Day Two in the Orphanage

It is quite an experience to take a shower in an orphanage! The big window only has lace curtains,  and the shower has no curtain and of course cold water! I do not mind the cold water as it warm enough here. The crowning part of the experience is no lock on the door! I am usually up before the cows so even they do not get a peek!

    I did not get a chance to blog yesterday as the last of the older boys where still here and of course the “American” room was the party room. When my own kids have friends over I usually do not let them game so much but where it was their last day here ( or so we thought) I let them game all day. I fact when they left for lunch I tried to write, but when they came back so fast and they were laughing over my slow typing skills I gave up! I noticed this last bunch to leave seem to be the brightest and some of the nicest of the older boys it fact I did not see them before. When I took a picture of them I decided to call them my “should have been Stripling Warriors” I did not let the party go to long tonight as I am not sleeping after about 2 in the morning so am pretty tired. I have played a few hundred games of Uno and wished I had more games to play with them. Yesterday at lunch Derrick and I got to eat with the kids (With only a few kids to fed they took mercy on us. ) Our cold food is getting old. The food is good. The bathrooms are not! I will have to post pic later as I do not want to use up all of our precious internet sending them you as you pay by the “byte” and until we get back to a city I do hoard them.

tues

Our first day living in an orphange. we awoke to an amazing sunrise and geese honking. I did this post from the Kindal and when I do there will be spelling errors. David
you are right I am having a hard time keeping Ilia fed . Yuri is an angel he drove us here
and has hung around today
and is driving to a market so I can keep the kids fed, I am loving being in the country I like geese better than cars horns. Last night Derrick was a little worried when
we realized only the younger childre are gone.  But the older boys have  left us alone. Things change when the adults leave. There is no internet in the rural area of the orphinage.

The light will come!

     I am a real Micheal Mclean fan and this song has special meaning in my life right now! I can not even express the joy in my heart! I have always loved those moments in life when you have the spirit, but it is not just a literal moment it is going on for hours and even days right now for me. Yesterday there was a sweet moment at church. As I could not understand the words of the songs and sacrament prayer I had to close my eyes and really think of the words to sing them or say the prayers  in my mind .  That kind of concentration( mediation, pondering) sure brings the spirit! Someday as we grow more righteous we will "Have his spirit  always." Unfortunately,  I am too imperfect but there is hope.  I will cling right now to this ongoing out pour from Him! The thought that can so strong to me as I struggled with the pain of the previous day is the parable of the Vineyard. The Master of the Vineyard is grafting  his children to save his vineyard!
     As birth parents we know those children are ours  without  a doubt  because he sent them right into our bodies.  Yet I know these children are my children just as strongly. The problem with the word" Mine" as it sounds too possessive.  I understand more clearly it is my "stewardship". I feel so humbled and am grateful for the understanding we can guild be in the "stewardship" of these children if  we do  our part!            
     Today is moving day so I must  get ready! We are praying our portable Internet connection will work as we will spend the next 14 day in the villages.

The light will come!

     I am a real Micheal Mclean fan and this song has special meaning in my life right now! I can not even express the joy in my heart! I have always loved those moments in life when you have the spirit, but it is not just a literal moment it is going on for hours and even day right now for me. Yesterday was a sweet moment at church. As I could not understand the words of the song and sacrament prayer I had to close my eyes and really think of the words to sing them or say the prayers  in my mind .  That kind of concentration( mediation, pondering) sure brings the spirit! Someday as we grow more righteous we will "Have his spirit  always." Unfortunately,  I am too imperfect but there is hope.  I will cling right now to this ongoing out pour from Him! The thought that can so strong to me as I struggled with the pain of the previous day is the parable of the Vineyard. The Master of the Vineyard is grafting  his children to save his vineyard!
     As birth parents we know those children are ours  without  a doubt  because he sent them right into our bodies.  Yet I know these children are my children just as strongly. The problem with the word" Mine" as it sounds too possessive.  I understand more clearly it is my "stewardship". I feel so humbled and am grateful for the understanding we can guild be in the "stewardship" of these children if  we do  our part!            
     Today is moving day so I must  get ready! We are praying our portable Internet connection will work as we will spend the next 14 day in the villages.

The light will come!

