Joe's First Update

Greetings from Kazakhstan.
I never thought I would say that again after the moment we got back in the US in December. Just goes to prove you never say never. Quite fascinating how God's plan isn't always the one you visioned in your personal playbook. Next blog will explain why I'm here instead of Kelly.

Well, let me bring you up to date since our last blog. We returned to the states with an approved adoption by the judge. Unfortunately a prosecutor protested our adoption along with 7 others in the town of Taldy-Korgan. No other adoptions in the entire country were having trouble. We later found out that this prosecutor along with a judge in Almaty got adoptions closed for about 6 months back in 05-06 timeframe. Anyways he protested that these were illegal international adoptions all in effort to get publicity and prompted. He claimed the children would be used as spare body parts for American babies! What's amazing is this insanity is even considered. Well, once he got in the paper and on TV he got prompted back to Almaty from Taldy-Korgan. Along with this nut there was a bigger scandal going on as him and others were trying to get a few judges fired. During this political battle which is still going on, a couple of these protested adoptions have been cancelled, a few are still in process and a couple have gone through. We were just very fortunate Alena's got through! Enough of that.

Alena was very excited to see me and I was greeted by her hugs as well as hugs from another 20 kids in the parking lot which continued with many more inside the orphanage. It was like old home week! They performed a little going away concert as they performed a Kazak dance dressed in traditional Kazak dresses, and then her friends individually sang a few songs to Alena. I took back tons of pictures from our first trip and all the kids split them up with smiles in their eyes. I guess that is just a universal human trait that everyone likes to see themselves smiling in a picture.

It was a day of mixed emotions for her friends as they were happy for Alena's new life but sad she was going. Thankfully the orphanage just got internet access so she will be able to stay in regular contact with them.

Alena has been all smiles and she's pretty keen on making her bed and doing the dishes. She usually washes and I'm delegated to drying. Jonathan and Jameson better step it up because she will definitely be raising the bar on doing chores at home. We are staying in an Apartment in Almaty since we drove up and back the same day from Taldy-Korgan to get her. It was an 8 hour roundtrip drive and Thank God the roads were clear and the sun was shining. Since we got back to Almaty Sunday night it has been snowing pretty steady.

Well, we are heading to the US Embassy today to attempt to get a visa for our translater Zhanara. We have invited her back for a month but it is very difficult for a single woman from Kazakhstan to obtain a visa to the US. We'll see what happens.

Alena's visa is suppose to be back in time for our exit interview Friday with the US Embassy. The courier plane was cancelled yesterday due to the snow storm so they sent it via a 16 hour train ride to be sure it got there.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as our journey continues.
Thanks, Joe
I'll post another blog later.
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Joseph R Moss