- Holt International

Fall 2006 Vol. 48 No. 4
www.holtinternational.org
5
Does
a child
wait for
you?
Children around the world
wait for adoptive families.
Holt International has
children:
• with minor or correctible
medical conditions
• who are older
• who are siblings
Consider a waiting child;
www.holtinternational.org/waitingchild/photolisting
x
finding families
Autumn
2006
for children
Help connect a waiting child with a family. Download and print
our waiting child poster using the above link and display it at
your church or place of work.
Dear Readers
Once a year we publish a yearbook-style section of the magazine with photos, activities and future plans of Holt adoptees who graduated from high school and college.
Submitting graduate information is voluntary, so the young people who appear in this
issue are perhaps a tenth or so of the Holt adoptees who graduated in 2006.
Every year, it seems, the grads amass an ever more impressive compilation of achievements. It’s gratifying to see these bright, confident faces with so much opportunity
before them.
As I scan the rows of grads, I glance over at another photo—a little girl I sponsor in
India. Not quite a year old, Janaki looks up from her crib, perhaps a little irritated
that she has to hold still for the photo.
It’s a marvelous thought to imagine—17 or so years from now—seeing Janaki among
the graduates. The process of getting to that day will require the nurturing, support
and encouragement of Holt’s India staff, various financial contributors to the work
and, of course, the permanent family who will invest the most in her life.
And that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Beyond the violin lessons, soccer shoes, braces,
prom dresses, etc., a family offers a child commitment. And that matures into permanent belonging—the knowledge that every morning when children wake up, they are
loved.
It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to extend a caring touch to children when they
need it, and to know that your help lays a path to results such as the listing of graduates in this issue.
In the spirit of our founder, Bertha Holt, who loved reading about each graduate,
I had planned to share a Scripture as a blessing and challenge to the grads. But,
perhaps this verse is also a reminder to all who support this work—that what we do for
the children involves a divine partnership: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and
your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3
—John Aeby, Editor
contents
program report
The Holt Ilsan Center
A haven for Korean children who are
homeless and disabled.
graduates
Saluting the 2006 Graduates
What Special Needs Will You Consider?
adoptees today
Finding My Beauty in Asian Form
6
A young adoptee hits LA’s Koreatown
on her quest for self-knowledge.
departments
Update
Around the Globe
Easy to Love
From the Family
Neighborhood Calendar
Family Tree Our Mission
Holt International is dedicated to carrying out God’s plan for every child to have a permanent,
loving family.
In 1955 Harry and Bertha Holt responded to the conviction that God had called them to help
children left homeless by the Korean War. Though it took an act of the U.S. Congress, the
Holts adopted eight of those children. But they were moved by the desperate plight of other
orphaned children in Korea and other countries as well, so they founded Holt International
Children’s Services in order to unite homeless children with families who would love them
as their own. Today Holt International serves children and families in Bulgaria, Cambodia,
China, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mongolia, the Philippines,
Romania, Thailand, the United States, Uganda, Ukraine and Vietnam.
President & Ceo Gary N. Gamer
Vice-President of Programs & Services Carole Stiles
Vice-President of Marketing & Development Phillip A. Littleton
Vice-President of Public Policy & Advocacy Susan Soon-keum Cox
Vice-President of Finance & Administration Kevin Sweeney
Board of Directors
Chair James D. Barfoot Vice-Chair Julia K. Banta President Emeritus
Dr. David H. Kim Secretary Claire A. Noland Members Andrew R. Bailey, Rebecca C.
Brandt, Kim S. Brown, Wilma R. Cheney, Clinton C. Cottrell, Will C. Dantzler, Cynthia G. Davis,
A. Paul Disdier, Rosser B. Edwards, Jeffrey B. Saddington, Shirley M. Stewart, Steven Stirling
Holt International Magazine is published bimonthly by Holt International Children’s
Services, Inc., a nonprofit Christian child welfare organization. While Holt International is
responsible for the content of Holt International magazine, the viewpoints expressed in this
publication are not necessarily those of the organization.
Editor John Aeby
Managing Editor Alice Evans
Graphics Brian Campbell, Alice Evans, Emily Lewellen
Subscription Orders/Inquiries and Address Changes
Send all editorial correspondence and changes of address to Holt International magazine,
Holt International, P.O. Box 2880, Eugene, OR 97402. We ask for an annual donation of $20 to
cover the cost of publication and mailing inside the United States and $40 outside the United
States. Holt welcomes the contribution of letters and articles for publication, but assumes no
responsibility for return of letters, manuscripts, or photos.
Arkansas Office
5016 Western Hills Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204
Ph/Fax: 501/568.2827
California Office
3807 Pasadena Ave., Suite 115, Sacramento, CA 95821
Ph: 916/487.4658 Fax: 916/487.7068
18
Midwest Office Serving Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota
10685 Bedford Ave., Suite 300, Omaha, NE 68134
Ph: 402/934.5031 Fax: 402/934.5034
26
28
Holt International Children’s Services
P.O. Box 2880 (1195 City View) Eugene, OR 97402
Ph: 541/687.2202 Fax: 541/683.6175
Reprint Information
Permission from Holt International is required prior to reprinting any portion of Holt
International magazine. Please direct reprint requests to editor John Aeby at 541/687.2202
or johna@holtinternational.org.
adopting
A Difficult Question
When Adopting a Child
Fall 2006 vol. 48 no. 4
Cover: Six-year-old Ho-yung has
lived at Ilsan Center all his life. His
housemothers pray every day that
he will find an adoptive family.
Missouri Office/Kansas Office
203 Huntington Rd., Kansas City, MO 64113
Ph: 816/822.2169 Fax: 816/523.8379
122 W. 5th St., Garnett, KS 66032
missouri@holtinternational.org
Oregon Office
Capitol Plaza 9320 SW Barbur Blvd., Suite 220, Portland, OR 97219
Ph: 503/244.2440 Fax: 503/245.2498
New Jersey Office
340 Scotch Rd. (2nd Floor), Trenton, NJ 08628
Ph: 609/882.4972 Fax: 609/883.2398
4
12
14
16
30
31
Copyright ©2006 By Holt International Children’s Services, Inc.
ISSN 1047-7640
ACCREDITED BY
COUNCIL ON
ACCREDITATION
www.holtinternational.org 3
update
Nanna’s Cottage
able a poster to promote adoption of waiting
children. Download and print this PDF file,
and display it at your church or workplace
as a way to help waiting children to have
permanent, loving families. For more suggestions on Adoption Month activities, visit:
www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/nam/activities.cfm
Currently featured in the new children’s
Saturday morning TV show Nanna’s
Cottage, Holt adoptee Lydia Hale plays
the role of Chinese character Fu Cheng.
The show premiered on three Northwest
stations in July and was picked up for
national distribution by the Sky Angel
Network in August. It can also be seen
on Trinity Broadcasting Network, some
PBS outlets on the East Coast and various other networks. Go to www.nannascottage.com for programming and
general information about the show.
Lydia, a charismatic and musically
inclined 14-year-old, was adopted
from Korea by Dean Hale, director
of Holt’s India program, and Lucinda
Muñiz-Hale. Produced by Polara
Productions and aimed at children
ages 4 to 9, Nanna’s Cottage features
a female archaeologist and world traveler
who imparts her love and knowledge of the
world to her grandchildren and their friends.
Alternative Gifts
Holt’s HIV/AIDS work in China is a featured gift in this
year’s Alternative Gift
Catalog. Since 1998,
Holt projects have
been included in the
yearly catalog published by Alternative
Gift Markets, Inc.
More than $272,000
has been raised for
Holt projects to help
children affected by
HIV/AIDS. Recently
AGI passed along
almost $50,000 earmarked for
our Uganda program. The catalog can be
downloaded from the AGI website at www.
alternativegifts.org. AGI is a nonprofit,
interfaith agency organized in 1986 to send
authentic, life-giving gifts to nourish and
sustain a more equitable and peaceful global
community.
Christian Performers
Christian performing artists continue to
bring the message of Holt International
Child Sponsorship to their audiences.
Korean adoptee Lydia Hale, on the set and in costume for her role as Fu Cheng in the nationally syndicated children’s TV show Nanna’s Cottage.
Angels in Adoption
Lynn Sims, LCSW, Branch Director–Holt
Arkansas, was among more than 100 recipients around the United States to be honored
this September with an Angel in Adoption
award at a Congressional ceremony in
Washington, DC. Nominated by Holt families in Arkansas for going “beyond the call
of duty,” Lynn has been Branch Director
since 2001 and has conducted homestudies
for Holt for more than 15 years.
Adoption Month
November is National Adoption Awareness
Month—a time to celebrate adoption as
a wonderful way to build a family and to
increase awareness of the hundreds of thousands of children around the world who
need families of their own.
Through its website, Holt is making avail-
Sign up today
for the new Holt e-newsletter
*For up-to-date news on adoption, inspirational
stories of children and families.
*When you sign up, your Holt International
e-newsletter will be delivered to your e-mail address.
go to holtinternational.org/enews
At NewSong concerts, Holt needs volunteers
to help concertgoers who wish to sponsor
children. Your admission to the concert
is free. Consider bringing your teenagers
or youth group, and while they enjoy the
concert, you can manage a table. Holt will
provide training prior to the concert. If you
are interested, please contact Clarice Aeby at
claricea@holtinternational.org or by calling
1-800-451-0732.
Please check the NewSong and Winter Jam
Tour schedules to see when NewSong will
perform in your area. The performance
schedules of these and other artists sharing
Holt Sponsorship are available at the following websites:
•
•
•
www.newsongonline.com
jamtour.com
thecrabbfamily.com
Meeting a
Princess
Sadie Schumaker awaits
her chance to give flowers to the Princess of
Thailand. When the
Princess visited Oregon
in July, sisters Sadie and
Sophie met her during
a public appearance.
