Today
TomandReagan updated his status.
""
Hey from Kyiv sweet friends! The kids, Dad and I arrived and headed straight to the SDA for our appt. It took 5 minutes. O_o We got to take 2 pictures of a much younger Liza w/ us in exchange for one of ours. Tomorrow we pick up our 'referral' (permission slip) at 4 o'clock and go directly to...the train station! We head to Crimea tomorrow!!! We think she knows we're coming. As does some portion o"
f the Ukrainian ppl. It never occurred to me that they would see the media coverage *here*. Duh. It makes me a little nervous that I could have said something they would frown upon, but at the same time, maybe we have shed some light on older child adoption.
I have so much to tell you but maybe I'll be able to stay awake long enough to put it in a blog. For now, we are safe, we are well and we made the appt...albeit in the running tights I have been wearing since Sunday and shown the world :-\
Praise God from whom all blessings flow...♥ R
TomandReagan updated his status.
"Walking out the door to head to the SDA and meet Reagan and the kids. I still won't have any decent clothes because they cannot claim my luggage without my tag, so please pray for Ukrainian officials who are understanding of what we've been dealing with. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks! Tom"
TomandReagan was at Frankfurt Airport (Rollfeld).
TomandReagan updated his status.
"
"Because so many have asked - and the adoption process is a mystery to most (including me most of the time) we do have our appointment with the SDA tomorrow in Kiev, but that is just the very beginning (which is why these recent events were so disheartening). We then wait a day or so for a referral. Catch a train (or van) to L's region of Ukraine and go visit her while we apply for a court hearin"
g in that region. After the hearing and assuming the judge grants approval to adopt her, we have a 10 day mandatory waiting period. That's followed by some document processing there and then back to Kiev for another week or so to finish up at the embassy and with medical exams, etc. All in all, about 6 or 7 weeks before we can bring her home. ~T
TomandReagan wrote on Leeland's timeline.
"Many thanks to Leeland and all the people who don't even know us, praying for us and wanting to help. At this moment, my wife, Reagan is on the plane to join me here in Kiev. We still have our appointment with the SDA tomorrow and are back on track as if nothing ever happened. But something amazing did happen. All this. A huge unification of the family of God and the love of Christ poured out on us and for so many to witness. And for the cause of orphans to be made known. Thanks again. God bless!
Tom Mountain"
Yesterday
TomandReagan updated his status.
"
"For everyone holding their breath: Reagan, Gordon and kids are going through security now. The courier is expected to arrive back in the next 30 minutes or so and deliver the papers to Toby who will get them to the TSA who will get them to the gate."
Our facilitator, Igor, just confirmed via email that we will be driving from our apartment to the SDA for an appointment around 2:30-3PM. Reagan
et al, will be picked up separately from the airport in Kiev and driven directly to the SDA to meet us and go into our interview. This is one of the 2 or 3 times we were supposed to "dress up". We still have no luggage and are currently wearing the same clothes we put on at 5:30AM Sunday. I will probably need to go purchase entire outfits tomorrow because we need to work on the assumption that luggage will not be found before they land.
Please pray for our luggage to be found! For our SDA appointment to go well! For Reagan, Gordon and the kids to get some much needed rest! Thanks again all - Tom
TomandReagan updated his status.
"It turns out that the only luggage that the airline has is that of the four kids. Reagan, Gordon and I all are without luggage. Unfortunately, all our "nice" clothes, food, gifts for the orphans and orphanage director, medicines, etc are in those bags. SO.... please keep praying for us! We may have the added
expense of buying nice outfits to wear to the SDA tomorrow. - Tom"
TomandReagan updated his status.
"I have the passports & they are strapped to my body! The courier is off and running as off 11am. I was scanning and emailing copies as my Dad confirmed our baggage was coming and we have seats on the 5:30 flight. I can't collapse just yet but I am near it. Adrenaline is beginning to slow down. And I am beginning to see the big picture. Overwhelmed w gratitude you can't imagine. ♥ r"
TomandReagan updated his status.
"
"Please keep praying friends. Reagan is going to be at the passport office in less than 2 hours. She will need to then get all documents apostilled- most likely two hours away in Harrisburg, and get back in time for an exhausting 17 hour trip to Kiev. If all the documents are in order, we have been told that the SDA *may* still allow us to come tomorrow. This would be an incredible turn of events"
as we thought that we may be here killing time (and $$$ for a week). Everyone has been so amazing and I am in awe at the willingness of so many to stand in support of us and our efforts to adopt Liza. We are indebted to you and I cannot wait to tell her how many people have been praying for her and this process. Tom
TomandReagan updated his status.
