Welcome to Ukrainian darkness, may I help you?
No papers were signed today. The director refuses. Marina was present when the director said Marina may not be the "same" kid when you come back for her in 11 months. All her same age friends were adopted- except for herself. Now the kids left are the "hardened" ones. these are the ones families have abandoned/abused. They're the kids no family relative thought they were worth keeping/helping. Ukraines get first option to select kids for adoption when they become available for a period of 1 year. After the 1 year wait, Ukraine opens they're availability for adoption to international families (us). The hardened ones are kids NOBODY in the world wants. Don't think for a minute that won't twist a kid's value/self esteem 180 degrees.
The 12yr old we got to know during our stay there, that sweet pretty kid smokes. There is no supervision outside the buildings. I can't imagine what the 16 yr olds have seen/done.
These are the very ones Marina will hang with. How long can she last in the mist of their behaviors, attitudes, habits, and lusts?
Fran is purchasing a flight to come home.
Welcome to Ukrainian darkness, may I help you?
Pappa
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11 comments:
Don't know what to say. And I know that you don't need anymore burden...there is no worse place for a father than the feeling of helplessness while their child is in danger. I'll just pray with you.But I know, just know, that God is bigger than a director. Will repeat this, you may need it sometime. The battle is His - And every no, maybe, later, impossible, law, 'official',...all only pretend opposition. They are lies and hollow. And their goal is simple - to beat you into despair by illusions. Their only tactict is to get you to quit. They know they can't make you do that...you have to choose to do that. Just remember that you are her dad and Marinas God-given hope. (the director is who she is and has verbally abused this girl and takes actions/inactions that directly put this girl in danger. make no mistake about that...see her for who she is and the darkness she is aligned with. Goliath.
Rick and Fran,
We greive with you today as Marina has to again stay behind. With all the prayers going out for her and for you guys there will be a hedge of protetion around her so thick the enemy won't be able to get to her. You guys are her parents and she will one day be with you. Until that day, Marina will represent the Rahn family in Ukraine and be a light in a dark place.
Safe travels, Fran. There are lots of hugs waiting for you at home!
Laura and Rob
I know the fear that you have - I had the same fear a year and a half ago when our Viktor had to leave the Internat at age 14 (long story) and go live in the dormitory at the local brick laying school (he was the brightest student in the Internat, they sent him to learn to lay bricks - Ukrainian Darkness indeed). The dorm he lives in is crumbling, and the boys that live there huff glue, steal things, drink like fish and whatever else I cannot even write about. I was terrified for our Vitya, who is very small (at 16 he now wears a boys' size L or XL, stands about five feet tall) and meek and humble. I was terrified he too would become an alcoholic, or huff glue, or otherwise be destroyed by his hideous surroundings. How long can one child last, how long can they survive and have hope and not succumb to the blackness around them? How long before the loneliness is just too great and they must finally drink or do something to escape the reality and the self-loathing from the rejection they've faced?
BUT TAKE HEART, RAHN FAMILY. After 18 months of this, I just spent six weeks with my Vitya. And yes on the outside he has hardened some. He had to - he had to survive. And yes sometimes he smokes when he is at that dorm. And I think that there are occasions when he also takes a drink. I do not say that lightly, it scares me to death. BUT, he is still a loving, kind, and good child. He still WANTS TO BE LOVED, KNOWS HOW TO LOVE, DOES NOT STEAL, HAS HOPE. Keep loving Marina. Buy a cell phone for her there and put some prepaid money on it. You can send her text messages from the Iternet for free, she will get them immediately there. Email her, help her any way you can. Keep that connection alive. There is an online computer translator that will make it possible for you to write her and tell her everything you want to. YOU CAN HELP HER STAY AWAY FROM THE DARKNESS until you can bring her home. THIS IS POSSIBLE. GOD HAS HIS HAND ON THESE CHILDREN, and will use YOU to help HIM keep her full of hope. I know this because I have witnessed this miracle with my Vitya. Email me for more. There are ways to stay connected to her. That will give her hope and make her see that she is different, she has a reason to hope.
