Who needs Disney World when you can go for an 18 mile cab ride through the Ukrainian countryside to get to camp? We had an interesting adventure with our cabdriver- knocked off a hubcap on a pothole, Dana and I were sure we had a flat tire, but we didn't and we made it to camp safe and sound. Cab fare- $8.00. Imagine that in the US! The camp is actually really nice- all the kids are in dorms, there is a full dining hall, and a schedule of activities. The camp also has kids from outside the orphanage attending.
We got to camp around 11:30 a.m. and hung out before lunch and were invited to have lunch which was very nice. Hot stew and hot tea on a 90 degree day, but we were happy to be included. The kids then had required down time from 1:00 p.m. -4:00 p.m. - we hung with Sergei and his four roommates and played quiet Uno, and learned to count in Russian, and just shot the breeze. We got shhhhhhh'd a few times from the counselors but they knew we were just having fun. We had a bag of candy from CVS and Sergei decided that HE would be the one to distribute it to the kids. Ok with us.
As you will see from the photos- the kids at camp have very little personality :-) including our new friend Kola who was wearing a babushka while playing the harmushka (mini-accordion).
We were checking on our court date today and our Interpol clearance has not come through yet. Our dossier was approved on May 26 and it can take up to 40 days to get the Interpol clearance to prove that we are not international criminals. So, we will not be in court on 7/01 and hopefully will make it for 7/05. Our facilitators here are working with contacts to hopefully make it all come together but please add a prayer for us also. After the first court date, there is a 10 day waiting period, and then about six days of paperwork to complete, so add about 16 to the court date and and that is when Dana and Sergei will get home. (Craig will head home on 7/08 unless the first court date hasn't happened yet:-( )
As you check the blog on our adventures overseas, we want to point out what is happening stateside as well. We've been able to Skype with Pat and Evan almost every day which has been great to keep a pulse as well as see the dogs on camera! Dana's sister Carla has been keeping an eye on Pat and Evan, our nephew Mac is now there for a couple days, and we are so blessed to have neighbors and friends having the kids over for dinner, getting them where they need to be, and overall adding a layer of reassurance that all in West Chester is ok. Craig was randomly emailing Greg Klimovitz, the youth minister of our church today, and Greg bounced back to say that he was taking Pat and Evan out to lunch. You can't imagine how good that feels to know that our family at home is well taken care of.
Please keep us in your prayers that the Interpol clearance comes through this week!
Though it is clear they are in good hands in West Chester, if you run onto a pinch and Pat and Evan want to spent a few days touring Baltimore/DC, we would be more than happy to host them. We can set up Skype so you can keep in touch. Don't have any Interpol contacts, so prayers will need to suffice for now.
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