Much Ado About Something

Friday, 1 June

Since we arrived in Ukraine, there’s been much ado about the upcoming “1 June Celebration.” Finally, the day has arrived! The kids, workers, and sponsors have all been working very hard to make sure everything is perfect, and when we arrived at the orphanage a few minutes before 10:00 this morning, we saw that their work had paid off.

Streamers and helium balloons hung everywhere, the courtyard had been transformed into a marketplace for crafts the kids had made, and people filled the area. Kids dashed around in their costumes, greeting visitors and tending to last minute preparations. A few of them paused long enough for us to get some pictures, and of course Masha gave us each quick hugs.

We had been asked to keep a low profile, so Kseniya ushered us into the recital hall just ahead of the throng of visitors, and settled us into seats in the back corner, where we would have a great view of the proceedings, but be a little less conspicuous. The audience flooded in shortly after us, and all seats were filled. TV cameras and newspaper reporters covered the event

The celebration opened with Masha floating across the parquet floor wearing a beautiful white gown, in the arms of a young man leading her in a beautiful waltz. Three other pairs of dancers floated through, but our eyes were focused on our beautiful daughter.

Following the dance introduction, there were several presentations to acknowledge sponsors, workers, and some special accomplishments of some of the kids. The benefactor who made Vika’s surgery possible last winter was one of the major participants, and they called her up with him to tell her story.

After the last presentations and awards, the children took the stage. They performed a fabulous but loose adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, with Little Masha as Dorothy and Sergiy as The Scarecrow. The kids clearly loved the opportunity to sing and dance, and the costumes were fantastic. We were so blessed to be able to share in this event and see the results of the effort of the kids and staff.

(Note to families…yes, we have video. We can’t transfer it from here, but we will make DVDs to share when we get back home)

After the performance was complete, the audience adjourned to the courtyard to mingle and shop for baked goods and trinkets that the kids had made. We bought a large layered pastry and some gooey chocolate confection things for the girls to share with the other kids, and we also purchased a few crafts that Masha and her friend Lena had made.

Too soon, the time came to bid the girls farewell for the afternoon. It had been a very busy morning, and the kids and staff still faced the monumental task of cleaning up. Just before we left, Masha took Mark around to photograph all of the drawings that the older kids had made in sidewalk chalk on the parking lot. She was particularly proud of hers, and Papa made a big deal of the great job she had done.

The celebration was a huge success, and we had a lot of fun.