Katya's Story
In order to truly understand the frightening experience we went through in October of 2008, you will need to read our story from the beginning to the end. Each email was written at the time it was actually happening. Our current situation is that we now have guardianship of Katya, she is living with us at home in Kiev, and we have started the one year long adoption process. Click the links in order to read each section of Katya's story.
The Beginning - Concerns
October 1, 2008
It is with sober news that I write to you today. We got a call from our
lawyer's assistant this morning. He said that Katya's registration is finished
at the regional level and has moved to the oblast level of Social Services in
Chernigov (about 2 hours northeast of Kiev). This would be like moving from
the county level to the state level in America. Everything went fine at the
regional level, but when the head of Social Services at the oblast level
received Katya's documents, he stated that Katya must be taken from our
home and placed back in an orphanage.
This is the scary part of the process, and we knew we must walk through
this in order to adopt Katya. There is no way to get to adoption other than
to stay on the path of legal dealings in Ukraine. We always understood
that path could lead us to this moment. The police can show up at our door
at any time and demand to take Katya to an orphanage. There is nothing
we can do. EXCEPT ... pray. We have God on our side, and we have
asked Him to deploy His angels to surround Katya and the rest of us, the
head of Social Services, and anyone else involved in this decision. We do
not need to worry. God is in control. Katya is His child now. She is safe in
the Lord's hands.
Legal dealings tend to move slowly in Ukraine. There is a good chance that
it will take time for anything to happen. It is our plan to get everything in
place for guardianship as quickly as we can. Mike needs to go to seven
doctors by Friday, in the midst of his teaching schedule. He and Natasha
are attempting to make the appointments today.
Katya did this for her documents a couple weeks ago. In one day, Mike
and Natasha were able to get appointments and have Katya seen by a
bone doctor, a nervous system doctor, an eye doctor (it was discovered
that she needs glasses), a psychologist, an endocrinologist, a growth
doctor who checked her size and development for her age, a dermatologist,
and the main pediatrician in our area. Now Mike has to do a medical circuit
to prove he is a fit guardian -- and fast.
If we attain guardianship, we will be given legal rights over Katya. She will
be able to live with us, and we will have the rights over her medical and
travel decisions. We pray we will also be given the right to choose where
she is educated. It will take time to go through the legal proceedings for
guardianship. We don't know how much time. If the police come, and if
Katya is taken, it is likely she will be placed back in the orphanage at
Komorovka. Mike and I made a decision this morning that if Katya is
taken, I will go with her. We have close relationships at Komorovka, and I
might even be able to stay on campus.
So, this is the situation. We ask you to join us in covering it all in prayer.
We have become Katya's parents in every sense of the word ... except the
written word. Boy, was that made plain today! The thought of having a
policeman take her away makes us sick. We can't imagine Kate going to
bed in an orphanage bedroom with a bunch of other kids. I know her. She'd
be worried sick about getting lice again! The thought of her going to school
and not being able to read or write Ukrainian, or barely even speak it, is
crazy to think about. Plus, we just got her into 5th grade at KCA! Mike and
I shed a few tears together this morning -- just feeling so helpless. But then
we prayed and asked God to deploy His army to protect us. His peace
poured into our hearts and minds, along with His promise that He will
NEVER leave us or forsake us.
I'll keep you posted if we hear any news or if I get an unwelcome visit from
the police. I've already decided that I won't unlock the door. I will tell them
that Mike will come from work and we will meet them in the parking lot. I
would not feel safe talking to them alone.
It is very sad to realize that the government is not thinking or caring about
the child. They would take a child from a good home and place her in an
orphanage ... for what?? We understand that someone may have sniffed a
money trail, but our lawyers are godly men and do things legally. They
don't just hand over a bribe. Our legal hope lies in attaining guardianship,
and we pray that we can attain it quickly. It is a real comfort to know that
we will have literally hundreds of you praying for us by this afternoon.
(When you wake up to start your day.)
With much love and gratitude for your faithful support,
Judy for the family