More on last day in Kiev (Thursday)

We went to another market in the morning because we couldn't pick up our paper until 4. I didn't like this one because it was all covered (it reminded me of the huge market in Istanbul, Turkey) and it was more professional looking but everyone smoked inside and all the cig smoke was making me sick. I kept looking for a hole in the roof so I could get some fresh air. We bought more belts and a toys for the kids and Tyler got new shoes. They keep asking him to do backflips at the orphanage and it is more difficult in his big heavy missionary shoes.

This allowed us to meet the first person of African decent that we have seen in Ukraine. He was from Nigeria and we took a picture of him it was such a novel thing. The races are not diverse here at all. It seems to be about 99.9% Caucasian and I decided to keep a count and so far we have only seen 4 black people (all men) and all at the market. There are Michael Jackson T-shirts here but he was kind or wannabe white so I don't know if that counts. The security guard at the orphanage the other day tried to tell Tyler a joke about a black man and a white man and I didn't catch the joke because it was in Russian but he told our cute little friend of Oleg's who looks like he has ancestors from India "now don't be offended because you are kind of black." When Tyler told us this I had to chuckle. Maybe this man has never even seen a black person.

We checked out of our apartment and Kostya picked us up and we went to do some more waiting at the SDA. We were first in line to get our paper and a smooth talking facilitator tried to cut in line before us but we stood firm because we had to catch a train. They didn't start passing out the papers until a half an hour late and we were nervous about getting done in time for the train. While it was our turn, the guy said to his family, "we will be next after Obama's children." We were so happy to be done with the SDA!

We made the train and I was tired but couldn't sleep because the scenery was so Gorgeous and I had to take a ton of pictures. When we got to Dnepro Oksana met us to get the papers that she is talking to the judge this morning. She said we may have court on Thursday which is even better. She asked for a huge amount for the bribe for the judge. We are pretty disappointed that the dishonesty and corruption in this country is so alive and well. I can't help but think that all the bad things that they do here are keeping them from enjoying the blessings that could be theirs. That sounds judgmental but I have been trying to figure out why this beautiful land is in such a struggling state.

Back in Dnepro now.