bears fruit.
Last Monday I cancelled my FaceBook account. I have no interest in Twitter, and periodically Bill and I consider getting rid of the Internet connection in our home completely in order to spend REAL time with REAL people. I have a love/hate relationship with the Internet.
But, it’s things like this that keep me on e-mail, blogging, and the rest. If you scroll down to the comments, among all the encouraging comments, you’ll see one from Debbie. Debbie and her husband are adopting two girls from Odessa and I have followed their journey with joy and a bit of jealousy since they are over there RIGHT NOW. (They’ve gone “private,” otherwise, I’d link their blog here.)
So, here’s the comment that Debbie left:
“Is Katya at Camp Viktoria now? … we were there today, and I think I might have spied her…if she’s there, of course.”
You might have spied her? Oh. My. Goodness! Do you know what this did to my mother’s heart? Here’s someone whom I have never met IRL, but have an adoption/internet/blogworld connection and she thinks she has spied my DAUGHTER!
Of course wild horses could not pry me away from the Internet now. I Google “Camp Viktoria Ukraine Orphans,” and this pops up. As I read,
“We will leave San Antonio on June 11th and will return on the 27th. We will be going … to Camp Viktoria.”
They are going to Camp Viktoria – THIS WEEK! I recognize a name – Pam DeFrees and know it must be from adoption blogland. After digging a bit more, I find her email address and fire off a brief missive. (There truly is no anonymity in cyberspace, unless you’re trying to find out about a bill proposed in the Verkhovna Rada!) Pam emails me back right away and she and a group from her school are indeed heading to Ukraine this week and will be at Camp Viktoria on Friday and Saturday. She writes this:
“If you want to send an email for me to print for her I will be glad to give it to her. Just add a picture so I’ll know which one she is… And here’s my address if you you want to mail something for me to take to her. We leave Wed morning the 10th. That doesn’t give you a whole lot of time, but mail is pretty quick if you want to give it a try.”
If I want to give it a try?!?
Immediately, I go into Care Package Overdrive latching onto the statement, “if you want to mail something for me to take to her.” The kids make cards and bead necklaces, gather stuffed animals, stickers, and a slinky, and translate messages into Russian and back using this handy-dandy tool. (Hint: If you try this, go from English to Russian first, then copy the Russian into the #2 box and translate it back to English to see what you are actually saying. Otherwise you can end up with some pretty interesting messages.) I grab purple Crocs that we recently bought for Katya (to go along with the pink ones) and a purple nightgown that didn’t make it into her lovely “floral” backpack last summer when she headed back to Odessa and I head to Target to buy two new bathing suits in two different sizes, a cover-up, and plastic picture frames for new pics of the Finley 7 and Papa and Mama. What else could a little girl need at Camp Viktoria?
I wrap it it pretty gift boxes, tissue paper, and a gift bag and stuff it into a packing box. It is now being Express Mailed to Pam to arrive in San Antonio by Tuesday afternoon so that Pam can take it to Katya on Friday!
So, we’ll keep the Internet up and running for another month or two. And Pam, if you have to pay extra in luggage for our little package, just let me know. I’ll send a check right away!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Cindy, I was able to stop Katya a day or so ago and tell her that her American mama loves her. She was a little shell shocked, I think, since she doesn’t know me; my daughter translated for her, though I did say it all in Russian. I’m sure she understood and is happy to have a greeting from you. How neat that Pam will be bringing a letter from you so soon! Blessings to you!
Wow! Thanks so much, Debbie! She probably was a bit “shell-shocked,” but it also takes her a little bit of time to warm up to people. I’m so touched by the Lord’s care for this little girl in orchestrating all these connections to bring Katya a little box of “encouragement!”
Dear Cindy,
I happened to know Pam personally. She will get that pkg to your Katya!
She has such a love and compassion for the beautiful children in Ukraine. (She and her whole family and many many friends) There are many who support them in finances and PRAYERS…JUST when they are needed.
Someday I hope to join Pam & her family and friends on one of their trips. What an adventure and blessing that will be. I praise God for each of you that have a passion for all of God’s lil’ “Treasures” whether here in the states or overseas. He has a plan for us and certainly for them. Everytime I read one of these blogs, it just shows more and more how God KNOWS each and has a PLAN for each.
May God bless you and your family as you serve Him. May He bless your Katya and may He keep her in His loving arms for protection.
In prayer for you and my family and friends leaving tomorrow. As Pam always says, :God is good..All the time.” Jerry Davis (Pam’s Mom)
How absolutely dear, Jerry. THANK YOU!
I know Debbie. I can totally relate to this post. Somebody emailed me a few months that they saw that physicla therapists were at the oprhanage where the little boy that we hope to adopt is at. I was so excited!
Hi Christine! Thanks for popping by! I follow your family over at “Smiles and Trials.” It is really nice to hear from folks who BTDT and understand the joys and challenges.