7 here and 1 more arriving...

I'm thrilled to report that 7 of the orphans from Ukraine have arrived to RVA and vicinity!  They were all bright eyed, eager to please and smiles!!!  It's been fun to hear snippets from the families that are still working through just 'acclimating' them:)!! These girls have been quick to jump in and eager to be part of the families.  Surprised? I'm not..I've witnessed it time and time again...somehow we think we have to offer sooo much to an orphan, when in reality, they want to just off

I just am struck at the timing of Christmas and them being here.  How strange it must have felt for Jesus to take on flesh.  Oh but it wasn't for HIM but for US that God became man.  That HE lived, died and rose again, FOR US!  I'm amazed that Jesus can call me HIS FRIEND, but he does.  Not because of my 'qualifications' or goodness, but by HIS.  Thank you Jesus, my friend. Do you see the parallels in caring for orphans...it's not how much we can offer or what they'll do for us, but a way of displaying what is true about US...that we have been made FRIENDS with the Lord of the UNIVERSE.  We love because HE first loved us.  So as we love on orphans, it's so much more than meeting them.  It's meeting Jesus.  I can't say it any other way.  HE IS WITH THEM! and we're invited in. Oh it's messy and exhausting, but not alone.

I'm grateful to watch how folks have poured out for these orphans and their host families....tangibly and in prayer!  It is the 'taste and see' that I think He delights in as he calls us to 'care for the least of these'.  Oh to be invited into the banquet and FEAST!!

So, as you follow these families, an important thing you can do is PRAY!! Pray for stamina and focus.  I'm remembering how exhausting it is...always being on.  Think of it like being on a missions trip for 3 weeks.   These families LONG for the Gospel of Christ to be reflected.  We all desire for the kids to be invited into a family of their own.  Most of the host families only know that their role has been to step forward in hosting.  Maybe it will be the connection to YOU or through YOU that leads them to their forever family.  I'm thankful these families aren't alone in their desires. 

So check out some updates at the host families blogs for:
Alyona P
Alyona S

Irina

I hope to get some updates to you for the other girls and Sergi as he arrives soon!

Leave a comment here or message me your email if you'd like to have pix of Natasha sent.  I can't seem to upload any more pictures!! ugh!!!


 

Mingle and Jingle ! Friday 12/28

So I'm out of storage for uploading pictures.  I mean c'mon! What kind of timing is this? Host kids coming in 6 days, Christmas! ...argh;p ...so once again I changed the blog around and tried to tweak some things but to no avail :(
BUT...I didn't want that to stop me from getting the word out to you about this upcoming ...
MINGLE AND JINGLE!
http://wepcorphancare.blogspot.com/

THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN! If you're in or around RVA on 12/28, consider yourselves invited!

Irina has her own update 'place' now too!

take a peek:
http://ourchristmasguest.blogspot.com/

Update from Tracy on awaiting Alyona's arrival...

http://theresauandaniinukraine.blogspot.com/2012/12/who-knew.html

Tracy's post:

Who knew?!

Blog post #2, people. Look out!

As some of you may have read on Facebook, Saturday the host families attended an all day training.  Hence my title "Who knew?!"  It was definitely an eye opener, and so helpful as we prepare for Alyona's arrival on the 16th!  For example, giving someone a kiss on the forehead is really bad luck.  It's like the kiss of death and says, "you're gonna die soon- I'm saying goodbye."  Ack!  Good to know!

The orphans will be traveling by foot, bus, train and plane.  Their travel will be around 36 hours.  Won't the kids being hosted in Richmond be excited when they learn of the 2 hour car ride from Dulles at 10pm?  Ugh!  As you can imagine, the jet lag (Ukraine is 7 hours ahead of us), will make for some exhausted travelers.  They might be zombies, they might be flopped on the floor in tears, or they might be going on adrenaline and smiling from ear to ear!  The host families will be greeting them with a poster with their child's name and photo on it, and a stuffed animal.  Then, it's hug time.  Not a side hug, and not a lousy "nice to meet you" hand shake...a bear hug!  I was more than a little excited when we were given those instructions, to be totally honest!!  I am a hugger and I don't speak Russian!  What I didn't realize, is that they might not have a clue what we're doing.  And I quote, "some of these kids have never been hugged, so they won't know what to do.  It's your job to teach them."  Just typing this is bringing tears to my eyes.  Our children are hugged and kissed and told "I love you" each and every day, and it's all they've ever known.  Such a reminder that family is a blessing.  Loving parents are a BLESSING!

We were warned that the kids will probably be super stinky, and regardless of what time we arrive home, they are to get a tour of the house,  shower and get clean pajamas on, and then we check for lice.  Oh dear.  Really hoping we dodge a bullet with that one.  We will teach them how to put their TP in the toilet and flush, rather than the trash can like they do at the orphanage.  We'll teach them how to function in a family unit, and what loving parents look like.  Seeing a husband hug his wife, or a daddy get down on the floor and play a game with his kids is totally new to them... and they love it.  (I have warned our kids that if they fight with each other loudly in front of Alyona, I will go 50 shades of crazy on them.  Privately, of course.)

We were told that these kids are basically self sufficient by age 4.  Can you even imagine?  Yesterday, Loren was home sick from school, with a fever and a stomach bug.  Several times I would hear her call from the couch, "Mom!  I need you!"  Although we are thankful for the care that Alyona has received in the orphanage (she is getting an education and 3 meals a day), there is nobody there who truly cares about her.  No mom to help when she's throwing up, or to draw a warm bubble bath for her if she has the chills.  No daddy to tell her she's the prettiest girl in the world, and model for her how a man is to treat her (with respect and gentleness).  No parents to give her rules and boundaries and say, "That's NOT ok- let's figure out a better way."  No parents to buy her the perfect Christmas gift (at the orphanage they get socks and chocolate on "St Nicholas Day", but do not get presents for Christmas because there is just no money.) 

The training made me even more excited for her arrival.  I'm not an idiot- I know there will be challenges.  But, there is SO much that I just can't wait for,  and having her here will be our best Christmas present, for sure.  I can't wait to bake Christmas cookies with her.  To take her for a mom/daughter pedicure and to see the Nutcracker.  I can't wait to brush and blow dry her hair, like I do for Loren.  Not because she can't do it herself, but because it's just nice to be taken care of.  Amen?!   I can't wait to just sit on the floor under the glow of the Christmas tree and play games that don't require reading English.  To let her join in when we snuggle up on the king size bed before bedtime to read a chapter book.  To take her to our church's Christmas eve service and to see her face on Christmas morning when she realizes that some of the gifts under the tree are for her.

Being hosted and coming to the states is a huge privilege for the kids that are hosted.  Why is it that I feel like the lucky one?!

Psalm 68:6
"God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy."

Natasha ..how to pray and be a part of their adventure!

Many folks immediately think “orphan care = adoption”.  I’ve been SO encouraged by the ways the body of Christ is coming together ‘to do’ orphan care in Jesus’ name TOGETHER! As we do this, over and over again I’m amazed how WE are blessed and see the Lord through it!

Below, you will find a letter from my friend hosting Natasha.  Whether you are led to give tangibly with these needs or not, please do consider PRAYING for the requests listed!! Folks...The KING OF HEAVEN is inviting us in to watch HIS Kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven!  I’ve never seen this as profoundly as I have as folks ‘do orphan care’.  So hold on, join in and wait...not just remembering Christmas long ago, but WAIT knowing that our King HAS COME and is at work.  Believing HE will give us eyes to see HIM!

~~~~~

Dear friends and family,

I want to give all of you some more information about the little girl coming to stay with us this Christmas.

Her name is Natasha and she is 10 years old. She lives in an orphanage in Ukraine. She arrives Dec. 16 into Dulles around 9pm.  We are bringing her here for about 3 weeks to stay with us and enjoy family, new friends, the holidays and the states. Our ultimate hope and prayer is that she will encounter Jesus as she stays in our home and that someone will want to permanently adopt her.

Some of you have asked how you can help. As God leads you, we would love for you to be a part of this blessing. We would love your prayers, visits, and small gifts.

Prayers
good communication between me and Ed as we prepare for her arrival and as we make space for her in our family over the next month.
good sibling dynamics among all the girls, lots of sharing, grace and more parenting required!
God's specific and general provision for Natasha as she prepares for this big journey
Jesus would be palpable in our home, trust His purposes and leading in this adventure
Permanent family for Natasha

Specific physical needs:
winter indoor slippers size 2 or 3
super soft fleece blanket
underwear and undershirts (new)
socks!!
toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss (new)
sunglasses
flashlight
books (in Russian)
crafts (that don't require too much reading)
uno cards or other card games
jenga game
snorta game (not sure what this is but it was recommended)
hats, gloves, mittens
hairbands or other hair accessories

Of course these items can be gently used or new (with gift receipts to make sure they fit).  We want to outfit her while she is here but all the clothing is communal at the orphanage so she and we have to hold loosely to everything. Some of the little items she may use to give as gifts to her teachers and friends when she returns to Ukraine.

Feel free to respond with any questions or other thoughts!

Thanks all for your friendship and support
Lori and Ed
ljbbowman@gmail.com

(from cindy: if you’d rather get any of these items to me I will make sure they get to the Bowmans for Natasha!)

Alyona "P" being hosted AND hopefully adopted by the Perry family!

I know you'll recognize this 14 yr old sweetie:) This is Alyona "P" that WE hosted in August! Details of her story can be found in previous posts < here > and even before then you can see pictures of our time.  

The Perry Family is in the middle of their homestudy and are taking an informative course on line about older kiddo international adoptions. When Alyona left she did not want to be adopted, then they got an email (and a thumbs up picture) that she changed her mind. So they are praying their visit in December will make it clear to both her and us if they are to continue moving forward. Of course Chris is leading the charge for their family learning Russian so that will surprise her when she visits!
Here's a picture of her (in her room we're guessing) after she returned... (with my 10 yr old's skirt on...how fun is that?)

Update for Alyona with the Scoggins...

I wanted to share that all updates for Alyona (I actually think it's Alona) with the Scoggins family will now be reported from Tracy's blog!  Follow or check in with her and I'll try to say 'updated' here too.

It's such a catchy title as it's meant to focus on their hosting experience!
here it is:

http://theresauandaniinukraine.blogspot.com/

Sergiy to be hosted by the Dowda Family in RVA!

Sergiy is 14 years old.  The Dowdas are thrilled to be hosting for the first time and welcoming Sergiy this Christmas!  Pray for their time and a family as that is the desire of Sergiy's heart.

from the Hosting organization:
Sergiy was shy and quiet, but also very comfortable, friendly and very sweet. He thoroughly enjoyed his time talking with us. He likes riding bikes, swimming, volleyball, soccer, basketball, and ping pong. He would like to learn tennis, English, American football and baseball…most kids we have to beg for one answer! He came up with a well thought out group of 4! He likes rabbits best of all animals but also likes all dogs and cats too. If he had 3 wishes for himself, he would first wish for school supplies he could donate to others, get some English books to improve and study English and some new cross stich patterns for his friends and his class at school! He thinks he would like to study in a college and become a PE teacher someday. He said he prays for a family for himself and described a Christian camp he attended in Ukraine over summer. Described himself as funny and likes to play with small kids.


He is being hosted through New Horizons and Jen can connect you to their process and details! Jennifer Dowda: jennifer.dowda@gmail.com