First of all, please PRAY that we would find out our date that we have to be at the SDA (State Department of Adoption) SOON! We are expecting to find out on Monday, but we have been expecting for almost two weeks now. Each time we think we're going to hear, we're told that we should find out soon. We are continually being reminded that we are not in control . . . but our Father is. We know that we will travel when He knows is best!
While we wait, we have had lots to do! We have finished painting Artyr's room (pictures will be coming as soon as his bed is put together). We have also spoken to Artyr face-to-face through Skype several times in the last couple weeks. This has been awesome! We've also been able to speak to Artyr's friends at the orphanage that are being adopted by our friends. We have spoken with Erik and Lena (adopted by Russ and Lori), Dima (adopted by Dusty and Tina), Dema (being adopted by Eric and Cindy), Vika (being adopted by Mick and Janel), Anslee and Vika (being adopted by Russie and Cheri ), and other beautiful children that still need parents! Please visit the websites we have listed on the right hand side of our blog, so that you can PRAY for them, too!
For those of you who have no clue who these people are or how our lives have been so uniquley intertwined or maybe even how on earth we got to the point of adopting a 15 year old Ukranian boy, let's back up a couple steps.
We've been friends with Russ and Lori for several years and have partnered with them in ministry events numerous times, including annually at the Outdoorsman's Camps held at their Quest Haven Lodge in Tyrone, PA. Joe sits on the board of Truth Quest ministries, which hosts the camps, and our ministry, Play by Faith, participates each summer. It's through our ministry partnership that we also met and became friends with Russ Jr. (Russie) and Cheri. Last Spring, Russ and Lori adopted a beautiful young girl name Anastasia from Ukraine. God had so burdened Russ and Lori for the other oprhaned children while they were in Ukraine, that Lori brought an idea to the board of Truth Quest ministries. She "proposed" the idea (not sure it was a proposal, more like "We're doing this" . . . hahaha) to bring 20 or so of the children from the orphanage to Quest Haven for a summer camp and hosting program. The purpose of the camp and hosting program was to find adoptive homes for these children. The plans were made and the children were scheduled to come to to PA in early August. At first, we weren't even sure that we wanted to help out with the camp, feeling like we had already scheduled enough into our summer. As the camp neared, God softened our hearts and we decided to help with the 5 day camp, but we were not interested in hosting a child for the 10 days that they would be here after the camp. Well, God softened our heart, again, with camp only a week or so away. We agreed to help with the camp AND host a child (an eight year old boy), BUT we were not interested in adopting . . . no way, nada, period, exclamation point . . . question mark! When the camp started, guess what . . . God changed our hearts, AGAIN! Within the first 24 hours of camp, God had begun to lead us to adopt Artyr. We were pretty skeptical, at first, a common question in our minds was (and by common, we mean about every 30 seconds) . . . "Is God REALLY asking us to adopt a teenage boy when we have two young daughters?" Well, throughout the next 3-4 days and the remainder of camp, God confirmed in our hearts that we indeed were to adopt Artyr. Artyr then spent 10 days with us in our home. At the end of the 10 days, Artyr had to return to Ukraine, and both he and we had to begin the hardest part . . . waiting . . . which is where we are now.
Here are a couple of pictures and a video that several of those who have been over to Ukraine already (and are there now) have taken of Artyr and some of the other children. We want to thank Dusty and Tina, Russ and Lori, and Eric and Cindy for taking these and for loving on Artyr while we're not able to. Speaking with him on Skype and seeing his face (obscured by sunglasses in some of the photos, because of a black eye suffered in a ice sliding injury) has been great, but we wait to see him in person. Please enjoy the pics and please PRAY for Artyr and the other children!
Here's a picture of Artyr (left) with Dusty and Dima
Artyr teaching Russ to dance
speaking of dancing, here is a video of Artyr in the orphanage's Christmas program
(he is the boy on the right in the front) . . . just click on the video, and it will play
Artyr (in the back, smiling) and Erik, Dima, and Lena talking on Skype
Artryr (middle) with his best friends, Erik (left) and Dima
We sent this picture to Artyr, via Dusty and Tina, after we saw his photos with the sunglasses
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