A 13-year-old boy leaves the loving care of Ilsan

by Jake Krob

Parents who adopt have heard it time and time again. “You are so special!” people say.

“Your child is so lucky,” others remark.

It’s pretty clear after six months with Sonny that he’s the special one…that we’re the lucky ones.

It’s true that how Sonny came into our lives is a bit uncommon. As far as Holt has records, he’s the oldest child with special needs to be adopted.

“You know, you had quite a bit going against you,” our social worker said.

We didn’t take this adoption – and all the “issues” – lightly. But our motives, if that’s what you call them, were grounded in the same reasons most everyone adopts: Every child is a miracle. Every child deserves a loving family.

That’s what led us to Holt in 2003. Eli, now 5 1/2, arrived in Eastern Iowa from Seoul, South Korea, as a six-month-old blessing. We were blessed by birth with the arrival of Ella, now three, in 2006.

And then we met Lee Soo-Hoon (Sonny), through the pages of Holt International magazine. It arrived midday. I’d had a long evening of work as editor of the newspaper we own. Niki, Eli and Ella were in bed when I came home. On the kitchen counter was Hi Families, opened to the Waiting Children pages. Niki stuck a Post-It next to his picture.

“Our new son?” she inquired in writing.

“Yes.” I replied, for her to discover the next morning.

Our faith told us, deep in our souls, that this was right for us. But we knew it wasn’t for us that we were deciding. We spent hours contemplating what would become the first of many decisions we made for our son: Was this the right thing to do for Lee Soo-hoon?

He’d been in the care of Holt since birth. He clearly loved his housemothers. He loved his family at Ilsan. He reveled in activities – from a choir that toured the country, and beyond, to TaeKwon-Do and wrestling.

We knew that if for whatever reason the adoption didn’t work out, he would have a fine life in Korea. After all, he was in the care of Holt. There’s always that shred of doubt with faith, and we won’t deny that here, but miracles along the way cemented our decision for Sonny. It was the right decision to bring him home. Read the rest of this entry »

brighten the life of a child in Korea this Christmas

Holt needs volunteers to sign up for this year’s Gift Team trip to Korea. Every December volunteers on Holt’s Korea Gift Team deliver gifts and host celebrations for the children, foster mothers and caregivers at the Ilsan Center and Jeonju Babies’ Home—A tradition that the children look forward to every year.

All year long the children, of all ages, make gifts and practice songs and skits as they prepare to entertain for the Gift Team’s arrival.

Members of the Gift Team also get the chance to tour the grounds and cottages of the Ilsan Center, and learn more about the history of Holt’s work in Korea.

If you would like to join the Gift Team to Korea and help bring some holiday cheer to the children in Holt’s care, please contact Ann Marie Pentacost at annmariep@holtinternational.org  for more information and to receive a registration form.

Travel: December 1-8

Registration Deadline: October 4th

Estimated Cost: approx. 2,800-3,330 per person to include airfare, hotel, ground transportation in Korea, most meals.

A return to Korea, with the Holt Heritage tour, brings understanding and an unexpected connection

by Courtney Rader, Holt Adult Adoptee Outreach Director

Is this your first time back to Korea? I don’t know how many times I was asked this question. Technically, the answer is no. I was in the airport for a layover to Hong Kong once, but that doesn’t count. I was adopted in 1980, and this was my first time back to Korea.

I tried not to have high expectations. I wanted to share this experience with my husband and the 45 people on the two-week tour. For many this was the first time back to Korea. Smiles and laughter seemed to be a constant theme, however, I saw and experienced many tears. In a country so foreign to me, I felt this connection as if I had never left. I saw myself in so many faces, including the children, but at the same time, I realized that we didn’t have much in common besides being Korean. It felt so weird to see people who look like me everywhere, but to feel so disconnected to them at the same time. Yet, I felt a close connection with the other adoptees on the Tour.

The Heritage Tour took us to Incheon, Seoul, Gyeongju, and Busan. We visited the Korean Folk Village, Changdeok Palace and were invited to a special dinner hosted by the district mayor of the Jongno District. We did our best at making kimbop at the Kyoungbuk University Korean Cultural Program, visited the Jeonju Babies’ Home, the Daejeon Maternity Shelter, and Holt Ilsan Center. We were honored in the Mapo District with a ceremony that granted us honorary citizenship commemorating our visit and reestablished our roots and ties to Korea

My most memorable experience was the host family stay. Where we were guests for one night. You would think the language barrier would be an issue, but it was not. The youngest daughter translated very well and at times I could tell she was nervous and rubbed her face in embarrassment as I complemented her English. Her pronunciation was perfect. Later in the week, we met them for an evening, and in a touching moment our host mother gave me a hug and said in English that she was my “Korean mom”.

