Today's visit was "interesting" as usual. When we got there we found that yet again all of the kids were out except Oksana. She was in the same room rocking herself on the same bed. Grrrr.... We started walking with her and began going towards the playground where the older kids were when one of the workers came running after us telling us we couldn't go over there. I was SO mad. First of all the area we are allowed in has NOTHING to play with. And WHY NOT? Why can't she go over there? I've heard at some orphanages they are very particular about not mixing kids from different groupas together. Maybe that's way. Maybe they don't want us letting her crawl around like we did the other day. Regardless, we were beyond frustrated. So we walked with her for awhile and then laid out a blanket and played with the toys we brought. Just like a typical kid, guess what the favorite toy was? The plastic ziploc bag that I was storing things in! We would blow it up and she would try with all her might to pop it! She did this for a LONG time. We were really having a wonderful time with her. Then as we've learned is true with Oksana, when she gets bored she gets ornery :). She decided she wanted to grab handfulls of dirt and throw them all over the blanket. We had to stop her and of course she was not happy with us. She started throwing a fit and by this time the other kids were going in for lunch so they came and told her it was time to go. That did NOT go over well. She did not want them to take her from Larry and had a screaming fit all the way into the building. Not exactly the best way to end our visit. While I truly am thankful for the opportunity to get to know her better each time we visit do you see how sometimes we wonder if it causes more harm than good? Well, we did get some good pictures and video!
This afternoon we took a death defying taxi ride to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra which is a famous underground monastery. Monks lived in these underground caves for many years and then it became a burial ground. We got a tour guide that spoke English and she took us all around to the different churches on the grounds, explaining their history and the amazing paintings in each of them. Then she explained that to go into the underground portion I would need a headcovering so I was able to buy a scarf there. We went in and had to buy candles which we lit and then had to hold a certain way in our hands as we walked through.
I couldn't take pictures but basically you went through these dark, cold, underground caves where there were a bunch of glass coffins with mummified monks, saints, etc in them. They were covered up in all kinds of fancy cloths but I did see one guy's hand sticking out. Gross! People walked around in these caves holding their candles, praying, and kissing the coffins...BLECH! It was a bit strange but really something to see.
I'll let you know how court goes tomorrow!
4 comments:
Ok, call me stupid, but I did not know you could blow up a zip lock bag and just zip it up like that. Erin and Larry, I am convinced that her cranky issues are because she's very frustrated about being yanked away from you. It also seems pretty clear that these workers are a bit brutish in their discipline so that's not helping. I, and I think you are too, am really curious how she will respond when that's all gone and she realizes she is now with you permanently. That will be very interesting. I liked one writer's comments earlier about the rocking issue. I don't know much about stuff like that but it sounds right. Oksana is sooooo cute! Well, maybe not when she's throwing a fit, but she looks like she's really, really into you guys. I sure hope that's what I'm seeing. You both are accomplishing such a wonderful thing. May God greatly bless your efforts and soon fill your hearts with overwhelming joy. Now, go home and prepare for the final curtain on this amazing love story.
S0 thankful that you'll have court tomorrow - we'll be praying!
We had court today, so thankful it is behind us now. Hopefully we'll see you again in Kyiv, as we're both on our way out!!!
Jenn
So glad you have court tomorrow I know you are ready to go home for awhile. Poor Oskana there is no telling how she is treated I am sure once she is removed from that enviroment and is shown the love that she is given by you and your family she will blossom into something amazing!
Wow, you are really leaving us! We so enjoyed meeting you, hanging out with you, laughing with you....ok and grieving our new realities together. :) Wishing you all the best and we will look forward to maybe someday meeting again.
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