Most every day several of us American Mormon boys enter the Сан Ремо (San Remo) bar that provides two things: booze and internet service consisting of a bank of eight computers. Lately Susan has ventured in with me. I post the blog, with Susan’s editing, Susan and I answer e-mails, and then we read a conference talk together. Elder Scott’s opening talk on prayer had special significance to us.

There is a chain of establishments we have noticed around town with the curious name of НЕВАДА (Nevada). It turns out that they are bookmakers. The one in front of our building has a large mural showing the Strip in Las Vegas. I was also curious about the preponderance of establishments named Ломбард (Lombard). I thought they must be some kind of fashion store. The direct translation of that word is “pawn shop”. We have not linked the name with the type of business. Perhaps someone can make the connection for us.

I have had a difficult time with the prohibition against whistling in public here. I had read about it before the trip. But sometimes it’s just so natural to get someone’s attention or just to whistle a happy tune.

We again spent the afternoon and early evening with the children. It was our plan to bring them back to the apartment for dinner and relaxation. We had arrived at the orphanage having been encouraged to witness the parting ceremonies that would surely jerk the tears. We had heard and imagined how hard it would be to watch the children left behind knowing with fair certainty that they would never see their friends again, while uncertain of their ever having the same opportunity to so exit life in the orphanage. After waiting for two hours such a thing did not seem to materialize. It turned out that the ceremony had taken place last Sunday. So it goes. We bade farewell to the Garretts and McGintys.

Vladimir was with them as he had been finalizing passport paperwork for these families. He informed us that we have a firm appointment with the Sumy court on Monday at 9:30 am. We have been told that the court is nothing to be concerned about – that it is in essence merely a formality, as approval to adopt has already been granted by the SDA. Still it is good news. Dodges learned today that their two girls had been called by their mother telling them she wanted the Dodges to pay her some money for adopting her daughters. Vladimir assured them that she would not be contacted and would not be an impediment to the adoption process.

We did take the children to our apartment, stopping at the small 10’ x 10’ box out front that makes eight different filled crépe varieties. We have been trying one type each day. We pulled out some fresh fruit and vegetables that we had purchased at the outdoor market that morning, along with some treats, and let them have at it. The children are accustomed to five “meals” a day at the orphanage: breakfast, 2nd breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. A couple of them would actually be considered snacks. They would be missing the last two for the day. Not knowing how much they would miss out on we let them have what they wanted. Toli is a veritable bottomless pit. It will be interesting having three hungry teenagers at home again.

We let the children watch “Monsters, Inc.” and then returned them to the orphanage as they were required to be back by 8 pm.

It's hard to believe that we have only been with these children for a week. So much has occurred.