No Ilsan . . .
Let me say first that our hopes for our Wednesday in Korea included a trip to Holt's Facility in Ilsan. It is a combination Care facility, School and Vocational center for perfect Image-bearers (most of whom have developmental and/or physical disabilities). There is also a museum there detailing the Holt family's pioneering work in international adoption and the Holts are buried on the property.If you know me well, you know that I have a huge spot in my heart for people with disabilities. And in my heart, I really wanted to meet and love on some of the special people at Ilsan. We had purchased some donations for the kids and adults that live there and were pretty sad when our agency said our trip there could not be worked out for our Wednesday in Korea or anyday for that matter. =(
But God . . .
He knew that our Wednesday in Korea would be the perfect day for us. . .Our morning started our with breakfast and skyping with the Bigs. We were blessed to be at a hotel with a WONDERFUL buffet breakfast included daily and We were blessed to be able to Skype with the Bigs almost daily. So great to see them and talk with them and air hug them while we were gone.
After breakfast we headed back to Insadong to continue knocking out our shopping list. Thanks to our many cyber adoptive friends and their advice, we had a well established list of special things we wanted to bring home from Korea. We did well to stick to our list and find the things we wanted at a decent price. Having this extra morning to shop really did make our time in Korea more relaxing. Who would complain about an extra morning to shop????? Please, note the shopping also included Starbucks which tends to make everything a little sweeter.
We got an email from our US agency that we would get to do one of the 3 special things we hoped to do in Korea. . . Visit the Holt Reception Center in Seoul. The Reception Center is a group home for Babies for whom there is no foster home available or who need a little extra medical care. There are usually 10 babies at the RC and usually 6 caregivers for the babies on each shift. These babies get tons of loving. They are extra well- fed, clean, loved and developing well for their age. AND THEY ARE VERY VERY CUTE. More about that in a minute.
We needed to be at the Holt office at 5PM on Wednesday so we spent our early afternoon organizing our donations and gifts and chilling (just a little).
Our first glimpse of Holt and the RC . . .
Around 4:15 we grabbed a cab and headed to the brand new Holt office. We must have looked the part because when we got in the cab with our bags of donations and gifts, the cab driver said "Holt?".Apparently, we Holtees have a unique look and often come from a certain hotel. In a city of 10 million people, it was odd (funny actually) to be accurately identified as adoptive parents.
Anyway, the address we had with us was to the old Holt office which is where our cab driver took us. Fortunately, the new building is in sight of the old office so we just pointed and said, "new Holt." He smiled and took us the extra block and a half. =)
We got to the Holt office thinking we were waiting for our social worker. We were told she would meet us in the lobby so we waited about 10 minutes then went looking for her. She actually was unable to take us to the RC at 5PM as she had another meeting come up. We went upstairs and finally found the very helpful man who explained DJ's absence and that he would gladly guide us to the RC and give us the tour of that building. (DJ asked the next day how we liked her boss, the man that took us to the RC. We did not know he was her boss.) He was a kind and humble, helpful man and we were glad to have met him.
Anyway, he offered us H2O in the Holt office and thanked us for the things we brought as donations for Holt, Ilsan and our daughter's first foster family in Daegu. Then we walked a very short walk maybe two blocks or less to the Holt building that includes the RC. This building also includes a floor for education, counseling and family preservation ministries and another floor that is the Holt Guesthouse.
If the details are too much, forgive please. I'm writing this for Alyvia trying to remember every little thing I can about our incredible trip to her Korea.
Anyway, as we arrived at the RC we were greeted with slippers for inside the building--that's when it dawned on me--every day in Korea I had worn socks. Every single day . . . except today. I was mortified. I knew that I would need socks to go into the baby rooms. ugh. . .
That being said, we had purchased "thank you" gifts for the RC staff women that were on that day. The gifts were my favorite chapstick and soft socks. I seriously considered grabbing a pair out of our gift bag and putting them on, But I knew I only had 6 . . . just enough for the day's workers. boo.
We went first (barefooted, mega ugh) to the older baby room. These babies (all beautiful boys) were between the ages of 9-15 months. They were so cute. I melted at the sight of them. We had brought them one new toy. That stackable donut one, you know it, I'm sure. They were surrounded by toys in their stimulating environment, but when that new toy came out, ALL FIVE of them went straight for it. Each one grabbed a piece of it and they were in heaven. I loved that sight. One simple toy made them all so happy. We were permitted to take photos of the boys. We hugged them all and kissed them all. And squeezed their chubby little thighs. Oy vey. I love chubby baby thighs. =)
Anyway, I asked if any of the boys had been matched with forever families. The staff said two of the five. So I went to both of those little boys and told them their mamas loved them and that their mamas would come as soon as they possibly could. Now, I have NO IDEA who their mamas are, mind you. I just know that their mamas love them and that their mamas will move heaven and earth to get to Korea ASAP to bring their boys home. It's what mamas do.
The staff was so kind to us. We asked questions, translated through our guide, and they answered helpfully and demonstrated a great concern for the babies in their care.
We went then to the littler baby room and met the other 5 guys currently residing at the RC. There were four 6 week old babies, two of whom were special needs and two of whom were developing typically for their age. Two of the littles were sleeping in their cribs and the other three babies were being tended to, held and or cuddled by the three staff members in the room.
The 5th baby was an adorable 7 month old baby that I learned later that night is the son of one of my "cyber" acquaintences. He was so very lovable, he was strong and appeared bright and healthy. As is often my custom, I leaned over him and whispered, "Jesus loves you, little man." Boy does He love you. Can't wait to see this little guy home with his forever family.
Without taking a picture in this room, we left it. It seemed to quiet and sacred for photos. I'm not even sure what I mean by that exactly . . . but thats how I felt in that moment.
We finished our Tour of the RC and made the quick walk back to the new Holt office. Our host used that time to tell us how Holt came to have the new office building and how God provided it debt free for Holt. It really is a story of God's provision and blessing on this incredible organization. We thanked our host and grabbed a cab headed back to our hotel.
You'd think our Wednesday would have been complete but as fast as we got back to our hotel, we connected with two more sisters in Christ (now friends) and had quite an adventurous Wednesday evening. Unfortunately for our eager blog readers, It's 1AM on Wednesday night two weeks later and I need to get to bed. If you want to know the details that made our Wednesday night in Seoul Sweet and Memorable, you'll have to ck back (hopefully soon, but no promises) and find out.
Until then . . . I hope you find your heart simply grateful for the strength God gave you to make it through today and the Hui-mang (bright Hope) He always promises on the morrow.
Night . . . from the Heartland!