Both girls were adopted
from Thailand by Dawn
Moyer-Schumaker and
Nathan Schumaker of
Corvallis, Oregon. ■
directions
Recognizing the Holt Ministry
A
By Gary N. Gamer, President and CEO
As we got closer to our 50th anniversary activities last
month, I enjoyed receiving letters and messages from
individuals who have been a part of Holt’s five decades
of work.
One letter from Rev. Vernagaye Sullivan really jumped
out at me. She told us about her husband, Gary
Churchill, who worked for Holt in 1971–1972 before a
tragic car wreck took his life. She wrote, “I don’t know
how many children Gary [as a caseworker] helped
place in homes, but I do know that each one was a
gift to his life, and working with the families was his
ministry.”
Ministry, she said. In reading this, I immediately felt a
sense that the effort of her husband 35 years ago lives
on today among the families and children he helped
bring together during his time at Holt.
I reflected on her use of the word “ministry.” I believe
it is a word that truly applies to what we do at Holt.
Even though we partner with people of different faiths
and traditions in finding families for children around
the world, all of Holt’s staff and partners realize that
our efforts go beyond just the hours put in during any
given day. The work of Holt contributes to enabling
children to reach their God-given potential through
the love and support best provided by a family. Our
ministry binds Holt—an agency with strong Christian
roots, identity and support to this very day—in an
embrace with the rest of the world, however diverse,
in this important cause.
This was so apparent as child welfare practitioners and
advocates from approximately 30 countries recently
gathered for Holt International’s 50th anniversary
conference, entitled Looking Forward, A Global
Response to Homeless Children.
Holt’s work started 50 years ago in Korea as a pioneering
agency in intercountry adoption through the ministry
of the Holt family. Many of the social work and case
management principles Holt International developed
through the years are now reaching thousands of
children through various services. Holt works to assure
adoption of children within their birth lands. Holt
helps to prevent separation of children from their birth
families when in the child’s best interest. And Holt
provides other family and community-based options
for at-risk children.
Gary Gamer, Holt President
and CEO, visits with children
at a Holt-supported orphanage in Cambodia, June 2006.
Holt International has a responsibility to share what
we have learned and to keep on learning from others.
The conference provided an effective and timely venue
to do this.
Mrs. Sullivan also wrote in her letter: “When I went to
Korea after [my husband’s] death to explore the Korean
side of the ministry, I was moved by the care that the
children received and by the dedication of the staff
there. I also remember so well the sense of family and
teamwork that was a part of the ministry.”
Today, more than 30 years after Mrs. Sullivan had
these insights, I am privileged to witness this same
commitment to children in the 16 countries for which
Holt is currently supporting services to children. And
I thank you for your commitment as we take this
ministry into a sixth decade—and into a world with so
many children in need of families. ■
www.holtinternational.org
5
A haven for homeless,
disabled children
The Holt Ilsan Center in Korea
O
by Alice Evans—
Managing Editor
Above: Yong-woo and Minkee sit on a swing outside
the residential cottages.
Right: Jin-kyoo and Jin-ho
lean against the fence with
their stuffed animals.
Opposite page: Eun-hee
cuddles with her housemother,
Mrs. Cho, Myung-ae.
On a sunny August morning at the end of the long Korean rainy
season, several young children toddle joyfully along the asphalt path
outside the entryway of their cottage.
A few wear leg braces and walk unsteadily, signs of cerebral palsy.
One sports a patch over his right eye. They are all developmentally
delayed. In the outside world, other children might make fun of them.
But here at Holt’s Ilsan Center, no one ridicules them. No one pretends
they don’t exist.
Two of the boys, Min-kee and Yong-woo, stop to rest on a glider
swing. Their mood shifts to quiet and serious… two lives about to
diverge. Within weeks Yong-woo will leave Ilsan to be adopted by
a family in New Jersey, to become their son. But for Min-kee, there
is no adoptive family about to sweep him up in their arms. Min-kee
will stay at Ilsan the rest of his life unless somewhere a family with
a big heart falls in love with him, too.
Is it such an awful fate to be raised at Ilsan?
Relinquished at birth, Min-kee started in the care of a foster family
until his disabilities made adoption appear unlikely. Transferred to
Ilsan where he has lived for just over a year, Min-kee, now 2, has
made significant progress thanks to the specialized care and services
available there.
Ultimately, a distinction must be made between those considered
adoptable, and those not. Does a child suffer seizures? Is she able
to talk or otherwise communicate? These are a few of the markers.
For those considered adoptable, staying at Ilsan will limit them. For
those considered not adoptable, Ilsan may be the best of all possible
worlds.
6
Fall 2006
At this hillside village sheltered from the bustling
city of Ilsan, staff have never claimed to replace family.
They do their best to create a family-like atmosphere,
a hard thing to accomplish with some 270 residents
whose ages range from infant to senior.
A resident of Ilsan will always have enough to eat;
the care of therapists, nurses, doctors; the benefits of
vocational training, church and choir; every opportunity to move toward independence. At Ilsan, where
Harry Holt made his final stand and poured out his
heart for the love of Jesus and homeless children, no
one will be rejected, neglected and disabled even further by the treatment they are given, or not given.
They will instead be gathered into arms of merciful
love and compassion. They will be fitted to special
wheelchairs that straighten twisted limbs and provide
opportunities for maximum independence. They will
be taken on outings to the beach. They will sing
before first ladies and ministers of government. In
short, they will be valued.
Valued, not least, by families who have adopted
children from Ilsan, and by Holt International donors
and sponsors, many of whom send monthly checks
to help pay for the high level of care the residents
receive. Some sponsors have faithfully provided for
the same resident for more than 40 years, and their
“child” has grown to adulthood under the protected
care of dedicated staff.
Ilsan Center, built in 1961 by Holt International
founders Harry and Bertha Holt, is the standard by
which other facilities of its kind are measured.
“All around the world, wherever we go, the facilities
where the disabled are placed are always the worst
places,” says Holt International President and CEO
Gary Gamer. “But Ilsan… Ilsan is the best place.”
A Week at Ilsan
Molly Holt has her hands full this morning, as usual.
Four feeders, three that she’ll do herself. Meaning
hand feed, bite-by-bite, as if she had a baby at her
table. And she does, in a sense, have babies. A trip to
Wal-Mart later in the week finds her searching through
the baby plates for just the right one to help 28-yearold Yun-ee learn to eat by herself for the first time.
Molly has been training her for nearly three months
but shows no sign of discouragement. Yun-ee is
making progress, no matter how slowly, and this is a
triumph. She will return soon to Suzanne Home, the
nearby cottage where she normally resides. And Molly
will bring someone else into her cottage. By learning
to feed herself, Yun-ee takes an important step toward
independence according to her capabilities, and she
frees up her housemothers to spend time with other
residents who need their help, too.
Molly, a daughter of Harry and Bertha Holt, came
to Korea in October 1956 to help her parents care
for homeless children. She had just finished nursing
school. “I felt
that this was
where the Lord
would have me
the rest of my
life,” she remembers.
Molly starts
her day with
Bible study and
prayer. Like her
mother, she likes
to take a brief jog
on the track or
along the asphalt
pathways, or a
trip up the hill to
pick berries for
jam. Each day
is a living conversation with
Jesus.
New arrivals
come through
Molly’s residence,
which allows her
to
determine
their capabilities
and begin the
assessment process. “We always make a baseline,”
she says. “What they were like when they came.”
She meets regularly with doctors, therapists, housemothers and social workers to chart progress and set
goals. Disabilities come as a package, she says, and
you must look at the challenges on multiple fronts.
What their status is, what the goal is in stages, what it
takes to improve. The goal is always to help residents
achieve as much independence as possible.
When a child has a temper tantrum because you
won’t do something for him that he can do for himself,
you wait until he stops screaming. “You do what you
say you’re going to do,” Molly says.
She has always taken on the most challenging
cases—the stubborn, the manipulative, the residents
young and old who haven’t learned to feed themselves,
ones who come in from families or other facilities and
have been neglected, or conversely, spoiled by someone doing too much for them.
This morning, Molly is also feeding a boy with
severe cerebral palsy. After a friend told her about the
boy, she requested special permission to bring him to
Ilsan. Almost 9 years old, he weighed barely more
than 15 pounds when she got him three weeks earlier.
Fitted into a Mulholland wheelchair, his body and
limbs are positioned in a way that helps his muscles
relax. Instead of lying on the floor twisted by spastic
muscles, he can sit. Molly feeds him all he wants, and
www.holtinternational.org
7
Above: Soo-hoon helps Jinkyoo climb the steps on the
way to choir practice. Because
of cerebral palsy, Jin-kyoo
sometimes loses his balance.
Bottom: The Ilsan choir performs at Grandma Holt’s 6th
annual memorial service. Soohoon and Jin-kyoo, dressed in
formal clothing, are positioned
to the choir director’s right.
he has already
plumped up. I
watch in disbelief
as this tiny boy
eats a full bowl
of rice mixed with
cut-up vegetables,
a bowl of seaweed
soup, a bowl of
applesauce.
Low oxygen during his birth brought on cerebral
palsy. Jin-kyoo understands more than he speaks, and
though he sometimes loses his balance, he is learning
better coordination through physical and occupational
therapy, where he practices going up and down stairs,
doing paper cutouts, and drawing lines with crayons.
He spends half of each school day going to a preschool outside Ilsan that offers integrated programs
with so-called “able-bodied” children, as do Min-kee
and several other youngsters.
The boy has
a family who
pays for his care
at another facility, where he has
lived for seven
years, all that time
lying mostly in a
crib.
One afternoon on the way to choir practice, I walk
along behind Jin-kyoo and another member of the
choir, 11-year-old Soo-hoon. Soo-hoon, who has
Down syndrome, holds Jin-kyoo’s hand, protecting
him against a fall. With Soo-hoon’s help, Jin-kyoo
makes his way along the asphalt path and up the
concrete steps of Memorial Hall without a mishap. He
takes his role as choir mascot seriously. When the
older members of the choir come into the practice
room, he climbs into first one lap and then another.
