Tere! That’s “hello” in Estonian! I’d like to tell you after visiting Estonia, I know a whole lot more than “hello,” “please,” and “thank you,” but I don’t. I have very much to learn. Phrases like “come here,” and “share with your brother,” are going to be musts before we return.
All of the uplifting messages, prayers and encouragement while we met our boys for the very first time was enough to humble even the strongest person. Thank you all so much. This was by far, the most intense and greatest experience of our lives so far. Knowing we were in your thoughts warmed my heart…even when I already thought it was going to burst!
Here are some details about our trip. As much as I want to post pictures of the boys, we aren’t allowed until the adoption happens. Just imagine kids who scale walls and flip without effort, and own the brightest, most mischievous smiles you’ve ever seen!
I can’t give enough props to our friend, who has made being a flight attendant look like a very appealing career to me! She was gracious enough to support us by offering us some of her companion passes into Europe. This greatly lowered our flight costs for this trip…not to mention we were completely spoiled on Business Class via stand-by passes! She helped us pick a date where the chance for seats looked good. We luckily made it to Frankfurt and home on the first try. Thank God. I was so nervous as to what we would do if they demanded we checked our bags, and didn’t make it to our connecting flights in Frankfurt, but everything worked out smoothly and she gave the crew a heads up to look out for us. Your generosity is contagious, and I just want you to know we will forever be grateful for you.
You all continue to pour out blessings on us! I can’t even begin to name all of the people, who have made a difference and continue to play a part in this story. You know who you are, and I am blown away by your sacrifice. I am honored to know such wonderful people.
Day 1: After 24 hours of travel, we finally arrived in beautiful, snowy Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, where Igor, our translator and driver, greeted us. It’s 7 hours ahead there, so Igor suggested we just head to our apartment and rest for the night. Josh and I had a lot of fun in the nearby grocery store, made sausage and fell asleep watching Russian Christmas specials.
Guess what I'm finally learning how to do this summer?
Day 2: The next morning, I could hardly contain myself as Igor drove us 1½ hours out of Tallinn to the boys’ town. School would have been closed for days with snow like this in our area, but the roads were no obstaclee for him.
Picturesque drives- the most beautiful snowy scenery
We finally made it to a small snowy village and to the boys’ current group home. It’s a phenomenal newly built foster home community…with several homes, a small playground, and a tumbling studio. There are different caregivers that work in the homes 24 hrs a day; all seemed very nice. We met with the group home director and were advised that we would introduce ourselves as “visitors” only for this trip. We were fine with that, because the last thing we want is to confuse the boys right now. We were first greeted by the youngest with his huge trademark smile. I thought my knees might buckle. The other 2 were very shy and all were actually afraid to look at us at first, because they aren’t used to having strange visitors at their home.
We finally broke the ice by having a lot of fun playing out in the snow. Later that evening we played with them and watched them tumble, flip, climb, and run. They have boundless energy…I’ve worked with a lot of kids, and I’ve never seen this much energy and strength from such little boys!
In their back yard and group home vicinity
A view from the eyes of a 3 and 4 year old, who won't give you your camera back.
Day 3-4: We got to spend one more full day with them, and only an hour with the youngest on the last day, because the other 2 were at school.
We spent the last day driving and meeting officials related to the adoption, where we were able to exchange questions about the process. We met with the group home director, then the county-wide social worker, then Signe, minister of Estonian adoption affairs in Tallinn. She is the one, who ultimately grants permission for the boys to be adopted…no pressure! It was intense, but I think all of the meetings went well. Josh and I got to spend our final night wandering around Old Town Tallinn in the snow, where we had a really great dinner and watched a classic snowball fight out in the city square. We stayed in a cottage-inspired studio apartment that’s around 300 years old!
Do you spot the fire-twirler and musicians in the street?
