Everything is new!

For Alena & Caleb so much is new to them; from city life, new toys, new family, new rules, food choices & availablilty and the Lord.  Saturday was a day of starting to figure it all out.  Our timeout chair got alot of use, mainly by Caleb.  We have wonderful, loving children who are learning things like asking before doing & first time listening & obedience & no bickering.  Alena & Caleb will be talking in Russian and I will say things like talk with kind words or be nice; they look at me with a - how did you know what we were saying look. They think I understand them but I have no clue. Mama's secret, it's all in the attitude and tone of voice. This morning, while we were out and about,  Caleb began holding up one finger, after he listens the first time, and saying, "Look mama first time."  He receives much praise from mama and papa.  It has only been a couple days & we are already seeing progress.  For two parents, who are already emotionally and physically exhausted from being here so long, we are thankful. God is so good and gives us much strength when our own is definitely lacking.

On Sunday we had Dillner church with Alena & Caleb for the first time.  We listened to CJ's testimony & worshiped with Sovereign Grace music.  We sang "Thank You Jesus" & explained how much Jesus loves them.   Alena said, "I do not know this Jesus."  Then later said she likes to sing to him.  That afternoon Caleb pointed up and said to me, "I love Jesus!"  and while he was playing he tried to sing the song.  What joy to watch God begin to work in their hearts.  While there isn't complete understanding, God is already at work in their hearts.  Please pray for a softening of their hearts and a desire for them to know him.

Now for the business side of things.  We have in hand the children's new birth certificates and tax ID numbers.  Today we spent the day running from place to place to apply for passports for the children.  There is much paperwork to compile from many different places in order to do this.  We are thankful for Igor & Victor who both do such a wonderful job and who know the system & the people so well.   Hopefully we will have the passports by end of the week so we can have our exiting appointments at the US Embassy next week.

We miss our children & family, friends & our church very much.  We are counting down the days (14 days, 14 hours, 39 minutes & 23 seconds) literally.

"My body and my heart may grow weak. God, you give strength to my heart. You are everything I will ever need."   Psalm 73:26