Hurry Up and Wait

Backing up about 2 weeks, we’ll fill in the gaps and get current…

Ukrainians like to “make petitions” in the adoption process. These are notarized documents that either make requests of the court or some official declaration to be considered by some entity. After having his sister make a statement that she was OK with the adoption, we had to make a petition that we would continue contact with his sister and Oksana, our adoption facilitator and translator, ran around a bit to get the appropriate approvals and paperwork filed. Apparently there is a commission at the social worker government office in the town where Toli was born that must review the case and approve the separation of the siblings before the adoption can go forward. Of course it took a while to get all the cats herded together and the paperwork complete. It was National Women’s Day and a four day weekend which cost us a couple days to get the paperwork filed for the first local steps. Once the paperwork was filed, the commission wasn’t able to meet for another week. We passed our time

We were under the impression that we would need to appear in person to answer questions about us so the Commission could determine if this adoption was in Toli’s “best interest.” Let’s see… 6 years in an orphanage, no visitors and not much hope for the future since the kids at this orphanage are lbled with “vision problems or mental retardation. I’m no genius, but one would think this was a no brainer. Each step is a chance for things to be derailed so you have to let the process grind along and pray for favor.

It’s game time! We pile into the cab the afternoon of the meeting and drive an hour to where Toli was born for the meeting. Right before we get there the social worker called to say we wouldn’t need to appear in person and that the meeting would be a formality.
Another step in the process behind us and much made about nothing. I’m starting to realize that as long as the rails are greased with a few greenbacks, the train keeps moving along. Not the process we’re accustomed to, but that’s the way things get done here. Our request for the final adoption was sent to Kiev which is our last approval of many to adopt Toli.

Next stop, court!