There is no way to clearly describe my experience back to Korea. Just like the nod many adoptees give each other, there is a common understanding among those who have experienced their first trip back. It’s a journey I have opened my heart to and have no expectations as to where it may lead. I do know, however, that I have gained a better understanding of my birth country and knowledge of Holt’s services. I have seen how beautiful and proud the Korean people are. I know I will return to Korea and look forward to growing my relationship with a country I once called home.

For information about next summer’s China and Korea Heritage tours, contact Lisle Veach at lislev@holtinternational.org (China tour) or Paul Kim at paulk@holtinternational.org (Korea tour)

Amy Weinkauf and her family share in the experiences of Holt-Korea adoptees traveling to Korea for the first time

By Amy Weinkauf

It is the end of day seven, and I understand that I have an interesting position on this Holt Heritage Tour. I don’t have any adoptees to immerse in Korean culture, or to go over files with at the Holt office in Seoul, or to rejoice with in meeting a foster mother for the first time, or to prepare to reunite with a birth family. Yet, in my own life, the mission of Holt has profoundly impacted me.

I have a beautiful sister-in-law, Emily, who was adopted from Korea when she was a toddler. She is the younger sister I never had. She is smart, talented, funny, and wise. She is a great mother, sister, wife, and friend. My life would not be the same without her.

I also have a dear friend, whom I call my “sistah.” Kim and I are on our third trip with Holt. We first met not quite three years ago on a gift team trip to Korea. Our husbands traveled with us then, and we had an instant bond. We quickly discovered that we have the same quirky sense of humor. At a deeper level we found that we share a desire to see the story and legacy of Holt carried to the next generation. This has bonded us for a lifetime. It has made us a family in a way only made possible through adoption.

I am here again in Korea Read the rest of this entry »

Kim Brown joins Ilsan Center residents and staff in seeing a longtime resident go to his adoptive family

By: CEO, Kim Brown

My recent trip to Korea coincided with what would have been Grandma Holt’s 105th birthday. We planned to spend the day with Molly Holt (Harry and Bertha’s daughter) at Holt’s Ilsan Center.*

We visited Bertha’s and Harry’s graves–a very moving and emotional time, just as I knew it would be. Ilsan residents, staff from Holt’s Seoul office and some guests participated in a small program at the gravesite, remembeing ‘Grandma’ and how she had so profoundly touched all our lives.

“This is a special day here at Ilsan for another reason besides my mom’s birthday,” said Molly, as we walked back down the 59 steps from the gravesite to her house. “Soo-hoon, a 13-year-old boy who lives here, is going home tomorrow to his adoptive family, and we are having a farewell party for him this afternoon.”

A few minutes later I met Soo-hoon, a handsome, lively young man who smiled his million-dollar smile when he shook my hand. Soo-hoon is something of a celebrity at Ilsan. He is part of the Ilsan choir and ‘conducts’ along with the choir director during performances. He even directs the choir himself during some of the numbers, and is a true star in the eyes of his friends and fans that have watched him over the years.

Soo-hoon was about to join his own family. I thought about the amazing turn his life was about to take in a few short hours. Read the rest of this entry »

Holt’s CEO attends a service honoring Bertha Holt

by Kim S. Brown, CEO

Ilsan, Korea–A simple service on the hillside overlooking the Holt Ilsan Center seemed a fitting celebration of someone so beloved. Bertha “Grandma” Holt would have celebrated her 105th birthday today.

A handful of friends and Grandma’s daughter, Molly, gathered at the graveside to pay tribute. As the years pass, the memories of Grandma Holt seem to become more vivid, the stories of her person more colorful.

It is impossible for me to think of Grandma Holt as one person. She touched the lives of so many children and families in many different ways. And yet, each one of us senses a very personal connection to this woman. It seems that all of us adopted from overseas or helped to have families of our own have a touch of Grandma within us. To each one of us, she is our Grandma.

We all miss her on this day, but thank God for her love, still felt on this day of remembrance.