     I am a real Micheal Mclean fan and this song has special meaning in my life right now! I can not even express the joy in my heart! I have always loved those moments in life when you have the spirit, but it is not just a literal moment it is going on for hours and even day right now for me. Yesterday was a sweet moment at church. As I could not understand the words of the song and sacrament prayer I had to close my eyes and really think of the words to sing them or say the prayers  in my mind .  That kind of concentration( mediation, pondering) sure brings the spirit! Someday as we grow more righteous we will "Have his spirit  always." Unfortunately,  I am too imperfect but there is hope.  I will cling right now to this ongoing out pour from Him! The thought that can so strong to me as I struggled with the pain of the previous day is the parable of the Vineyard. The Master of the Vineyard is grafting  his children to save his vineyard!
     As birth parents we know those children are ours  without  a doubt  because he sent them right into our bodies.  Yet I know these children are my children just as strongly. The problem with the word" Mine" as it sounds too possessive.  I understand more clearly it is my "stewardship". I feel so humbled and am grateful for the understanding we can guild be in the "stewardship" of these children if  we do  our part!            
     Today is moving day so I must  get ready! We are praying our portable Internet connection will work as we will spend the next 14 day in the villages.

Roses

Last night I only mentioned the thorns, of course there were some beautiful roses I was just too mentally tired to keep writing last night. The first was how proud of Derrick I was yesterday. He tried so hard to open that door  help even as other children were telling him no. He made sure that boy ( actually young man he was 17 ) got some candy, offering him something to drink . The children are so funny when we  play Uno  no matter who was winning "PaPa" was given the "take 4 "cards and" skip"cards etc. but when they come back from lunch it is always   "Papa" they brought grapes or an apple to. A camera is the best toy in the world them. After the fight we still had a half hour of "quiet "time (the children must stay inside during quiet time) so Derrick and I demonstrated Indian leg wrestling. ( trying to channel all that testosterone)  There where some funny attempts. One of the ring leaders of the fight came in,  asking to really wrestle (pin shoulders to the ground) Derrick and he was willing ( I would have been nervous to let a guy I just knew beat  up another wrestle me) they both had some good moves before Derrick was pined . It was obvious this young man tried but did not use all this strength. ( a moment of kindness). When it was time to go, leaving took almost an hour of hugs, handshakes , pictures and more pictures. Pretending to put children our bags to take home. I told them I wanted to take them all home with me. The children asked Derrick how much his Laptop  cost and we were able to tell them Derrick worked hard to buy his things and that he work really hard to earn the money to come to Ukraine. Derrick does a paper route every day( Which only pays  $3.20 a day its a small route) The other half is from working hard to build the house. One of the older boy even gave Papa  a hat ( they are being given new clothes for this move)

It was tender to watch Lydia cling to "Papa" During the visit I asked if she was still nervous or just excited. She says excited. Ilia wants details," Where are we stay after all the children leave? How long will court be? Where will we all stay after court etc."

 I will remember the Roses.

Sat. Aug 27 2011

I can not think of a good tittle for this day. There are roses between the thorns but at the moment I am bleeding from the thorns.We went to the orphanage today so see  all the children before transfer day on Monday. While we were having a wonderful time a horrible thing happened. As Derrick was walking down the hall he realized he was hearing someone being beat up. He tried to open the door but it was locked. He yelled for help and I ran to the door trying to get it open. I ran back to the girl's room yelling for our translator  As I ran back to the locked door ,the boys doing the beating had left leaving the beaten boy on the floor. He was not bleeding and he  would not let Derrick help him, finally  running himself. I am in shock, I know this happens all the time. I see the bruises  on some of the other children .I am told with a shrug "boys will be boys". But now at midnight I still can not sleep  But the person I am the most upset with is  myself.  I tried to open the door and stop it , Derrick so tried to comfort him. But I did not  try to teach them. I feel want and need to go back on Sunday (Though  not planned on) Can I reach any of them. I  feel I must tell them I was wrong also to not say anything more to all the children .We show up with some tokens of love and yet I did not teach by example  the better way. I realize I can not change the world but I did not do the better part today. Pretty bitter tears!

