We are HOME!

I must apologize for not keeping up on this better.  I ask for prayer and then I neglect to keep you all up on how things transpire.  Please forgive; here is the final blog on Oksana’s adoption.  We made it home the end.  Just kidding, we are home but it is not the end, it is just the beginning of the rest of our lives.  It seemed that every step along the way left us hanging right to the last minuet.  From the US Embassy to return fights.  We landed in Syracuse on Saturday afternoon, and we are still trying to relax and find a new normal.  Oksana is doing well, jumping right into school work.  She told me this morning that I am not a good teacher mommy is a good teacher.  I am actually glad to hear that, knowing that this is what is needed.  She is fitting in well as the other siblings show her around.  She seems to like the animals and is helpful with chores and cleaning.  She just finished helping mom give the baby a bath. 

Thank you all for your prayers as we walked through this journey, now we enter a new phase in life as a family of 12.

May God bless you all, Mark

Disconnected again

Disconnected again, the internet went down on Tuesday the 11^th no telling how long it may take them to fix it.  I knew this would be a long week but not having an internet connection just makes it longer.  I have been and all the more so I am praying for everyone back home.  Knowing there are things that need attention and I can’t take care of is one thing, but not knowing what is going on is a whole other mind set.  It really brings relying on faith that God will take care of things to a new level.  As Oksana slowly grasps more words I can see that she is listening.  I need to perfuse this with a little back ground.  You see Oksana is not one of the “pretty girls” and they have always let her know.  She is not athletic and has always been the looser.  I know there is more but I think you get the idea.  So she is very self conscious and on the verge of being paranoid about what others say, thinking everyone is talking about her and laughing at her.  This has started to manifest more with Kaylee and me now that she is paying more attention to our talking.  It is good that she is concentrating and trying to understand what we are saying, but with her mind set she thinks we are talking negative about her when we are not even talking about her.  These moments will manifest with her countenance changing on dime and many times a fit throwing back turning or stomping away.  Sometimes Kaylee will talk with her to find out what’s up sometimes we just ignore it.  They always seem to resolve in a short time with her coming back with a smile saying “I’m sorry, I’m sorry”.  It is difficult when added to the out of the norm situation we find ourselves in, but day by day we get through it.  Looking for that landing in Syracuse Airport soon.  Friday the 14^th just three more days and then we can get the ball rolling.  I so want to be home for David’s birthday on the 26^th, but it's a long shot.  I know everyone is praying we are all getting weary and I know the family at home is too, it makes it so hard when you can’t communicate.  I’ll walk and try to find a WI-FI connection tomorrow.  Progress has slowed to survival.

Today was nice I need to write it down before I forget.  I was blessed to be the barer of a gift from my sister’s church to the church here for families in Ukraine who wish to adopt.  They gave some to one of the families today.  This family has 6 children 3 of them are adopted.  I was told last night that this family if you met them on the street and offered them a gift of money would not accept it.  I understand that it is difficult to humbly accept a financial gift also.  They came to me to thank me and I explained that I was just the barer.  We had tea, which is an after service norm, and were able to communicate fairly well.  I still did not get there name, but they know the Fryburbergs.  Anyway the husband works in Moscow for three months and then comes home for one week.  This is only for a year as I understand it.  They invited us over on Tuesday evening for borsch which is a soup.  She asked if I wanted green or red borsch, I quickly asked Oksana across the room and she said “red”, so we will get to experience home cook Ukraine borsch.  They seem to be a really nice family. Tuesday will be good, lots to do.  Start off getting our papers from court then off to get the birth certificate, and hopefully the passport.  Pray they process it really fast so we can get to Kiev this week.

It’s now the 18^th, yesterday went well but not as I expected.   There are a few more steps them I realized, one we got our papers from the court and Oksana is legally our responsibility.  Two we went to the government of vital statistics but to get more papers on her so we can get her new birth certificate, but they would not have them until 2:00.  There were more papers which needed to be notarized so we went to do that but after waiting over a half hour found that they were not working that day.  Grabbed a quick bite to eat and then headed to the orphanage.  Gave the “donation” and picked up things Oksana had as well as all her records and more papers then signed her out.  We then found another notary, but had to wait about an hour.  Finally back to the first place and still had to wait.  By the time we were done it was too late to get the birth certificate.  Today we head out for that, then back for papers on social security, and then apply for new passports.  Yes Passports, in Ukraine everyone receives an in-country passport and to travel out of country you need an international passport.  Another day and more running around, almost done pray her passport gets back by next Tuesday.  Oh, the borsch was good I was stuffed the evening went well we had an enjoyable time and stayed till midnight.  Got to get to sleep more running tomorrow, makes the days go by faster.

Love to all,

Mark, Kaylee, and Oksana

Progress continues, Oksana has started reading Gen.to us then she will go to google translator and type it out so she can understand what she is saying.  We continue to add more to her vocabulary, and she is trying to work on enunciation of (th)'s and (er)'s.  Today she wanted me to read in Mathew one verse at a time and then she would ready it in a Russian bible. 

