In Kiev

Well we have been in Kiev for 24 hours now. We flew from Richmond at 10:30 am on June 5th and had an 8 hour layover in JFK airport which wasn’t too bad, but after we boarded the plane “Aerosvit” to fly to Ukraine we had an 1 1/2 to 2 hour delay on the tarmac for some unknown reason. Our plane left some time after 9 pm (local time) or so from JFK and we flew for 10-11 hours. It was pretty cool…there was this TV monitor that showed a little airplane on a map so we had a general idea what we were flying over at all times. I felt a little uneasy flying for such a long time (11 hours is a long time non stop) and knowing the pilot/s would be flying all night long. I am sure they get tired at night! What if they fall asleep at the wheel or in this case controls? Well God is good because at 5 am (EST) and 11 am local Ukraine time we landed safe and sound. Terry says he didn’t sleep much on the flight, but says I sleep a lot, but I didn’t feel well rested at all. It kind of felt like I lost time, gained time or time traveled? I am not sure which, but I really couldn’t tell you what today’s date is. This is how Kirk felt on Star Trek when he beamed himself to different planets and places I am sure about that.

Once we got to Kiev we paid the extra $50 per person to get through customs, which was worth it over all. We bumped into the Dalton family at baggage claims coming from Chesapeake, VA on a mission’s trip. I meant to get their number or address, but forgot too. I can’t remember what orphanage they were going to, but they had adopted 2-3 times from this country and knew Victor. The airport is just outside the main city of Kiev. I was very excited to be here and think this country is very beautiful. The buildings are very old. Not many people can really say they have been to Ukraine! How awesome and lucky we are! I usually am a good judge of character….and I liked Victor right away!! I think he is honest and I like that. We took a taxi to our apartment that is on the back part of a building. To get in you must have a 3 # pin to open the first door, then unlock a second door to a hall of three other apartments, then unlock the door to our apartment. It is very dark in the hallway until you get into the apartment. In the hallway and right across the hall is a couple from Georgia to adopt an 11 year old from another distant orphanage. I don’t remember where. It was kind of comical….Terry or Victor hit a couple of wrong buttons on the elevator and for a few minutes we got stuck in a dark elevator!!! I am still leery of that thing!! For starters it is hung by ropes, not cables and is not very big. It was a squeeze with Victor, Terry and myself in it! It looks like it was built in the 1930’s. Victor showed us around town. He took us to exchange American dollars to grivnas and then we went to the underground mall, got a prepaid cell phone and ate a late lunch. The food is good here. We had cabbage, eggplant and zucchini rolls, assorted salads with mayo and coke. It is a bit of a shock walking around with everyone talking a mile a minute and you don’t know what they are saying. We walked around town some more and Victor took us to the open market and showed us where the SDA is. Our appointment is tomorrow at 12 pm. Lastly, Victor took us to the food market/grocery store. It is really small…not like Food Lion or Farm Fresh at all. We have way more selections then they do. We got ourselves a few groceries to take back to the apartment. Victor helped us get some ham, milk not sour cream, water without seltzer and a few other items. We may go to a Ukraine “Starbucks” in a little while. Terry can remotely log into his office computer and is working right now.

Yesterday we were in the apartment talking with Victor about our plans and Alina called Victor on his cell phone to make sure we were here. On the 11th the orphanage is going to a water park and she would like us to go with her. Victor said he would be very busy with paperwork, but Terry and I would be available to go. I am glad I asked Terry if I should bring my swimsuit. Terry with twinkles in eyes said, “I didn’t know we’d come all this way to go to Water Country.” I am very excited to meet my daughter and can’t wait!

By the way, please pray for Victor’s son because he is sick. He will be going to the “big” hospital all day tomorrow having tests done on his kidneys. Some days he doesn’t use the bathroom and on others he goes all day long. I am sure Victor is worried about his son!