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.

Oksana Rose!

 

Oksana Rose Roberts!

Here is our first picture of Oksana. We had some internet problems, sorry it took us so long to get this up. More pictures to come. Oksana is here reading English very well as I am typing. She love you all very much! Dad will post again soon! Thank you for your prayers! 

Oksana is learning quickly and sharing with us more and more.  She shared with Kaylee her favorite verse from the bible, Psalm 22:1&2 (thankfully I am typing this to you not reading it) “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?  Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?  O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;  And in the night season, and am not silent.”  We are making progress but have so much we want to say, my heart breaks at times I hear things like this.  Oksana seems to be very happy it’s only been 24 hours and we have really made some good progress.  Continue to remember us in prayer.

Update for Ukraine

First update from Ukraine, wow, no WOW.  We arrived in Donetsk and hit the ground running, well driving here and there, if you call what they do driving, I pray every time we get in the car.  We met Oksana on Wednesday but had more and more papers to take here and there.  We stopped and met the Millers another family adopting, they are from Virginia Beach.  Thursday finished some more running paperwork around and finally went and picked up Oksana.  They have allowed us to have her with us 24/7, she is picking up English quickly, she has had some learning because she is able to sound out and read words.  Kaylee and Oksana played cards last night and I finally got some sleep.  Pray for us now that we can get a court date of Sept. 6, and more importantly pray for my family back home.  We have been struggling this summer with a lack of water and now it is gone.  We have a well driller coming to evaluate drilling a new well, pray for speed in doing so, good water, and low expense.  With ALL OUR Love, Mark Kaylee and Oksana

Its been a long time and I apologize.  This spring and summer found us in a turmoil of changing paper work and anticipating travel to the Ukraine.  I am pleased to finally find time to sit and share were we are at.  We are in Kiev now, last week we were waiting to her when we would be going thinking it would be about Sept. 3 and anticipating the arrival of our baby.  In Gods timing and planing we found out late in the day last Monday that we needed to be in Ukraine on the 20th., this was a very difficult day.  We wanted to have the baby and give Kathy time to get back on her feet as well as some major projects I needed to finish.  Well Wednesday morning at 2:15am I got up as Kathy thought the contractions were starting to get strong, after 3 contraction Sarah was born 6lbs. 12oz.  We were all taken care of and back in bed by 4:15 and went back to bed.  God is so good, Kathy is doing well and Sarah is great.  We left NY Friday night spent Saturday afternoon in Landon, and arrived in  Kiev Sunday after noon.  We will get our paperwork tomorrow and take a train to the orphanage.  Oksana is there alone as most all the kids are at camp, so she will be able to come stay with us saving us time and money each day not going to the orphanage.  We will be together 24/7.
  
Thanks for all those who have helped us get here and all the prayers, continue to pray for a timely and safe return.
Mark and Kaylee

PLEASE PRAY

Oh what a day. I received the Home Study and quickly mailed out our USCIS - I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition. In my excitement and eagerness I forgot to enclose a check. Ah!!! Upon realizing it I called home thinking maybe Fed EX had not picked it up yet. Wrong they had picked it up 20 min. before I realized it. I called USCIS no help there, I was told they would reject the application and send it back. I then called Fed EX they were nice, tracked it down called dispatch and arranged for me to meet another driver at a local pick up point. He took the check and would take it back to there terminal were they would put it in the envelope for me. PLEASE PRAY THIS WORKS. We should know by Thursday. I am getting closer to getting some figures on expenses and will post tomorrow on were we are at. Thanks to all who have helped so far. Continue to pray. Mark

Letter from Oksana

WE are all so excited to finally receive a letter from Oksana. WE had to wait a day to have it translated for us. Here is the translated letter. Hello mama, daddy, Elisey, Mark, David, Andrew, Kelly, Seth, Quentin, Abilale, Elizabeth, Kristina. This is Oksana; I am very glad that You have found me and I am very thankful for your decision to accept me into your family. I am studying in a 9th grade; I am a good student; I like mathematics and trade classes. I like to embroider, read books, and I like animals. I have relatives, but they haven’t contacted me for a long time. I visited America, Virginia, in winter 2011. I went there by invitation of my friend Katya who used to be in our orphanage. I was welcomed ,and I really liked it there. I will do my best to be a good sister to Your sons and daughters. I hope you will never be disappointed that you accepted me into your family. I can be a hard worker and I never hesitate to work; I will try my best to help You around. I sincerely wish You all health, wellbeing, and everything the best. I pray for your family and for God to bless you. With great respect, Oksana.

Update

Update time, wow the Lords hand in this is just awesome to see. I had my calendar with what I was praying would be the soonest we could get things done. But, as Proverbs 16:9 says, "A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." The home study will be done this week and we will have our I600A application in. This will put us three weeks ahead of schedule. He truly is ordering our steeps in this. And that is so so comforting to know. Our dossier is just about done so when the I600A acceptance comes back which is I-117H we will be ready to go. Our social worker said she just had a couple get theirs back in one month. Again I was praying for six weeks, so we wait on the Lord to go before us and lead the way. We have word that Oksana has sent us a letter, so we eagerly wait each day to receive it. More work to do on the house, finish the shower and the girls room, and siding on the house. We must thank the Lord for the weather also, praise His name. This is truly HIS adoption. More to come soon as time is flying by. Thanks for all those praying keep it up I know He is hearing. Thanks to those who have shared financially, I will work on narrowing the specifics on what is needed when soon. In His loving care, Mark

Donations

This Chip In tool is just not going to work out. I have had other funds come in and can not alter this counter so I am removing it. If you would like to help us you can follow these instructions. 1. Go to www.paypal.com 2. Click on the Send Money. 3. Enter the amount and click Friends and Family then Continue. 4. Now enter emails mark.roberts@tdstelecom.com and then yours. 5. Then fill in your payment method. Sending Money to Friends and Family in the US: • FREE when you use your bank account or PayPal balance. When you use a credit or debit card, the cost is 2.9% of the total amount sent plus $0.30 USD per transaction. You choose whether you or the recipient covers this cost. All you need to send money is the recipient's email address or (mark.roberts@tdstelecom.com) I will do a weekly update on our finances what we need and were we are at.

Home Vist done

We have not only burned the candle at both ends, but we have been burning double and triple wicked candles.  We are wiped, but want to take time to praise God for bringing us through this phase.  We were blessed by having Andrew and Tyson working 10 more like 12 hours every day for nearly two weeks, along with Molly, MacKenzie, Kaylee, and many other friends and Family.  Thank you to all who have helped us.  We had our home visit Thursday Mach 1.  Anita Stevens Executive Director of Family Connection spent most of the day with us and we would recommend her to anyone thinking of adopting.  Now we need to work on our dossier and wait for our Home Study paper work to come back.  We will also continue work on the house.  As we do this we need to build on our relationship with Oksana.  Here is an excerpt from Karol, I ask that you pray with importunity as we are that our Lord will break through to Angelina and she will come to the Lord and see that He has already prepared for her a safe future.  “Oksana was sleeping when we called but Angelina said that "her family" is all she talks about now! Angelina seems to be the one "left out" now and it not happy about it. She would get letters and packages from us and their older sister requested we not "make her life so easy" and stop sending anything to her but letters...so we have. It is really making her have second thoughts about us and added to that all of our prayers ...  maybe she will see that trade school will be the end of her life as she knows it. We are praying about that still.”

Our Passports have come in now we also need to seek and ask for funding.  Pray with us as we continue the process of bringing Oksana home.

Mark
Latest Picture of Oksana

Emails from Karol

Here are some exerpts form emails we recieved form Karol.
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012
I don't think Oksana has time to be hosted first, if I'm correct she will "graduate" from the orphanage this summer. Then she will be sent to trade school. I know in my heart that God is working and will bring this all together for her. She is SO afraid to leave the orphanage and go to trade school and would remember always that you all saved her from that fear! It is a horrible transition and a horrible life once they leave. She still clings to her Bible and her glasses that she was given in America and is asking God each day to save her from what she is hearing from the girls that left last summer. The girls that "graduated" come back each weekend and beg to sleep there in the orphanage. When the director turns them away they can be found sleeping under the bushes outside. They are raped and beaten by the boys in the tradeschool domatories and come back to the orpahange for comfort...which they don't receive! So they sleep under the bushes and get comfort from their friends still in the orphanage. So very, very sad. 

Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012
 In our conversation I told her to think of some questions that she would like to ask you also ... she immediately said, "Yes, I would like to know when they will come and get me?"  She says to tell you that she loves you very much for thinking of her and wanting her to be part of your family. She says she cannot wait to see you in person but appreciates the picture. It is right by her bed. She say she is praying for you every day. She is very happy to get the letters and reads them over and over. Everyone else wanted to read them too and now all the girls want families too! She says she is so very happy to have a family.

 This is a picture of Oksana an the left and Angelina on the right.  It was taken in 2010 when she was hosted last Angelina is the sister of the boy Karol adopted.  Pray for Angelina the Saner want to adopt her also but she still does not want to.  It is like those who her God calling and are not ready to come to Him.

The Begining

Do to my inability to aptly recall when desiring to do so, all the events and intricacies of such as well as how majestically and sovereinly they have been put together; I find it necessary to put to word the events which we have found ourselves divinely placed into.  The beginning of were this all began is a little vague, but everything with God starts with the heart.  He had been preparing us late in 2011 with stories of others who have adopted a video, a book, and Christmas shoe boxes.  When I say us I mean our whole family.  The best way to describe what happened next was supernatural.  There was no thinking about or questioning what about this or that, every one of us just new it was what we were to do.  God put in us a peace and a purpose.  The awe knowing we are experiencing God working in and through us is beyond description.

So 2012 began with the Lord leading us to adopt Oksana, a 15 year old girl in the Ukraine.  From the beginning God gave us a part of Him, allowing us to be His hands and feet living out for another, what He has done for us, making us His children.  Our first letter was sent over with Heidi Fryburger who went to pick up her new son but her luggage got lost and did not show up until the day she was to leave.  She left it and other gifts for other children with Julie a Ukraine Christian who lives near the orphanage, but she got sick and was delayed another week or more. By this time we have made so many new friends with others who have adopted from this orphanage.  We made contact with Victor the Ukraine Facilitator who is also a Christian.  We emailed him another letter which he translated and emailed to the orphanage.  Then we recieved a call from our new beloved friend Karol Saner she had talked with Oksana and told her about us.  What a joy.  Karol adopted a boy and his sister who chose to stay they gave a phone to so they could keep in touch. Oksana received both or letters and finally this last Sunday we were able to talk to her on a three way call with Karol son translating.
More to come soon things are happening fast,
Mark