"(T) Major props to Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone and MasterRussian.com. It's one thing to practice by yourself but engaging with native speakers is a bit intimidating. But so far, people seem to be impressed with my limited, but functional Russian. My driver yesterday laughed and said I was "very good" at Russian and I must know thousands of words (not quite). I just ordered two coffees (one large, one small, with cream, no sugar), asked how much I owed and remarked on the dismal weather all successfully in Russian. But this is why I did not ask for artificial sweetener:
http://translate.google.com/#en/ru/artificial%20sweetener
Listen and repeat (if you can)"
TomandReagan updated his status.
"Just in from the US Embassy. Forms have been signed, notarized, faxed and emailed to the US Passport office in Philly. Our faciltator believes he can persuade the SDA to keep our meeting for tomorrow - just push it to later in the day - so long as we are able to bring all the apostilled forms to them from the US. Pray that Reagan and Gordon Rogers can find a way to get these forms apostilled since the authentication office is in Harrisburg, PA - about 2 hours from Philly. I'm going to get some coffee. Мне нужно много кофе - Tom"
TomandReagan updated his status.
""
Would you all share and blow up the FB pages of the ppl who have been instrumental in our successes today? THIS is how the American ppl should behave:
"Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and her Office Mgr Alicia Williams, Representative Sue Myrick of NC and her Office Mgr Lynne Davis, Representative Brady of PA and his Chief of Staff Stanley White, Fox 29's Bruce Gordon, Ambassador Jacobs...There"
were so many more who got in touch w us and I cannot remember them all bc I was inundated with good Samaritans.
Please pray that Bridgette at the Passport Office would accept what documentation I do have and get us out of there quickly in the morning. I am very nervous at this point that I wont keep alll the plates spinning to their satisfaction or get on board with the documents notarized and apostilled. Need to find a courier now before I succumb to the deprivation of sleep and sustenance. YOU ALL are the miracle here today. R
November 12
TomandReagan shared a link.
"Our story is being aired at 6PM EST on Fox 29 Philly.
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/category/239150/ watch-fox-29-news-live-online
Reagan spent half the day with Bruce Gordon. He was enormously helpful as was Congressman Brady and his chief of staff, Stanley White. we have a 7am appointment at passport office in Philly. If tom is able to fax permission from the US Embassy in Kiev, we should be on our way to the Sec of State at 8am. If there is no authentication office in Philly, we have another hurdle as the nearest listed office is Harrisburg, 2 hours away. We aren't out of the woods yet...r"
TomandReagan updated his status.
"
"Landed around 1PM local time (6 AM EST) to find that my luggage is missing. Just another "inconvenience". Rushed to US Embassy to have documents notarized and sent to US so that the kids passports can be replaced (normally requires both parents present). They're closed for Veteran's Day. That actually made me laugh. Back to the apartment in insane Kiev traffic (think of the movie Ronan), ate"
for the first time since yesterday lunch. Russian is coming in very handy since most of the shop owners don't speak English and everything (of course) is in Russian or Ukrainian. SDA has rejected the appointment for Wednesday without Reagan. Said they WOULD reschedule in less than a week if she comes with her new passport, 3 notarized and apostilled copies of said passport, and a notarized and apostilled copy of the police report. Again, so many thanks for all the prayers and help. большое спасибо - Tom
TomandReagan updated his status.
""
Please post this on any Twitter or Facebook pages or websites of Congressmen, Veteran organizations, adoption advocate groups or even celebrities w adoption backgrounds."
" Synopsis:
The wife of an Iraq war vet and her 4 children are stuck in Philadelphia after passports were stolen as they were traveling to the Ukraine to adopt a Ukrainian orphan. The whole family (Tom, Reagan and their 4 childre
n; also, accompanying them were Reagan's parents) were traveling to Kiev from Raleigh and had a wallet stolen. Subsequently, Tom and his mother-in-law flew on to Kiev. The rest are in Philly trying to figure out how to replace passports without proper ID and still fly out on the next available Tues evening flight.
