We had a very busy day

Hi Everyone,

We had a very busy day today. We met with the inspector today, we had a situation were we
had to have proper paper work from Vladik school, giving us permission to take him out
of school. That went very well. The director of the school was very helpful, she worked very hard to get our documents within an hour. We also met the main director of the school and he was interested in what Vladik's future would hold. He also said he was a good boy. We were glad that he seemed to care about him. we had to also go to the notary and have our documents made official. We did see Vladik today at the school and then for a few minutes at our apartment. His stomach was upset, so he went home to lay down.

Michelle invited Charles and I to join her and the O'Hare's couple ( the other couple staying 2 doors down from us that are adopting) to church. Charles was tired, so he stayed to rest and I joined Michelle. It was a nice service. It was nice to worship God.

Tomorrow we will be at the medical office getting the documents for medical clearance.

Prayer request: Vladik local passport. It needs to come quickly. Pray for his stomach to feel better. We thank god that everything is going very well. Thank you for your prayers.

Jeri

Staying in Odessa

I cannot recommend Odessa Executive Apartments highly enough, especially if you are adopting and need a home base in Odessa for several weeks. http://www.theodessagroup.net/

The owner Scott is an American who has built first class facilities in the center of the city activities. The rooms are excellent, the rates very reasonable, you feel safe, and you have included a washer, nice shower, satellite TV, high speed Internet, kitchenette w/microwave, stove and refrigerator. He is expanding the facilities to include more rooms and a cafe. You are a 1 minute walk from McDonalds (they open at 8am , and their coffee with steamed/frothed milk is a poor mans Starbucks :-) one note, they only serve hamburgers and fries for breakfast, so no Egg McMuffins!), several major shopping malls, restaurants (many with English menu's or English speaking staff), supermarkets, and nightlife. The world famous and magnificently renovated opera house here is 5 minutes walk away. The staff @ OEA speaks fluent English and make you feel at home. After our stay in Kiev, this sanctuary is a very pleasant surprise and is one less thing to worry about when you are in the midst of the stressful adoption process...

Odessa is charming one minute, and depressing the next. Face lifts are occuring on many buildings that are very old. There are many new shopping centers. There is apparently low crime, and an emerging middle class to spend money on technology and many things we take for granted. Infrastructure is a challenge, the govt. bureaucracy here is established and I will not complain again for waiting for 3o minutes for a drivers license in the states. Most of the streets here were built when only 1 in 100 had a car. Now they are clogged with congestion that the roads were never built for. It can resemble Manhattan like traffic during the Odessa rush hour. But the people are very nice once you get to know them. We like Odessa, and our facilitator Natalya / Natasha is very professional and knowledgeable. We have been very pleased with our progress to date given some of the challenges we have faced and she seems to handle each challenge with skill and determination. Today was a good day. Vladik, our new son to be, is warming up to us and I have taught him a cool handshake that Joshua (my son) taught me. Vladik seemed to lighten up when I showed it to him. Thanks Josh!... And speaking of my kids, I really miss Joshua and Lauren. I know what a sacrifice they are making for this to happen and am looking forward to Skyping with them on our web cam. And I am very thankful for the many friends back home who are caring for them..... Our best to to you all.

Charles

We met Vladik today

Hi everyone,

sorry it took awhile to start blogging, we have problems accessing the blog. We had a great day
today. We went to see the inspector, than Natalya took us to meet with Vladik. We were surprised because we didn't think we would see him this soon. We were very glad to finally meet him. He is a very polite young man. we stayed together all afternoon. Michelle joined us later. She showed us around town for awhile than we had dinner with the family that is also adopting at this time. They are staying at the same hotel as we are. We had good fellowship and a good pizza. Joshua and Lauren we miss you and love you. No Josh, I didn't get your blog. keep trying.

Prayer request: pray for Vladik to have strength and peace. Pray for Charles and I for wisdom and strength.

This picture is the port of Odessa on the Black Sea. The view from our perspective was beautiful.

Thank you for praying for us,
Jeri