Where is this week going? Everything is going by so fast, and I've hardly had a chance to take any photos! Again, we were able to sleep in today, which means 2 completely different timeframes to K and me! I had to return to the Embassy today to pick up K's passport and immigration package. I've been assured that I have all the papers I need to get her out of Latvia with me, so we don't have a repeat of the 2nd trip. Then, I have to hand this package of documents and her new passport to the US CIS people in Dulles Airport, where we arrive on Saturday afternoon. Then, when they process those papers, K will be an American citizen....yahoooo! Hopefully, we won't miss our connecting flight to CT with this last step!
K is very excited. She wrote all of her school friends at home that she's now an American as well as a Latvian. She told me she really misses her friends in the US, and I guess that's all a part of moving on with her new life. She's also been busy doing her homework while she's here--not really a total vacation!
We went with her Russian friend to a special Latvian restaurant tonite, which is our favorite place to eat when here. They still have all the Christmas lights up, as the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas and New Years later...I didn't quite catch the whole story, but it looks beautiful...and the cold weather doesn't stop anybody from going outside in the parks to enjoy all the lights! It's amazing to me...did I mention all the fur coats everybody here has?! Wow!
Well, tomorrow we will be going to a movie with our friend, R., and spending our last day getting a few rememberances from Latvia. It's kind of bittersweet, but we'll be back on a Mission trip one day, as K says she wants to help people with me.
God's PEACE and JOY, EP
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NIV)
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wednesday
Today was another busy day for us. Our lawyer picked us up to take K back to the doctor's office to get one last immunization shot. It was amazing...not so much as a tear in her eye, and she didn't even drag me into the office with her?! What's up with that? Not her usual behavior at a doctor's office...hmmmmm. I asked her if she'll behave like that when we go to the dentist upon our return home, and she very cutely said "maybe!"
At 2pm, we had an appointment at the US Embassy, which is always awe-inspiring to me. We handed them about 2 inches of documents, and got back a packet of documents about 4 inches thick! We then had our interview with the Director, which was far less intimidating than the last one. K did alot of laughing, and signed about 10 forms with her new name, which she's been practising to write since she's been here. Then, he said they'll have all the paperwork and immigrant visa ready to be picked up tomorrow. He said "Congratulations," and that was it! Wow, pretty simple!
So, we came back to the hotel, and are planning to meet up with K's friend, who owns a store in the mall about 8 cold blocks from here! She'll get lots of practice speaking Russian with her.
God's PEACE and JOY, EP
At 2pm, we had an appointment at the US Embassy, which is always awe-inspiring to me. We handed them about 2 inches of documents, and got back a packet of documents about 4 inches thick! We then had our interview with the Director, which was far less intimidating than the last one. K did alot of laughing, and signed about 10 forms with her new name, which she's been practising to write since she's been here. Then, he said they'll have all the paperwork and immigrant visa ready to be picked up tomorrow. He said "Congratulations," and that was it! Wow, pretty simple!
So, we came back to the hotel, and are planning to meet up with K's friend, who owns a store in the mall about 8 cold blocks from here! She'll get lots of practice speaking Russian with her.
God's PEACE and JOY, EP
Tuesday
We had a day off today to rest up. My girlfriend, D, and her son, R, from the ESL Church Camps in Sloka, which I attended, came into Riga to visit with us. She is pregnant with her 4th child, and her son usually acts as our tour guide and likes to hang out with us to practice his English. They are both so fun to be with.
My friend, D, sings in the Latvian National Choir. She has a beautiful voice. She also loves to do needlework and beading. She made me a beautiful counted cross stitch picture of 2 irises; and she also made 2 beautiful necklaces for K and me. 
Her son, R, is really funny. He has a brown belt in karate, is studying construction at school, and loves to hang out with us. I always have fun taking silly photos of him and his friends at church camp.
In this photo, he's inspecting the sushi he ordered, which he never ate before. then he decided there was a better use for the chopsticks...as it ended up, he didn't think he really liked sushi so much!
Then, K got in on the act too, and had some sushi, which she really enjoyed, so much so that she wanted to share it with everybody at the table! 
Trip to Jelgeva (Monday)
On Monday after the doctor appointment and visit to the US Embassy, K & I went down to Jelgeva to visit with brother K. We picked him up at the Orphanage, and went out to eat at a nice local place. It was so fun to be with him, and he seemed to be doing very well. It was hard to say good-bye again! Here are some photos of our reunion:
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday
We had a GREAT day today...all went very smoothly! We met up with our lawyer friend, who easily guided us through the exit health check-up for K with the only US Embassy-approved physician in Riga. At least K giggled her way through this appointment (the doctor said she is a very ticklish girl, and I was so happy she wasn't crying as has been the usual experience!) We then went to the Passport Office to get K's new passport, with her official new name in it--YEAH--so that's all done now!