Details:
Thomas Mountain is a former US Marine and Gulf War veteran. He and his wife met a 15 yr old Ukrainian girl through a faith-based camp in Kentucky (just north of Nashville) this past summer. They formed a relationship and Tom and Reagan decided to embark on an adoption process. The girl turns 16 at the end of the month and this is a critical age at which she won't be adoptable after she turns 16 and is exited from the orphanage. The statistics show that life is not kind to orphans in the Ukraine with a high percentage of girls entering the sex industry and males find crime and prison. A crucial appointment with the Ukrainian government is scheduled for Wed. Both Tom and Reagan have to be there for the process to move forward.
They have to find a way to get passports replaced first thing Tuesday morning. Her wallet had all her personal identification.
Gordon Rogers is Reagan's father and he is a retired Lt Col in the US Army having served 20 years. Reagan's uncle is a former US Secret Service Agent having served in the White House under Nixon, Ford and Carter. There are numerous military connections throughout this family. An excellent story for Veteran's Day! And they need help.
They flew on US Air from Raleigh to Philly today on US Airways 3241. They were to connect to Frankfurt and on to Kiev on Luftansa
Email tomandreagan@gmail.com
Tom and Reagan currently reside in Franklinton, NC (outside of Raleigh) Gordon and Sherrie Rogers live in Lebanon, TN (near Nashville)
They are staying the night in the Marriott at the airport (graciously comped by the airline).
TomandReagan updated his status.
"24 hours ago I couldn't sleep bc I was too excited. Now I can't sleep because I am terrified. I began telling our story bc I wanted my friends to see God in it. I am still telling it when even I cannot see Him. The Bible tells us that all things work together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. I believe that even though it is killing me right now to wait for it.
I have not heard from Tom since he landed in Frankfurt. He should have landed in Kiev at 6am est.
I also have no idea if the news aired our story. I have 90 minutes to make a plan to give my children comfort..."
TomandReagan updated his status.
"I just finished talking w NBC 10 in Philly. I was shaking & stuttering and don't ever want to watch the playback but if it gets me to my daughter in time, I'll be glad of it. I know they have a 4:30am show.
My brother in law is driving thru the night from Raleigh to Philly to get us birth certificates for passports. Pls pray for his safety and energy and that someone opens the office on their holiday.
Exhausted and hurting tonight. I don't know what tomorrow brings. It is very dark and scary where I am. But God is still God...r"
TomandReagan updated his status.
"
"THANK YOU to all the friends and people we don't even know who have made our situation known. Our facebook is lighting up like a Christmas tree but we still need help. I am about 2 hours away from Frankfurt, then on to Kiev. Reagan is stranded in Philly with our kids and her dad. They NEED passports to join me. Our meeting isn't until Wednesday but it takes a long time to get there and we don"
't want her missing the appointment with the SDA in Kiev. They don't take kindly to it and they tend to reschedule you MUCH later. Our lives have been focused on bringing L home and this has been a huge blow to our morale. We need prayers and we need connections. If you know anyone who knows anyone - congressmen in particular, please help. Please help make this go viral folks. Tom
November 11
TomandReagan was at PHL - Philadelphia International Airport.
TomandReagan was at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).
TomandReagan shared a link.
November 10
TomandReagan updated his status.
"We had an early Thanksgiving & prayer tonight with friends we could never deserve. They did the cooking *and* the cleaning. Humbled to be loved and served by such great people. We have been so lifted up by so many this week, so many acts of kindness, so many prayers, so many gifts. It's carried us through. Thank you."
November 8
TomandReagan updated his status.
"Beauty is: spending your grocery money to buy a t-shirt that doesn't even fit you because a someone asked you to; or taking 7 children around in public so that a Mom can get 1 hour alone; or watching a friend shop for supplies because there's no other opportunity to say goodbye, watching her fill a cart to the brim and then buying it's contents for her; or sacrificing the car you needed to give all the money you've saved away. And that's just in my life, in a 24 hour span ♥"
November 7
TomandReagan wrote on Nicolle Brown Bowers's timeline.
"I hope you feel like Thanksgiving tonight bc I've got it on the BRAIN :)r"
TomandReagan updated his status.
"Beauty: is cleaning your friend's car and returning filled with 6 weeks worth of food for their dogs; or buying a girl you've never met language lessons; or cooking on a broken foot for someone *else's* family in addition to your own; or 6 of the most beautiful children in the world giving up their savings to buy gifts for orphans. And that's just in my life, in a 24 hour span ♥"
November 6
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Hindsight Being 20/20
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment