come home--He cried pretty hard for about 5 minutes. I think it was a combination of getting in the car with all of these new people after traveling for 24 hours and being very tired and saying goodbye to uncle Matt.



Roman slept well his first night at home though he was a little afraid at first. On Friday morning he got up and had a nice breakfast at the family table with everyone. He is very eager to feed himself with a fork and be a big boy. He is eating very good!








After breakfast we all sat down and watched him open his Christmas presents with his feet. I don't know if he grasps the idea that these presents are his to keep, but he enjoyed opening them and playing with them. He loves playing with toys!

Here he is playing with some of his new things!

Holding my boys!!! They have been pretty good together so far, but there have been a few moments of jealousy and tension. It will take some time to teach these two to share their toys and share their mama and papa. We will pray and ask for God's help in this as he has already helped us in so many other things.







Friday was leisurely. We stayed in our pj's most of the day and played with toys and watched movies together as a family.

We will continue to update you on Roma's progress in the days ahead. Thank you for all of your continued prayers for our family.

Blessings,

Jim