August 29 evening

Everything is fine, we have just been very preoccupied with different events and actitivies for the past two days. We are still in in Kostanay in the Kostanay Tourist Hotel. Yesterday, after much running around town to various administarative offices and rounding up of poeple who had to accompany us, we visited the Delphin Baby House here in town (thanks, Becky!). It's a very nice facility, almost on par with an upscale-type US daycare center. Very cheerful surroundings.

Unfortunately, due to the popularity of this orphanage, there's a waiting list and many of the babies also wind up being adopted by locals first. We were told about 1 child, a boy of two who reminded us of Becky's Ian, but he was part of a sibling group of 3 with two significantly older siblings, and we just don't feel we are ready for 3 at once.

Afterward, we went to the baby house (orphanage) in Rudniy, and we met a baby girl there. She is adorable, but there are potentially serious medical history issues that have to be sorted out. We will gather information and ask for God's guidance as we move forward in the next fews days. We will visit her again tomorrow morning. We need everyone's prayers, as this is a very difficult time. We are struggling with conflicting emotions. But we hope for the best.

A special thanks to Ken Bailey for his wonderful comment (we were unable to respond to your post due to technical difficulties, Ken.).

Love, Don & LeAnne