The Return of Vlad the Builder

I am very happy to report that our Vlad has finally returned to us in Ukraine! For the past 2.5 years Vlad has been living with his grandparents in Oregon and last week he moved back home. Happy sigh. ☺️

At the end of our time as refugees in Germany, we realized that Vlad had quite a lot of anxiety about returning to Ukraine. He was pretty scared when the bombings were happening near our home (we all were!) and he really didn’t want to go home to the war. I don’t blame him! We started to think about what to do for Vlad so that he would feel safe. 

We had long wanted to get Vlad orthodontic care. His mouth was a disaster- teeth were everywhere and no orthodontist in these parts was willing to take on Vlad as a patient. An orthodontist in Salem, OR had met Vlad a few years earlier and told us if we ever wanted to do orthodontics for Vlad that he would love to do it free of charge. We thought that was a super kind and generous offer, but knew it would require Vlad being in the US for an extended period of time and that just didn’t feel realistic at the time of the offer. But as we were preparing to leave Germany we thought maybe we could help Vlad to feel safe by keeping him away from the war for a bit, and also get his teeth fixed! We asked my parents if they would be willing to let Vlad live with them for a time and they said yes right away. What a blessing. Vlad ended up living with them for over two years. We are so, so thankful for that gift of love. ❤️

Vlad thrived in the US. He worked two days a week, joined an activity group for adults with disabilities, and became an active member of his church. He made friends and was loved by many people. To everyone in Oregon who loved Vlad and became his friend, thank you so much. He grew by leaps and bounds and we know that is thanks to the people who loved him and cared for him. He has grown more confident, more independent, and more fluent in American slang. 😆  Wilco Farm Store has lost its most loyal customer. 

Now is the right time for Vlad to be back at home. The war is still happening, of course, but the rest of us feel more confident and have adapted to life at war. Life here is fairly stable at this time, and our team is in a great place to be able to welcome Vlad back with open arms. 

Below is an interview with Vlad. He was very excited to show you all his bedroom and to tell you about his plans now that he is back home. He’s such a man! I think you’ll be surprised by the changes in him.