A few of you have asked where the Sanatorium is located in comparison to the the Orphanage. It is a good 20 minute drive from the Orphanage to the left bank where they are, or the right bank, or the left bank, um, hold please...okay I just found out we are on the RIGHT bank and the boys are on the LEFT. Having them there is both a blessing and a curse, they have more freedom, but we can't afford to get there daily. Tomorrow the goal is to find a bus and hopefully we will be able to spend more time with them this week. Whew, I am glad we finally found out which bank we live on.
Anyway, yesterday was pretty uneventful. We spent the day in the apartment just reading and sleeping, actually it was quite nice to not be running around all day getting documents signed and avoiding potholes. I'm sure as the days progress the reading and sleeping will get monotonous, but for now we are really enjoying it, at least I am, David is getting a bit restless though.
Today we went to church, which was so wonderful. No matter the language we felt so at home. We watched General Conference, which was great because we were not able to see it last week because of our traveling here. We originally started in the large room with everyone, but eventually they moved us to a smaller room where we were able to watch conference in English. We were in a room with missionaries that had just recently arrived and could not speak the language as of yet. We met the nicest couple from the Sandy area who had only just arrived a few weeks ago, they look as if they are still adjusting to the way of life here, just as we are. We sure didn't want to leave when it was all over...
Wendy, we will mail your package tomorrow, finding a post office is first on our list. We haven't had a chance to really explore our surroundings yet, so it'll be nice to get an idea as to where we are.
We love you all so much. It's hard to believe a week has gone by already. Some days it feels like we've been here forever, and yet it's going by fast. Please keep us in your prayers...loves!!
Bogdan and Ruslan. Bogdan chose salami potato chips over crab flavored, good choice.
A typical Ukrainian apartment building.
The boys with a couple of their buddies. The taller one is Ruslan's "protection".
Danielle, would you be ok with me using your story in an assignment I have been given? It is on gratitude. If one hasn't felt it before you will after reading about the lives of these boys. Let me know. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOh thank you!! I found out the day after you left that "baby Egor" was born last week. Thanks for being our courier.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the bus situation, I can tell you that bus 11 will get you to the orphanage from your apartment but we never ventured over the river.I would guess you pick it up at the train station just behind and above the orphanage. That's where we picked up the bus to get to Dniproprotrosk. Good luck on those buses. They're an experience all on their own!
Love your blog and all the details!
W
Danielle,
ReplyDeleteI am also glad to know what bank you are on. We know the left bank better because we lived there longer. Our rent on that side was only $20 a day and we liked that apt. and so maybe Oksana can get you over there so you don't have to make the trip to see the boys. We walked to the orphanage everyday and it only took 5 minutes. The left bank is pretty small. You can ride bus 4 or bus 18 or bus 12 over to left bank. You can catch bus 4 on the main street going down from the Bloxall (train station) the bus fare is about 30 cents and we took it all the time. The boys say that you say left bank (levvy barrick)and the bus driver will tell you if they go there. Our boys said the santitorium is by the materik (the mall) place with the good gorcery store. I think you can take bus 12 there but Oksana should be able to find out which bus in case they have changed things. If you are going to be there awhile it may be worth moving to the left bank where the rent is cheaper and you could walk or ride a short bus ride to see the boys. Don't be afraid to make your wishes known. It may feel like you work for the facilitators sometimes but they actually work for you and need to make things easier for you and make your stay there as confortaable as possible.
Unfortunately we were there when the amusement park was working and believe me you are not missing much. We kept feeling like we were throwing away money on rides that were risking their life at every scary turn. If you had to miss one aspect in Ukraine you can feel good about missing that one :) I am still chucking about your comment about the rides being from the 1950s :)
We are glad you found the church. The branch president there was in the film that they made about the new temple in Kiev. It is on the Save a Child Website too, in case you run out of things to read.
Hope you have a great next few days.
Love
The Hinksons
Thanks for keeping us updated Danielle! The boys look great. It was fun Skyping with you the other night! good luck this week! love ya!
ReplyDeleteFinally a message from your mom. I can't look and read your message, blog, I guess, the district notified us of a virus and we are restricted right now. So I am using Jamis's computer. So exciting what you are doing. What does it mean the boy's protector? Took James and Windsor back to Payson last night after spending the weekend with Whitnie and myself. James said "its so good to be home, I just love this neighborhood." They are at Roseannes this week and I will pick them up on Fri. All is going well. The boys look great. Are they nervous about leaving or excited. Probably a little of both. Take care. Can't wait to see you all and hear about all your experiences. Love you, mom
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