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. 

To God Be The Glory!

Since Ben has not had a chance to make a post, I thought I would make one.  Just so you know, God has been blessing us more with each of our visits.  Seeing the smiles on their faces brings such joy and comfort to this mothers heart.  The look of happiness when they see us coming is beyond words.  They are eager to talk to us and learn more about their new home.  They come running to meet us and grab us and give big hugs.  I just want to give God all the praise and glory for being with us through this journey.

All of the teachers and students at the orphanage were very happy to see Pasha.  They kept coming into the room and asking “Where is Pasha?”  They wanted to know if he was happy and he told them that he was.  When the time comes each day for us to leave, they all walk out to watch as we get in the taxi to leave. I have fallen in love with them all.  I pray that God will watch over them as they reach adulthood.  If you have nothing to pray for, pray for these children, they need our prayers.  Remember Jesus loves the little children of the world and they all are precious in his site.

There is one young lady there and she mothers all of the children and from what we are seeing she has the true spirit of a mother.  She has been watching over the children for us, so in return today at the Tuesday market we finally found her the tiny beads she uses to make beautiful pictures.  The picture we chose was of an angel watching over two small children.  I know angels are messengers of God and they do God’s bidding so when we see these pictures what we are seeing is God’s will being done and for that we need to give God honor, glory and praise. 

The scriptures teaches us this, e.g., “And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings” (Luke 1:19 ASV).   And the scripture that drives this point home is “And I John am he that heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that showed me these things.  And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets, and with them that keep the words of this book: worship God” (Rev 22:8-9 ASV).

There may be angels among us and we may even serve them unaware but they are not to be praised that honor belongs to God and His Son Jesus Christ.

The Changing of Leaves

Wednesday morning we left home on a journey that took 29 hours of almost constant traveling to reach our final destination.  The journey was very tiring but the rewards were like finally finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  The reason why you may ask?  When we began this second adoption journey, we understood the whole process better.  While there were some changes, not all were bad changes or very different from our first adoption.  We were finally invited to come and go see the two children we grew to love the previous year when we were here adopting our son Pasha.

 

We arrived at the court house around 10:30 AM Friday morning for what we thought was going to be session 1 of 2.  Our facilitator told us the judge said he could probably get this done in one session if the prosecutor would agree, well evidently he worked it out because before we left the court room he approved the adoption of both children.  How wonderful is that, when we found out this could be the case Thursday night we called our daughter, son, emailed a friend I work with, and a close family friend, oh and my momma, and had them to rally the prayer warriors.  Well those prayer warriors rang heavens bell because the judge did it in one session. (Prayer answered!)  Now we are the proud parents of Sasha Joy and Bogdan Loy Dailey, and Pasha’s best friends became his brother and sister and to best part is there are two less orphans.

It very emotional for us as we got to see the child just a couple of minutes before court, and then to see three friends who have been apart for a year just pick right back up like nothing had ever happened;  I pray they will always be like this.  During court I watched as Pasha and Bogdan caught up on a full year in about 10 minutes.  Those little hands were signing so fast it was all I could do to keep up but so satisfying to be able to tell them they now have a momma and daddy and brothers and sisters and an entire family.  I don’t know if they understand the concept of family but I promise you they will very soon.

As we were on our way back to the hotel Friday evening, I was taking in the scenery here because fall is in full color here and the sun was shining and it was like God showing me he put the finishing touch on the day when he moved back the clouds to let the sun shine upon the trees.  It was breath taking and there was a song that came to my thoughts and it goes like this.  “The warmth in winter the flowers in spring the laughter in summer and the changing of leaves the food on my table a good place to sleep clothes on my back and shoes on my feet I have been blessed.  I have been blessed God's so good to me, precious are His thoughts of you and me, no way I could count them there's not enough time so I'll just thank Him for being so kind God has been good so good I have been blessed.”

Even today I have been singing that song in my spirit.  The Psalmist said it best, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,” (Psalms 107:2a ESV).   I don’t want the rocks to cry out for me, or in my place so I cried out my praise to him last night and all day long today.  For bringing us to this point and granting us the adoption of our young son and daughter and also for getting our luggage to us that missed our last connecting flight Wednesday.  God been good, so good, I have been blessed!

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honor give to His holy Name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,
In His arms He carries them all day long.

Arrival

Ben, Kathy and Pasha have arrived at their destination safe and sound.  Only, their luggage didn't quite make it, so please pray that despite not having proper court attire, the judges will look beyond that in the morning and grant them the approvals they need.  In addition, pray that Ben will be able to find a store that carries the toiletries they need.

A huge prayer request is that they will be able to get their second court date moved up to tomorrow as well, because then, their ten days (of waiting and gathering official documents) will begin on Monday and thus the sooner they can come home!

Blessings,

Big Sister

Pasha says: "Please, please, please come and help us!"

Pasha wants you to know that momma, daddy and himself are hosting a Double Adoption fund raiser Saturday September 20 at Underwood Baptist Church from 11:00 AM until ?

We will be serving:

• Smoked Boston Butt
• Potato Salad
• Baked Beans
• Cole Slaw
• Hot Dogs
• Potato Chips
• Deserts donated by some very dear friends

We are not charging a set amount for the plates.  However, we are asking for a donation to be made in any amount you can give.  All donations will be GREATLY APPRECIATED and will be used to make Pasha's best friends his Brother and Sister and to bring them home.  We had made our first trip but needed to return home to wait for our court date.  So the additional air fare has added additional cost so please come and help us bring these two precious children home.   

“But Jesus said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14 ESV).   We are also told in Proverbs to “Do not withhold good from them to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” (Proverbs 3:27 ESV).

The link at the top of the page will take you to our family sponser page at Reece's Rainbow.  The donation are securely handled by Pay Pal. Donations made this way are tax deductible as it is through a non-profit organization. Remember you are doing this for the children, not us.   

We sincerely thank you, and thank GOD for you.

Rev. Ben, Kathy & Pasha Dailey