Everyone greets him with affection.
“We see stunted children like
him in institutions
who are never fed
enough,” Molly
says. “Children
who can feed
themselves are
okay. Those who
have to be fed are
at risk. Our children here grow so
big they outgrow their wheelchairs, but that is not
normal other places.”
After a few weeks, his parents come to visit.
Astounded at his growth, they petition to keep him
at Ilsan.
A Permanent, Loving Family
But for those children like Min-kee who have no
families and whose special needs ordinary people
can manage, Molly and the Ilsan staff do their best to
find families. And for Yong-woo, the boy with yellow
glasses who now has a family of his own, the work of
Ilsan staff is complete. It is the best place for a child to
be, Molly says. In a permanent, loving family. Back in
the 1950s when international adoption was first coming onto the radar screen, this is what the Holt family
taught the world, and the mission hasn’t changed.
But not so many families are willing, or able, to take
on children with multiple healthcare challenges. Only
one or two children a year are adopted from Ilsan, and
for those not adopted in early childhood, the chances
get slimmer each year.
Jin-kyoo. A family was interested in Jin-kyoo, the
youngest member of the Ilsan Choir. After requesting
an MRI, they realized they did not have the resources
to care for him adequately. A curly-headed 4-year-old
who has lived at Ilsan since he was 2, Jin-kyoo wears
an eye patch part of each morning to complement the
corrective surgery he had for strabismus. He rivals
actor Johnny Depp for pirate good looks.
8
Fall 2006
Soo-hoon. Ilsan staff describe Soo-hoon as an
energizer bunny who never tires, and they celebrate
him for his enthusiastic efforts at conducting, something he did in front of the First Lady of Korea and
government ministers last winter at the President’s residence. Calm but passionate during the performance,
he received a standing ovation.
Abandoned at the Ilsan gate when he was 3 weeks
old, Soo-hoon plays soccer three times a week, and
although smaller than most, he is also faster. A sixth
grader, he is learning to write through dictation. Ilsan
staff have tried hard over the years to find a family
for Soo-hoon. From time to time, families expressed
interest. But here he remains.
At Grandma Holt’s 6th Annual Memorial Service,
while Jin-kyoo is being hoisted up the steep mountainside on the shoulders of an adult choir member,
Soo-hoon climbs the many brick steps that lead to
her gravesite on his way to sing with the choir. When
he sees me taking his photograph again he reacts to
the camera, striking poses and flashing me looks of
incredulity.
Other residents seek me out, point to the camera,
point to themselves, as if the lens will give them some-
thing they crave—personal attention.
They’ve all gotten personal attention from Molly,
who knows each of them by name, history, personality. But there’s only so much Molly to go around, even
if she does have the energy of someone much younger
than her 71 years.
They all get personal attention from their dedicated
housemothers who sometimes take children home on
weekends to give them a taste of family life.
But whether the attention comes from Molly, their
housemothers, volunteers, therapists, nurses and doctors, the attention must always be spread among many.
At the beginning and end of the day, they are still living in an institution, however family-like it may be.
So-jung. Nine-year-old So-jung is quick and
remembers what she learns. Her speech therapist
thinks highly of her. Although she cannot hear or
speak, she is learning sign language. Relinquished
at birth because of her disabilities, So-jung’s parents
could not provide the care she needed, but also they
have never visited her.
So-jung tries to do things on her own without asking
for help. When I visited her cottage, I discovered an
actress, dancer and model. So-jung wears a flowered
green dress and strikes a ballerina pose. She giggles
silently, shyly covering her mouth with her hand. Her
smile, pulled crooked by a cleft lip that needs a second surgery, is all the more charming because of its
imperfection.
Hye-jung. So-jung’s situation becomes even more
poignant for me because of another girl I meet at
Ilsan, 12-year-old Hye-jung. Hye-jung has already
hit puberty, that magical, problem-strewn age where
mothers get to teach their daughters all about their
changing bodies. For this, Hye-jung has to rely upon
her housemother, her teacher, her therapist, her nurse,
and just about anyone else who will listen, including
me. Though I don’t speak her language, I stop to
interact with her when I chance upon her along the
pathways.
I can almost decipher what she says to me. I read
it in her eyes. Who are you? Why are you here? The
Ilsan translator tells me that she often asks what’s
going on with her body. She examines her changing
breasts, and wonders
why they’re beginning to swell. Like
older female residents
I meet one evening
at Naomi Home,
Hye-jung may one
day expect to have
a boyfriend at Ilsan,
and maybe even get
married.
But she
is already 12, and I
can’t help but wonder,
Will she ever have a
mother?
Matthew. At 47, Matthew has lived in Holt care
since he was 1 year old, most of those years spent at
Ilsan. By all accounts Matthew takes great pride in
his work, collecting garbage on the Ilsan grounds.
On any given morning he can be seen driving a tractor cart to and fro along the asphalt trail that runs
alongside the kitchen in front of the residence houses.
He looks like the kind of man who can carry the
whole community on his broad shoulders. Salt of the
earth. On Monday afternoon when many of the older
residents are boarding the bus to go to an evangelical
conference, Matthew helps the many wheelchair users
move from the lift to the aisle.
So-jung can neither hear nor
speak, but she understands
the language of human
relationships. She interacts
good-naturedly with the
camera, striking ballerina
poses and flashing a big smile.
Matthew, who has multiple disabilities, will always
live at Ilsan. He has found independence through
work and marriage. He and wife Moon-kyung live
in an apartment of Naomi Home, the onsite residence
that houses five married couples.
Molly Holt tells me that many of the residents look
for someone to marry as they grow older. Besides
those who live at Naomi Home there are many who
have left Ilsan and live in apartments or houses. Some
have children, born without any disabilities.
Older residents who marry have better health and
are happier, says Molly. She sometimes helps arrange
the marriages and even accompanies them on their
honeymoons, staying nearby in case they need help.
www.holtinternational.org
9
A Paradise for the Disabled
The night I arrived at Ilsan, I sat in Molly’s
kitchen sipping a cup of hot tea. Outside, the
rain washed the sky clean, a last hurrah before
the August heat took over. After a light knock
at the door, Ilsan Director Min entered beneath
a dripping umbrella.
Even though it was well past working hours,
he came in from the pouring rain to check
in with Molly about the Holt Summer School
students who were leaving next morning, and
to welcome me to Ilsan. When Molly told him
the light in my room wasn’t working, he left in search
of a lamp I could use.
Min, Kyung-tae has worked for Holt Children’s
Services of Korea (HCS) for 25 years and was in
his second non-consecutive term as Ilsan Director.
Compassionate and hardworking, he is also very
detail-oriented, Molly says. He sometimes stays overnight at Ilsan after working late rather than make the
long drive home to Seoul. Director Min has since been
named the new President of HCS.
Above: Hye-jung uses chalk
on the sidewalk behind her
cottage. Center: Matthew
helps a fellow resident board
the bus. Below: A physical
therapist works with Jae-min
who has cerebral palsy.
During a week in which he hosted Grandma Holt’s
memorial service, he found time to oversee the older
residents as they boarded the bus to leave for the
yearly evangelical conference. He watched over the
little ones as they embarked with staff and volunteers
to go to the seaside for the day. One afternoon, I saw
him encourage a 30-year-old resident to do a better job
of brushing his teeth.
What makes Ilsan different from other facilities for
the disabled? I asked Director Min.
“Everybody here is a Christian,” he
says, pulling out Bertha Holt’s books—
Seed from the East and Bring My Sons
from Afar—books that describe the
phenomenal effort that went into the
making of this place.
“By reading and rereading these
books, we constantly remind ourselves of what our founders wanted to
do for residents,” he says. “Harry Holt
and Bertha prayed hard for Ilsan, and
Molly carries on their legacy.”
10
Fall 2006
“We want our residents to work outside of Holt.
To have a life outside of Holt. And we will do our
best to minimize the number of residents who live in
a facility,” he says. Director Min cited the success of
the group homes—two offsite apartments purchased
by Holt-Korea in nearby high-rises—one occupied by
a group of young women, the other by men. All of
these residents have jobs, some at Ilsan and some in
the community, and are working toward independent
living.
The Holt Ilsan Center serves not only its residents,
but also Koyang-City, the larger community that has
grown up around it. Director Min mentions the
importance to Ilsan residents of the Ilsan workshop,
where they make clay pots, copper trees, tablecloths
and other items to sell to visitors. The same building
houses a workspace for non-residents, also disabled,
who come to do piecework. Having an occupation
brings both self-respect and independence, he says,
and residents and non-residents alike take pride in
their work.
The Holt School, started in 1964 to teach children
with mental disabilities, holds classes for all such children in the community and was the stepping-stone for
establishing education of these children throughout
Korea. Families pay a little depending on the program. Earlier, children attended private institutions in
Seoul or elsewhere, or they stayed home.
“Education, proper therapy and rehab programs will
help our residents develop their potential, and they
can even make a contribution to society. This is our
goal and also mission for the future. And our mission
applies not only to ourselves but also to other facilities
for the disabled,” Director Min says.
When Harry Holt bought the land, he planned for
part of it to be developed as a farm so that residents
would have a place to work. The farm, on the other
side of the mountain from the residential cottages, is
currently not being put to full use, but long-term plans
call for more development. Just across the road from
the farm is the Koyang City Community Center for the
Disabled, a new, state-of-the-art facility built on land
donated by HCS. The Holt community for independent living also will be just across the road, so that
Ilsan residents can make use of the facilities.
Ilsan will eventually be a place for
severely disabled people, those who
are not able to work outside home
because their disability level is so
severe, he says. Meanwhile it serves
also those who are capable of working in the community.
