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.