New Beginnings

We arrive for our 9:30 court appointment and meet Toli and the social worker from the orphanage. After a little waiting, it becomes apparent there is an issue and our translator, Lena, and the social worker get called into the courtroom. An unknown lady leaves the room crying, this doesn’t look encouraging. Anxiety rises as the adoption roller coaster begins to plunge down another drop. Ups and downs are common as the adoption ride careens down the track (see adoption rules #2 and 4). Apparently one of the two jurors didn’t show and the judge was asking about postponing the hearing for another week. Our translator appears to have headed that off and they try to locate the missing juror.

The missing juror has been found and we all file into a small, old courtroom. Toli seems a little nervous as the moment I’m sure he has been dreaming of is here. Is it possible to come this far only to be denied? The judge reads a lot of the case background, a summary of our home study and some other details. It was hard to hear some of the painful details that we already knew being read into the record- parental rights terminated for neglect, no visitors during his 6 year orphanage stay, no Ukrainians expressed interest in adopting him, and that he has a label of “mental retardation” (a subjective label given to kids who may not be progressing on schedule academically due to their turbulent history and behavioral problems). Looking over at Toli he shows no emotion and one must wonder what is going through his mind… is he numb to the pain after so many years or just accepting of the rejection he has known for most of his life? You can't help but tear up on his behalf. In a few minutes it won’t matter or exist anymore. He is loved, valued and intelligent! He’ll be living a different life.

Some simple questioning from the judge about jobs, our background and why we want to adopt Anatoliy Victorvich Makiyenko. A querry by the judge to all interested parties brings no objection to the adoption and she adjorns to her chambers to reach her decision.

After about 15 minutes, the judge returns with her ruling. She reads her decision and our petition for adoption has been granted. Additionally, our request (actually his request) to change his name to Andrew Anatoliy Rapson has been granted and a new birth certificate reflecting Lisa and I as his parents will be issued. The book slams shut on some dark and painful chapters in one little boy’s life and another chapter begins in another book. If you ever wonder if all the time effort and money are worth it, I can assure you this little boy thinks so! For the price of a modest car that someone may only drive for a few years and some administrative efforts, his life has been changed forever.

Psalms 68:5-6 “A Father to the fatherless, a Defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling, God sets the lonely in families.”