This will be the last long week, then things will start to progress, we just need to get through this week, pray for us that time will pass and we will continue to progress.  We try to break the day up Oksana sleeps in late which gives us some quiet time.  Then we will have a brunch, some time going out to the store to get food first.  Oksana is getting good at helping me get the food and pay for it.  Reading time, then calling home to video chat.  We are using GMail to do this if anyone has an account and would like to call it is free and works good when the internet connection is good, that can change at any moment. 

Yesterday we enjoyed the celebration the church had apparently the prodestant churches pick a day in Sept. or Oct. to celebrate thanks giving to God for the harvest of the year and thanks for the Word of God.  They put on a big meal feeding 120-150 people after the service, which had many people participating in readings and or songs on top of the three sermons which is a normal sunday.

Till next time, Mark, Kaylee, and Oksana sending our Love to you all.

GOOD NEWS BAD NEWS;  The court hearing went well quicker than we thought, and approved for adoption.  The power went out right after the judge and jurors stepped out to make the decision.  It seems to happen about two or three times a week.  But it was back on before they came back.  Now we have to wait 10 days before we can do anything.  Then we get her birth certificate, then her passport this will take 7 days, we were not anticipating that.  We went out for pizza to celebrate and when we were done and got in the car my wallet was gone.  I have no idea were it went, I don't remember anyone close to me, the end result is it is gone only $40 - $50 US dollars but all my bank cards and drivers license.  We are going to try to mail a new card as the cash I have left is minimal, and I have an extra week we now that we were not planing on.  God is good all the time and all the time God is good.  Pray for rain back home we Kathy had to have a new well drilled last week, but with out some rain we are concerned about how long that will hold out.  We love you all and appreciate your prayers.
From the other side of the world, Mark, Kaylee, and Oksana Rose Roberts

Heading out to court, pray all goes smoothly then we wait to come home, we are ready come home now.  All of us, Oksana is just as ready as Kaylee and I.  Oksana woke and got right up this morning knowing the importance of the court date, and she is not a morning person.  But she seems chipper and excited to be Oksana Rose Roberts.  I'll right latter when we get back.

Here is Oksana learning to type on a program I found that is good for anyone any age.  Here is a link for anyone that is interested. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/levels/level1.shtml

We are back!  Here is what I have written each day while we were without internet access.  I'll post some videos latter.

Monday 27^th I am writing in word and when I can I will post this.  This is so difficult now, the wireless internet connection we bought before Victor left did not work so he gave me his.  I did not know it was limited and we quickly used it up.  We are supposed to get an unlimited connection soon, when soon is I don’t know.  Our progress is continuing but slower now there is only so much you can do, and playing go fish over and over gets old quickly.  The internet is a great help in communicating, both with Oksana and with family back home.  We tried to take walks but it is hot out, actually it is hot inside too.  It is hard waiting and not knowing when, when we may get internet, when Victor will be back, when our court date will be, will we have enough money.  Tuesday 28^th talked to Carol Saner today which was nice she was going to call Kathy and let her know we are ok just don’t know when we will get internet access.  It was good for Oksana too, she is getting board too.  This is tough, but the weather was a bit better the wind was blowing, no rain here for some time.  Praying all is well at home and they have the new well hooked up.  Wednesday 29^th Victor called to tell us our court date is Sept. 6^th, praise God.  He said we should have internet access, but we don’t.  I was so hoping to call home; it is difficult not being connected.  A few more days and we will be stay at the church and have unlimited internet, and an interpreter. It rained last night and is cool and cloudy now, we try to make some progress in language each day, but it is slow going now.  The days are long, Thursday 30^th the power went out last night came back on before dawn and off again this morning.  It is on now but I guess this is normal.  Still windy, cool and cloudy.  This has given me time to pray, read the word (Romans done on Cor. Now), and reflect.  I am looking forward to next week and seeing what the Lord has for us.  I believe it will be a full and fruitful week. This evening we received a visit from two men from the church; one lives just a four min. walk from us.  They invited us over for tea, and drove us there and back.  We had a good time; the girls were entertained by their four children.  They live in a single home, I was glad to have the opportunity to see inside, and yes just as much poverty inside as they look outside.  It was also good to hear of the testimony of the husband, I can’t pronounce his name.  He got saved when he was in jail for 6 years as a young man.  He held to the faith and when he got out joined the church, which had a ministry to the jail.  He now is involved with that ministry, going back and sharing with those in jail the Love and power of Jesus Christ.  He is now married and has four children, working as many as a laborer in the coal mine. Friday 31^st, spent the day reading and napping just passing time.  Saturday Sept. 1^st, cleaning day last day here tomorrow we will go and stay at the church.  Then I can post all this and call home and work on communicating better with Oksana.  Our new friends stopped by to ask if we would like to ride with them to church tomorrow, it will be a tight ride but it will save us taxi expense and they really want to do what they can.