Rewind

We wanted to give you a recap of our busy days here in Sevastopol.

On Sunday, we arrived by plane. We took the 2 hour drive to Sevastopol and immediately went to our apartment. Our facilitator Olga is staying with us while she is in town. We dropped off our things and then went in search of some food. They had moved the market and Olga had a bit of difficulty locating it. We were melting in the heat!

We found the market and did our best to avoid the raw meat sitting out in the heat. I just could not bring myself to buy any. We purchased fruits and veggies. One man gave us a taste of some melon. Supper sweet! We bought a small one because the larger ones were quite spendy - even for Ukraine. After we had purchased it, the man came around the counter and Olga explained to us that he wanted us to have one of the large melons. They were better, he said and he wanted us to have a good opinion of him. So kind. Olga was very surprised. We swapped melons and we are still eating from it, it was that big!

When we got back to the apartment we crashed. We had an early morning the next day.

I want to describe more of our first encounter with "K". The night before Olga prepared us for what we could expect. She said it was a good idea to have a gift to give to him. My stomach sank. We remembered the Hansen's telling us something similar and in all the commotion of preparing to come, we had not gotten anything. What to do? We had other things to bring and play with him, but no present. We decided that Ed would get up early in the morning and would go pick up some crackers at one of the local stores. We had also purchased a small horse souvenir that we thought we could give him. Peter and Lydia were crushed, but they understood that we needed something for him.

The next morning Ed bought crackers and found a little car for him - larger than a matchbox - that said for 3 and up. We decided to wait and see if it would be appropriate.

Our first meeting went better than we could have expected. Two ladies brought "K" into the room where we were hearing about his file. They had arms full of toys. They were both so busy trying to display all of the things he could do with his new cochlear implant (one ear). He, of course, was having none of it.

The first one he locked eyes on was Peter. In that moment I was so grateful that we had brought the kids. "K's" eyes became big and he stuck his neck forward trying to get a good look at Peter. We tried to get a little closer to him, but the ladies were still pulling him this way and that trying to get him to show off his "skills". It was comical.

He started fussing and then it happened. Ed pulled out the car! Oh boy. That was the thing to get! He came to it immediately. He opened the little doors on it and put it right down on the floor. All five of us were on the floor pushing the car back and forth.

They didn't give us much time for that first visit, but I wanted to get a picture. I was hoping for a natural one of him playing with the kids, but the ladies took "K" and made him stand to attention as soon as the camera came out! Peter and Lydia stood on either side of him and "K" immediately reached out to take their hands. Probably what they do in the orphanage, but it was a sweet sight for this mother's heart. Then "K" realized he was missing something. Dropped the kid's hands and went to get the car. He picked it up and went right back in between Peter and Lydia and picked up their hands again. Every one in the room thought it was something special and it truly was.

We have had one meeting with him since. The car was a big hit again, but an even bigger hit was Ed. It was miserably hot in the room that we visited him in. Ed picked him up and swayed him back and forth like one would a baby only farther away from your body. Poor Ed. He was exhausted by the time the visit was over. When Ed tried to put "K" down, he would shake his head yes and want more. He seems to have a sweet disposition. Not to say we do not have some behaviors that will need to be worked on - we can see that already. But he is tender and seems to pick up on things easily.

So much to be thankful for. Our hearts have been full of praise to God for His wisdom and guidance at bringing us this far and providing for us in all circumstances.

Thank you all for the e-mails and comments. It is wonderful to share this experience with you in this way. We miss hearing your voices - have not been able to find international calling cards - but having the connection through the computer has truly been a God send for us.

Missing Minnesota, but so glad to be where God intends for us at the moment. Blessings!

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