Day 33 - On my Own Thursday Oct. 20

I got ready early and hoped to get to the store before I caught the train. But by the time I left the hotel, I was afraid I might not have had enough time to get the ticket, so I skipped going to the store. I caught the bus to the train station, went in and bought my train ticket. I recognized the cashier, she had sold tickets to us before, and she smiled with recognition at me as well.

I had plenty of time before the train departed, so I found a seat and read a book. When it was almost time for the train to arrive, I went out to the platform where a crowd was forming. It is always a push to get in the train and there are almost never enough seats for everyone. I had brought my backpack with the laptop and some other things to do while I was with Sergei and a gift bag for Snizhana, one of the girls who had been hosted and was having a birthday on the 22^nd. Her host family had asked me to give her a gift from them.

This time, I was not pushy enough to get a seat, so I stood in an opening by a window. I knew that it would only take a few stops to empty out enough for me to get a seat, so I did not mind. At least I had floor space to put my backpack. And as I figured, in a short time there were seats available, so I sat down and read some more to pass the time. The train had been late at arriving at the Sumy station and it was after noon until we pulled into the Kirikivka station as well. I had hoped the taxi would be sitting there when I arrived, but the only car that was there was one of the passenger's that he got in and drove off. I had thought that I still had the taxi number in my text messages, but when I looked, it was gone, it must have been erased to make space for new ones. So I tried calling Anika to see if she could call the taxi for me...no answer. I tried Yarik, hoping he had the number on his phone. He said he would check and call me back. No luck, he called back and did not have it either. Well, it was chilly, but not raining and the walk was not that far and would do me some good. So I set off with my heavy backpack and gift bag and walked. It only took a little over half an hour, and by the time I got there it was warming up. I walked through the gate and Zhennya saw me and came running. I gave him a hug and he asked about Darren, if he was on an airplane to America. I said he was, and he seemed a bit disappointed. He helped me find Sergei and then went back to his chores. 

My Happy Son

Sergei was in class and the teacher dismissed him. One of the first things he said to me was, “ Now I am your son.” I said yes and hugged him. I was so happy that it was important to him as well. I had translated a message for him on the laptop explaining that I was really proud of him for speaking so confidently in court and really excited to be his mom and excited that he was my son. I also had explained that Nina had called Ksenya and agreed to let me pick him up the next day. We walked down to the sport field and sat on a tire and I showed him the message. I had tried to tell him that Nina said I could come tomorrow and pick him up, but when he read the message his eyes really lit up. He was so happy that he could come with me sooner than we had expected.

We did the usual things, hang out at the sport field, go to his room and play cards, go to the store and get a snack, We also went and found Snizhana and gave her the gift bag from her family. She was with the nurse and was happy to receive it. I had also been able to save a translated message on my phone for her with greetings from her host family and that they loved her, but could not come to Ukraine for her. I also asked about her phone and if it was the same number and that maybe the family could call her with a translator to be able to talk to her without miscommunicating. I think she understood. I gave her a hug and she left.

Watching a movie and eating bacon flavored chips

Sergei talked to the nurse a few minutes and she gave him a pill. He said that his tooth was hurting him, so I guess we will have to make a trip to the dentist soon after we are home. We went back to his sleep room and watched a movie. A few of the guys came in and out of the room, but it was pretty much just the two of us most of the time. We saw Artium and he asked about Darren as well and was sad that he had not come back with me. I think he was more of a hit there than I was. But at least Sergei was happy to have me. Although he did say that he missed Dad, too. Back in his sleep room some kids came in with a bed. They moved several of the others and made room for this one. A new boy had arrived and they were adding him to this room. It was sad thinking that there was another child who had lost his family. He seemed like a nice kid, smiled easily, but looked a little lost. It was bittersweet knowing that I would soon be taking Sergei away, but before he even left, there was already someone to take his place.

While I was with Sergei, Anika called me back and I asked if she could check with having the taxi pick me up that evening to make the train back to Sumy. She arranged for him to be there at 4:50pm. Sergei and I had a nice afternoon together, but for the last time, I had to say good-bye and leave him there. It was so much easier knowing that the next day I would take him with me, Lord willing!

I took the taxi back to the train and waited, at least I had my book to help pass the time. It was weird being alone, but the routine helped make it easier. The train was due to arrive, so I went outside to the platform to wait with the other passengers. This was a much larger train and there were always seats, although the assigned ones usually were not were we ended up sitting. I found the right car and took a seat with another person. At the next stop a single seat opened up and I moved to that one. I read the rest of the book and then tried to relax as we made our way to Sumy. Yarik had called earlier and mentioned that he would wait for me at the train station. Then he called back and said he was at Anika's. When I was almost to Sumy, Anika called and said Yarik wanted to make sure that I knew he was with her and was not meeting me at the train station. I said that I had understood and would be there soon and go back to the hotel. She said he wanted to meet me at the hotel. I asked if I could bring my big suitcase to stay at their place while we were at the retreat and she said that we could bring it anytime. After that, we were at the train station and I caught the bus back to McDonald's and walked the short distance to the hotel.

Back in my room I got everything ready to take to Anika's. I would have to check out of the hotel early the next morning and take everything with me to pick up Sergei and then the two of us would come back to Sumy to get a taxi to join Yarik and the rest at camp. As I was sorting things out, Yarik arrived and I asked what he wanted out of the big suitcase, he chose a few things to take with him. We got the suitcase closed and packed the hotpot and “kitchen” stuff in another bag and were ready for the taxi. Yarik called and we took our stuff out to load up. Yarik was able to tell the taxi the address to get us to Anika's. I am so thankful that he is able to do so much to help me. Especially when we got to Anika's because the elevator was not working and we had to get the big suitcase up 10 flights of stairs!! I was already tired from walking out to the orphanage and being sick. So Yarik carried it up the whole way! He even beat me to the top, although I had stopped to give hugs to some of the guys who were on their way out from Anika's. At the apartment, it was fun and crazy. Another team member had arrived to help with the retreat and there were supplies everywhere. Anika was so thankful that Yarik had been a big help earlier. She said it was great to have the kids there to help especially since the elevator had not been working all afternoon. We prayed that it would work the next day when they had to take everything back out! Yarik had to get back to school, so we did not stay long. I asked Anika if she could arrange for the taxi to pick me up from the train the next day and she agreed. Yarik and I left and caught the bus back to downtown.

At my stop, I gave Yarik a hug and he stayed on to get back to school. I walked back to the hotel for my last night alone. I tried to make sure everything was ready for the next day and as I was very tired did not take long to get to sleep.