It's a Great Day When...

you get to watch your seven-year-old meet his new little brother for the first time.


After our driver picked us up this morning, we headed toward the children's home where Little M and his orphanage friends are hanging for the summer.  On the way, we picked up our translator, Elena.  What a cool job she has.  Imagine getting to witness first-time family connections and communication for a job.  I can only imagine how good it must feel.  I think I wouldn't be so good at it, I'd be sobbing with joy every time.  

Waiting for M to come outside.

We arrived at Children's Home #2 Summer place.  I'm still not sure if they move the kids over from the home in Vladivostok every summer or just this summer in particular because of the renovations.  We were met by Ivan, our coordinator, and also the social worker assigned to our case.  We had met her in February when she came along once when we were visiting Little M to "observe" us, ask questions, and answer our questions about the history that exists in his file.  From the road, this summer home, in Evan's words, "looks kind of deserted."  When we arrived, there weren't any kids playing outside yet and the buildings both looked like they were wanting of a paint job and a good window scrubbing -- at least 20 years ago.  While we weren't allowed in the buildings, except for Evan at one point, we were happy to enjoy the playground and gardens which lay between the two buildings. Ivan went in and asked for Little M.  His caretaker brought out a timid little boy with his standard summer haircut...  shaved super short.  I was feeling a bit sad about the haircut until the rest of his friends came out a bit later and we saw some of the girls haircuts.  His looked terrific.  I'll leave the rest to your imaginations.  The shyness lasted all of one minute.  Evan gave Little M a huge hug and a smile and then M relaxed and gave us hugs, too.  They immediately started playing when Evan dug out the Go Go Crazy Bones he had brought for him.  That was it...  we taught Evan how to say "I'm your brother" (Ya dvoy brat) and everything was easy peasy from then on.


We played and snapped pictures for the next two hours on the playground.  Evan and M played on the swings, the slides, the climbing gear.  They blew the fuzzy heads off the dandelions together.  They divided and negotiated over the Go Go Crazy Bones.  They threw a ball, they ran around, learned they have a common like of Transformers, laughed and smiled and somehow, some way managed to communicate without understanding the words.  Evan learned "davai" which means "go" or "your turn."  M learned "thank you" and remembered "bye bye."  Our hearts are very full of joy today.  

Here's a teaser for you...

We had the fortune to be able to ask questions of one of M's two caretakers.  We asked her, naturally, if M remembered us or asked about us since meeting in February.  She told us that he hoped we would remember him and that he kept asking when we would be back.  Finally, he was told, "when the green leaves appear on the trees."  She said since then, every time they came outside, he would go check the branches on the trees, looking for the green leaves as a sign that we would be there soon.  We learned that he was told last night of our return and that he was VERY excited and happy.  Through our interpreter, we asked M if he was excited to go on an airplane and see his new home.  He told us he wanted to go today.  Our hearts melted. I will never look at new leaves on a tree the same way again.  

About a 1/2 hour into our visit, we noticed another couple coming up the walk to the Children's Home.  We were told that they were a couple from Spain and were there, too, to see a child.  When the little girl came outside, I was so happy to see who it was.  She's from M's group of playmates, about 4 or 5 years old.  It's impossible to put into words the feeling you get when you visit an orphanage and see all the kids who won't be going home with you.  It's almost as if an unspoken prayer heads straight to heaven asking for parents to step up and come get these kids.  This little girl, on our first visit in February, was the one whose timid smile stuck with me as we left to return home to the States.  I remember saying to Jose that if we were ever able to do this again, I would want to see if she were available.  It was such a gift to see that God spoke to someone else's hearts and somehow, they were able to come for her.  We shared with them how sweet she was when we met her with little M and their friends on our first trip and how happy we were for them to be adopting her.  We exchanged cards and are hoping someday to be able to meet somewhere in Madrid and share "una copa."  Thank God for answered prayers.  Her new parents will be back when the leaves are changing and falling. 


We left with the promise that we would come back again tomorrow to visit and play.  After our visit with M, I was able to experience one of my other favorite things to do while visiting a foreign country... visit a grocery store!  To me it's fascinating to see what's available, how it's packaged, how much it costs, what's different, what's the same.  It's like a cultural study in one room.  Fun fun fun.  After that, we returned to the hotel.  Jose had a BLT and I had a salad.  We both enjoyed the Borscht soup, and Evan had a hamburger.  Now Evan's watching a movie on the ipad, Jose is napping and I'm updating this blog.  It's been a very good day and we are grateful.