Building Muscle through Faith

Deb has given the good details and the sad. I told Yulia how my heart sorrows for the orphanage workers who are  losing so much. Pray for them.
 Things to be thankful for: The answer to prayer. the gift of the Holy Gost, the Lord working in the hearts of men to soften them for the good of the children, the knowledge that fasting and prayer have great power for our good, that faith is the gate to miracles,
At that moment when we were stressed to have the children removed from the transfer list we were very concerned but peace filled my heart and I knew the Hand of the Lord was moving in my life
posted by David

Fireworks! Friday Aug 26

There were fireworks tonight in Zap! A prefect and fitting ending for this Day! I can not find the words to express the joy  in my heart today! I have prayed for months that we could stay near the children so we could spend every day with them It will be more primitive but worth it!.My second answered prayer started today. From the very day we decided to adopt Lydia and Ilia I said OK we will, but we will be bringing one more child,a little boy, have been waiting for  almost 10 years now. I am not posting pic or his name as those of you who have been here know you don't tell until things are worked out. Because the children are being moved Monday they are changing orphanages, district, etc . it is very complicated. We may even have to start on ground Zero with a Dossier ( I hope not). Our joy had a bitter sweet moment today. We were with all the children as they were told of their impending move in 3 days. as you can imagine there were tears and pain ,though most of them took it very stoic as they have learned they have no control over their lives. I hope our being there was helpful as we then spent the rest of afternoon burning songs from Derrick Laptop to their i pods, phones ect. playing card ,sharing food, hugging and trying to love and comfort them. We watch a few of the children with big hearts try to reach out to the other. I just wished I could take them all home with me. It is funny just this morning I was thinking, wondering why so many of you said you wished you were coming back with us I was trying to figure our why, Yes there are many things I love about Ukraine but  nothing so amazing I would take the next plane back, but now I know, it is these children! IT is the CHILDREN!

Thurs Aug 25

To those who know me this will not be a surprise but it is 5:30 am and I am awake! (See I am sleeping in!)
I am thinking about Tomakovka, I am excited to be in the village, to be with in walking distance of my children, of course that leaves us without a translator and sticking our like a sore thumb. so I was trying to figure how to blend in. I could by a few skirts and scarfs but then I looked at their feet,, oops I can not wear heels so my american tennis shoe will spoil my look, oh well. We will not  have intranet so except for a few words on the kindle it may be radio silent for 10 days!

Things are coming together

We have had the best day. Yana is doing a great, she made the arrangement's to get a court date before the weekend a real feat, with a mid week holiday and with the orphanage closing so the need for quick resolution is important, the court date is Sept.2nd . There is also a possibility that the kids will be placed in the hospital in Tomakovka (court town) for the waiting period and today Yana also found a nice hotel in the town that is the same cost as the apartment and we can walk to the hospital to save that transportation cost.  OH YAAA...LIFE IS GOOD! at least in our lives  The kids seem happier every time we see them and the kids at the school are being fun but as you can imagine with the closing on Sept 1 the staff is beyond uptight.  We feel so badly for the staff they are all losing their jobs and it is a terrible hardship for them.  One person told me her husband makes 1000 gr/ $124 per month and she made the same. If the buildings aren't converted to some other use 60 people are unemployed what a tough row to hoe and the community impact will be nearly as bad.
Post by David

Tue, Aug 23

Today was a paperwork day. but as we were waiting for Yana as she turned paperwork in to the court, the kids walked by, they had been brought to town for Medical exams We quickly got permission for them to ride back with us. We entertained ourselves with balloon and even figured out how to get water from our bottle into the balloons. when we got back to the Orphanage we started a real water balloon fight  but got expelled to the "football" field as officials came to examine the building. After 49 years the orphanage will be closed on Sept 1. Too bad there is a need for orphanages, but since they are needed here, too bad they can not close another and bring other children here. It is clean and well run. Lydia is so sharp as we play cards with the children  it is so apparent! Ilia had a lot of question about home and their new life. Of course it is already not fair Lydia has her own room and he has to share with Derrick! No pic today as we left the SIM card in the computer  last night,  Back in Zaparosa  we went to the Church for English lesson hoping to pick up Russian as they pick up English!
When we started home on the Tram after 2 stop they kicked us off.(the end of the line for the night) so we walked the rest of the way. That was ok but just before our Apt( Oh by the way  now it is dark).A very drunk man started to harass Derrick and I. We where glad we we turned into our complex he did not follow us. Nice ending for the night was the Missionaries called us we will feed them tomorrow night.

