She is everything we had hoped for

(This is an attempt at a re-write of a blog we tried to post last night. We are paying for internet by the hour and unknowingly ran out of time before we posted! Sorry to keep you in suspense...)

God is good! Our meeting with Dasha was everything we could hope for in a first visit. We arrived at the orphanage around 1:30 while the children were having nap and quiet time. Natasha told Karen she could go to Dasha’s room while she got ready to spend the afternoon with us for lunch and a little site seeing. I waited patiently while Dasha got ready. Karen said when she walked into the girls’ bedroom, all she could do was stand there and smile at Dasha and the five other smiling faces that were looking at her with excitement and interest. She wanted to bring all of them home. Dasha smiled back constantly as she was getting ready, helping to ease the tension.

As I stood in the commons area I saw lots of toys and the room was decorated nicely, it was very cozy looking. I stood there with gift in hand until Dasha and Karen finally appeared. Dasha quickly ran to fix her hair and smiled really big in passing. When she came back I gave her a little hug and the gift. She reached into the bag and pulled out a photo album and graciously looked at each page. Then she reached in again and pulled out a pink CD player and Karen’s two CDs. When she realized Karen was a musician, her face lit up with excitement. Right then I knew Karen and Dasha were quickly bonding.

Then we left for lunch. Sasha, our driver, drove us for some Russian pastries, then we toured the Church on Spilled Blood, one of the most monumental and beautiful cathedrals in the country, very Russian. We took Dasha’s hand walking from place to place - by the end of the tour, she began to take ours. We finished out the afternoon by bringing her to the hotel for a little while before taking her back to the orphanage.

Dasha hardly said a word for most of the afternoon (we had been told she would be shy at first), but she smiled every time anyone looked at her. When she smiles, her eyes twinkle and she lights up the room. She is really beautiful.

When we went back to the hotel, we went through the photos and explained things in more detail, with Natasha interpreting. Dasha smiled some more. Then Karen got out her guitar and played a Russian folk song, the only one she knows (thanks to Olena!) That seemed to be really special for Dasha - she seemed touched and maybe even a little emotional. Then Karen played one of her original songs which Dasha and Natasha liked very much. Lots of smiles. Dasha made it clear that she is ready for guitar lessons. We showed her pic’s of Sarah and Erin and told her that they would be happy to give her ballet and English lessons, which made her smile, of course.

Then we showed her videos of her cousins, aunt, uncle, and grandparents saying “Priviet, Dasha”, and videos of the UHBC worship team celebrating her birthday in her absence. She loved every minute of it and was glued to the tiny screen. She also smiled over the snacks we gave her - M&M’s and a fruit roll-up. She seemed to be having a great time taking it all in. Even through the language barrier, she and Karen bonded over the color blue, things that are soft and furry, Pepsi, and music. I knew that the visit was a very good one when Dasha ran to give us tight hugs as we left for the day.

So on to day 2! Today we will pick up Dasha and go to Dima’s orphanage. Please pray for the visit - God is amazing and He is in control. We trust that He will direct us in His will, and we really feel like we will be fine and full of joy whatever the outcome.

Love,
Bob and Karen