It was quite a day. We went to the orphanage at 10:30a.m. Tanya was crying ALOT. She wasn't even able to answer any questions or talk. We finally asked her to show us around the orphanage and she started to feel better. As we were going to her classroom Galina arrived. She immediately started crying and came over and hugged us. We talked for a few minutes and then finished having Tanya show us around. Galina came over and grabbed my hand as we were walking. We went back to the room we had been meeting Tanya in. Galina started crying really hard then. The director of her orphanage brought her and she went over to her and cried and cried. After about 15 minutes of her being really upset they told us that Galina didn't want to be adopted. The director of her orphanage told her that if that was still her decision after 10 days she would come back and get her. There was much discussion for the next several minutes and then it was time for us to leave. Our in country coordinator pulled us aside as we were leaving and told us that she was going to give Galina 5 days to make a decision and she was going to talk to her about the seriousness of it tomorrow. She told us that if she decided not to be adopted she wanted us to think about adopting another child. Neither of us was very upset because we thought she might have problems thinking we had abandoned her all these years. We went back in the afternoon for another visit and arrived to two smiling girls. They talked about many things. Galina remembers everything about being at our house. She had all of the photos and the backpack that we had given her. She could remember everyone's names. She told us that she lives in a group home instead of the main orphanage because she is such a good girl. She writes poetry and has had some published. We didn't ask her during this visit if she had changed her mind but our translator told us that she has. We aren't going to pressure her at this point and just try to have some fun with the girls. I took our laptop and went through all of the pictures and they really liked doing that. Galina had also been brought from summer camp. She told us she had a boyfriend there and he didn't want her to leave. Galina is just as we remembered her. Please pray for all of us that we keep our focus on God's plan for our family.
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3 comments:
Galina is beautiful too! Just a more mature version of what I remember.
I'm sure you're right in thinking that she may have thought you had forgotten about her. I also have to think how would Alayna react to something like this. She would also be upset at getting pulled away from summer camp and a boyfriend. Over your next few weeks I'll keep praying that she can understand the big picture. Isn't it ironic that the girl we thought might have reservations about adoptions isn't, and the girl we thought would jump at the chance doesn't want to?
I'm also sure just seeing the two of you was a tremendous shock, especially since it doesn't appear she was told ahead of time.
Keep your faith strong - I'm praying for you unceasingly!
Love you lots,
Amber
Kris and Mark--Last fall, we visited 2 boys who we loved and remembered from 2003...but they weren't sure they wanted to leave their friends to join our family. We persevered, gave them time to sort out their feelings..and they are now both sleeping peacefully upstairs. We ask these kids to make an incredible leap of faith, to give up all that's familiar for a distant memory of what probably seems like a dream...and it;s a lot to ask of a child...but keep the faith. It will happen!
Mark and Kris,
We are so excited for you and will continue to keep you in our prayers. God's plan is so perfect and it is obvious you are resting in His peace.
The girls are absolutely beautiful!
Love you and we look forward to following you on this journey!
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