Today was a great day, but boy are we tired!! It’s my birthday and it was wonderful. One of the best parts of the day was when Sergey and Dan went to get the kids and left me home – no, that is not the best part . I hear the doorbell ring and open the door and two kids run in and gave me big hugs – that’s the best part!

It was not long before we got our coats back on and got on a bus with the Burnhams and the Martins on our way to a Christmas celebration complete with nativity play and Saint Nick giving out presents! It was a fun time spent in the time of people who have given up much to be in Ukraine and love what they are doing to share of gospel of Christ. Dan and I watched Christina and Kolya. They were getting a little taste of what it will be like in the states – everyone speaking English, all at once and loudly☺. Andrea translated so they could understand the nativity play. Saint Nick gave them presents – Christina was shy and insisted that I go up with her. She was delighted with the hair care set and candy that she received! Kolya was called up a little later. As all these Americans who spoke Russian were around me I asked them to tell Kolya that one of his gifts was a puzzle. Several minutes and serious study went on and they came up with the right Russian word, said it to Kolya. He turned to me and said in English “puzzle”. He had already known what it was and what it was called!!

They were very polite, bored yet polite (we are still on our best behavior) when the kids were taken to another room and a long story read in English. I was proud that they did not get fidgety! Then they had a craft they liked very much. Afterwards they joined the adults doing a Santa switch gift, and were bored but were good. Dan left early the gift switching and let them play outside on the playset. They loved that until Dan got cold!! At this point one of us is with them at all times. We want them to know to come to us and not to hand off the care to others at this point.

Good things! They are coming to us to ask for things, i.e. more juice, more food. As we drove up to the orphanage tonight, Christina said that she wanted to go back with us. We said we will be back daZAFtra – tomorrow! They keep asking through the day if tomorrow they will see us. Good stuff!

Yes, it is intense because of language. Right now we have people around that can tell the kids something if needed. However at home that will stop. But all of us are trying hard so it is good.