Another Beautiful Day

We were both up at 4:00 AM again, I (Jean) couldn't get back to sleep until 6:00 AM.

We had breakfast in the hotel again with Pierre, Julie and Jennifer, joined today also by Ann and John from Michigan. Ann and John are also working with America World Adoption Association and have their appointment tomorrow morning. Pierre and Julie hoped to get Jennifer's visa today, then rebook their flights home for tomorrow.

We did a bit of exploring again - this time in the Mandarin Plaza across the street - a high-end, multi-level indoor mall, with a grocery store in the basement. We found a couple of book stores, too, and a less-expensive place to buy water if we end up staying here longer.
We called our friend Oksana, full-time worker with GAiNUSA/Ukraine for Christ who arranges all of our mission trips. She was able to join us at 1:00 for lunch at a Ukrainian cafeteria. Then we went for a walking tour of some beautiful parks, the Friendship Arch and visited the (outside of the) Puppet Theater - a brand new and fun structure with a lovely, peaceful fountain display and clock towers with music every fifteen minutes. She took us to her office so we can see where she works. They have more people working there than we expected, and met Brian Birdsong (again). Oksana loaned us a map and we found our way back alone, stopping for some ice cream coffee on the way. We also bought a serrated knife that will be better for cuttng the bread we bought Saturday.

After a rest we came back to the Internet cafe. We met Julie and Pierre, who told us they were unable to get Jennifer's visa because the state department has not yet received the medical report back from Vienna yet. It was only supposed to take five days. Tomorrow is day twelve . . . They sure could use everyone's prayers, especially since their flight back is booked for Wednesday, and they don't want to delay any further.

Tomorrow Oksana will take us to the Botanical Gardens after breakfast. The many, many varieties of lilacs are in bloom, and it will be a good way to keep from getting too anxious about our appointment in the afternoon.