I almost threw-up....

....This was Michele's sentiment while we were driving in a taxi with our facilitator Tanya. We were on our way to her apartment after having said a brief hello to Pasha and Natasha at the orphanage. While we were at the orphanage, Tanya told us that they would likely get the marriage license information necessary from the region where Pasha's Mom had surrendered him, in order to complete the documents necessary to send everything to the SDA in Kiev and get our final court date. She even gave us an estimate that we would have our court date on Monday, October 12th! We were ecstatic.

Then there were additional, somewhat heated, discussions with Roman (orphanage lawyer) and a determination that Tanya would, in fact, have to travel to the region to get the original copy of the document. "Not a problem", she said. "I will go there tomorrow (Saturday) since their offices are open." Great!

Then we got in the taxi to check out Tanya's apartment where we were thinking of staying after the Bible House. On the way there, she was on the phone with Oksana (the regional inspector). Again, there was some heated dialog, and finally she hang up and turned back to us and said, "I have some bad news."

This was the first time in the week that we have been here that she even hinted at anything being "bad news". So, we knew it was something significant.

Basically, after additional phone calls to the region where Pasha's Mom is living, the marriage certificate/document did not have the required information on it to clear up the problems with Pasha's paperwork! Basically, there is no document that anyone can find that will clear this up sufficiently for the courts to accept. She even uttered the dreaded words, "If we cannot figure this out, then Pasha is really not even available for adoption."

About this time, Michele opened her window and put a cold cloth against her forehead. When we stopped and got out of the car, she said, "I almost threw up... With the thought of telling a child that thought we were going to adopt and now we're not!" It was a miserable moment.

But, we will not despair. God is clear in that he calls us not to be anxious about anything but bring everything to him in prayer. So, that's what we're doing and that's what we are asking you to do, too.

After seeing Tanya's apartment, she was on the phone again and working her magic. She told us that she and Roman (orphanage lawyer) will be going on Monday to the region where Pasha's Mom is supposed to be living. Their goal? Find Pasha's Mom and have her sign something that "re-relinquishes" her rights to Pasha or somehow clears up the current name fiasco.

By now you're probably thinking to yourself, "That's got to be like finding a needle in a haystack." and you might be right. But that's the task at hand and we have learned in the week that we've been here that Tanya is a fighter and a go-getter. She even told us, "I can't imagine anything but a positive outcome for this." Also, Roman has presented himself as an ally and we are thankful that the two of them will be searching for this particular needle in the haystack on Monday and Tuesday.

After all this, Tanya assured us that if they have everything ready by Wednesday, that we will still make our court date of October 12th. This certainly was encouraging, and would allow Michele to be home right on time.

We really believe this is God's timing to bring Pasha into our home and be a family to him. We truly believe the same for Natasha, but the focus is on Pasha because of his paper mess.

So, please pray that Tanya and Roman will miraculously find Pasha's Mom on Monday and can get the paper trail nailed shut. Please pray also that we would all (including Pasha and Natasha) see God's hand in bringing us together as a family with our Colorado kiddoes, and that we would even have the opportunity to pray with them through this situation.

Thanks again for all your prayers. Keep them coming now more than ever.

Bruce & Michele

PS. On a lighter note, I have to say that in addition to all of the above, I have this huge zit on the tip of my nose! Aaargh! I think the kids are a little frightened of me at the moment. I remember when I was 18 thinking how great it was going to be to be done with acne when I was 20. Then I thought the same thing at 30....and 40.... Now, it's time for Acutane! No one approaching 50 should be dealing with acne! OK...rant off....I feel better now.