June 13---the end of our train ride in hell

Word of advice: no matter how small the people are, NEVER EVER think two can share a bed in the sleeper car of a train with the temps around 80'F. BAD CALL. We will likely get two sleeper cars w/8 beds on the way home, or have a driver drive us back, or take a day train. Thank God for MP3 players or David and I would have pulled our hair out.

Our apartment in Odessa is good....high speed internet, hot water, enough beds, close to stores. Far to get to summer camp where the kids are, but that's ok. Bus rides are cheap.....not comfortable, but cheap. Sometimes it's like being stuffed into a sardine can with wheels...and smells comparable too! The boys have been troopers...not complaining much. Levi wants to go to Battlefield or Springfield....or the beach. The last is most likely to happen!!

once settled in our apartment, we started our adoption work by visiting the orphanage where Vita and Yana are from. The social worker was not very optimistic about Yana, but David and I both felt prett strong about adopting her. After monetary negotiations, things looked brighter! We then went to the inspector's office to get permission to visit Vita and Yana. We were given the major run around there and our poor translator had to hear his sob stories of travelling and how expensive his life is. He said he's more pragmatic than emotional. So we gave a donation to his charity and he stamped his approval on the visits. He had many excuses....we don't make enough money, claimed we didn't have fingerprints done, complained about highway patrol doing our background check. A donation was all it took...we donate alot here. So we were going to try to go to the inspector where Galena's orphanage is...but it was too late after getting the run around from him. So we went to visit Vita and Yana at summer camp. We took the girls and our other "son", Vova, to McDonald's for dinner and then had to return them to camp. We couldn't believe how mature Vita is and how much she has grown!!!

The boys are such troopers and have been enjoying the culture...McDonald's every day!!!