Sunday, March 17, 2013

Sunday, March 17, 2013

We had a pretty lazy Sunday morning.  We held our own church services.  Our translator, David, came by at 1:30, waited for us to finish getting ready, called a taxi and we headed off to Pischanna.  On the way I asked him if Balta is a small enough town that everyone knows each other.  He kind of laughed and said, "Oh yes."  He went on to say that half the town knew that there are Americans here and by the middle of the week the other half would also know.  They are curious about us, but a little afraid that we want to take their children.  I think it's because they think we'll use them for their organs or something.  He said that he keeps telling them that we are nice!  I asked him if we should be worried for our safety.  He said, "No, not at all."  Interesting conversation!

We arrive at the orphanage and see Snezhana running past us and up the stairs smiling at us.  We went and waited at the spot by the front doors where we have hung out with the girls.  We waited for a while, then David went to find out when we could visit with the girls.  He came back and a little bit later, the girls came.  They were disappointed that we hadn't brought our tablets, but happily played a little game of spoons with us and then Uno.  We talked to them for a bit about the adoption.  Lyuba doesn't plan to be adopted.  Now Diana only wants to come for a visit.  I think Lyuba has been working on her.  I asked Lyuba if she thinks her mom will come get them out of the orphanage.  She said that yes, she thinks she will.  She doesn't realize that her mom can't.  We need to have a talk with the girls about their reality and their options this week.

We made up a dehydrated rice meal that we had brought from home for dinner and spent time reading and on the phone with my parents and the kids at home in the evening.  I am informed that it is St. Patrick's Day.  I hadn't even realized it!  The kids are having a hard time and really missing us.  We haven't been able to communicate much with them since coming to Balta.  Internet has been really spotty and slow.  Hopefully we have worked something out where we can be in contact each day.  That should help them.  We miss them a lot too.  If they could be here, everything would be just fine.  Them being away from us is the only thing I am not enjoying about this trip.  Well, that and the girls being persuaded by their mom to not be adopted.

We haven't heard the discotech tonight!