Happier Ending Monday 8/22/11

It was over a hour before she would come down, so we waited. We literally prayed for her to not be fearful but to have peace When she finally came in the room she had been crying and said she was afraid. But from that moment on we had a grat day playing cards, going to the sea ( the boys did swim) . We have the usual pic of them writing the letters. Drum roll for the names! (Del don't laugh) Lydia Destiny Mosteller, and Ilia William Mosteller.

SAD

Lydia changed her mimd again. She will not come and talk to us, Ilia is here but he does not know why she dosen`t want to come.  posted by  Derrick

All the world is a stage!

   Never has this Shakespeare quote  been more true than Friday in my life. I have spent hours pondering that day! I will always  wonder if Ella ( Big Sis) really planned to adopt them.( We have since found out she did pick up the paper work but would not be able to gain custody  as she is not married)  Was it just a plan  for extortion, ( Yes we will provide the way for the children to keep in touch) Last, was it a powerful show that they really love them and wanted to prove that by really testing our commitment to the children. It is probably a little of all three. I think it is good for the children to hear our  love and desire for them over and over. That does not matter, what matters is that we are players on the Lord's Stage and playing the parts he wants us to play! I am nervous and humbled  at the path we are on. I truly understand this a bed of roses, some days more thorns than flowers! As we learn more about our children' s history  the more challenging  I see it will be!
    Church was good it is always wonderful to be with the saints ! Tomorrow Back to the Orphanage to see the children and begin the next leg of the journey! Please pray things go unusually fast as the orphanage will closing on Sept 1 and the children are suppose to be sent to another Orphanage . Plan B is to send them to the  " Hospital" or sanitarium. My plan is for a miracle to get a fast court date and pray the judge will waive the 10 waiting period. so they can be with us after Sept 1. We really need your prayers on this part of the journey.

Lost in space

As things go when I touch the lap top I had a page typed and I touched the touch pad and zipped off into the eather and can't find the saved draft so here I go again and my loss of temper has driven the spirit away. By the way I'm David not Deb.  I had been writing about the feeling that I had when I woke up this morning.  After a long yesterday this is a day of thanksgiving to God for his having opened the windows of heaven and poured out his blessings. I feel a huge need for guidance to continue this new adventure with God that is now moving ahead after feeling stalled for so long. Sometimes I feel like an old plow horse I head down a furrow and just keep going without looking up or listening to His gee and haw. I was looking up in gratitude this morning and feeling the need for guidance I started to pick up the scriptures and there was the Nov. 2010 Ensign (you will have to read the issue to figure out the talk I was reading) Everyone needs to read it who needs greater faith and knowlege of His plan for each of us as individuals. "how you deal with life's trials is part of the development of your faith,..The Lord declared "I will contend with him that contendeth with Thee and I will save thy children."" Such a wonderful promise given in Isaiah 49:25. And in the begining of the talk I found the answer to why He brought us to this place "All the future holds in store for each sacred child of God will be shaped by his or her parents, family, friends, and teachers, Thus, our faith now becomes part of our posterity's faith later." We are here to teach these children faith In God Our Father and His Son Jesus Christ. I have always known that we will succeed in the adoption or we would not have come to this place He does not send us on Idle missions and with Him all things are possible so don't let your faith falter he will make it so, hang on, be faithful in keeping the commandments, do all you can and He will make up the difference. After all God promised it.      

Answered Prayers

What a long day! We drove the hour to pick up the kids and then back tracked, and drove 3 more hrs. to visit their sister! We meet a very stony faced sister who would not look me in the eye.She told us she was going to get guardianship of the children,  I told her I did not want to take the children away but add to their family, after 1 hour still very stony and painful, then there was a phone call to an Aunt and cousin who came to meet us.  The Aunt asked a lot of questions, we looked at pictures and talked more, finally  the Aunt told the children they should come with us but the sister  said it was the children' s choice but she would not look at us or smile or encourage. So we started the 4 hour trip back.  From the start Ilia  said he wanted to come but Lydia is scared! So  we talked and talked on the way back. Ilia asked why we picked them and if I would adopt a friend the way David H adopted Kola and then his friend, I explain if I felt in my heart I would but not just because! So we talked about our love and conviction  about them being right. then there was a phone call from the sister saying she would supported the children coming  with us! With her Sister blessing  Lydia  said Yes!  I told her to list all the reasons she wanted to come and all the reason not to come What a long talk! Twelve hours later we are closer to being the parents to 9!

