The morning was spent with Viktor, Natasha and I going to the police station to find out if Viktor’s petition for a replacement passport had been processed. When you walk into the police station, there is no lobby or waiting area, only a small foyer, with a large black wrought-iron gate to greet you. Only people who have been summoned are allowed to get past the gate. We waited and waited and waited, with people and officers going in and out while we continued to wait.
Natasha and I stood silently praying, as we waited and hoped for some kind of favor. Finally, the officer behind the gate pointed out the officer who is the supervisor to the one who had our petition, and gave us his name. Natasha ran after him, pled our case to him, and he agreed to check on the petition for us.
He told us that it had not yet been signed by the authorities above him, but graciously told us to come back Monday at 10 AM, and told us to ask for him personally, and he would get it to us. A little answer to prayer! That is the first step in many in getting the replacement passport that Viktor needs.
(Our court hearing is also scheduled for Monday at 11 AM, so Monday is going to be an eventful day.)
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We had heard about the “island” here in Zaporozhye since before we got here, a land where the Cossack people lived 500 years ago. We finally got the chance to visit this afternoon, even though the big kids were reluctant and wondering, “What is there to do there? We’ve been there before.”
Well, the exploring began and and soon everyone was enjoying the beautiful scenery, the gorgeous weather, the interesting artifacts in the museum, and just time spent doing something different together, as a family. We hiked to the top of the hill where the Ukrainian flag and a large cross were perched, looked out over the Dnieper River and the amazing view of the dam there, and climbed trails through the wooded parts of the island to get to the little replica Cossack village on the top of the island.
The kids enjoyed picking out some Ukrainian souvenirs for themselves and the younger siblings, as well as making their own aluminum coin with a sledgehammer and an old fashioned metal mint. (Viktor made his in one blow, but Tanya took a few more hits to get her coin fully stamped.) Playfulness was the theme as we enjoyed the island together.
On the way home, we stopped and ate a delicious Ukrainian meal at a restaurant we weren’t sure we could afford at first, but it turned out to be very reasonable. Viktor was all smiles as he enjoyed his favorite - meat and potatoes. Then a stop to the bookstore to get some books in Russian for the kids. We helped Tanya pick out some classics that she was excited to crack open the minute we got home (Sense and Sensibility was the first one), and Viktor even picked out a comic book he wanted. (Hey, it’s a start!)
It was a day that included a few mood swings, and even a few tears, and all of us learning how to share and receive love from one another, continuing the dance of pursuit and withdrawal, but maybe a tad more gracefully as we are mastering a few more of the “steps” to this dance. But despite that, it was a good day, with progress made, with less time having earphones in, more time spent together than in withdrawal, and our hearts knitted a little closer. Thanks be to God.
Natasha and I stood silently praying, as we waited and hoped for some kind of favor. Finally, the officer behind the gate pointed out the officer who is the supervisor to the one who had our petition, and gave us his name. Natasha ran after him, pled our case to him, and he agreed to check on the petition for us.
He told us that it had not yet been signed by the authorities above him, but graciously told us to come back Monday at 10 AM, and told us to ask for him personally, and he would get it to us. A little answer to prayer! That is the first step in many in getting the replacement passport that Viktor needs.
(Our court hearing is also scheduled for Monday at 11 AM, so Monday is going to be an eventful day.)
.........................................................................................................................................
We had heard about the “island” here in Zaporozhye since before we got here, a land where the Cossack people lived 500 years ago. We finally got the chance to visit this afternoon, even though the big kids were reluctant and wondering, “What is there to do there? We’ve been there before.”
Well, the exploring began and and soon everyone was enjoying the beautiful scenery, the gorgeous weather, the interesting artifacts in the museum, and just time spent doing something different together, as a family. We hiked to the top of the hill where the Ukrainian flag and a large cross were perched, looked out over the Dnieper River and the amazing view of the dam there, and climbed trails through the wooded parts of the island to get to the little replica Cossack village on the top of the island.
The kids enjoyed picking out some Ukrainian souvenirs for themselves and the younger siblings, as well as making their own aluminum coin with a sledgehammer and an old fashioned metal mint. (Viktor made his in one blow, but Tanya took a few more hits to get her coin fully stamped.) Playfulness was the theme as we enjoyed the island together.
On the way home, we stopped and ate a delicious Ukrainian meal at a restaurant we weren’t sure we could afford at first, but it turned out to be very reasonable. Viktor was all smiles as he enjoyed his favorite - meat and potatoes. Then a stop to the bookstore to get some books in Russian for the kids. We helped Tanya pick out some classics that she was excited to crack open the minute we got home (Sense and Sensibility was the first one), and Viktor even picked out a comic book he wanted. (Hey, it’s a start!)
It was a day that included a few mood swings, and even a few tears, and all of us learning how to share and receive love from one another, continuing the dance of pursuit and withdrawal, but maybe a tad more gracefully as we are mastering a few more of the “steps” to this dance. But despite that, it was a good day, with progress made, with less time having earphones in, more time spent together than in withdrawal, and our hearts knitted a little closer. Thanks be to God.