Making an Effort

January 29, 2010

from On Life in St.Petersburg by Liz Hulley, missionary in Russia –

A couple of kids whom I know in one of the orphanages are both expecting to be adopted soon, after having spent some time with American families.There is a light in their eyes now, or maybe a sense of confidence, that they will soon belong to someone.

It’s bittersweet, because as teenagers, they are making a huge life decision, and they will be missed here.

They come up to me now chattering in English, eager to hone communication skills.

The other day, I was helping Lena write a letter to her potential family. She wanted to write about the rough plane ride home.

I was dictating the words. “Difficult. D-i-f-f-i-c-u-l-t.”

I didn’t look at her paper until she was done.

She had written, “Diff I see you lt.”