So, no rats today, which is always good! And, we had a great visit with Ruslan this morning. We went to the orphanage around 10am (which is 3am according to my body, that still hasn't adjusted to the time change!)
We were able to bring his letter and small package in, but they told us we would have to wait to give out the packages for the other children. I am so sorry to families who are anxiously waiting to see/hear from their little ones waiting to be adopted. I promise you, as SOON as I am able to see them, I will give out the packages and get photos for you. We want to be respectful to the wishes of the orphanage Director, and we definitely want to stay on her good side!
When we walked in, we waited in the lobby for a little while and then we went upstairs to see Ruslan. He again was all smiles, and ran over to hug us. If he was in any way disappointed by the fact that we weren't able to visit yesterday, it definitely didn't show! We gave him a small package with some crayons, a coloring book, some paper, a notebook (which he loves!). The first thing he did was take out a piece of paper and start folding! I was watching to see what he was making...on the first fold, I thought it was a paper airplane....a few folds later and I thought it was one of those paper fortune tellers children make. He was working so fast, and was so excited! When he finished, it was a beautiful paper flower that he gave to me, smiling and so proud! I just teared up...what a sweet and thoughtful gesture! I am amazed at how this little boy has kept such a soft heart through all that he has endured. That is an answered prayer for us. We were so impressed by his tender heart, thoughtful nature and sweet soul when he stayed with us last summer, and so amazed that he could preserve that even after everything he had endured. We have been praying that the Lord would guard his heart. I know God has been watching over him, and I am so blessed to be his Mama!
We got to spend a few hours with him. He again had lots of fun playing with the camera and video camera. Then we did some coloring together, and practiced learning English colors. He wrote all of our names in his notebook, and he wrote his name on the cover of it....in English! We sang, "Oh...Happy Day" (one of his favorite worship songs from when he was in summer camp in America last year) complete with arm motions, and captured it on video!
Our facilitator came in and said that Ruslan needed to write his letter stating that he wanted to be adopted by us. Ruslan was so excited, and he looked like such a big boy at the table writing. We have a photo of him working on that letter, and it's something we'll always treasure. He was all smiles, and was laughing when he got to writing our last name...I'm sure it sounds so funny to him! The facilitator remarked on how bright Ruslan was, and that many children have difficulty writing the letter. We've also noticed that Ruslan seems to read and write well. We're excited to help him start learning English and preparing for school, and Ruslan is so excited to learn English too...he is always asking how to say things, and repeating English words.
They were giving out snack to the other children (a tiny apple and two pieces of candy) when Ruslan was finishing up his letter. I asked if he would be missing snack because he was with us, and the facilitator said we could give him a snack if we had something with us. I went out to the van to get a granola bar for him, and when I came back in he also had the apple and candy, so he was very excited to have a double snack! He devoured the granola bar first, and then he passed out the candies to Bill and I. So sweet that he is sharing his snack, and despite my efforts to give him one, he insisted the candies were for us. (And then he had to take photos of us eating the candies!) He also ate the apple.
We played tic-tac-toe, which I thought I would have to teach him to play. But he knew, and delighted in the fact that he was winning! He cut out a paper heart and wrote all of our names on it. He asked where Mason was, and asked if we were all going to America together. He even asked if our facilitator would be coming with us, and seemed a little sad when we told him he wasn't!
Some men, who I think were maintenance men, kept walking through the room we were all in. Ruslan would speak in Russian to them as they passed. One elderly gentlemen tousled Ruslan's hair and said something about "America". He was smiling, and seemed genuinely happy for Ruslan. I don't know why, but that was a really sweet moment to me. I think of how often Ruslan had to sit by and watch while other children were chosen...other children went home with their families....and I am so glad it is his turn. My heart aches, of course, for the other children....and I pray that God continues to watch over them, and I know that His plan for each of them will be revealed, and is perfect. But I am selfishly happy that this little boy has a turn to feel valued, loved and accepted. I am so grateful that the Lord's plan for Ruslan included us. And I am so grateful for the people that encouraged us to be bold for the Lord and answer the stirring he placed in our hearts, even when some people (including ourselves at times!) thought we were crazy! There is truly no limit to what the Lord can accomplish, and this is proof positive that God can move mountains!
The orphanage Director shared with us the first day we arrived that it isn't only the children who are cruel to Ruslan, but that adults in this culture are not accepting of him with his "deformity" either. And it breaks my heart to think he has spent a lifetime feeling not good enough, shameful, ugly, less than....and I am so excited to tell him of God's love for him, of how he is so perfect in our eyes and in God's eyes, of how a worldwide community fought to bring him home, and how "Ruslan is smart, and strong, and brave". (That's the saying we cemented in his heart when he stayed with us last summer!)
Ruslan seems to understand now that he has a family, that we will be here for him. When it was time to say goodbye, he was so content. (But, not without asking Bill to lift him up to the ceiling once!) He gave us big hugs, and high fives, and he went back in to his class with no problem. As we were gathering everything up to leave, he ran back out of his class with one last hug for each of us, but he was all smiles going back in! I can only imagine how full his heart is, how happy he is to have a place to belong, and how excited he is to be part of a family. Forever. His days in that orphanage are numbered, and then we begin living, loving and experiencing each day of the rest of his life! This boy has a bright and amazing future ahead of him! Praise be to God!
We were able to bring his letter and small package in, but they told us we would have to wait to give out the packages for the other children. I am so sorry to families who are anxiously waiting to see/hear from their little ones waiting to be adopted. I promise you, as SOON as I am able to see them, I will give out the packages and get photos for you. We want to be respectful to the wishes of the orphanage Director, and we definitely want to stay on her good side!
When we walked in, we waited in the lobby for a little while and then we went upstairs to see Ruslan. He again was all smiles, and ran over to hug us. If he was in any way disappointed by the fact that we weren't able to visit yesterday, it definitely didn't show! We gave him a small package with some crayons, a coloring book, some paper, a notebook (which he loves!). The first thing he did was take out a piece of paper and start folding! I was watching to see what he was making...on the first fold, I thought it was a paper airplane....a few folds later and I thought it was one of those paper fortune tellers children make. He was working so fast, and was so excited! When he finished, it was a beautiful paper flower that he gave to me, smiling and so proud! I just teared up...what a sweet and thoughtful gesture! I am amazed at how this little boy has kept such a soft heart through all that he has endured. That is an answered prayer for us. We were so impressed by his tender heart, thoughtful nature and sweet soul when he stayed with us last summer, and so amazed that he could preserve that even after everything he had endured. We have been praying that the Lord would guard his heart. I know God has been watching over him, and I am so blessed to be his Mama!
We got to spend a few hours with him. He again had lots of fun playing with the camera and video camera. Then we did some coloring together, and practiced learning English colors. He wrote all of our names in his notebook, and he wrote his name on the cover of it....in English! We sang, "Oh...Happy Day" (one of his favorite worship songs from when he was in summer camp in America last year) complete with arm motions, and captured it on video!
Our facilitator came in and said that Ruslan needed to write his letter stating that he wanted to be adopted by us. Ruslan was so excited, and he looked like such a big boy at the table writing. We have a photo of him working on that letter, and it's something we'll always treasure. He was all smiles, and was laughing when he got to writing our last name...I'm sure it sounds so funny to him! The facilitator remarked on how bright Ruslan was, and that many children have difficulty writing the letter. We've also noticed that Ruslan seems to read and write well. We're excited to help him start learning English and preparing for school, and Ruslan is so excited to learn English too...he is always asking how to say things, and repeating English words.
They were giving out snack to the other children (a tiny apple and two pieces of candy) when Ruslan was finishing up his letter. I asked if he would be missing snack because he was with us, and the facilitator said we could give him a snack if we had something with us. I went out to the van to get a granola bar for him, and when I came back in he also had the apple and candy, so he was very excited to have a double snack! He devoured the granola bar first, and then he passed out the candies to Bill and I. So sweet that he is sharing his snack, and despite my efforts to give him one, he insisted the candies were for us. (And then he had to take photos of us eating the candies!) He also ate the apple.
We played tic-tac-toe, which I thought I would have to teach him to play. But he knew, and delighted in the fact that he was winning! He cut out a paper heart and wrote all of our names on it. He asked where Mason was, and asked if we were all going to America together. He even asked if our facilitator would be coming with us, and seemed a little sad when we told him he wasn't!
Some men, who I think were maintenance men, kept walking through the room we were all in. Ruslan would speak in Russian to them as they passed. One elderly gentlemen tousled Ruslan's hair and said something about "America". He was smiling, and seemed genuinely happy for Ruslan. I don't know why, but that was a really sweet moment to me. I think of how often Ruslan had to sit by and watch while other children were chosen...other children went home with their families....and I am so glad it is his turn. My heart aches, of course, for the other children....and I pray that God continues to watch over them, and I know that His plan for each of them will be revealed, and is perfect. But I am selfishly happy that this little boy has a turn to feel valued, loved and accepted. I am so grateful that the Lord's plan for Ruslan included us. And I am so grateful for the people that encouraged us to be bold for the Lord and answer the stirring he placed in our hearts, even when some people (including ourselves at times!) thought we were crazy! There is truly no limit to what the Lord can accomplish, and this is proof positive that God can move mountains!
The orphanage Director shared with us the first day we arrived that it isn't only the children who are cruel to Ruslan, but that adults in this culture are not accepting of him with his "deformity" either. And it breaks my heart to think he has spent a lifetime feeling not good enough, shameful, ugly, less than....and I am so excited to tell him of God's love for him, of how he is so perfect in our eyes and in God's eyes, of how a worldwide community fought to bring him home, and how "Ruslan is smart, and strong, and brave". (That's the saying we cemented in his heart when he stayed with us last summer!)
Ruslan seems to understand now that he has a family, that we will be here for him. When it was time to say goodbye, he was so content. (But, not without asking Bill to lift him up to the ceiling once!) He gave us big hugs, and high fives, and he went back in to his class with no problem. As we were gathering everything up to leave, he ran back out of his class with one last hug for each of us, but he was all smiles going back in! I can only imagine how full his heart is, how happy he is to have a place to belong, and how excited he is to be part of a family. Forever. His days in that orphanage are numbered, and then we begin living, loving and experiencing each day of the rest of his life! This boy has a bright and amazing future ahead of him! Praise be to God!
You have me in tears...How beautiful!!!!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to be able to see you all back here as a family.
Holy Spirit movin! I had a chat with a friend this morning that basically went like this. We are sooo focused on what's right in front of us that we can't see the end. After going through a few events where we are wound up about the process and the end turns out better than we had ever dreamed, we start to get excited about what He will do next. Finally, we take the stance of, all right, we surrender and trust you and we are excited to see where you take us next. Y'alls faith journey is filling me with anticipation. This is like being in a chick flick where you know the ending is going to be good, you're just not sure how it ends.
ReplyDeleteKeep fist bumpin' with Jesus!