Finally Some Work Getting Done!!!!

I can sum up today in one word….Busy.***
Our translator, Lena got into Odessa this morning about 7:30. We started our day at the first birth certificate office at 9. This was a good sign as they normally do not open until 10. This was the office that messed up everything last Friday so I think they were trying to make up for it. And we did not have to negotiate for anything. We were finished the first birth certificate by 10 am and were off to the second one. We arrived there by 9:30 and gave them our papers. They did not do the birth certificate on the spot, but after negotiating, they said we could pick it up in the afternoon. While we were in the same area, we went by the passport office to discuss getting the passports for the three girls. When I say we discussed, that means I wait outside while Lena talks with the officials. We think we will be able to get the passports in one day once we finish all the other paperwork. This is great news as it can sometimes take a week in this region to get passports.***
From the passport office we went to the third birth certificate office. We were able to negotiate with them to have the last birth certificate at 2 pm. Everything is going very well at this time. After that office we went to both inspectors’ offices and one of the orphanages to drop off the court decree and pick up some other documents. It appears this region requires some paper work to be completed by the orphanage to release the girls to my custody. This was the first snag of the day. Since one of the directors was not available, this will have to wait until Wednesday morning. This means no girls tonight. I made Lena call the girls as I all but promised they would be coming to the apartment. Needless to say this was not taken well.***
From there we had to go back to two of the birth certificate offices. We finally had all three new birth certificates in our possession. This is where our second snag of the day came in. It appears that someone has to sign the girls out of their official residence. In most communist and now former communist countries you are required to register your residence. Yana and Jennifer are registered, but Vita is not. So, we have to get Vita registered so that someone can sign her out……if you understand that you are smarter than me. We went to that office and picked up the paperwork to start that process.***
We then went to the Regional office to have the birth certificates legalized. I asked Lena what this was about and it is basically getting a stamp saying that the person that signed the document is able to do so. Then we have to get another stamp to say that the person that did the first stamp was able to do so. Seems a little redundant, but for every stamp there are multiple jobs and a price.****
By the time we made it to the Regional office it was 5 pm and we had not eaten anything. Now I know how my Dad feels when he is working with me and I do not stop for lunch. We had juice and a muffin at the office to hold us over.****
We called the girls to see if they wanted to eat dinner with us and of course they did. We picked them up at 6:30 and ate at the mall close to the Camp. We had a good dinner and then did a little shopping. These girls go through shoes like you would not believe.****
We took the girls back to camp and made it into the apartment close to 11 this evening.****
It was a very productive day for us. The two snags that we hit should not take long to correct with a little negotiating.***
Tomorrow we will get the orphanage approvals and should have the girls for good by lunch time. Tomorrow night Vita and I are going to the Opera. The other girls have already been to the Odessa Opera house, which is quite famous, and they are not interested in going. No reason to push the issue if they would not enjoy it. Vita and I are very much looking forward to it.****
Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts. They are very much appreciated.