The Burger in Kyiv

 
I had lunch at The Burger yesterday with our Daughter and son and a great driver Vitaly. He took us to The Burger for lunch, I must say if you are ever in Kyiv, you must eat here it is GREAT. He also took this picture of Bogdan, Sasha and me.  Bogdan ate all of his salad and French fries but hardly touched the burger, which was almost as big as he is. Sasha on the other hand gave it a run for the money, she finished almost all except for some of the bun. It was a very long day first the U.S. Embassy and then medicals, all we are waiting on are passports so we can get VISA's and travel home.

Now Officially In Our Care

What started nearly a year ago finally became a reality Tuesday. We had all of the paper work necessary to go to the orphanage and finally take the children into our care as their official parents. There were times in the past week honestly when I felt like this day was never going to arrive and from a child's perspective it can be even worse.

Each day they would ask me how many more days and all I could tell them was what I knew and the day I had been told. Having a definite date helped because it gave them something to count down to. When I left yesterday I told them to take a shower and be ready for today. They reminded me to bring their new clothes and the teachers kept asking me if I brought them coats. I think I met with their approval today when I showed up with not only new clothes, underwear and shoes but also with a thick coat for each and new cloves and toboggans.

The scene reminds me of a song by the Primitives, Title "I'm No Longer an Orphan." It states how grace showed up with mercy and adopted me. It says also my clothes are no longer worn and tattered because they gave me a new robe. This be a part of this again today puts things into perspective. Each of them came out of that orphanage with only the blankets we gave them earlier this year and what few personal possession they have managed to accumulate over the years. But for each what they brought out fit in a small plastic bag. When we are adopted into the family of God all of the baggage we have we need to leave behind. We don't need to bring any part of our old life with us, because that is a life we are leaving behind.

A Father’s Kiss

There are some blessing we get from God that sometimes come to us as a total surprise and today I was blessed to have received one of these special blessings. When I arrived at the school today one of the Ladies who work there told me to go to the cafeteria so that is where I went and half way there I was met our little girl and boy. They took my hands and lead me the rest of the way. When we arrived I learned they were having a birthday party for all of the children who have or will be having a birthday during the months of September, October and November and it included both Bogdan and Sasha.

The director gave each of the birthday boys and girls a gift, and to me this was so touching because as he gave it to them he kissed each one on the cheek as a father would do. He does these things for the children and I get to see just how much he really does love and cares for each one. He has not put any restrictions on us and children are allowed to come in and be with us all during our visits nor have we been restricted to a certain building or room but they all know when we arrive each day we head to the TV room. I have been allowed in any building and room and he has been very friendly and cordial with us this year. I think last year he just did not know us and stayed away and kept many of the children from us. This year we came bearing gifts for the children and school and clothes that had been given to us and I knew they were too big or small for Pasha and Bogdan. And I have seen some of the older boys wearing the clothes many times.

For me to be there today for this birthday party was so very special because this is something they keep in the school and kind of a private family event, but they timed it today so I could be there and they wanted to have this now with Sasha and Bogdan. To me it was sort of a happy birthday and a farewell at the same time and I got to be a part of it which is why I said this was one of those day God blesses in a great and mighty way and totally unexpected. I am so thankful he counted me worthy of this great honor and blessing. As I sit now and reflect back on the day a verse of scripture keeps coming to mind "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jer 29:11 ESV). This gives me such great peace, joy and consolation just knowing he has thoughts for me and today I was the child receiving a gift as God reached down and kissed me on the cheek. I know he loves me I can feel his love and I feel him in my spirit.

So parents today, take time to hug your children and kiss them because there are so many children today who are so starved for that family connection and they dream of it. All of my children know I love them and I kiss them on the forehead every time we part ways. I do the same thing at the school when I leave, I don't just say bye to Sasha and Bogdan I tell each one around me bye and I kiss them on the forehead. I feel they see me as their father figure and that is ok I do not mind and feel it an honor that God has allowed me this time with them each day. I hope some of what I have conveyed to them about serving and loving God will stay with them and they will continue to grow in his grace and knowledge. I know I can't take them all home physically but I am carrying them in my heart, and I will pray for them every day calling out their names to God to watch over these little lambs.


 

 

Two More Jewels Added

Yesterday in the states it was Halloween and a friend who also adopted her son last year from the same school we adopted Pasha from sent me his picture all dressed up in his Halloween costume.  He was dressed up as what appears to be a spaceman.  So cute and him with his brother and sister and it makes me so happy to know he is now in a forever family.  Just as Pasha is and now Sasha Joy and Bogdan Loy are, yes you read that correctly.  We have just added two more to our family and now there are two less orphans in the world.

There is a song that comes to my mind, I think, could be wrong, the Goodman's may have recorded it.  It says set another place at the table, write another chorus to the song because another child is coming home. In this case times that by two and the challenges that lay ahead well lets just say God has been preparing us the past year for this.  I look back on it now and we would not have come as far as we have if it had not been for God working in us through Pasha.  His word says "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts."  (Is a 55:8-9 NASB).

Too many people have never read these verses or they have and decided they are smarter than their creator.  We need to take heed to these verses and then we can truly began to see God's glorious unfolding as Stephen Curtis Chapman put it in his latest album.  Moses told the children of Israel "Do not fear!  Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which he will accomplish for you today." (Exo 14:3b NASB).  We have all grown up in a have it your way society.  When it comes to food or other material possessions this maybe okay, but God is not a fast food establishment where we pull up and just give him our orders and complain when we don't get it our way, or how we ordered it.  God is much greater than that and we do not need to puts limits on His wondrous grace and mercy.

I remember as a child when there was something I wanted very badly I would go to my Daddy as humble as I could and make my request to him.  He was a very strict man and I am so thankful he was because he helped me become the man I am today from his teaching and discipline.  When he gave his answer if it was not what I was hoping for I knew better than to stand there and whine asking why?  But this is how we do God, we are like spoiled children always whining to God wanting our way.  Jesus taught us something totally different, in the Lord's Prayer we teach our children, it says "Our Father who is in heaven Hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Mat 6:9b-10, NASB).  When you read this what do you see missing?  Come on you can do this , what is missing?  Give up?  The one element that is missing in the lines of this prayer is a selfish whinny attitude.  Jesus was the only son of God but he always sought God's will above his own, and if we are the Christian we are supposed to be this is same image we are to demonstrate in our lives. 

Let your light so shine in a dark world and as the saying goes "quit your belly aching!". Instead of always complaining about what you don't like, pray and ask God to help you be more content as the apostle Paul did when he said from prison, I have learned to be content in what ever circumstance I am in (Phil 4:11 NASB).  If we look at this example we will find that Paul learned this lesson, notice that word learned.  To be more Christ like we must learn not to be whinny children who do get their way.  We must feed on the meat of the word and leave the milk behind, if we don't we will never be able to let our light shine in a dark world.