Going to be a short one: Oksana has refused every attempt today to help her make a decision that would move the adoption process forward. Spent nearly 7 hours at the orphanage today after an 8 hour train ride & 4 1/2 cab ride to quite possibly thee furthest point from Kyiv to complete an adoption-it really is-check out the map. Romania is right across the river and 15 minutes in Moldova was actually part of the cab ride. The above picture accurately depicts a large percentage of how the road to Izmail from Odessa really is & it is in complete disrepair. The snow probably filled in spots that might have caused damage to the suspension. We had our translator (whose English rivals my Russian), our facilitator, Valentine, her friends, the director & ourselves discuss absolutely every angle with her for hours-she refuses to go, choosing instead to remain faithful to a couple of friends (who are both going to America within a year after being adopted by families) & a boyfriend who has dumped her twice. Before you start thinking we haven't done everything...we have. At this point ONLY a spiritual intervention will work; you know-after all else fails-PRAY! We are pursuing, although almost definitely in vain, to have the system allow Oksana & Vlad to be separated & get Vlad here as he desperately wants to come-he is nothing short of amazing & would thrive beyond description in America. This is unlikely to occur, but we'll try over the next two days, after that, we will have our letter in hand for a return trip to Kyiv and maybe try for another referral. Without this letter, you can't even have a second referral. Valentine says he already has a wonderful match for us that is close; she's more than ready, etc. At this point we're starting to burn through already strained funds quickly and have a very narrow margin of error-VERY narrow. Having been here 4 weeks ago to attend a $3800.00, whoops!!..., "...we gave you the wrong date...be back in three weeks...", meeting, we simply cannot afford many more arrows. Sometimes, the, "F-" bomb really is the only word that works. Sorry, Lord; I believe you may have had a few of those sort of conversations with some of your Bible heroes. I'd gladly take an angel wrestling with a displaced hip, tumbling wall, talking donkey, burning bush, meteors from Heaven, catastrophic plague, saved by a prostitute, sun standing still, ark building, prison song singing, demons into pigs, water from a rock, ship-wreck surviving, long-haired-pillar pushing moment or physical impairment moment from You right about, oh, I don't know....NOW, in order to advance Your agenda, but right now, it's really hard to know what that is. We'll take direct, verbal, audible direction-that would be somewhat convenient and so easy...I'm all about easy; how 'bout it? :)
About the Garrett family
- Matt and Aimee
- Longmont, Colorado, United States
- Matt and Aimee have been married for 9 years now. We have 5 daughters between the two of us. Three who are still living at home. Jasmine is 17, in her junior year of high school. Haley is 14 in her freshman year of high school. Anya is 18 in her junior year of high school. Anya was adopted from Ukraine in 2008. Taylor 18 is a senior in high School living in Thornton, Heather 20 Married living with husband Chad and thier baby Ezrah, he was born in Feb 2011. We are in process of adopting siblings Oksana 13, and Vladik 10 whom we met on a hosting program this past summer.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Really????
Going to be a short one: Oksana has refused every attempt today to help her make a decision that would move the adoption process forward. Spent nearly 7 hours at the orphanage today after an 8 hour train ride & 4 1/2 cab ride to quite possibly thee furthest point from Kyiv to complete an adoption-it really is-check out the map. Romania is right across the river and 15 minutes in Moldova was actually part of the cab ride. The above picture accurately depicts a large percentage of how the road to Izmail from Odessa really is & it is in complete disrepair. The snow probably filled in spots that might have caused damage to the suspension. We had our translator (whose English rivals my Russian), our facilitator, Valentine, her friends, the director & ourselves discuss absolutely every angle with her for hours-she refuses to go, choosing instead to remain faithful to a couple of friends (who are both going to America within a year after being adopted by families) & a boyfriend who has dumped her twice. Before you start thinking we haven't done everything...we have. At this point ONLY a spiritual intervention will work; you know-after all else fails-PRAY! We are pursuing, although almost definitely in vain, to have the system allow Oksana & Vlad to be separated & get Vlad here as he desperately wants to come-he is nothing short of amazing & would thrive beyond description in America. This is unlikely to occur, but we'll try over the next two days, after that, we will have our letter in hand for a return trip to Kyiv and maybe try for another referral. Without this letter, you can't even have a