OH MY and The "A" Word

So, we're about 24 hours away from meeting Dimitry (if all goes well with his Visa and travels!).  He should be boarding his first flight around midnight tonight and then continue his travels for about 24 hours before we pick him up tomorrow night at Charlotte Douglas.  Please pray for him and safety for his travels as well as the other children being hosted through New Horizons around the country. 

We have so many mixed emotions right now.  We are nervous and scared--wondering how crazy we are!  We are getting excited as well. =)  We have many things planned while he's here and are hoping that he will be able to do them once he gets adjusted.  Thinking about this makes us happy, but we're already starting to feel the sadness of knowing we'll have to say good-bye.  Please, please, pray for this.  Pray that while he is here that we will be able to show him love and kindness with our whole hearts, and teach him about God and yet, be able to let him go after five weeks.  Dimitry will be prepared to say good-bye as he has been told that this is a "vacation" a break from the orphanage and an opportunity to get out of "work camp."  We, however, already feel pain knowing that we can't do more to permanently change the physical conditions in which he lives.  Some comfort comes from the understanding that we are working to teach him about a Heavenly Father that cares for his eternal needs and salvation and that we may have an opportunity to impact these aspects of his life.  Again, please pray for us and our emotions and perspectives throughout this experience.

Now for a piece of business...The "A" Word...ADOPTION!  As we previously stated in an earlier post, we are not eligible to adopt Dimitry.  Latvian law doesn't allow adoptions unless the adopting parents are 18 years older than the child...we are not.  However, this doesn't mean that he may not be adopted by someone he meets during his time here.  While he is here he will meet many people and families and it may be part of God's perfect plan for him to meet his adoptive family through us.  However, it may not be.  For this reason we must warn you not to use the "A" word in front of Dimitry.  While the children know little if any English, we have been warned that as orphans they are very aware of the word adoption.  Some even know that other children hosted on American programs are sometimes adopted by their host families.  For this reason, if you are ever around us with Dimitry PLEASE refrain from using the word adoption or asking any questions about his current living situation (in the orphanage), history/past family, or anything related to these topics.  We appreciate your awareness and your careful use of language around him.

Thank you for your prayers and continued support.  Even this week, we have been so moved by the overflowing amount of messages, cards, texts, and goods for Dimitry that we have received.  We feel so blessed and hope that those who have been a part of this process have and will continue to be blessed by being a part of this experience.