As We Journey

The last few days have been somewhat of a blur, mostly due to lack of sleep. We are here in Liepaja, Latvia now and trying to just settle down and rest while we wait for our next court hearing in two weeks. Here are some thoughts on our journey so far:

The plan ride was long…and the plane ride was long. We arrived at Hartsfield Atlanta Airport about 9:30 in the morning on Tuesday and arrived at our room in Riga, Latvia at about 9:30am EST on Wednesday. Riga is a very beautiful city if you enjoy old architecture. The buildings are old for the most part but the ones that are being refurbished are really beautiful. Like most any country outside of America the scale of affluence changes dramatically. The unemployment rate in Latvia is nearly 25% of adults are without a job. There are only about 2.5 million people in Latvia so they try to report numbers very accurately…when it is convenient for the news they are trying to share. The countryside is beautiful with the landscape reminding me very much of western Michigan. The trees and plants are pretty much the same as the Michigan, Wisconsin area. Most everyone leaves their yard natural unless they are planting a garden or fruit trees. Liepaja…a city trying to survive. The economy in Liepaja is much tougher than Riga and it shows most anywhere you go. Many businesses have left the area leaving vacant buildings. There are incredible homes and buildings here which are 100+ years old. With some money and time this city could be restored to a beauty not seen in America.

Yesterday our drive from Riga to Liepaja for court was interesting as we were able to see the countryside. Edgars, Daina’s husband, was gracious enough to drive us. I think he may have been a little aggravated with the road construction since we had to take several detours which slowed us down…but he was determined to make that time back up…enough said. We arrived in Liepaja as Aleks began to tell us about different things we were seeing in the city. Which direction the orphanage was and where his friends lived when they were not at the home. Upon arriving to the Orphan Court we quickly went inside to sign some last minute paperwork and took a seat in a large empty room. It had only a very long table in it which was made up of many smaller tables. The room reminded me of a Grand Jury room in the old Atlanta courthouse. Once everyone arrived the secretary who was taking notes walked over to the door and locked it from the inside and sat back down. The ladies conducting the court were very polite as Daina translated most everything for us. Aleks was a bit nervous and at one point leaned over to me and said “faster, faster I just want to say Yes and then we can go”. The ladies went through a series of questions which seemed to be merely a formality but necessary to do. At the end they said they were granting us permission to spend the next two weeks with Aleks here in Liepaja and then return to a follow up hearing on the 20th of August. During our time here we would have three visits from the Orphan Court Director to check up on us. Finally we could leave what seemed to be the hottest room we had found since leaving America.

We then went to our apartment where we will be staying the next two weeks. It is the apartment of the previous Orphanage Director where Aleks called home. Anita was very happy to see everyone as we arrived…especially Aleks. She loves him very much and is very excited he has found his forever family. When we reached the little apartment on the 6th floor (yes, we carried everything up the flights of stairs) Anita had a cake and flowers for Cindy’s birthday. It was a very gracious thing to do. She even had Cindy’s favorite flowers without knowing….the Gerber Daisies were beautiful. After a short time everyone left…and the city of Liepaja began to set in. We walked to dinner than headed to a park that Aleks wanted to take us to. It was a beautiful family park the kind we need in America. The long walk there was an eye opener into the pain of the city. There a little kids wandering all over the city, for the most part they stay in groups of three or four. Children as young as 5 and 6 are by themselves. Many buildings are boarded up and appear to be empty, but may house some homeless. Many of the people in the stores are very unhappy, but unhappy with their circumstances in life. They want a break, a chance to make a life for themselves.