Hi everyone. So sorry for not keeping in touch like I should. It's been a rough 3 weeks! We did get another letter in the mail from the kids, so I'll post that on here as soon as I can find it again. We got our friend Larisa to translate it again.
Since the last post we also talked to the kids on the phone twice. The first time was for about 45 minutes (with Larisa on 3-way to translate) and the second time was about 15 minutes. The first time the kids were energetic, talkative and sweet. They said lots of nice things. Katya asked permission to wear longer earrings, but she wanted to make sure it was ok with us first. I thought that was so cute. The second conversation was a little different - the kids seemed to have a lot on their mind. They told us that they were getting moved to another orphanage in Tallinn because some of the kids were getting shuffled around to make room for other kids. They said they were a little nervous, but knew things would be ok. We got so upset for them, because that shouldn't have even been necessary.
They were moved last Friday and we got an email from them Monday with their new address and phone number as they promised.
Now for the paperwork mess:
There was no news and no news and no news for weeks while Estonia tried to work with the Russian Embassy to get the kids released. They weren't having success, so on Monday the 10th Diana told them that she thought it was time to get her people to take care of it. They agreed, but also told Diana that the Embassy told them that one thing that COULD be done right away is to (... hold your breath...) send the kids to live in a RUSSIAN ORPHANAGE and adopt them through Russia. Gasp. Diana ranted and raved to Signe and then to us, saying that that is a terrible idea. The kids would have to go over the border to the closest region to Estonia, to a place they've never been, to live with people they don't know, be put on the Russian adoption database (mandatory 6 month wait after that before they can be adopted), and then WE would have to do an entire new homestudy and dossier for Russia. So we said that's not an option, they have to figure out a way to get them adopted through Estonia.
We spent the rest of that week freaking out about the idea of having to go to Russia. Diana reassured us that that was always a worst case scenario, not the current recommendation. That only did a little to help our feelings about it.
So then this past Monday, Diana forwarded me an email that Kersti (Signe's helper) sent her, which said:
"
I contacted Russia , concerning Shitov siblings they want our Ministry to send official letter with explanation of situation and they will give their consent for adoption. As far as I understand then we can adopt them through Estonia if they give us permission."
Diana contacted her top coordinator in Russia, named Dmitri (who incidentally is the one that works in the nearest region to Estonia, called Pskov), who will hand deliver this explanation letter to the MOE (Ministry of Education) in Moscow, and hopefully get the letter approving them for Estonian adoption shortly thereafter. Dmitri has many contacts at the MOE, so Diana is optimistic that this will work. She said nothing works in Russia without contacts and/or other means of motivation. So Dmitri will do what it takes.
We are trying to stay positive, but it's very hard because honestly we know that there is chance that none of this will work. But we have to try everything.
In the meantime, (sort of off subject), we were called on to be a backup family for this hosting program that's going on 12/15 to 1/15. A hosting program is not an adoption program, but it's where orphans from another country (in this case Latvia and Russia) come for a visit to live with an American family as sort of a cultural exchange. Most of them are available for adoption also, but the primary purpose is for hosting. Adoption is sometimes a by-product of it, sometimes by a family who meets a host child while they are in the US. Not always by the family hosting. Anyway, we were recommended by someone to be used as a backup family, which means if a child's host family suddenly couldn't do the program, that we would be called on to host the child at no charge because the other family had already paid for the child's travel. We agreed to be a backup because we figured it would be fun to have a kid here for a few weeks, even just as a temporary fun thing to do.
So we got a call earlier this week that a 10 year old girl needs to be moved because her host family has a major health issue going on. So we may have a visiting Russian girl next month. That's kind of exciting at least. But (note to the local family!)- no getting attached. She is only here for a visit. :)
All for now. I have a cold and a lot of work to do today, but I wanted to go ahead and update you all. More later, I promise. Diana should be talking more to Dmitri tomorrow.
Love,
Molly