“We believe that is the way to pursue our happiness, do something meaningful with our body and our
skills,” Director Min says. “We believe that our residents feel the same way. That’s why so many people
call Ilsan a paradise for the disabled, because we have
so many rehab programs and plans.”
Some people have hand dexterity
or artistic skills and are able to work
to make a living. Staff try to provide
work for residents in places where
they can use their skills.
Koreans are no longer abandoning disabled infants
and toddlers in front of the Ilsan gates or hiding them
away from the world, Molly Holt says. Parents and
organizations for the disabled stand up and demand
rights and accountability. The 1988 Paralympics was
Feeling Their Power
In Conversation with Molly Holt
a notable turning point, she explains. Korean television featured athletes with disabilities, which raised
understanding that people with disabilities are capable
of much more than once thought possible.
People feel their power nowadays, she says. Before
they received what was given and said thank you; now
they say, “You have to listen to us.”
Even so, individuals with disabilities, and especially
those orphaned or relinquished, are still second-class
citizens in Korea. And although domestic adoption
is finding acceptance within this largely Confucian
culture, adoption of a child with disabilities is rare, or
nonexistent.
Diverging Paths
Min-kee and
Yong-woo, the
two boys who
sat together on a
swing, echo the
lives of others
who have lived
at Ilsan. Steve
Stirling, a member of the Holt
International
Board
of
Directors, lived
at Ilsan Center in
the early 1960s.
Stirling, who had
polio and wore
leg braces, was
adopted by a U.S.
family and given
all the opportunities of a beloved
son. He went on
to earn an MBA Molly Holt feeds a boy in her home.
degree and manage
large corporate departments. When he visited Ilsan as
an adult, he met a friend who still resided there. For
Stirling, it was a poignant encounter, a reminder of the
vast difference adoption makes for a child.
Would it be such an awful fate, not being adopted
by a family? The answer is both yes, and no.
Ilsan—a place of mercy and compassion staffed by
dedicated, loving professionals—is still moving forward. Education, vocational training toward independent living, group homes, married housing, workshops,
a farm... these are some of the provisions that make
Ilsan stand out as a world-class model.
But Ilsan, great as it is, is meant to be a long-term
living place only for those who cannot be adopted.
Yong-woo now has an adoptive family. But children
such as Min-kee, Jin-kyoo, Soo-hoon and So-jung also
deserve a chance to be someone’s beloved son or
daughter. ■
Chairperson of the Board of Holt Children’s Services of Korea, nurse Molly Holt
has served the homeless children of Korea for 50 years, most of that time at
Ilsan Center. Educated at Wheaton College, University of Oregon, Multnomah
School of the Bible and with a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling
and special education, severe and profound, from the University of Northern
Colorado, she has been described as the Mother Teresa of Korea.
How did Ilsan evolve into a facility for waiting children and children with disabilities?
MH: It was built for that in the first place, starting in 1961. And at [our previous orphanage] we just overflowed because we couldn’t adopt children with
disabilities. Because the law was changing we had to go through the welfare
department of each state and it took so long that many babies died while they
were waiting. Daddy looked all over Korea for a place to keep our disabled
children. So then he built [Ilsan] that way. But his buildings were very simple
buildings. This house Daddy built doesn’t have stairways. It’s wheelchair accessible. It doesn’t have doorsills. We took out the walls for
the bathroom so that we could put in doors to make it wheelchair
accessible. And then we left some doors off. And it’s suitable for
disabled people. We have a building at the end of the road here that
was especially for physical therapy; we had a lady come out from the
United States and do physical therapy and fitted the kids with braces
and had surgeries for them. We did a lot of things. Even before
Daddy died. Along those lines.
How did you become focused on the care of children with disabilities, and tell us about how your expertise has grown.
MH: We had lots of children with disabilities. In Eugene [where
some of Molly’s training took place] I learned about cerebral palsy. I
learned that it can get better, it can get worse. And that children are
about half mentally retarded and half not. But they can be educated,
most of them. With physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech
therapy, work. It was really an eye opener for me. And at the Pearl
Buck School, I learned some other programs. They didn’t like to use
wheelchairs. They made the kids walk. And what a difference it made
in my life here.
We had a lady who came and helped us at Ilsan before Daddy died.
She tried to get all the sponsors in the whole program to sponsor the
disabled children. We grabbed onto whomever we could who was able
to do those [special therapies]. We hired a man to come and do physical therapy, and we made a room available. Got some equipment. The speech
therapist came along…. I knew that those programs worked, and I knew that
we needed those programs for our residents. We learned from books about the
importance of having the same housemother. So instead of having mechanical shifts where the housemothers moved all over, we started having the same
housemother for the same children so that they become their mother. You can’t
buy people to love them, but you can arrange it so the housemothers love the
children and the children love the housemothers.
Over the years we’ve done that, and it’s been so successful. It’s called a family
system.
The most important thing for a homeless child, an orphan, is a mother. Even a
temporary mother. And you have to protect the housemothers and take good
care of them, feed them and clothe them and don’t make them work too hard
and give them good equipment. Or they’re not going to be able to love the
children. And over the years I fought with the directors and fought with our
presidents and a lot of people to keep those high standards.
Like your mother, you’re not afraid to show leadership as a woman.
MH: I was the director of Ilsan for a few years, and I learned that where the
Lord puts you, then you should accept even if it doesn’t seem suitable.
www.holtinternational.org
11
Globe
Haiti
China
Holt’s Haiti program reached a major milestone in August when the first two children
adopted from the Holt-Fontana Village made
it through the complicated legal process and
came home to their families. Two more children are expected to be home by the end of
the year.
Holt
International
President and CEO Gary Amanda and Joe Maisonneuve prepare to bring Lainie home from Haiti.
Gamer was invited to
Pune, Bharatiya Samaj Seva Kendra (BSSK).
speak at the 10th anniversary celebration of the China Center of Progress continues on the construction of
Adoption Affairs on behalf of the foreign a new headquarters and childcare center
adoption agencies doing work in China. at Vathsalya Charitable Trust, Holt’s partner
“We often talk about the ‘China-way’ as an agency in Bangalore.
example for many other countries whose
systems require improvements to better
serve children,” Gamer told the gathering.
“Adoption agencies have come to under- Min, Kyung-tae, has been selected as the
stand that they can rely on China’s process new President of Holt Children’s Services
to be ethical and proficient, and this is (HCS) of Korea, effective Sept. 1. President
vitally important for the stability in our own Min served as Director of the Holt Ilsan
Residence Facility for two terms and has
operations,” he said.
worked for Holt-Korea for 25 years.
Korea
Russia
Holt opened an office in Moscow in
September as it continues to work toward
registration.
Kazakhstan
Three brothers whose family lost its livelihood during the
tsunami. are among those being helped by Holt donations.
Thailand
Holt Sahathai Foundation, our sister agency
in Thailand, continues to help victims of
the December 2004 tsunami. In 2006, HSF
provided services to more than 250 families,
including over 500 children. Educational
sponsorships, loan services for occupations,
nutrition and healthcare, kinship care for
elderly, single mother’s counseling, and
community-based development are some of
the ways HSF is helping children and their
families who lost homes, livelihood and
loved ones as a result of the tsunami. HSF
social workers are engaged in a 3-year commitment to help people rebuild their lives.
HSF celebrated its 30th anniversary in July.
12
Fall 2006
On July 31, HCS held the 6th Anniversary
Memorial Service for “Grandma” Bertha Holt,
co-founder of Holt International. Grandma
Holt continues to be revered by the Korean
people for her dedication to vulnerable
children.
Fourteen children affected by HIV are
now in our sponsorship program. Holt is
also developing a foster family project and
an international adoption program in the
Republic of Kazakhstan and can be contacted by interested families. The program
has been named Holt Balalar Kory.
Ukraine
Ten new relief-style nurseries are being initiated in the Ukraine following a June visit
to Holt International’s Eugene office by a
Ukrainian delegation. Government bodies,
not private entities, will support the new
centers. Efforts are underway to recruit 800
foster families for children being served by
this Holt-supported program.
India
Following a two-year approval process, children are now being received into care at the
Chiplun branch of Holt’s partner agency in
Ilsan Director Min, Kyung-tae speaks at Grandma
Bertha Holt’s 6th Annual Memorial Service in
late July. Admitted into Holt care in 1958, Ilsan
resident Kim, Young-hee sits in her wheelchair and
listens. Director Min has since been named the new
President of Holt Children’s Services of Korea.
Gary Gamer
recounts his visit to
an orphanage where
Holt is beginning a
program, an effort
that Holt hopes will
influence the care of
homeless children
across this country
where people have
suffered so much.
A New Beginning in Cambodia
C
Pictured: Children in care at a Holtsupported orphanage in Cambodia.
by Gary Gamer, President and CEO
Children came running out, smiling and
greeting us when we arrived at one of Holt’s
newest partner agencies, the Cambodian
International Children Friends Organization
(CICFO). Genuinely glad to see us, the
children couldn’t wait to take us on a tour
of their home and show off the orphanage
mascot—a very much enamored black and
white mama cat that recently had birthed a
litter of kittens.
There are a number of reasons that Holt
is back in Cambodia at this time. We know
this region well. We have good programs
and wonderful partners in Thailand, Vietnam
and the Philippines. We can draw upon these
resources for training and as models to build
our capacity to help children in Cambodia.
We had a program in Cambodia in the ’90s,
and so we are remembered there. Today,
Cambodia represents all of the different reasons why children around the world are at
risk: poverty, social change breaking down
families, single parents, HIV/AIDS. It’s got
it all.
As we were touring around and getting
to know the kids at CICFO, I got the strong
impression that this was a safe haven for these
children. At CICFO they were protected; they
got nutritious meals; their caregivers really
loved and cared for them and truly wanted
to make a difference in their lives. The joy
on their faces evidenced the good care the
children were getting.
establish CICFO and who have been keeping
it going largely at their own expense. I am
excited about Holt partnering with this organization and jointly developing greater services
to help the children. There is a lot to do.
