Minsitry of Education

Trip Start Aug 21, 2007
1
4
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Trip End Aug 27, 2007


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Flag of Russian Federation  , Central Russia,
Saturday, April 4, 2009

I remember thinking that the Ministry of Education sounded like something straight out of Harry Potter. Shows you what a Yank I am. Natasha and Irina met us with another driver, Vladimir, and we went to the Ministry of Education building, up a couple flights of stairs and spent some time waiting in the hallway. The floors were the craziest thing I saw the whole time there, I  think. They made me think of an old sailing ship...because walking across them made me feel as though I was out on the open sea. Other than sadly unlevel, they were pretty cool--herringbone parquet, which frankly, I never would have cared about, but now will always connect with Russia. I loved the pattern. There was a cool little area off the main hall with a big window that looked out over the city. It had a great picturesque old-world feel to it.

We finally go into the Ministry office where the woman was wearing the most shocking color of lime green you can imagine. The fact that she was a doppleganger for my ninth grade English teacher only made it all the more entertaining. I did my best to show a polite interest in the school books on the table next to me. In all seriousness, I wanted to grab a few to bring home with me. I mostly sat there doing my best to look supportive and interested, but not too interested. And of course, I prayed my brains out.

Come to find out, the two girls that we had originally intended to adopt were no longer available for adoption because their babushka had decided to take patronage of them, which takes them off the available list. Dad spoke our case really well, but this was one of those situations where we really couldn't do anything--the girls really were no longer available. The Ministry official was kind and told my parents to take the night to think over whether they want to try for somebody else instead.

We headed back to the hotel, said goodnight to Irina and Natasha (and Vladimir, who didn't say a word to us the whole time...I don't think he talks much in general) and went to the buffet at the mall. When we got back to the hotel, Mom and Dad went to their room and I went to my couch. I know they didn't sleep much. I spent the rest of my waking time praying that God would give them wisdom and work the whole situation out for His glory.
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