On our way to the school on Saturday, Vladimir told ys that our court date would probably be Monday the 16th. Then we would wait 10 calendar days for court approval. Then the Russian business would begin. But he warned us that some regions of Russia wait two months to themselves the court action and allow us to get birth certificates for Dasha and Toli. Susan teared up as she contemplated the implications of this. We continue to pray for a more favorable outcome. Leaving those two dears here would be near unbearable for her. After I have seen the conditions here I would be very hesitant to send Susan here alone. So I would probably have to return with her. The time for strength in faith is here.

When we arrive at the school Toli showed up and gave us each a big hug and clung onto each one of us. Things had changed overnight and we realized it would be OK with him. We gave him his birthday presents we had brought. Soon after, Toli asked me to play basketball with him. He, I and a couple of other boys his age were pitted against the music teacher and three boys. We lost 40-28, but I held up OK until my "prayer" was answered that the game would end soon. I didn't want to let Toli down more than a fat old guy doing what I was doing would do anyway. My joints were screaming that night, but all was good in the morning. Then Toli wanted to play soccer and I asserted my old age and other maladies as a case to postpone that activity.

Sunday morning, we met the children at the local branch which meets on an upper floor in a business buildingin downtown Sumy about a mile from our apartment. Natalie had picked up our families' children at the orphanage and had arrived before us. We pulled up a couple of chairs next to our children. Stan and Toli were dresses as usual, except that Stan had nice slacks on. Dasha was wearing a nice blouse, skirt heels. Hymnals in Ukrainian were available and the children handed one to us. We knew the music and enjoyed trying to sing the Ukrainian words. A couple of women spoke on the Resurrection. For one it was her first time speaking in church as she was baptized only several months ago. Our children paid pretty good attention, although we had to shush Toli a couple of times, as did his brother and sister. Stan seems to have a strong sense of propriety. There were about 20 regular attendees, including half a dozen missionaries. For Sunday School we attended the youth class which was taught by Anna the Ukrainian returned missionary. The lesson was on prophets, the Book of Mormon and the Word of Wisdom. She was able to keep the children's attention and drew participation from them, especially Dasha and Toli. I watched fascinatedly as Dasha's attention was fixed on the teacher throughout the lesson. Seeds are being planted. Because most of the children being adopted by our four families are Young Women there was a class for them which Susan attend with Dasha. STan,Toli and I attended the combined priesthood meeting. The nature of the meetings for the 2nd and 3rd hours varies according to the make-up of the attendees. A younger man, probably in his early 20s presented the lesson of the S. W. Kimball teachings manual by having one person read each full section and then leading a brief discussion after each. Stan right away pointed out to Toli that his new first name appeared on the front of the manual. I watched Stan follow along in the Ukrainian manual throughout the lesson. Who knows what these children are thinking. Someday we may know.

By the end of the meetings the weather had turned and we were confronted by a cold, stiff, dust-swirling wind that cut to the center. The weather here had been quilte pleasant until then. This should last a couple of more days and then warm up a bit. We woke up to snow on the rooftpos this morning.

Back to Sunday.... We had a lunch get-together at Garrett's apartment after church and then rode out to the orphanage where the teachers of the children being adopted wanted to have an Easter celebration and send-off. Before it began Larissa, the wife of the school's director who, among other responsiblities, has been teaching Toli's class through the years, which includes three other children being adopted in this group, spent some time talking to me and Susan about Toli. Clearly a very kind-hearted, gracious and dignified woman, she explained how she felt about Toli, about his strengths and weaknesses, and how happy she is for his finding a family. We were warmly affected by this. After we had eaten colored Easter eggs, Ukrainian Easter bread and cakes that the children, Larissa and the teacher of Stan's and Dasha's group spoke to the gathering, expressing their love and wishes for the children, their appreciation for the adopting families, and advised the children to be good citizens in their new second homeland. They urged them to be honest and good. Each woman was overcome with emotion as she spoke. We are grateful to these good women who have truly cared for these children over the years and helped to make them what they are.

Then some of the children performed musical numbers. Dasha, Stan and Toli sang a rousing folk song and Stand played his trumpet. They were followed by a sopilka-maker (sopilka is a Ukrainian flute) who played about eight varieties of sopilka that he pulled out of various parts of his clothing. They were made of various woods, metal and plastic. He was then joined by the school's music teacher and a hight tenor, who consititute a professional folk sing trio that will soon tour Europe. With their accordion, bass violin and guitar they performed six or sevenxfolk songs. They were excellent! Dasha did not want to play her sopilka for the program but did so for Susan and me later.

Such was the end of a long day. We feel so very good about these children of ours and love them dearly. They are good children. We are anxious to share them with their new huge family. We thank all for your support and prayers. We have some tough hills to climb before we get them out of here.