Our dream for each child at CICFO is to
have a permanent family, be it through adoption or reunification or long-term family-like
care. We need to improve their facility and
inject what ultimately Holt does best: develop
programs that get a child from a point of vulnerability into a permanent loving family.
Sponsorship will help improve all of the
conditions affecting children and help ensure
that they get proper medical care, good food
and that their shelter is improved. We never
lose sight of the ultimate goal, however. Holt
is dedicated to getting children into families.
We don’t just talk about it. We direct resources and develop systems that enable children
to rejoin their parents and ensure the stability
of the family.
The people who contribute and sponsor
children are crucial in this formula. Sponsors
make a tremendous difference in being able
to get a program off the ground and sustain
those services. Plus children and the caregivers have hope when they realize that there are
people halfway around the planet who really
care for them and are providing for the kids
and praying for the kids and their well-being.
Jesus in His ministry stood by the disenfranchised and those who face difficulty
in their lives. Cambodia is a country that
has gone through unbelievable difficulties
and sacrifices and challenges. If there ever
was a country to pray for, and if there ever
were children in a country to pray for, it’s
Cambodia. ■
That’s a tribute to dedication of Keo Botevy
and Ouk Vanneth, two women who helped
www.holtinternational.org
13
Lokesh
children
with special
needs are…
Ramesh
Eun-hwan
In this section we introduce children
who are waiting for adoptive families. They
may be older, have medical conditions or be
part of a sibling group. Each child is very
special with much to offer the family who
accepts one as their own son or daughter.
The children shown here represent just a
few of those who need parents. Because
Holt’s website provides a more complete
listing and can be updated daily, we
ask you to view additional children at
www.holtinternational.org/waitingchild.
If you would like more information about a
particular child, please contact Carrie Palmer
in our Waiting Child Program. She would
be happy to share more information with
you. You can request a Waiting Child Packet
either by calling the Waiting Child Program
at (541)687-2202 or through our website.
These descriptions of waiting children are
based on information available to Holt from
caregivers and medical personnel in the
children’s country of origin. Holt cannot guarantee the accuracy of these
descriptions or that the medical and
psychological diagnoses of the children are correct or complete.
Lokesh and Ramesh
Born in India, October 17, 2000 and October
15, 2002
These delightful brothers came into care in
August 2005 after their birth parents passed
away. They enjoy playing with neighborhood children and their foster family but
consider each other their “preferred friend.”
Both are active, in good health and on target for their age. They enjoy attending an
informal school and can express themselves
well.
Jaynath
Born in India, September 19, 2005
At 10 months old, Jaynath could stand and
walk with support, pick up small items
in his hand and say several word sounds.
He enjoys living with his foster family. At
birth, he went into respiratory distress and
was found to have acyanotic congenital
heart anomaly. He will need surgery in the
future.
Eun-hwan
14
Fall 2006
Born in Vietnam, September 13, 2002
Anh loves spending time with his foster
father and helping his foster mother around
the house. He is said to be developmentally on target for his age, but he speaks
with a lisp and his pronunciation is not
always clear. Anh is on medication for lipid
nephrosis and for epilepsy. He loves singing
songs and playing in kindergarten.
Ricky
Born in the Philippines, June 12, 2002
This handsome boy loves to play basketball
and ride bikes with other children. He has
been in the same care center since he was
5 months old and is reported to be healthy,
but with hearing loss and some speech
delay.
Anh
Born in Korea, April 14, 2005
This sweet little boy enjoys being held
by his foster mother and tries to say “I
love you.” He has mild cognitive and
language delays that may be due to
cortical atrophy and resolved microcephaly. Eun-hwan has gone through
physical therapy and will receive occupational therapy. He can walk alone
and enjoys pulling a toy car.
Anh
Jaynath
See more children at holtinternational.org/waitingchild
Robbie
Born in China, February 28, 2003
An energetic and lovable boy, Robbie will
comfort other children if they cry. He is
close to his caregivers and roommates, and
he verbally expresses his needs and desires.
Robbie speaks in simple sentences and
enjoys simple jigsaw puzzles. Found on his
day of birth, Robbie has anorchia of both
testes, and hypospadias.
Kyle
Born in China, October 18, 2004
A cute little boy whose motor skills appear
to be on target for his age, Kyle likes to be
held and spoken to and is close to his foster family. He has cleft lip and palate and
has had a surgery on his lip. Kyle has also
tested positive for hepatitis C.
Shravani
Born in India, August 15, 2005
Shravani shows a happy disposition and is
observant and curious. She has levocardia
and congenital heart disease—a small atrial
septal defect and a large ventricular septal
defect—and has had some surgery. She
can sit with support, turn over, and grasp
objects but has some delays. She recognizes
the familiar voices and faces of her caregivers among whom she has a favorite.
Joy
Born in Haiti, November 2, 1997
Joy is fun, gregarious and likes to tell
jokes. She enjoys singing and dancing,
often initiates activities and likes to play
with the other girls in her group home.
A tuberculosis skin test was positive but
her x-ray came out negative, so she may
only have been exposed. She is otherwise
healthy. Reduced fees and a $4,000 grant
from Brittany‘s Hope are available for Joy’s
adoption.
Phuc
Born in Vietnam, January 18, 2004
Phuc lives with a foster family and likes to
receive love and care. He enjoys playing
soccer with other children, and he takes
a bow and claps his hands after singing. Phuc tested positive for syphilis, was
treated with penicillin and now has the
antibody. Although Phuc is a carrier, he is
said to be in good health.
Shravani
In Oregon many children in state foster
care are waiting for adoptive homes.
Agencies reduce fees for the adoption
of a child in state care, and financial
assistance may be available. To learn
more, call the Special Needs Adoption
Coalition at The Boys and Girls Aid
Society at (877) 932-2734 x 2392,
or DHS at (800) 331-0503. Also visit
www.boysandgirlsaid.org and www.
nwae.org for information and photos
of waiting children. Singles and couples are encouraged to call.
Angelica, age 8, and Tyler, age 9
Tyler’s quiet and sensitive nature is
very appealing. He is described as a
real sweetheart. Angelica’s enthusiasm
and exuberance for life are contagious. She has a great deal of love to
share with others. This brother and
sister complement each other nicely.
Regardless of their different natures,
they are very close and have been
through some tough times together.
Tyler is devoted to sports, including
basketball, swimming and bike riding.
Angelica likes to draw or swim, as well
as attempt new and daring feats on
the trampoline.
Ricky
Kyle
Robbie
Oregon Waiting Child
Joy
In school, both children are behind
grade level but are steadily progressing with the help of stable school and
home environments. They are quite
pleased and proud of their advancements. Tyler and Angelica will need
adoptive parents who
can help each
child to face
their emotions
more effectively.
Parents must also
Phuc
be completely
convincing in their
efforts to demonstrate a permanent
commitment to
these wonderful
children.
www.holtinternational.org
15
from the family
Life Triumphs
His mother calls her little boy “one of Holt’s miracles.” But Chad’s own fighting
spirit, South Korea’s great medical care and many dedicated people all helped
bring him home to a permanent, loving family.
by Susan Klein—
Hospers, IA
Above left: Chad Klein at
age 5. Center: Chad at 5
with siblings Brett, 8; Cari,
6; Dane, 7; and Courtney,
10 . Right: As he appeared
in the Sept/Oct 2002 issue
of Hi Families magazine.
J
Just over five years ago, I picked up my 1-year-old
daughter in Seoul, South Korea, and unknowingly,
left my 2-month-old little boy fighting for his life in a
hospital in the very same city.
Our son is one of Holt’s miracles. He was born
early, his esophagus a dead end with a little hole leading to his windpipe. He could not eat. He could not
even safely swallow. Statistically he shouldn’t have
lived. Without the extensive medical care he received
in Korea, he wouldn’t have.
Chad was first featured in Hi Families magazine
in the Sept/Oct 2002 issue. What a sad little boy he
appeared to be, with such a long list of problems.
After many months of prayer and a successful surgery
for our daughter, we answered God’s call to adopt little
Kun-hee. Two and a half years after his homecoming
he’s still a little boy, but he’s not sad anymore.
When Chad came he couldn’t run around our sofa
without being winded. He didn’t know how to eat
solid food and wouldn’t try. Every night when he
was in bed he vomited at least once, and sometimes
three or four times. He coughed constantly. He was
3 years old and weighed only 23 pounds. He didn’t
understand a word we said and couldn’t communicate
many of his needs to us. And, he was scared.
This fall Chad will start kindergarten. He can run
around our house three or four times trying to keep
up with his older siblings’ games. He laughs while
he’s running. He eats well, especially when his oldest
sister encourages him to try something new. He hasn’t
vomited in a long time. He still coughs occasionally,
and the doctors say he always will. But he doesn’t
cough for attention anymore. With the help of hearing
aids he can now hear almost everything we say and
is starting to speak in complete sentences. He understands at least 98 percent of English now. He’s 5 years
16
Fall 2006
old and only 27 pounds, but he’s the closest example
I’ve ever seen of perpetual motion!
Throughout the two and a half years he’s been
with us we’ve taken him to a urologist, cardiologist,
plastic surgeon, gastroenterologist, pediatric surgeon,
pulmonologist, ear, nose and throat specialists and an
audiologist. When I tell him we’re going to his doctor
he asks, “Which one?” He likes them all.
His heart problems have resolved themselves; we’ve
been released from the cardiologist’s care. His urinary
tract problems have been corrected. His hearing loss
has been identified and is being monitored. He will
probably forever be in the care of a gastroenterologist
and pulmonologist, but those conditions are being
managed. He takes three pills, uses an inhaler twice,
a nebulizer once and respiratory vest treatment twice
every day. He can’t lie down for one and a half hours
after he eats because he has severe acid reflux disease.
