Thursday, January 31, 2008

Arrival In Kyiv

Hello All -
We're here and all is well. The flight was uneventful...... thank goodness! Victor, our facilitator has been very accomodating and is very professional. We're confident in his ability to successfully guide us through the process. Our appt. with the SDA (State Department of Adoption) is Friday at 11:30. This is when we will get Angela's file and our approval to travel to the region. We're hoping to leave on Saturday morning for Sevastopol but may have to wait until Monday. Our apartment is perfect. Spotless and spacious. Near the city center so we can walk everywhere!! Kyiv is a very cosmopolitan city. Beautiful architecture, parks and cathedrals.... Today we went to a sacred space..... Lavra, ancient Greek Orthodox medival monastery dates back to 1051!!! We toured catacombs (caves where over 120 monks are entombed.) Victor arranged a tour with a very sensitive and spiritual man named Vlad. He was the best tour guide imaginable. We will write again once we get to Sevastopol, as we'll have internet connection on our apartment. Love to all, Pam and Len

P.S. We appreciate your words of encouragement and support. It means a great deal to us to be connected to all of you over 5000 miles from home!!!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am so happy for you guys. I can't wait for Angela to meet you guys. We walked that area too. WOW. I am glad that you remember the name. I could not. LOL.. Yes, it is beautiful there. Tell Victor the Nealey's say hello. I am praying for a fast and speedy adoption.

Blessings to all,
Gail

Anonymous said...

sounds like a wonderful place to be. I did some research on kiev. The opera house is beautiful. I hope you enjoy each day of this wonderful trip.
Love,
Eric

Kathy said...

Hi Pam,

Well, I sent a nice email yesterday but looks like it fell into the big black computer hole.
I am so excited about your wonderful adventure and glad to hear that you arrived safe and sound. I know it was a long trip - with much more to go. I'm sure the emotional intensity is high !How exciting what you're doing !

How are the socks coming along?
We spoke of you the other night at knitting group. I will keep them posted.
I hope the meeting Fri goes smoothly !
I'll keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Kathy

DDI said...

Ann, Brandy, and I are all looking at your blog right now. Brandy is crying.

We are so glad that you are there safely!! And that your apartment is nice and in a good location!

Good luck tomorrow! You will be in our thoughts and prayers. Enjoy the journey!!

We can't wait to hear about meeting Angela for the first time.

We will "blog" to see how things go!

By the way, Ann wanted to let you know that she found the website...when Brandy and I could not!!!

наилучшие пожелания
Ann
Brandy
Molly

teri said...

So glad to hear all is well thus far. I am glad your accomodations are up to snuff and that you are in the heart of Kiev. There is so much to see there. I had no idea it was such a large city, 2.7 million people, wow. Glad your meeting with Victor was good; can't wait to hear more as your journey proceeds. Enjoy the sites...I am sure the catacombs were wonderful, if I can find the poem about catacombs, I will forward it along. Make way!

Love you,
Teri

Renee & Jeff said...

Hi Pam & Len

I am sitting here with Beck & Fritz looking at your pictures and reading your words! I am so chocked up! Fritz blurted out "I like her and want to be with her with you and them" That says it all.
Take care.
Renee & the boys