Fantastic News from Russia!

February 21, 2007

Hi all,

Fantastic news from Russia. We are officially the parents legally of Matthew Joseph Valerian Schweigert and Isaac Joseph Denis Schweigert at 3:28 Moscow time!! We also heard the wonderful news that the 10 extra day wait is waived!! We were really blown away, especially after some of the procedings!! (details to follow) But we felt the power and presence of the Holy spirit in that room, and also the prayers of all of you!! Thank you, thank you, a million thanks!!! We love you!!

Today we arrived at court at 9:00am prompt, driven by Sergei, our jolly bear of a driver, we were accompanied by Irene our translator and Valentina, the cheery Inspector (social worker) of Cheboksary Children's Home. Our room for the proceedings was huge, one usually used for big criminal cases, Valentina says. It had huge celings, but furnished austurely, and no lights, although was totally windows. It was all of 55 degrees in the room!! Freezing!! Our judge was young maybe 40-45, but very direct. We began by hearing the rights of the petitioners and then all the others, (both directors from the Cheboksary orphangage and Kanash orphanage, the two homes' social workers, and the prosecutor) had to sign a paper that stated they could never discuss the court procedures or Joe and Nancy could sue. (Yes we'll be looking into that! haha)

Next, we were told of our rights, and reminded it was our job and ours alone to convince the court to grant our petition. Joe began by stating our case, who we were, what brought us to Russia, why we wanted to adopt, why from Russia, about our income, children, home and parenting philosophy. He covered our meeting of the boys and then what we knew about them medically and social history (why they were in orphanage).

Then onto what we were asking of the court, to make them our legal sons, name change and then why we would not want the 10 extra days. Joe did an unbelieveable job, very thorough!! Then it was my turn, I could state I agreed with him and then address each area again from my point of view. The judge and prosecutor could interject questions at any point, and did,

We had brought pictures, and he looked at them throughout the time and then pulled me up to the desk and asked more specific questions. He was most fascinated that Joe's dad was 94, and at the picture of Dan's dairy barn, "What is this BUIDLING??" After I completed, he kind of grilled me over what we would do in discipline situations, and it seemed it went on forever, on and on, checking could I really handle Russian boys?? There was a time when he made a comment and everyone laughed, and the traslator did not translate...can you say uncomfortable??

Then all the parties spoke their side of the story, from what has happened to these children that they are orphans, and how long they have been in their respective spots. It was very sad information!! At this point the boys were not present; they would come right before lunch.

This all went on for awhile, we broke for 15 min. "because the room was cold" and then back again. This time the boys were brought in and made to stand behind a podium and answer questions. They were so adorable!! (Those suits fit both perfectly, thanks Geyers!!) They then had to tell how we met and what they thought of us and our family. They were asked to state what their new name was be, and if they agreed to this. Then they signed a paper that contained all this info in front of the judge. They were dismissed, and the prosecutor had a few questions for us, one being if we would show any favorites in the family. Also what Taylor thought of the boys and if there was really a bond between them.

We broke for lunch at 12:15-13:30, ate a delicious lunch in the hotel nearby, with Marina, Irene and all of the directors. Vickie Pappas was also there, yesterday she did not get the 10 days off with the same judge, and at this point we were feeling very much that he would do the same. Very hard questioning. After lunch, the boys went back to Peter and Luda's and were met with all parties in the judge's office, much warmer!! But again very hard questions. They went over every single paper in our dossier, and somehow, focused on the part of the homestudy stating that Joe has a gun collection," why so many guns, they do not all shoot, are they locked up??" Then he went "like a hound" as Irene the translator would say, when he asked if Taylor shoots, and Joe answered truthfully. "How is this leagl in the United States, why are you exposing him to ?, etc, etc, etc." The home study had docused positively on his gun ownership, safety and firearm permit, so he couldn't touch that, but he went after Taylor and did we have proof it was legal?? By some act of the Lord, Joe had removed most everything from his wallet, but for some reason kept his license, and a few cards. Wouldn't you know, they were the 2 needed ones, Taylor's firearm license and a certificate for completing a safety course by the State of IL. Phew!! That argument took about 1/2 hour, Joe did so well.

They again went through everyone's recommendation re:the adoption, and all parties spoke so positively in our behalf. The directors both stated the boys came back form USA a different boy, one with hope!! God is so huge!! Even the prosecutor stated the Schweigert home seems to be " a bright spot for a life to achieve and thrive". We then had to state our petition again, and Nancy was asked to stand again, and went over a few more quesitons, intimidating. We broke for his decision at 2:50.

We were told by Irene, if he comes back and speaks briefly, usually the 10 days is imposed, This is exactly what happened, and she translated briefly, the judge left the room, and everyone started being excited, and saying congratulations. We still didn't get it!! Irene had failed to translate the final sentence, she was so stunned, too!! We all started crying, even Irene, very moved. "What just happened?", she said "I have never seen it so!" We knew what had just happened, the Lord moved. Just like in the Psalms: "God directs the heart of the king like a watercourse.." When God moves, it is moved!! Hallelujah!! We know that this is all God's doing, all praise goes to HIM!!

Thank you for tolerating the length of this, I write for my own rememberance. This means our schedule will be altered; we go to Moscow tomorrow night on the train. More detailws to folow!!

Love you,
The Schweigerts