Then, we traveled the hour down to Jelgeva to sign some papers at the Orphan Court, and to visit her brother. Everybody who met up with K couldn't believe how well she looked, like a new girl they kept remarking...and they were all laughing, as they say K speaks Latvian with an American accent now! The Orphan Court judge told us that her brother is regretting his decision to not be adopted, and is working hard at doing well so he can be chosen to come stay with us for the 5 weeks in the summer...it made me sad to hear that, but hopeful for him, because he knows he has a chance at a future.
We then went over to the Orphanage to pick up brother K, and it was so good to see him! He gave us each a big hug and kiss--he's grown about 4 inches annd his voice has gotten lower! He and K were talking a mile a minute, and then he was teasing K about her accent, and then she punched him, and it was like old times! We all went out to dinner, had more fun together and took photos, but the time ended too quickly! Please keep praying for K's brother...
Another sad piece of news we had is that K's best friend in the orphanage is not doing well--her behavior is getting bad, she was hurting the younger children in her group, and so they moved her in with older girls, but she herself is only 12 yrs. old! This is a girl that had a family in the US who hosted her 2 times, came to visit her in Latvia, and wanted to adopt her so badly; but she didn't want to leave her parents behind--they are both alcoholics and have had parental rights terminated, but like to hang on to the kids to get a free government apartment when the kids are turned out of the orphanages at 17! It's SO sad! I talked with K about her, and she was mad at her friend for not making good decisions; but it was her decision and so only she can be blamed. This appears to be the mindset of a people who have been under communist rule for a few generations, and are set free and then value freedom for everbody above everthing else--even freedom for children to make bad decisions, when a responsible adult should be making hard decisions for them! Well, good seeds have been sown, so we just have to keep praying for O, because God can work miracles in people's lives!
God's PEACE and JOY, EP
Then, we traveled the hour down to Jelgeva to sign some papers at the Orphan Court, and to visit her brother. Everybody who met up with K couldn't believe how well she looked, like a new girl they kept remarking...and they were all laughing, as they say K speaks Latvian with an American accent now! The Orphan Court judge told us that her brother is regretting his decision to not be adopted, and is working hard at doing well so he can be chosen to come stay with us for the 5 weeks in the summer...it made me sad to hear that, but hopeful for him, because he knows he has a chance at a future.
We then went over to the Orphanage to pick up brother K, and it was so good to see him! He gave us each a big hug and kiss--he's grown about 4 inches annd his voice has gotten lower! He and K were talking a mile a minute, and then he was teasing K about her accent, and then she punched him, and it was like old times! We all went out to dinner, had more fun together and took photos, but the time ended too quickly! Please keep praying for K's brother...
Another sad piece of news we had is that K's best friend in the orphanage is not doing well--her behavior is getting bad, she was hurting the younger children in her group, and so they moved her in with older girls, but she herself is only 12 yrs. old! This is a girl that had a family in the US who hosted her 2 times, came to visit her in Latvia, and wanted to adopt her so badly; but she didn't want to leave her parents behind--they are both alcoholics and have had parental rights terminated, but like to hang on to the kids to get a free government apartment when the kids are turned out of the orphanages at 17! It's SO sad! I talked with K about her, and she was mad at her friend for not making good decisions; but it was her decision and so only she can be blamed. This appears to be the mindset of a people who have been under communist rule for a few generations, and are set free and then value freedom for everbody above everthing else--even freedom for children to make bad decisions, when a responsible adult should be making hard decisions for them! Well, good seeds have been sown, so we just have to keep praying for O, because God can work miracles in people's lives!
God's PEACE and JOY, EP
Last Adoption Trip
We made it safely to Latvia, after a number of snow delays in Europe, especially in Germany...I thought they knew how to handle snow. The trip ended up taking us 24 hours instead of the planned for 17 hours, but we're safe, Thank God! Did I forget to mention that our luggage was delayed, and we only had the clothes we were wearing, minus our coats? Don't ask...new security measures and lack of sleep! Thankfully, I've had lots of practice on what to do if you land in Riga and your luggage doesn't show up...I was first in line at the baggage claim office, so I saved us about 2 hours of waiting! All is well, as it finally showed up at 11pm Sunday evening at our hotel!
There is snow in Riga..it's about as cold as it has been in CT, so that wasn't a shock, but it's much damper because of the Baltic Sea being so close! I have never seen so many fur coats in my life, but it seems they're worn for warmth, rather than luxury! The Christmas lights are beautiful in Riga...people do not decorate the outsides of their houses with lights like we do, but rather the parks and streets...and they seem to favor blue lights, which are my favorite! I will get some photos to post, but I will have to venture out to the internet store to download them.
God's PEACE and JOY!
Love, EP and KP
There is snow in Riga..it's about as cold as it has been in CT, so that wasn't a shock, but it's much damper because of the Baltic Sea being so close! I have never seen so many fur coats in my life, but it seems they're worn for warmth, rather than luxury! The Christmas lights are beautiful in Riga...people do not decorate the outsides of their houses with lights like we do, but rather the parks and streets...and they seem to favor blue lights, which are my favorite! I will get some photos to post, but I will have to venture out to the internet store to download them.
God's PEACE and JOY!
Love, EP and KP
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