SDA Appointment

We just got back from our SDA appointment where we reviewed Sofia's file and saw our translated dossier here in Kiev, Ukraine. It's a chilly and rainy day here today but nothing could put a damper on our excitement as we drove to the heart of Kiev and to the State Department of Adoptions. On our way, we saw two BEAUTIFUL churches...Santa Sophia Cathedral (how appropriate!) and San Andreas Church just outside of the SDA building. Gorgeous architecture here.

Santa Sophia

San Andreas Church, history holds that the apostle Saint Andrew is said to have preached on the southern borders of Ukraine, along the Black Sea. Legend has it that he traveled up the Dnieper River and reached the future location of Kiev, where he erected a cross on the site where the Saint Andrew's Church of Kiev currently stands, and prophesied the foundation of a great Christian city.

The appointment was VERY brief. We found out that Sofia's parents are married and her mother Yulia was born in 1974 and her father Stanislas was born in 1977. We do not know if Sofia has any siblings. She was "officially" abandoned by her parents, meaning that both parents signed away their rights to her when she was born and also after 2 months (Ukrainian law), so there is not other paperwork needed in order to adopt her. Here in Ukraine it is "taboo" so to speak to have or keep a child with Down syndrome and so it is safe to assume that her parents felt they were not able to take care of her and would not have received any support or help in raising her and therefore gave her away. We will probably never know.

Outside the SDA building

Hector and I outside the SDA building

Right after our appointment, we met another couple from the U.S. adopting a 14 year old girl. She knew about us and was following our blog...so cool! We went shopping across the street at a tourist market and purchased a small and a large Ukrainian nesting doll called a "Matryoshka". So cute! Hector bought a nice silk Ukranian flag for the boys.

At the tourist market.

Harry Potter, Elvis and John Lennon, what else can you ask for?

We just finished having a nice little lunch from a market across the street...some garlic potatoes, Chicken Kiev, and a yummy fresh salad made with fresh cheese, tomatoes, cucumber and red bell peppers. Yummy!

We are waiting for a phone call from Serge or Yulia to find out if we will get our referral today (as opposed to tomorrow at 5pm) and if so, we will quickly pack our bags and hop on an overnight train to Sofia's orphanage in Dnipropetrovsk. We might be able to meet Sofia tomorrow morning if we get that referral today. PRAY!