Court was TOUGH!!!

Well, court is over and we have not adopted Dema...YET!!!!  Through the entire trial, Dema sat behind us listening to the testimony.  Testimony started with a few basic questions about us, how we met Dema, where we met Dema, why we want to adopt Dema, and how we would care for Dema.  This time, court was a different world--our service to the hosting program was acknowledged with a grin and a head nod,  but more importantly, our faith was viewed as an asset--questions were friendly, and our answers brought smiles to the faces starring back at us!  But then things got tough--this round of testimony included:  the fact that no one in Ukraine wanted Dema, information about his mother's death, the fact that his father left him and has no rights to him,  and there was also information about the brother he didn't remember and the fact that his brother didn't want Dema to live in America.  

After nearly 1 hour of testimony, the judge called Dema to the front of the courtroom.  And asked him several questions--do you want your name changed(DA), do you want to live in America (DA), is it alright to separate you and your brother(DA), do you remember your brother(NIET), do you want Eric and Cindy for your momma and papa(DA), then Dema BROKE!!!!  We watched his knees get weak, and then he began to weap uncontrollably.  The court room emptied immediately, and Cindy and I were left with directions to take care of him!  We took him outside for some fresh air, and the court folks consoled him with candy and a lego toy.  Once the ruckus calmed down, the judge returned to the bench only to tell us that court would be continued Monday at 11:00.  We are confident that we are still moving towards our goal, but it will take longer than we had hoped!  (So, family--do not wait for us for Christmas gatherings, we hope we will be celebrating the victory in Germany on  Tuesday)

Cindy and I are completely at peace with how things ended today, our hearts ache for Dema though--Svetta told us that the reason he broke was two fold, #1--the stress of everything he had to listen to, and #2--the fear that we would not be his momma and papa.  Please continue to pray for us, but more specifically, that Dema would share the peace that we have! 


We are looking forward to tonight's visit--these kids have away of helping you to forget all of your cares and worries!


I am posting pictures from last nights visit on Facebook, just no commentary!