Today, is the first day of school for Ukrainian children. If you have parents (not an orphan), it can be a fun ceremony with flowers and smiles. If you are an orphan, there is no one there to help you with this transition. You simply make the move without any fanfare. An orphan can go unnoticed.
We want to share some statistics that we have read (although we are all aware, statistics are based upon only what is reported) Please ponder this: orphans "graduate" from (or age out of) the orphanage at the age of 16. 70% of orphan graduates end up in a life of prostitution or crime. 10% of orphanage graduates commit suicide by the age of 18.
Today, our daughter left (aged out of) her orphanage forever and moved into the trade school, alone. No parents, no family, no fanfare. This new home is unknown to us. We no longer know our daughter's address. We have no idea as to the conditions she is living in, we have no idea who is supervising her. This is not how it was "supposed to happen." She was supposed to stay at the orphanage, despite aging out, until we arrived to take her home. The orphanage shutting down was not part of OUR plan, K moving to a trade school was not part of OUR plan, waiting this long to travel was not part of OUR plan.
But this is what has happened and it a reminder that no part of this adoption was OUR plan. It was all orchestrated by God. We will be obedient to God. But we are of the flesh and a sinful people, so let us tell you, the waiting is EXCRUCIATING! You have to put yourself in our shoes, please.
This is the only way I can try to explain it to a non-international adoptive parent.....You are a parent of an older child, that older child is away at summer camp.......BUT you have NO idea when your child will be home, and not only do you not know when your child will be home, you have sit and wait EACH and EVERY day for the camp counselor to call you to let you know when you can come pick your child up and in the meantime, you have no idea where her camp is located ........and your CHILD waits........ EACH.......... and .........EVERY.......... day for you to come get them to take them home!
"Hear my prayer, O Lord, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping." Psalm 39:12
Please pray for K. Please pray that God fills her heart with hope while she waits for us. Please pray for her protection while we are apart. Please pray that she feels God's loving arms wrapped around her, loving her. Please give praise to the God that hears our cries and holds our tears in His hands as He is preparing the way for us. We will persevere to finish the work God has ordained for us, through His strength alone.
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