second referral. Valentine says he already has a wonderful match for us that is close; she's more than ready, etc. At this point we're starting to burn through already strained funds quickly and have a very narrow margin of error-VERY narrow. Having been here 4 weeks ago to attend a $3800.00, whoops!!..., "...we gave you the wrong date...be back in three weeks...", meeting, we simply cannot afford many more arrows. Sometimes, the, "F-" bomb really is the only word that works. Sorry, Lord; I believe you may have had a few of those sort of conversations with some of your Bible heroes. I'd gladly take an angel wrestling with a displaced hip, tumbling wall, talking donkey, burning bush, meteors from Heaven, catastrophic plague, saved by a prostitute, sun standing still, ark building, prison song singing, demons into pigs, water from a rock, ship-wreck surviving, long-haired-pillar pushing moment or physical impairment moment from You right about, oh, I don't know....NOW, in order to advance Your agenda, but right now, it's really hard to know what that is. We'll take direct, verbal, audible direction-that would be somewhat convenient and so easy...I'm all about easy; how 'bout it? :)
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Matt 7 Aimmee,
ReplyDeleteI so sorry guys, who knows why these kids do what they do or reach the conclusions they arrive at! Because of friends? Really! Doesn't she realize that she doesn't have much of a future and she is destroying little Vlad's chance at any life...hurts, just hurts so bad to realize this. I'm praying that Vlad can be split. Spiritual warfare going on down there!
Felix
Praying! God I love that little boy. Fight for him!
ReplyDeleteHeidi
Praying with you!!!
ReplyDeletePraying for your family!!
ReplyDeleteAs you know I have a very fond attachment to Vlad. I weep for yours and his loss. He is such a good kid so full of life and it hurts beyond belief to know he was so close to being apart of a loving family. Praying for you..Chris
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing that anyone can say to make this better or for you to feel better. My heart is breaking for you and the kids (who have no idea how this decision will affect the rest of their lives). This brings back a flood of memories that to this day I still don’t understand! The question that keeps running thru my mind is “WHY”. I plan on having a heart to heart talk with God in heaven and ask Him “Why” as I am sure you will want to too. I will tell you that God always gives us strength to endure everything even when it doesn’t feel like it. Think of the poem “Footprints”, God will carry you if that is what you need. Know that our prayers are with you as you decide what path to take next.
ReplyDeleteTeresa (and Jim)
This is so heartbreaking because we all know Oksana will regret this decision. I hope and pray they can be split as well for Vlad's sake. Ashley volunteered to talk to Oksana. I know she would be very positive and tell Oksana that she should come. Call us if you want Ashley to talk to her. She leaves for school at 6:50 a.m. MST. We can Skype also.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of you guys as I was driving to work this morning and praying that everything would be OK once Oksana saw your faces. It is devastating to read that this was not the case. I am praying that Vlad will get the opportunity he needs. I have a mental image of DIA as the kids were leaving this summer - Aimee and Vlad playing travel Yahtzee as we waited for the bags to be checked. He looked so calm and happy and all I thought was "he knows he has a Mom and Dad". He needs a family so bad! I am hopeful that he will get that chance. He is so special. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteMatt... I am Felix and Heidi's friend in Kyiv. Let me know if you would like some information about a sibling group in Boyarka (where the Roge's first adopted) Boy 12 and Girl 16. Great kids, WANT to be adopted, smart girl, athletic boy.....love each other dearly!
ReplyDeleteI know Oksana & Vlad--we adopted our son Kevin from Izmail a year ago (he was 12 @ the time) so we saw Oksana a lot. I was so delighted that they had a chance to be hosted this summer! We are praying that she will come to her senses, or that the court will agree to separate Vlad. I had heard through the grapevine, just last week, that a family was on its way to adopt them and I was thrilled but did not know who the family was. When I saw this picture on your blog I said to myself, "This road looks awfully familiar....." I'm happy to have found you through your blog and will follow your story as I continue to pray. If things do not work out here, there is a wonderful girl in Donetsk region-Mekeeva, whom we hosted at Christmas but whom we are not in a position to adopt at this time. Her name is Natasha and she will be 13 on March 3. For more info you can contact me at alycia.goody@gmail.com or also ask Maggie S., whom I believe you may know.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read your new post of great news! Praying diligently over here!
ReplyDeleteFelix