Every which way and back again....

We began the morning with a trip to Bishkek to try to get visa's for our Alaska hopeful's ... We were leaving right after their morning exams, and thought it would be nice to bring Banana's for everyone... funny what becomes the norm ... Here is were we buy our banana's from. Of course there is always a lot to do and we make the most out of every trip. , So the first stop was to the Red river orphanage. (Amir / Isaac's )

Now before you say anything... I DID NOT DO THIS... however I almost did several times before. the kids came out of class yesterday, and the floor gave way, and thats why we ended up here today to drop off money with them to get the floor fixed. This was not in our plans, but some things you can't plan for. Our next stop was out for lunch with the kids.. They were all so quiet.. They were really nervous, so much work has gone into getting this far, and in a few hours they would know.

After lunch, they headed to the embassy with Jayne and David and Bekah, while I went with Jengish and Sergey to run errands... I did make it to Aeroflote, and for the most part it went well, and we are a step closer to Turat being able to fly... He went to Ukraine for school, and had to have me as his legal guardian to fly and I had to be with him... It was a one year program, but some how we did not take into consideration that the school year ends before summer.. so he is done next week.. problem is he is not 18 until September, so I am supposed to travel with him... The thought of flying from Bishkek to Moscow, to Kiev, back to Moscow and home to Bishkek the day before flying back to Canada was making me nauseous. But it looks like if we can get him through customs in Kiev the airlines will fly him home with out me there.. I just have to be at the airport to meet him when he comes in... Maybe Ed'd airport man can look after things from that end for us.

From there we went to the furniture bazaar to get the book cases for the library at the mens home.. photo's will follow tomorrow when they are delivered. Next stop was to the store that makes the beds for us. I bought 3 more today.. they will be delivered next week.. he has also agreed that from now on I do not have to come in and give a deposit, I can just call and he will deliver them right to the hospital and put them together for us.. this is great.. it means that as beds are sponsored, they can be delivered.. And yes the price is just $160 delivered and set up..

Then it was back to meet up with the kids at the Embassy ...

Things were not looking great !

We have been here so many times before with Altynai. I know all to well the heart ache and disappointment.. So clearly I can her her voice .. "Daddy they have rejected me !".. What do you say to that.. After three times trying to get her Canadian visa, you would think that you would be ready for it again, but inside we were all just tied up in Knots...

But this time... it was different.....

We have 4 very happy kids and a whole bunch of very relieved friends . They said that it was scary when the people in front of them were denied their visa's, they were sure that they too would be denied, but the interviewer was so nice.. he only asked them a couple questions, and already knew of their planes before ethey even entered his office.. Altynai was asked.. " What is your Major" she answered " Linguistics" and his response was good .. you can come back Monday and pick up your visa. I can't express how relieved we were for all of them..

Julie could not come with us today because she had a couple English classes to teach. We had to laugh , at one point today Bekah got off the phone, and said .. Mom wants to know what the Russian word is for VIOLENT , and INTERVENTION ... Humm she must be having a fun day...

After class she came home with her last class , I took that as an opportunity to feed them a real international meal... pizza and ploff.. These kids are the most amazing kids.. they are so polite, and such a joy to be around.. you really feel blessed to spend time with them... the same kids that one year ago spent a week in their basement praying for their parents return, as their village was destroyed around them. Yet today they are so full of joy and love.. The human spirit is an amazing thing.

As I am writing this post, Julie is reading an advertisement from the University in Bishkek...

Escape the heat of Western civilization and join us in Bishkek ... it's closer then you think....

For some reason this had us all killing ourselves laughing... first what kind of heat do you escape from if 140 degree days are considered an escape, and secondly.. if you got any further, you would be getting closer !