We are sad and disappointed with you. I'm so sorry to hear this news. Praying for you all to have peace and hope and to know what to do next.
Gina
I know this is again heart-breaking. Continuing to pray for you and for God's will to be done. Love, Iryna
We love you annd hold you close in prayer.
Kathryn
You are not alone. We stand around you, lifting you up in prayer and love. We are here and will do whatever we can to help encourage and support both you and Marina.
Love,
Beverly
THAT IS A LIE! As you know! We had to leave 16 year old Natasha Shvaika in Berdyansk because when registered at age 15 she was forced to wait 1 year for international adoption. Guess what? She's aged out. We still communicate with her and she is HEART BROKEN AS ARE WE. Her heart is not hardened....it's broken! If these kids are such problems, why aren't they anxious to get rid of them? LIES, LIES, LIES. I'm SO sick of it! What do they hope to gain by keeping these kids as prisoners? It's sickening.
Yes, I'm angry. "God, I don't understand why these kids are being tortured. Why the people who have been put in places of authority completely dismiss how their actions effect the lives of these kids. These kids will bear the scars for the rest of their lives. Some physical; all emotional. God, I had a good life before adopting. Adopting has completely disrupted my family as I knew it, but you told us to go. In obedience we went. You opened our eyes to a dark world. But now what? Father, give us the wisdom and strength to fight YOUR fight. Rid us of anger and fill us with determination. Guide our path and fill our souls. Allow us to serve you in service to these kids. ONLY YOU can move the mountains before us. I'm looking forward to a miracle. I love you, Lord."
To all the families whose hearts have been stirred by the Lord to work on behalf of these kids, we should come together. They may be able to defeat us individually, but when the army comes knockin', heads will turn. Let's free the prisoners!
Sharon Sabatini
ssabatini@nc.rr.com
I've learned one thing, in hard times when I don't feel like, to praise God. I want to share this Psalm because of key phrases. It is the Psalm that I prayed to God outloud today, after I woke up with your situation and Kelly's situation with Victor on my mind. I am so upset about the lives of these young helpless children are seemingly in the hands of cruel people. Psalm 146 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Do not trust in Princes (or SDA officials/ orphanage directors), in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation, His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; in the very day his thoughts perish
How blessed is he who's help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the Lord his God, Who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them;who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free.
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord raises up those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous; The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, But He thwarts the way of the wicked.
The Lord will reign forever, Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!
Please continue to help Marina in anyway you can even if it's not what you originally thought. Don't give up on the Lord. But,continue to act as her parent in her best interest. Maybe you can provide support and open doors for her to continue life there. God has His own timing, as you well know, one day she will age out of that orphanage and that will be a good thing. The director will not have a say in her life. Maybe she can go to college and you can continue to try to get her in a program that enables her to come to the US. In the mean time, I will continue to pray along the lines of her coming home in some way very soon. I'll pray for the director to either change her mind or someone to override the decision. I know your love for her is strong and I know you will not give up, just don't be afraid to wait on God. I know you are in anguish. God is our healer, redeemer, friend, the lover of our souls. He will not leave you comfortless and that includes Marina. Sheryl
Fran & Rick
We are so sorry that Marina is again left behind. You have had the fight of you lives and you should be very proud of your efforts. She has felt true parental love from you and you have given her dignity that will carry her through. She will not disappoint you. Our hearts are full of sadness for all of you that your family is still not complete. All our love and prayers are with you during this time of grieving and healing. We Love You
Tony and Laura
FRAN..I'VE TALKED TO RICK AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE END..MY HEART IS FULL OD SADNESS FOR MARINA, BUT WE WILL ALL DO WHAT WE CAN TO COMMUNICATE WITH HER SO SHE WILL KNOW TO REMAIN STRONG AND WAIT FOR YOU TO COME AND GET HER. YOUR LOVE FOR YOUR FAMILY {YOUR GIRLS} HAS INSPIRED US ALL..I CAN'T IMAGNE HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS FOR YOU TO LEAVE BUT WE WILL PRAY GOD HEALS YOU QUICKLY,SO YOU CAN REGROUP AND START AGAIN..WE LOVE YOU ANGIE
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