The Judge Visits Us in Riga

Today is Thursday, but I keep imagining it's Friday...I still haven't gotten over the jet lag, but I'm working on it! It's raining again today, which kind of puts a damper on doing fun and exciting activities outside. So, we've been playing lots of different cards games, continuing to get to know each other, and laughing alot. My friend's son, who is 17 yrs. old (I've known him for 2 ESL Camps now), has been visiting us these past 2 days as he goes to school nearby our hotel. K and A are having fun with him, and he knows all the same card games they do...and they all like to cheat, so I have to keep keen eyes on them all! Even my mom has joined in on some of the card games, and has had alot of good laughs too. When all the kids are talking together, and I ask them what they're saying, they all say together "nothing special," and then they all laugh! It's pretty funny, and it's great to see and hear them laughing so much! And A is pretty good with taking videos on my camera, which will be fun memories to watch together.

We have a pretty good set up in our hotel room with food, so we can eat anytime of the day we want to! Pickles, cheese, meat, soup and bread are VERY important staples, I've learned...not too different than home. We had the staff remove all the alcoholic beverages and candy from our refrigerator, and then we filled it up with our own groceries. Our TV hasn't worked since we've been here, but my mom's getting to know the elderly man in the bluejean overalls, who keeps bringing new TVs to our room everyday, but can't find one that works! K was tinkering with it today though, and seems to have fixed it so some of the channels come in.

I received a phonecall at about 1pm from the lawyer, who told me the Orphan Court judge and her daughter (as translator) were coming to visit with the kids at 6pm this evening! It was a little tense to have her come visit us, because she doesn't speak any English (and I don't understand Latvian), and I think she was happy about that! She came about an hour late, came up to our room, and spoke with the kids about 1 hour, while my mom and I sat there, and were given little snippets of conversation by her daughter. The kids were very talkative with her, which was more than they talked with her in court. They laughed, they seemed serious at times, she asked me a few questions, etc., and then she announced she will be back next Tuesday with more clothes from the orphanage for the kids, and to see how they are doing again! I guess that's good news, I don't know...not much was shared with me, so I just have to keep on praying and have faith! Again, I had the feeling from what little was said that A has her own mind, and K is still a little unsure...now only because he has a girl he likes here (100 miles away).

So, it's off to "Playland" tomorrow with the kids...a teenager's paradise in Riga, I'm told! God's PEACE and JOY, EP