Airport Goodbyes...

Yesterday they left.

The 42 orphans returned to Ukraine.

Some children and families shed tears. Serious tears. With promises of "We'll be there soon." or "Be sure to write while we work on getting the paper work done."  It was heart wrenching to watch future brothers and sisters sob into each others arms and tears stream down each face. To see children bundled in dark coats and stocking caps cling to adults they have called mama and papa for the last 2.5 weeks.To see Moms & Dads hold each other and keep waving and give brave smiles as orphans/future children attempt to wipe their tears or catch those last waves and "I love yous" as they walk through security.

Not all families had this experience.
Not for lack of love and willingness but because when asked,

"Do you want to be adopted? To live with us always? To have a forever family?"
The answer was,
"No."

You think....how could they walk away from the promise of a bright future? The love of a family? The safety and security that is being offered? It's baffling. It hurts. To be rejected always hurts but to be rejected by an orphan? A child that has nothing and you are offering so much? To see a child so young choose a path that will be so hard. I think it's the rejections of all rejections. 

Some of these children have family in Ukraine. Older brothers or sisters, grandmas or parents that visit. Family that promise to get them out? Promise to take care of them later?  Or in some cases an older sibling that says "no" and a younger one that wants to badly to say "yes" but out of loyalty, cannot.
Some of these kids put on a tough front and are street wise and savvy. They think they'll be just fine. They can make it.
Some of kids are petrified to learn English and leave all they know both good and bad.

For whatever reason, they choose to stay in Ukraine. In an orphanage. On their own and take their chances.
I try to remind myself that there are worse places to live than an orphanage. Like on the streets, in area's suffering from famine or war torn countries.
But an orphanage is only a 1/2 step above living on the streets, and they fight private wars every day - be it the bigger guy that expects payment for protection, the teacher that whacks him on the head with a ruler when he doesn't do his homework correctly, the drunk bum that tries to steal the metal scraps he's collected to turn in for a few cents to buy candy or just the fight to keep his possessions or clothes from being taken by the 17 other boys that share a room with him
And yet, they choose to stay?
Alex, when I told him a few of the kids said "no" to their hosting families was baffled:
Why mama? Don't they want a mom? 
I don't know sweetie. I guess they just don't know what they are missing.
To which he laid his head on my shoulder and sighs.
I don't know if any of our new families read my blog, but whatever path your hosting experience has taken you, please be comforted. If you're staring at the mountainous pile of paper work, cost and upcoming Ukraine vote, concerned about communicating and if they're being fed and cared for, please know that so many of us have been there and that like pregnancy....it will eventually end.
And for those of you where the situation did not turn out as planned. Please know that they simply don't know what they are missing. That they need your prayers despite the outcome. They just don't know what they walked away from.
Blessings to all.....
~Wendy