Games and Life

Today, we spent time in the morning dealing with some paperwork issues. In the afternoon, the Director of the Orphanage signed the final papers for our friend Jason. He and his wife Miranda are from Alabama and are adopting a beautiful 12 year old girl named Gennia. The Director did not say one word when he signed the documents. He did not sign our documents or the Castanzas. Praying for tomorrow. The rest of the day we spent playing with Vova and his friends. Judi and I bought several soccer balls and basketballs for the boys and they wanted to try them out asap! I am dead tired! During a break, Vova tried out my camera:

Then several of Vova's friends wanted to get into the act, so they had us pose to take some photos.

After I finally wrestled the camera away from them, I took this shot of Vova and Judi.

All in all, it was a beautiful day. Gennia got to leave the orphanage for the first time with her new Dad, Jason. They will both be leaving in a few days and we will miss them very much! Jason has been a great companion (He is a cop from Alabama, so we have that law enforcement bond) and a great source of intelligence here. Soon, Judi and I will be the veterans in Kherson. Jason will be passing the torch. After leaving the orphanage, we went to our usual dinner spot where we know the food is good (No horse) and the menu is in english. As we sat outside enjoying the nice warm evening, Gennia's older sister who is 20, showed up to say goodbye to her younger sister. Chances are the two will never see each other again.

They hugged each other and that was it.

It underscored how one's life can be changed dramatically in just an instant, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. The two different directions these two girls lives are headed is drastic. You want to save them all, but know you cannot, and feel helpless about it. For instance, Anya, the girl the Castanzas are adopting, has a best friend named Suzzanna who is 14. Suzzanna, who is so beautiful and sweet, has only been in the orphanage for a little more than a year. She arrived in the orphanage due to no fault of her own. Her father shot and killed her mother and he is now in prison. When Anya leaves, Suzzanna will have no one. Suzzanna wants to be adopted and go to America, but since the orphanage has eliminated the hosting program, the likelihood of her being adopted by American parents in very slim. Suzzanna hangs out with us every day, but when we start to spend private time with our "kids", she will stroll over to a nearby bench and just watch us. It is heartbreaking! Sometimes, I have to turn away. I want to just give her a huge hug, but to be honest, I told Judi I am afraid to get too attached, so I keep my distance. Below is a photo of Anya and Suzzanna. Suzzanna is on the right.

Please say a prayer for her tonight and ask God to find her a home. Much Love, Jake and Judi