Sasha gives us the nod

-- Jim --
Today started out early. We got up around 3:30am so we could skype Austin and Tatum and tell them first hand about Vasya and Sasha. By the time we got the internet working (I had to go into the office of the Bible House and turn on the PC that acts as their internet gateway) it was 4:00 and we realized Tatum was at the RMCA Christmas concert. So we sent her a text msg and said we’d skype her after it was over. In the meantime, I caught up on my email and paid some bills.
After we talked to Tatum we called Austin and brought him up to speed.

It’s day 11 and we finally made it out to an actual restaurant for breakfast. We’ve been eating oatmeal almost every day, which isn’t bad, but after a while… I mean – it’s oatmeal! Anyway – we went to Café MОНЯ. We called Oksana to have her call a cab for us, but she just sent her driver over to pick us up (which is good since we’re paying for him anyway). So we venture into the café and it turns out the menu is in Russian – go figure. One of the waitresses spoke a little English so she pointed us to the 3 omelet choices. We were just going to pick two at random to see what we would get, but the waitress was able to tell us that one was mushroom, and the other was chicken. So we ordered them, and they were delicious. Oksana joined us for a cup of coffee while Vitaly, our driver, waited in the car even though Oksana invited him in. Apparently he never joins anyone for meals. We had 2 omelets, an orange juice, coffee, and two slices of bread for 28 grivnas with tip, which is about $4. (So why am I eating oatmeal every day?)
After breakfast we went to pick up an inspector from Hola Prystan who was in Kherson on business so we could give her a ride back to her office. While we waited for her, I saw the exchange rate was at 8.35 grivnas to the dollar, and I needed to exchange some money, so I went into one of the million banks. There was a line at the exchange window, so I pulled out my 3 $100 bills and waited. Almost immediately I saw two older men looking at me and my money so I conceal my bills more carefully. Then they approach me and ask me a question to which I reply, “No Parusky” (no Russian – I just can’t bring myself to say, “I don’t understand” because it’s pronounced so funny ‘yanni-panni-mayu’. I guess I’m just not man enough to say it.) Anyway, it was obvious that one of them wanted to exchange the money directly so he handed me 850 grivnas, let me count it, and then I gave him one of the bills. If he had exchanged it at the teller, it would have cost him 870 grivnas, so we both made out better.
Back in the car, the inspector joins us. We say “Hi”, and she says we are like family now (because we’ve seen so much of each other this week). We drop her off at her office and wait in the car for about 30 minutes for more paperwork. Kari was feeling carsick so she got out and took some pictures of several statues across the street from the inspector’s building. Oksana emerged from the building with the head inspector and we’re off to Stara Zburyivka to see Sasha and –you guessed it- more paperwork.
Around 1:00pm, we go into the same office we were in before, but Natasha is not here today – she’s in training for the next two weeks. We meet the other assistant director, and today we meet the director. He’s a very pleasant older man who’s been working at this orphanage since 1975. And we’re his first international adoption! So he tells us that they are not sure of all the paperwork that needs done. But we’ve got Oksana, so I’m not worried about that at all. She takes charge and the papers start flying. Signatures are written, and stamps are pressed. The director talks to us for several minutes about the orphanage, and how times used to be very tough, but they are getting better. They are putting in a new restroom now, and we saw some other maintenance going on as well.

Around 1:15 Sasha comes in and hugs us and plops on my lap with his arm around my neck. He’s giving us his shy smile and I keep noticing him staring at me and Kari. I can only imagine what’s going through his head, “Who are these crazy people, and why do they make me sit on their laps?” is one option. Probably more likely is “Are they here to adopt me?” Soon Oksana comes over, kneels in front of him and asks him the question, “Do you want Jim & Kari to adopt you?” Sasha nods his head and quietly says "yes". “Do you want to be part of their family?” Again, Sasha nods his head and says yes, and a look and a smile at Kari and me.

