Orphanage

Good Morning. It is 8am here on my 5th day. Today is the first day when we do not have something planned, so I am getting some entries done. First, I want to tell you about our orphange visit. We went to Seoul and played with the children of Hwasung Baby Orphanage. I have personal pictures but cannot public them because some of the children have parents. There are times when a single parent or parents cannot afford to care for their children so they give them to orphanages.

We arrived with three huge military duffle bags full of toys and jogging suits for the orphans. We helped to unpack the gifts in a side room. While doing this one of the caretakers told us that 3 children were recently adopted by 3 military families! This was very cool because we got gifts for 45 children. Now, there would be extra to go around. The caretakers said it would be best to save the gifts and clothes for Christmas...they wanted Santa Claus to distribute them.

Before I forget, a huge thanks to the Santas at Northwest Public Radio for their donations!

Next, we went into the children's play area. It is a big room with a heated floor (I love these heated floors!) and a giant red mat. There is a TV on one of the the room and next to it a sliding door to the eating area. There were a few toys around but the children didn't seem to care about the toys. They wanted to be held.

I walked into the middle of the room and before I knew it there was this little boy who grabbed my legs and asked me to pick him up. I lifted him up into the air and then my legs were bound by another little fella who wanted some affection too. But the First Boy wouldn't let him and used his legs to shoo the Second Boy away. My husband was already carrying a boy and had one dragging on his leg. Our exchange student, Jun Bum, was also carrying a couple of kids. We played with them for about a half an hour when lunch was called. The kids went in except for the First Boy, who was giving me quite the workout! He wanted to stay in my arms and whined when I him down. Then a Caretaker came and led him away.

The orphanage is located between some apartments and businesses - almost situated in an alley...but there was a lot of foot traffic here and several schools nearby. Imagine all the movies you see about China and the narrow, crowded alleys/streets. We left the orphanage after being served some delicious pomegranate juice.

I was feeling a little sad but grateful to bring the gifts and meet the children. I have always wanted to adopt children and this experience confirms in my heart that I have to. There is so much need in the world and I know I can give more. To whom much is given, much is expected.

Then, as we left, school was let out and all these bright little elementary kids and junior highers came onto the street. They were dressed in all sorts of cute outfits and colors! So many of them starred at my husband - he sort of sticks out here! And quite a few spoke English to us.

"HI! How Are You?"

Me: "Hello. I am fine, how are you?'

(giggles) "OK" (giggles)