After a 20 hour train ride we arrived in Kerch at 1:30 pm. The train was not too bad. It was overcast and cooler so we were able to sleep pretty well. We found a hotel and then went to see the inspector. She went with us to see Oleg at the orphanage. He is 14 but small for his age. He is very cute! We had a great time talking to him. We showed him pictures of our house and answered questions about where we live. He wants to have parents all to himself. That is what he would get with us. He asked us about what happened with the girl we were going to adopt. He knew we had been at another orphanage. We told him that we have been praying for two years about adopting a child from Ukraine. We thought it was going to be a girl but God led us to him and we are very happy about that. Oleg is happy about possibly coming to America. His favorite sport is soccer and he loves the beach. You should have seen Darwin trying to describe and act out playing baseball.
Nothing is definite yet but Oleg sounds very positive about being adopted by us. We both really like him and think he will fit in well with us. As the days go on we will spend as much time with him as possible to get to know him. Because it is summer he has a little more freedom to be away from the orphanage. If all goes well he will sign a paper soon saying that he wants to be adopted by us. Tomorrow we will start the paperwork here. All that will lead up to a court date.
The hotel we are staying in for now is close to the Black Sea. It is beautiful. We are going to try to find an apartment so that we can do our own cooking. Apartments are usually cheaper than hotels.
We will post pictures of Oleg when the adoption seems more certain. We appreciate your prayers!
All I can say is we love you guys!!!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time by the sea! Yea, Oleg! His hopefully cousin Clark can help teach him all about baseball. You know I always want more information, but I'm trying not to press. I'm he knows he will have to share you with the dogs. Happy 4th!
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you guys - I have a really good feeling about Oleg. In fact, "Oleg Ammala" - has a nice ring, don't you think? :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm loving your pictures. Can't wait to see some with Oleg in them.
Heavenly Father, I pray that You have led the Ammalas to this child, and him to them. I pray that it is your will that they come together as a family, because I know that it was always your intention that children have loving, godly parents of their own. Please give the Ammalas the faith of Elijah during this time. In the name of our Redeemer and King, Jesus Christ. Amen.
You are in my prayers,
Susan L.
Dear Darwin and Pat,
ReplyDeleteNancy just let me know about your blog, and I'm thrilled to be able to share now in how things are going. It's been SO hard not having a clue about what's been happening!!!! As for Anya not wanting to return with you, I'm sure you're beyond disappointed, because you had been imagining a specific scenario for several years, and worked so hard to achieve it. I believe that Anya was the instigator to start you on an adoption path that will result with you being paired with a child who needs you far more. My reaction as I was reading the early messages was that The Universe has a plan, it just may take a while for it to be revealed, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if it involved a younger child, very possibly a boy. That was the information I kept receiving. Go younger in age and change to a boy. At first that seemed confusing, SO totally different from the plan you've had for so long, but perhaps it would be easier for a younger child to start a new life in America and not miss his birth country so much. And I think boys are more accepting of change. And then I kept reading and reached the info on Oleg. Yay! I have all my fingers and toes crossed, and I deeply admire you for being able to operate from a level of such faith, love, and selflessness. My love and thoughts are with you constantly! Diana (your neighbor and squirrel feeder)
Good things come to those who wait. That you have done patiently.
ReplyDeleteHave kept you both in our thoughts and prayers. Gil and Alma
I'm glad things are going well with Oleg:)) I think a boy is a wonderful thing for a mother to have,as u know I have two of each and there is something special about a sons love. Not as emotional as a daughters lol. I have soooo many questions to ask but I will wait till I see you. Prayers to all of you and enjoy your time as you get to know Oleg better. God bless xoxo
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