Next the inspector asks him several questions:
• Do you know these people? Yes
• Did you go to their house? Yes
• Where do they live? Colorado
• Do you want to go with them forever? Yes
• Do you want to go to the U.S. forever? Yes
• Do you want to visit Ukraine sometime? Yes
• Do you know any English? “A little. Please, Thank You, You’re Welcome, Colorado”
• Do you know their children? Yes, Austin and Tatum
• Will you sign the consent form to be adopted? Yes
• She tells Sasha, “We will try our best so you can go home with your new mom and dad.”

Next, the director addressed Sasha:
• You must behave well with your new parents.
• You must behave well with your new parents. (he repeated it!)
• Will you write us letters if you’re happy? Then maybe other kids will want to be adopted.

Sasha is given the consent form and he sits down behind one the desks and signs it without hesitation. Then he signs another one, and another, and another, and another. We took some pictures of this.
We bring Oksana over to talk to him about his new name. We first told him that Sasha is more of a feminine name in the US, but since his real name is Oleksander, we could name him Alexander John Volf (John of course being after my brother). He said, “Are there any other names?” We laughed out loud and were proud of him for saying what he wanted. We told him our other option is Joshua John Volf, then we asked him if there was any other name he would like to have. He said, “Joshua”. Settled. Kari hears him quietly repeating his new name to himself.
Sasha asks about Vasya and if we are going to adopt him, too. Oksana explained to him the entire situation. Sasha said he was also once at the orphanage in Nova Kahovka where Vasya’s brother is now. The Director said that he will explain the situation to Vasya.

Soon, Sasha’s teacher came in to meet us and sign the consent forms. She said she was nervous and felt like she was the one being adopted. She asked Sasha to write them letters and she hopes he will be happy with our family. That is the most important thing, she said. I asked her to pose for a picture with Sasha and he started to tear up as he hugged her for the picture.
Kari has been slowly pulling stuff out of her bag for Sasha. First it was a banana, then a Twix bar, and now she slipped him a chewable vitamin. We also gave him our family photo album which he carefully looked through a couple of times.
Kari then reminded Sasha about the time in Colorado when he called us Mama and Papa, and she had to correct him and tell him twice to call us Jim and Kari. But now, we don’t want you to call us Jim and Kari, now it’s Mama and Papa.
I don’t remember who, but either the inspector or Oksana told Sasha about his half sister and her grandmother, and asked him if he would like to visit them once more before he left. He said yes.
The director tells us we are welcome to visit SB anytime we are in Ukraine. During the conversation he realized we were part of UOO and thanked us for everything UOO has done. He said all the kids returned from their trip very exited. The first major difference they pointed out was the toilets.
Around 3:30, Sasha said he had to go and eat, so we hugged him good-bye. We had earlier told him that we won’t be able to see him again until next week with Austin and Tatum. Tomorrow we are going to go see A again before she forgets what we look like!
On the way to the car we see Ilona. Her smile brightens the courtyard and Kari rushes over to give her a hug. I follow and put my arm around her and she does the same to me. Oksana tells Ilona that we will be returning next week to visit with all the camp kids and Austin and Tatum are flying in to see them, too. Her smile grows.
By the car the director urges Sasha to give his Mama and Papa hugs good-bye, which he does for the 3rd time now. We drive off waving good-bye to them and Ilona.
Next stop is a doctor’s office so they can fill out a new medical form that details Sasha’s medical condition. It should be ready for pickup tomorrow at 10am.
Oksana got a call and informed us that the Municipal Authority has approved the separation of Sasha and his half sister. We are hopeful that all of Sasha’s paperwork will be completed by today for shipment to Kiev. Please continue to pray that both kids’ paperwork will go smoothly and that the SDA and local judge will approve their adoption.
We will be going back to Kiev tonight or tomorrow to visit Heidi and Felix and pick up Austin and Tatum so we probably won’t have internet access for the next 5-7 days.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. It means a lot!