Monday was the legal Easter Holiday in Ukriane so businesses were closed and there was no school. The Orphanage put on a wonderful Easter pageant re-enacting the last days of Christ's life. The kids dressed in costumes and had each memorized significant parts. When I first walked in, there on the large screen monitor was the painting of Christ in the heavens with hundreds of angels on both sides extending into the clouds--the large one in the terrestrial room of the SL temple. It made me feel so at home. Here are some photos of their show.
Eli and Svieta
Malvina in the blue dress.
Malvina in pink.
Malvina looked gorgeous in her costume and seemed happy and normal again---except she totally ignored me, so after the show I went walking by the sea and then through the market again for the tenth time. I didn't want to spend the rest of the day just sitting in my apartment, so I bought badminton sets and frisbees and went back to the orphanage. Malvina ignored me for the entire day except to say thanks when I gave her some daffodils I bought to cheer her up. I put the letter I had written on her bed. I don't know if she ever read it.
I had been planning to go to Simferopol to watch the girls perform in some kind of singing contest today, but now it seems it would be really awkward. Last night as I was leaving, the other girls begged me to come with them on the bus, so I agreed, but then they learned there was not enough room on the bus. It's probably better that way. I'm sure the girls will be questioning Malvina about what's wrong because we all had sooooo much fun yesterday.
My volleyball is improving. The bruising on my hands and wrists is clearing up, and it's not as painful as it was the first few days. I'm doing lots of walking and maybe even loosing some weight.
I lost 20lbs over there. Easiest weight loss program ever. :) I don't recommend such high levels of stress though. I love the pictures of the Easter program. They do the cutest programs in those orphanages!
ReplyDeleteStill praying for all of you....
*hugs*
Just like having a baby after 9 months of being pregnant.
DeleteI'm glad that you are keeping busy (badminton, frisbee, walking, volleyball, etc). Good for you to not just hide out in your apartment all day. After our son told us no my husband packed our crap up that night, bought train tickets and changed our airline tickets. He was all done. Fortunately, the ticketing was a little messed up and we had to stay another day. That was the day our son changed his mind! Imagine if we had high tailed it home! He had a very difficult time deciding what to do, but I'm glad he really thought about it. There was no way we were bringing him here without him being 100% on board. The decision seems so obvious to us!! But as I've sat here, reading your blog the past couple weeks, seeing the pictures of that beautiful country and those beautiful kids, knowing that their struggles continue even after adoption and on top of that new struggles are added (language, education catch up, new everything even if it is good), I'm so impressed that any kids actually ever come!! It's like they have to pick which trial they want. The one they are familiar with (Ukraine) or the one with all the unknowns (America). I'm so sorry this can't be any easier for either of you. She has no idea what she is saying no to and it makes it even more difficult for you because you know what life she will be left with if she stays, not to mention the love that you have for her. This all brings back such raw and deep feelings. Our prayers are with you that you might have continued peace and comfort and direction, along with Malvina.
ReplyDeleteI wish we could look into a crystal ball together to see which trials and joys each life would bring her. She's so beautiful and lovely, I don't think it's impossible she'll find a wonderful husband to love her and provide a good life for her. I don't think these kids are sentenced to a life of prostitution and poverty just because they're orphans who live in Ukraine. Three of the darling girls in our orphanage are leaving this fall to study at the University in Yalta. They'll live in a hostel together in one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen, and they're very motivated, hard-working, delightful girls. They'll receive a 2,000 grn per month stipend from the government because they're orphans.
DeleteContrast that with my Alex's 20-year old, rebellious sister who has made some unwise choices and qualified only to attend a technical institute to become a cook. Then she refused to do her internship and had a baby last October as an unwed mother. She and her little daughter now find themselves in extremely desperate circumstances---pleading with me for help.
Looking at her choices so far, it's kind of hard to break open my wallet, but then I remember King Benjamin asking, "Are we not all beggars." Alex wants to give her all of the stipend money that had accrued in his Orphan account here in Ukraine. That really touched me, but I wish I knew how to really help her. We've been told there are small, abandoned houses in some of the villages selling for only 10,000 grn. Does anyone know if that's true? We're trying to find something the boys and I can fix up before we leave. Our own little Ukrainian "Ascend" project.
Wendy, let us know if you have any Ukrainian fixer-uppers for sale.