To finish up our journal of this second trip to Russia, we will start with Monday night, our last evening in Nizhny. We returned from the orphanage and were picked up by our Russian friends, who we met last trip, Their daughter was turning 20 and they had an aunt, uncle, cousin, grandma and a few friends visiting. They served us excellent food, the best Russian food we have had, and we had great conversation. Tom was asked medical questions as well as what he thought about the "Obama health care plan", economics and religious issues. They were very gracious and the daughter, Mom and one of her friends spoke good English so they could translate for us. It was very enjoyable to experience Russian family life and a blessing to share a bond with Christians half way across the world.
Regarding our visit with Dasha after court; let's just say it was the a perfect way to end our trip. We got the biggest and longest hugs from Dasha. She hugged me (Cheri) about three times before she left. She told us she wanted to go with us now and that she would be waiting for us. Although we didn't want to leave her, we are so happy with how she is excited to come home with us and is so comfortable with us. We think God has prepared her to join our family. She seems to be well taken care of and the orphanage director is very nice and seems to really care for Dasha.
God has been answering our prayers to watch over Dasha these last 17 months and we trust He will do the same this last month. We pray that God will guard her heart and mind, give her hope, and help her to feel His great love for her. Before we left we gave her two chocolate bars and told her she could keep the UNO game to play with her friends while we were gone. She kept saying that her Mama gave the chocolate to her. Poor Tom, I should have let him give one of them to her.
As we ate breakfast prior to checking onto the plane Tom smiled and said he was excited. I said "for what"? He said "to have another daughter." We praise God for His gift to us and for his grace along this long and windy road to Dasha. We pray that someday she will understand how God longs for us and wants to adopt us into his family and make us his own sons and daughters. He pursues us and waits for us. " How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" 1 John 3:1
2 comments:
What a beautiful way to look at your 17 month wait! It IS nothing compared to how long God had to wait for some of us!
I am delighted to hear how well your final visit with Dasha went. Next time you see her, it will be to finally BRING her HOME...no more visits and goodbyes...what a wonderful thing to look forward to. I will join you in praying for the Lord to draw near to her, to protect her, and in great hope prepare her to be your forever daughter. Merry Christmas!
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