One day he might be able to have surgery to correct
that, but he needs time to grow and heal from the
surgeries that saved his life in Korea.
Without those surgeries and the Korean medical
staff that cared so much for him, he would not have
survived. When I went to get Chad in Seoul, I visited the hospital to meet the staff that cared for him.
Although I couldn’t understand the language, I could
see how many people Chad had wrapped around his
very tiny finger in that hospital! What a tribute to Holt
Children’s Services of Korea and the hospital staff.
Chad has a wonderful future ahead of him. He’s
a bright little boy who is a survivor. God has an
unimaginable plan for his life and we are honored to
be a part of that plan. We sincerely appreciate Holt
for being God’s arms holding our little boy when we
didn’t even know him. ■
Copyright 2006 by Susan Klein
A Tale of Creativity and Courage
Despite grave illness, a 10-year-old adoptee from China
continues to create fantastic stories of adventure that encourage others to come into the light.
Like the characters in her stories, Kara Siert has a battle to
fight. Adopted through Holt as an infant from Mother’s Love
Orphanage in Nanning, China, the 9-year-old was in the midst
of a prolific writing spree when her parents, Linda and Ward,
moved the family to England last summer. Her father, an RN on
active duty with the Air Force, is a member of the 48th Medical
Operations Squadron stationed at RAF Lakenheath.
Kara was writing about her own imaginary land of Cunburra
where the Great Buffalo King helps horses battle the Evil Lady
of the Sea. She was writing about Nancy, who adopts animals
and receives the aid of snakes in the evil place of Closed Door
Land. She was writing about love and forgiveness and a personal relationship with God.
Meanwhile, Kara’s right arm was hurting, and although she told
herself it was growing pains, somehow she knew it was something more. Not just a bruise. Not just a muscle ache.
Finally, the pain got so intense her parents took her to the
medical clinic. An X-ray revealed a massive tumor. Seven weeks
later, the results of a biopsy gave the awful diagnosis of bone
cancer. Soon chemotherapy began and she was too sick to
write anymore.
Now 10, she’s had part of her upper arm bone replaced by a
titanium rod. She’s been through 10 months of rigorous chemotherapy. She’s lost her hair.
Furthermore, she
is already the published author of
a book, Tales of
Cunburra and Other
Stories, an impressive 237 pages of
fantasy and faith,
which can be purchased through the
Kara Siert, 10, holds a copy of her book.
Holt website using
amazon.com (www.
holtinternational.org/shopping/). With the help of the children’s
charity Dreams Come True and Arima Publishing, Kara’s dream
to become published was realized. Thanks to her parents, her
doctors and her own indomitable spirit, she is writing again.
Kara has struggled with nausea and weight loss from the chemotherapy. Due to the tendons in her shoulder being removed,
she can no longer raise her upper arm by itself. She can never
again lift anything heavy. She must now contend with heart
damage from one of the drugs used to treat her cancer.
As she battles her way through a baffling land of obstacles
with the God-given gift of imagination and faith, Kara Siert has
become a heroine in her own drama—and is proving to be an
inspiration to others. ■
But Kara, who looks at life from the bright side, has much to be
thankful for. Her cancer is responding to treatment.
Devoted to the Children
A Portland real estate broker donates 15%
of sales to find families for children.
Larry Blackmar was managing a national sales network in sports
marketing when he and his also busy wife, Tracy Barry, a prominent television journalist, decided to adopt a little girl from
China. A few years later, they adopted another.
Meanwhile, Larry went looking for a career that would allow
him more time at home with his young family. He found one
in Portland, Oregon’s booming real estate market. It wasn’t long
before Larry began committing 15 percent of his real estate
commissions every year to Holt International, a move that he
calls a “combination of my passion for my family, my community
and a job I enjoy every day.”
Every year, Tracy and Larry help make Holt’s Portland Auction a
huge success, donating countless hours to the cause of helping
children find families.
“Through Holt
International’s help
we experienced
firsthand the thrill
of bringing two
beautiful girls into
our home,“ says
Larry. “We also
experienced firsthand the dramatic
need for more adoptive parents and
foster care programs
to care for so many
more children.”
“Larry and Tracy
Larry Blackmar and Tracy Barry with daughters Ali and Grace.
are very plugged
in,” says Phil Littleton, Holt’s Vice President of Marketing and
Development. “They offer a different angle of the way a family
stays connected to Holt.” ■
You can learn more about what Larry is doing through his website—LarryBlackmar.com—which links directly to the Holt website.
www.holtinternational.org
17
CONGRATULATIONS!
Holt’s 2006
Graduates
Aderman, Anne
Alves, Kimberly
Ambridge, Susan
Ambroson, Mariel
Bauer, Angela
Andersen, Brigida
Andrews, Michael
Armstrong, Daniel
Augustin, Timothy
Baedke, Daniel
Bell, Stacy
Bernard, David
Bing, Jae
Boyd, Alaynia
Boyd, Alexis
Aderman, Anne­—Colorado Springs, CO; Music
Merit Scholarship recipient, Dean’s List, B.M. in
violin performance, University of Illinois. Plans to
enter a music master’s program. (Korea)
Alves, Kimberly—Santa Clara, CA; Jumping for
Joy competitive jumprope team, marching band,
Patrick S. Gilmore Music Award, Marching Band
drum major. Plans to major in special education
at San Jose State University in San Jose, CA. (Korea)
Ambridge, Susan—Bel Air, MD; Phi Sigma Pi, Alpha Kappa Delta, Dean’s List, BA in Criminal Justice from University of Delaware. Plans to attend
graduate school and pursue a law enforcement
career. (Korea)
Ambroson, Mariel—Asotin, WA; NHS; Junior Miss
Most Inspirational; FFA treasurer; FBLA president;
class vice president; basketball and volleyball
team captain; Departmental Scholar. Plans to
major in administration of justice at Skagit Valley
College, Mt. Vernon, WA. (India)
Andersen, Brigida—Papillion, NE; Student Ambassador, Dance Team, Dance Team Captain,
Operation Other. Plans to major in fashion merchandising at the University of Nebraska in Omaha.
(Korea)
Andrews, Michael—Fayetteville, GA; Graduated
from Fayette County High School. Plans to attend Gordon College in Barnesville, GA. (India)
Armstrong, Daniel—Evansville, IN; Varsity soccer,
soccer scholarship, Honorable Mention All-State,
18
Fall 2006
Sectional Champs 3 years, high school police officer. Plans to study criminal justice at Oakland
City University in Oakland City, IN. (Korea)
Augustin, Timothy—Muskegon, MI Summa; Cum
Laude, B.S. in engineering from University of
Michigan at Ann Arbor. Accepted into a master’s
program at University of Michigan. (Korea)
Baedke, Daniel—Sioux Falls, SD; Band, chorus,
show choir, jazz band, State Honor Choir, Regional Honor’s Choir, All-State Choir, Student of the
Year. Plans to study engineering at South Dakota
State University in Brookings. (Korea)
Bauer, Angela—Madison, PA; NHS, Student Coun-
cil, CAP/SADD, FCA, Art Club, Choraliers, Soccer,
Honors Choir, County Chorus, school musical,
piano. Plans to major in music education at Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, PA. (India)
Buckley, Christian
Boyd, Alaynia—Mapleton, UT; NHS, graduated
with Honors; Young Woman Recognition Award.
Plans to major in elementary education at Utah
Valley Sate College in Orem, UT. (Korea)
Boyd, Alexis—Mapleton, UT; NHS, graduated with
Honors; Young Woman Recognition Award. Plans
to major in home and family living at Utah Valley
State College in Orem, UT. (Korea)
Buckley, Christian—Omaha, NE; Motherland Tour
2006. Plans to attend the University of Nebraska
in Lincoln, NE. (Korea)
Camp, James “Ted”—Cedar Rapids, IA; Student
conductor and cello in school orchestra, Orchestra President, Honor Roll, Above and Beyond
Award. Plans to major in business at Wartburg
College in Waverly, IA. (Korea)
Bell, Stacy—Seattle, WA; B.A. in English literature
Carland, Thomas—Sioux Falls, SD; Sioux Falls Flyers Varsity Hockey. Plans to attend the South Dakota Culinary Arts Academy in Sioux Falls. (Korea)
Bernard, David—Mercerville, NJ; FBA, intermural
Castle, Marisha—Murrieta, CA; Advanced drama,
chamber choir, Drama Club Event Coordinator.
Plans to major in musical theatre at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. (Korea)
with a minor in sociology from Seattle University
in Seattle, WA. Plans to get a job in publishing or
with a magazine. (Korea)
basketball and football, B.S. in business management and human resource management at Rider
University in Lawrenceville, NJ. (Korea)
Bing, Jae—Pinedale, WY; Alpine skiing, track, NHS.
Plans to study business law at the University of
Wyoming in Laramie. (Korea)
Caudill, Sarah—Lexington, KY; KMEA State
Marching Band Champions, field hockey, Beta
Club, Honor Roll, Caring for Kids, Wind Ensemble.
Plans to study communication disorders at Murray State University in Murray, KY. (Korea)
Camp, Ted
Carland, Thomas
Castle, Marisha
Caudill, Sarah
Childs, Zachary
Clemens, Kim
Cody, Halley
Costello, Chris
Cowsky, McKenzie
Cummings, Kimi
Dederer, Anne
Delatour, Michael
Durant, Ellen
Euken, Daniel
Falcone, Timothy
Fantegrossi, Rabin
Foster, Patrick
Frey, Steven
Euken, Daniel—Kaneohe, HI; Volleyball, school
mascot, choir, ministry team. Plans to major in
computer science at Honolulu Community College.