Ice skating rink
My favorite moments in a nutshell were: their smiles and watchful, but curious and friendly glances towards us. I loved getting to sit around the table with all of them for hot tea (yes, they like to drink tea!) and while the whole household ate an amazing lunch the caregivers served us, including: makaronid (macaroni w/ hamburger), kartulid (boiled potatoes), kulm kaste (cucumber/sour cream sauce), and verivorst (blood sausages).
I also loved every time they roll their r’s with such ease (I cannot), when they voluntarily sat on our laps or grabbed my leg, played with my hair, hands, etc.. I loved their impressed smiles as they dug up huge chunks of snow the size of their bodies for snowball ammo, and I enjoyed watching Josh tucker himself out while playing dangerous games of house tag with 3 boys, who consider furniture and slippery floors to be no obstacle.
It hurt so much to say goodbye, not knowing when we’d see them again, and even more so because they had no idea who we were, and probably assumed we’d come back and play with them again the next day. I got to meet more of the foster children in the home, who I will think about forever and ever. There were 2 teenage girls, who have big hearts for caring for the boys. We had fun visiting with a 16 year old boy, who got so excited each time we came over. He probably knew what we were there for…and I can only imagine is was a constant reminder that at this point in the game, there may not be anyone ever coming for him. It hurts too much to think about this. Please pray for God’s plan for M, K, and G…and whatever God has in store for them, maybe it will be to join their parents, again. I can easily see why it’s hard to adopt only one child. We’re getting ready to send them all a special package of thanks. I’m SO excited we finally got an address and a more direct method of contact!
What’s next? (as far as I understand it)
We’ve filed for USCIS approval (known as an 1-800A, for countries that belong to the Hague Convention). Then we get fingerprinted AGAIN, and hopefully get approval letters for each of the boys. Those letters are very important for the next step and usually the process takes 60-90 days to be completed if all forms are filled out correctly, etc. Then Estonia will send over a few more applications and forms in order for them to generate a court hearing for us. Then we wait, and wait, and wait until the date is finally arranged, and we will travel to get them and bring them home! We are told it may not happen until Summer or even Fall. We are really praying for late Spring or early Summer, because I’d love to have the whole summer with the boys. And ultimately, I can’t bear the fact that we won’t see them again for another 6 months or more. We’ll see what happens. Everything has happened on God’s time and God’s way, I don’t doubt it will continue that way.
Meanwhile, we’ll still continue to fundraise, fundraise, fundraise, and apply for more grants.
Was there a connection?
I can most definitely say the feelings God already generated in our hearts became even bigger after seeing the boys. I know God didn’t create them solely for us, but I firmly believe God sought us out to be their Mommy and Daddy. I love all children, but the feeling I get when I look at them…it’s a deeper love and sense of pride than I can say I’ve ever felt for another child. This is the main reason for our motivation to adopt from Estonia. It's not necessarily that we love the program (though we do...Estonia is an amazing country), and it's not that we don't want to help orphans at home...it's the connection we feel here. Their features, their smiles, their hands, their words, and their laughs entrance me. They are mischievous, sweet, but wild little boys, very far from perfect, but Josh and I both can’t get over the fact that there is something extraordinary about them. I hope my heart can handle the wait before we bring them home.
Before we left, I found this devotional for John 14 and it was just perfect for our trip. The context really relates to Jesus foreshadowing his death, telling his disciples He must leave in order for the Holy Spirit to come, and so He may prepare a place for (them) us. I know our departure didn’t really mean sadness for them in the way it did for us, but it’s still easy to worry and hurt for them. But even though we’re not going to be able to hold them for a while, I can rest in the peace that God is watching out for them day and night, even when things are beyond our control.
“I go to my Father,” he said. “You can’t come with me yet, but don’t worry, I won’t leave you alone. The Holy Spirit will be your constant companion, and I must go so that he can come. While I am gone, he will teach you everything you need to know. I will be gone, by my time, only a little while, though it may seem long to you. When I come again, it will be to take you where I have been all this time fixing up a special place for all of us to be together…forever. After that, we won’t have to say goodbye again.”
- Gloria Gaither
