Friday

Today was an exciting day as Molly took Chandler, Mindy and me into the Seoul office where we got to see 10 babies who await foster mothers; babies and toddlers come in for their well-baby clinic checkup and our adoption records. You see, Korea does not have the very strict privacy acts that we in the US must endure (they have their merit). When I was adopted, Holt maintained handwritten records of all babies and included pictures for the file; Molly is very accurate and precise and insisted that they recordes be as complete as possible. When Holt decided to begin using electronic files and microfish for data storage, some of the board members wanted to destroy the originals - Molly said absolutely not as she would want to see her original paperwork if it were her record. She is an amamzing woman with a heart of gold.

We got to hold the most precious babies and I felt so happy knowing that they would soon be going to a loving family. I only wish that Holt would include in their files the condition of their adoption so that they would know that they were not cast-offs. Koreans view their babies and children as precious and unlike some of the people in the US, they give up their children as a great sacrifice of love.

Today was very enriching and fulfilling for me; I had never considered coming to Korea until about one year ago. Chandler conintually talked about it and wanted to know her heritage. God began to lay it on my heart to go (and not wanting to be as Jonah) I began to make the arrangements. God in His infinite wisdom gave to me a husband who would support my desire and did not protest. So here I am, a humble servant who is made more humble each day as I work with twisted bodies; blind individuals and the mentally retarded. What a great lesson in humility this has been for me.

We went into seoul this evening via bus and subway. We randomly stopped at a restaraunt where we thought they served sea food. The owner could not understand us and sent his cousin to interpret (but I think he spoke Greek) but he did not understand us at all. He left and brought back the brother-in-law who spoke beautiful English (three words - kidding) and they did not have sea food so we ordered their grilled fish; mackerel and something else. Both came out with their heads and tails attached. We were a little nervous but determined to try them and boy were they delicious. We were unable to clean them off as efficiently as the Koreans, but we tried our best.