(Philippines)
Gage, Antony
Gardner, Catherine
Childs, Zachary—Central Point, OR; Bachelor of
Architecture from the University of Oregon with a
minor in business administration. Working toward
an architectural license as an intern architect with
Fletcher Farr Ayotte Inc. in Portland, OR. (Korea)
Clemens, Kim—Baltimore, MD; Art Honor Society,
Math Honor Society. Plans to attend McDaniel
College in Westminster, MD. (Korea)
Cody, Halley—Seattle, WA; Three-time award win-
ning vocal ensemble at Holy Names Academy, Seattle Youth Symphony, Seattle Conservatory, Seattle Young Artist’s Music Festival. Plans to attend
Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, PA. (Korea)
Costello, Chris—Richmond, KY; NHS, Junior Clas-
sical League, Y Club, Kentucky Governor’s Scholar,
Commonwealth Diploma, soccer team, tennis team.
Plans to major in civil engineering at the University
of Louisville in Louisville, KY. (Korea)
Cowsky, McKenzie—Ashland, NE; Cheerleading
captain, softball captain, Student Council, Holt
Gish, Andrew
Gourley, Emily
Adoptee Camp Counselor 2006. Plans to major in
nursing at Hastings College in Hastings, NE. (Korea)
Cummings, Kimi—Pocatello, ID; All Northwest &
All State Choirs, academic highest honors, NHS,
DAR Good Citizen Award. Plans to major in business marketing at Concordia University in Irvine,
CA. (Korea)
Dederer, Anne—Reno, NV; Nevada High School
Scholars Award, Academic Letter Award and Varsity Tennis Letter. Plans to major in biological
sciences at the University of California at Davis.
(Korea)
Delatour, Michael—Berkeley Hts, NJ; Manager,
basketball and baseball teams. Works at a local
hospital. (Korea)
Durant, Ellen—Garland, TX; Fifth in class, varsity
volleyball and soccer, NHS, Beta Club, Mu Alpha
Theta. Plans to major in industrial engineering at
Texas Tech in Lubbock, TX. (Philippines)
Falcone, Timothy—Southampton, NJ; Full Merit
Scholarship; National Merit Commended Scholar;
New Jersey Bloustein Scholar recipient; Outstanding Academic Achievement Award. Plans to attend
The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ. (Korea)
Fantegrossi, Rabin (Ben)—Windham, NH; High
Honors for Studies; Homeland Visit to Thailand
at age 12; enjoys woodworking, psychology and
paintball. Plans to attend the University of New
Hampshire in Durham. (Thailand)
Foster, Patrick—Brewster, NY; Yearbook Committee, Safe School Ambassador, Chamber of Commerce and United Methodist scholarships, Principal’s Award, Holt Camp counselor 2005. Plans to
major in computer animation at Pratt at MunsonWilliams-Proctor in Utica, NY. (Thailand)
Frey, Steven—Dayton, NJ; National Honors Art Society, Anime Club, soccer. Plans to major in animation at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
(Korea)
Gage, Antony­—Carmichael, CA; Received a Cer-
tificate of Completion in Independent Living Skills.
Currently attends Orange Grove Adult School in
Sacramento, CA. (Costa Rica)
www.holtinternational.org
19
graduates
Hahn, Alexis
Henes, John
Hirakawa, Patrick
Hull, Jackson
Ihms, Tida
Kidwell, Brittany
Koons, Emily
Lee, Bethany
Lemmon, Kevin
Lepping, William
Lufkin, Alana
Malone, Alex
Marksch, Rebecca
Marriott, Paul
Mattix, Mitchell
McCroskey, Nyla
Mendel, Marissa
Mickle, Kori
Gardner, Catherine—Ottumwa, IA; NHS, speech
and debate teams, tennis, show choir, National
Forensic League, National High School Orchestra
Award, Ottumwa Community Symphony, co-editor
of high school paper. Plans to major in international relations at Carleton College in Northfield,
MN. (Korea)
to travel to Japan in November, and then attend a
community college in Honolulu. (Korea)
Gish, Andrew—Owensboro, KY; Valedictorian,
Trustee’s Scholarship—Hallmark Award, Owensboro
Rotary Club Scholarship; soccer, swimming, karate
and academic awards. Plans to study engineering
at the University of Louisville in the Honors Program. (Korea)
Court, lab assistant, yearbook, 4H. Plans to major
in communication and ministry at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, IN. (Thailand)
Gourley, Emily—Springfield, OR; Peer Group Lead-
er; mat girl, wrestling; photo editor, school newsletter. Plans to major in elementary education at
Lane Community College in Eugene, OR. (Korea)
Hahn, Alexis—West Des Moines, IA; Concert and
Symphony Band letters, Marching Band squad
leader, Flute Solo 1 and Piano 1 state ratings,
academic awards and volunteer community service
awards. Plans to attend the University of Iowa in
Iowa City. (Korea)
Henes, John—Creighton, NE; Band, jazz band,
vocal music, swing choir, football, cross country,
wrestling—state qualifier, track, school record 4 X
100 relay. Enlisted in Army Reserves and plans to
major in criminal justice at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. (Korea)
Hirakawa, Patrick—Mililani, HI; JV & Varsity bowling teams, first and second trumpet, band. Plans
20
Fall 2006
Hull, Jackson—Laramie, WY; Multicultural Group,
Student Achiever Award, Homecoming royalty.
Undecided. (Korea)
Ihms, Tida—Russiaville, IN; Volleyball Queen of the
Kidwell, Brittany—Bloomfield, KY; First in class,
UK Singletary Scholarship, Robert C. Byrd Honors
Scholarship, NHS, Dance Team Academic Award,
Better Business Bureau Ethics in Action Scholarship. Plans to attend the University of Kentucky in
Lexington. (Korea)
Koons, Emily—Auburn, CA; Selected by faculty as
outstanding young woman in graduating class; JV
volleyball, basketball & soccer; varsity tennis; choir,
northern California Regional Honor Choir. Plans to
major in science at the University of California at
San Diego. (Korea)
Lee, Bethany—Kennewick, WA; B.A. in communication journalism and comparative ethnic studies
from Washington State University. Works as a
writer in the Interactive Media Department at the
Tri-City Herald. (Korea)
Lemmon, Kevin—Allen, TX; Band, trombone; NHS.
Plans to major in engineering at the University of
Texas at Austin. (Korea)
Lepping, William—Louisville, KY; JV wrestling letter, honorable mention 2006 High School Journalism Contest, certificate of recognition for Congressional Art Contest. Plans to major in psychology at
the University of Kentucky in Lexington. (Korea)
Lufkin, Alana Trupti—Gardiner, ME; Student
Council classroom rep, Drama Club assistant for
younger grades, volunteer for Children’s Miracle
Network and Make-a-Wish. Plans to major in child
psychology at the University of Maine at Farmington. (India)
Malone, Alex—Arlington, TN; Provost Scholarship,
Hope Scholarship, Honors Scholarship, Wright
Medical Scholarship, Student Council, Mock Trial
Team Captain, Soccer Team Captain. Plans to major
in philosophy and business administration at the
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. (Korea)
Marksch, Rebecca—Tucson, AZ; Graduated Dec.
2005 with a “top graduate” award in systems engineering from the University of Arizona. Enjoys
the outdoors and volleyball. Works as a systems
engineer in New Hampshire.
Marriott, Paul—Indianola, IA; Drama, Thespian
Honor Society, Eagle Scout, Special Olympics
in bowling, basketball and track. Plans to work.
(Thailand)
Mattix, Mitchell—Shawnee, KS; SADD & STAND copresident, hockey, runner-up Homecoming King.
Plans to major in radio & TV production at Kansas
State University in Manhattan, KS. (Korea)
Graduating on Time with Her Class
While fighting to meet multiple healthcare challenges, an adoptee from India
developed a passion for helping children worse off than she was.
My husband was at work when the agency called
to say they had a file on a child for us to look at. I
dropped everything and went to the Holt office to
find out more about her.
When
I
looked at her
photograph,
my
heart
connected
immediately.
What wisdom I saw in
her one good
eye.
The
other, blind
and opaque,
did not put
me off. She
had a scowl
on her face
showing her
disapproval
of
being
made
to
pose.
I got the impression from the social worker that
other families had turned down Trupti’s file before it
was sent to us. What a loss for them and a blessing
for us. Twice my husband and I were given dates
for Trupti’s arrival that were later cancelled by the
American Embassy in India. Finally papers had to
be faxed through our Senator’s office stating that Ken
and I would accept, keep and care for this “severely
developmentally delayed” child.
Five minutes after Alana Trupti was placed in my
arms I turned to Ken and proclaimed, “She is not
delayed. She is very stubborn.”
Alana Trupti has proven me right every day since.
Stubborn, determined, headstrong, and independent
with abundant self-confidence are not always easy
traits from a parent’s perspective, but there is no
doubt in my mind that our daughter flourished from
them and is alive today because of them.
She thrived in every way for eight years—top of her
class, a natural leader and healthy. But Ken and I
noticed she was not growing, even though she was
having what appeared to be growing pains. Her
legs ached; she needed more sleep and was losing
weight. Always the smallest in her class, she was
falling even more behind in size.
Her health rapidly declined. We started looking into
more specialized medical help. After many doctors’
visits, tests, medications and numerous devastating
blood draws, Trupti was diagnosed with Crohn’s/
ulcerative colitis. For three years we managed to
treat her at home through diet, medications and procedures we were taught. After three years we knew
we were losing ground. Trupti had not grown in that
time, and she was now anemic and malnourished.
We spent the next five years in and out of the hospital—sometimes for months at a time—while Trupti
underwent six major operations and many smaller
procedures.
Alana Trupti Lufkin may have
been stubborn, but she was
not severely developmentally delayed, as early reports
described her. Her stubborn
determination worked to
good purpose as she fought
severe health problems but
still managed to graduate on
time. Now, she is heading
off to college determined to
make a difference in the lives
of children who need help.
Trupti always understood there were children worse
off than she was, and she spent a great deal of time
helping them. She still volunteers for Children’s
Miracle Network and Make-a-Wish today, and she is
heading off to the University of Maine with plans to
major in child psychology.