Already behind

So do I blog about today or try to catch up for the past couple of days? We will start with today. The good news of the day is we saw our children! They look  wonderful, a site for a mother's eyes! We spent 4+ hours with them.Playing soccer, well of course Derrick and Ilia played and we watched, walking to the corner store for Ice cream .  Now as I write this part family, do not panic I believe it will work out! The kids big sister was here last week telling them she was going to adopt them, and they will not come with us unless she gives them permission. so tomorrow we go see her! I promise I am not worried. As I said to Yana  If she can take care of them of course that is best! but can she?Apparently, she and her child live with his family. My hope is that she just needs to meet us and know we are ok and will keep in touch. Lots of prayers for the children  I can not say pray for us because I truly want the Lord's will to be done! My hardest part of today the paying the Driver it was almost double what I have been told and tomorrow will be twice that because we have to go get the kids and then back track to the sisters and then back to the kids village! so the decision becomes do we stop eating or stop going to see the kids! PS we are all three happy with the weight we are losing  as those who have  been know you are to busy running around to eat and want to conserve money!

SDA

As all who who have done this know we pray and pray for this appt day and it is over in a wink of an eye! Our adventure of the day was getting lost coming home from the Temple. But 9 hours after leaving our aptartment we  are safely inside and grateful! someday will have to tell the story!

August 15

   This is the Mosteller Family blog. This is Derrick blogging today I am the only one awake. Today was very fun and tiring day apparently. Today we got up late because of jet lag, and then got ready for the day. We decided to go and explore while we waited for Natasha the translator to get here. We went to a church right around the corner. It was beautiful with the gold leafing and the gold domes on top. After that we walked to another church very similar to it but then I decided didn't want to pay to take the tour, so after that we went shopping for gifts to take back to the U.S. It was around 1:45 when we got back to the apartment. When Natasha came over we talked and then went to lunch. It was a little bit different then back home but it was good. Natasha asked if we wanted to go see any of the sites, David wanted to go see the Motherland statue. Natasha explained what all the monuments meant. It was awesome I went and toke a ton of pictures of tanks and airplanes. We got a really good view of Kiev up near the Mother Statue. We then went to another monument about the people starving. The is this statue of a little girl holding a grain stalk up to here chest as if it was priceless. Then we decided to come back and here we are. 

  

Day 1

David, Derrick and I are safely in Ukraine! Part of me feels like I am coming home as I lived in Europe for 3 years 20 years ago. The cobblestone / narrow streets are so familiar,  people walking every where, MY greatest problem is every time I open my mouth German comes out! That was ok on the flight over here as we were flying Lufthansa but it is not cutting it here. Too tired to write more. Just so Happy to be here!

jet plane

Leaving on a jet plane! I am a little crazy tonight! Any last minute advise?!

Crazy?!

I had another person  tell me we are "crazy" to adopt two teenagers last night. It is funny I used to be a person who worried about what people said about me. I can not express the peace knowing this the path we are suppose to be on and the peace from the Lord is stronger than the voices all around me! As I look back in time it is the people who did what the inner voice or drive told them to do.  ex. Build a boat with no prior experience to cross the "many waters" Planes can fly ! Electricity is real and on and on. I am a little nervous about the challenges  ahead hope we are mentally and spirituality prepare enough to be ready to help them heal and grow.. I know if I ask humbly the Lord will guide us! This impossible or crazy thing can be done with his help!
1

Packing!

Less than two weeks until we leave  !I am half pack as I read and read what people say to take ( I am trying to keep it light!)  A few question about how many Thank you gift will I need, I am great on the females but what about the males! I think I read the water is terrible so is a filter bottle a good idea? As # 5 would say" Input I need input!"