Stubborn determination served
Alana Trupti well through her 80
hospital visits. At first we tried to
tell her that the doctors knew what
they were doing, and she should
listen to them. But we soon realized that her way was better for
her. Not once did she sit back
and let decisions be made for her.
She questioned everything. Her
healthcare workers all loved her
and admitted they admired her
determination and enthusiasm for
life.
She has been in control of every
aspect of her life. She puts her
trust in God but has no problem
in trusting in her own abilities
either. Trupti is her own best
advocate. She is just over 4½
feet tall, but I have never seen
her be intimidated by anyone in
18 years.
Despite missing all of 5th grade
and months of grades 6 through
10, Trupti will be graduating on
time with her class. My husband and I are certain that our faith in God gave us
the daughter we were meant to have, and we have
cherished every day with her.
—By Donna Lufkin/ Gardiner, Maine
www.holtinternational.org
21
graduates
Miller, Bethany
Miller, Katie
Neahring, Mario
Newcomb, Todd
Nickerson, Abby
Novak, Christina
Osler, Gus
Peck, Diane
Pounds, Katie
Reid, Daniel
Reid, Nicole
Rieck, Jared
Roberts, Michael
Roehrig, Emily
Satterfield, Daniel
Sauser, Steven
Scanlan, Shawn
Scheer, Marcus
International University in San Diego. Plans to be
an elementary teacher. (Korea)
Miller, Bethany—Vista, CA; Pep Club, choir. Plans
to attend Palomar Community College in San Marcos, CA. (Korea)
Slater, Autumn
Smithson, Benjamin
Miller, Katie—Freeman, SD; Chamber choir, concert
choir, First Assembly Youth, team manager girls
varsity basketball & volleyball. Plans to major in
business & office systems at Southeast Technical
School in Sioux Falls, SD. (Philippines)
Neahring, Mario—Nehalem, OR; Civil Air Patrol,
church worship team, Manzanita Volunteer Fire
Dept., Teen Missions. Plans to enlist in the Air National Guard or U.S. Air Force. (Philippines)
Spencer, Crystal
Teater, Scott
McCroskey, Nyla—Pitman, NJ; Choir, soccer, Media
Award, Music Award. Plans to major in culinary
arts at the Atlantic Cape Culinary Institute in Mays
Landing, NJ. (Korea)
Mendel, Marissa—Gahanna, OH; B’nai B’rith Youth
Organization, newspaper, photo club, Ohio honors
diploma. Plans to major in fashion merchandising
at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. (Korea)
Mickle, Kori—San Diego, CA; Worked 40 hours a
week while earning a BA in sociology from Alliant
22
Fall 2006
Newcomb, Todd—Oologah, OK; NHS, Student
Council, band, basketball, tennis, drama, speech &
debate, Business Professionals of America, Who’s
Who, National Forensic League, Academic AllAmerican, mission trips. Plans to major in business
at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK.
(Korea)
Nickerson, Abby—State College, PA; Dance Marathon, Powder Puff Football, Power of the Paw, Katrina Effort. Plans to major in office management
at South Hills School of Business and Technologies
in State College, PA. (Korea)
Novak, Christina—Lake Hiawatha, NJ; Dean’s List,
National Dean’s List, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Kappa
Phi, Third Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do. B.A. in
English, Creative Writing from Montclair State
University in Upper Montclair, NJ. Plans to attend
graduate school. (Korea)
Osler, Gus—Rochester, MN; Soccer. Plans to at-
tend Rochester Community & Technical College in
Rochester, MN, then study recording/production at
a college in the Twin Cities with an eye toward the
music industry. (Guatemala)
Peck, Diane—Sacramento, CA; Sacramento Stingrays Head Coach, water polo, swimming. BA in
liberal studies from California State University in
Sacramento. Plans to pursue career in recreation
management or education. (Korea)
Pounds, Katie—Southaven, MS; Fellowship of Christian Students, Spanish Club, Fellowship of Christian
athletes, basketball, volleyball, Lady Charger Award
sophomore basketball and senior volleyball. Plans
to major in athletic training and physical therapy at
Delta State University in Cleveland, MS. (Korea)
Reid, Daniel—Sarasota, FL; High Honors, Bright
Futures Scholarship, Broadcast Media/Film Scholarship. Plans to major in film and digital media at
the University of Central Florida in Orlando. (Thailand)
Reid, Nicole—Loretto, KY; Beta Club, HOSA Club,
Marching Band, Honor Roll, Pep Club, WKU Scholarship. Plans to major in middle school education
at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green,
KY. (Korea)
Summer School in Korea
An adoptee visits her birth country to learn more about the culture
and language, to meet her foster family and other international
adoptees, and to look for her birth parents and finding place.
As a transracial Korean adoptee, I believed that traveling back to South Korea for Holt-Korea’s 2006 Summer
School program would be easy to handle. This would
not be the first time I had come in contact with Asian
culture. My adoptive father is Chinese and his mother
lived with us for most of my childhood. From a young
age I was immersed in Asian culture, and I also studied about my own Korean heritage. When my older
adopted Korean brother went through Holt’s Summer
School in 2002, I secretly counted the years until I was
old enough to attend.
After being selected to participate this past summer,
I realized that there’s no real way to prepare oneself.
Because of the many ways this experience touched me
and changed me, I will never be the same.
When I arrived at the dorm in Ilsan, I felt the nervous
energy of coming back to my homeland melt away.
Meeting 18 other transracial adoptees from around the
world was surreal. I had studied the numbers before
and knew that more than 150,000 children had been
adopted from Korea, but never in my life had I been
around so many. In addition, I had never seen so
many orphans with disabilities than at the dorm where
we also stayed. Although it was sad to know that
they would never be adopted because of their severe
status, it was inspiring to see them living a happy life
at Ilsan Center.
After getting past everyone’s accents—students came
from Denmark, Belgium and other countries besides
the United States—I began to see them as my brothers and sisters. We were all the same; it’s just that we
were sent to different countries. It was a strange feeling realizing that these people understood me. They
understood the sense of emptiness that most adoptees
feel. And I began to understand the Korean way of
seeing everyone and everything as connected. The
inclusive nature of the country was undeniable and
always present.
As I learned about my culture firsthand through private
lessons in language, cooking, Tae Kwon Do, singing
and music, my experiences seemed more than anyone
could ask for. When we got to meet the orphans at
the office of Holt Children’s Services of Korea in Seoul,
I saw ourselves in these babies as we were 20-plus
years ago. Being able to hold them, see their innocent
faces and hear their beautiful laughs made my heart
heavy, and I wondered the same old question, Why do
people put their children up for adoption?
During the program I got to meet my foster mother
who had taken care of me for four months. She was
about my size and still looked relatively young. When
she saw me, she held me in her arms and sobbed
uncontrollably. In addition, I got to meet my foster
father, sister, niece and nephew. Although I had to
bring a translator in order to understand them, I felt a deeper connection, where we didn’t need words
to express ourselves. When I ate
dinner with them, they acted as if
I were their own and asked me to
consider them as my birth parents,
because Holt and I were unable to
locate them.
Although I was unable to trace my
birth parents, I did visit the place
where I was found at 7 months of
age. My finding place was in a small city in Daejeon,
toward the middle of South Korea. I felt overwhelmed,
and yet numb at the same time. The place seemed old
and forgotten, and it was difficult for me to imagine
what it looked like 20 years ago. I felt a twinge of
sadness as I walked around, but part of me was happy
that I was able to come back and see the place with
my own eyes. It was as if I had closed one door in a
chapter of my life.
Bethany Lee says goodbye to Molly Holt at the
completion of the HCS 2006
Summer School program
for international adoptees.
Being in South Korea helped me appreciate my culture
and gave me an opportunity to connect in many ways
not possible except firsthand. Seeing the busy streets
of Seoul was completely different from my small-town
upbringing. Viewing all the street markets and flashing billboards made me dizzy with delight. With
hundreds of people whizzing by, I never felt like I was
alone. On the opposite spectrum, seeing the southern
parks of South Korea, such as Busan, was a real treat
and a humbling experience. The air was different and
the spacious cropland was magnificently everything I
dreamed it would be. I felt as if the landscape there
was sacred and preserved, allowing people to reconnect with the true beauty of nature.
Throughout the program we went to temples, tombs,
palaces, folk villages and more. Paying my respects at
Buddhist temples allowed me to appreciate the various
gods and goddesses who protect us. Especially being
an adoptee, I found it nice to believe that somewhere
someone is watching over us.
Since returning from Korea, I have continued to
develop my Korean side. Cooking Korean dishes,
practicing the language and getting in touch with other
Korean adoptees in my town, I have found it easier to
connect with other Koreans in general. The program
is over, but my journey as a person is only beginning.
I will take this experience with me for the rest of my
life. I no longer see myself as an orphan, but as a
fortunate human being who is lucky enough to have
two homes.
—By Bethany Lee
Kennewick, Washington
The Holt Summer School,
a three-week program that
has met every year since
1992, is an inexpensive
way for international
adoptees from Korea to
revisit their birthland.
Although the school is
operated by Holt Children’s
Services of Korea, information on how to apply can
be obtained through Holt
International by contacting Paul Kim at paulk@
holtinternational.org
www.holtinternational.org
23
graduates
Therrien, Matthew
Towner, Theodore
Varney, Emma
Voelz, Andrew
Wescombe, Meghan
Wicks, Graeme
Widmer, Amy
Williams, Lynn
Witte, Mary
Zava, Emily
Rieck, Jared—Marion, IA; Graduated from Linn-
from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York
City. Plans to be a freelance photographer. (Korea)
Roberts, Michael—Louisville, KY; Chess Team;
Green Belt in Kempo Karate, working toward Eagle
Scout. Attends Ahrens School, which teaches job
training for people with special needs. (Korea)
Smithson, Benjamin—Murfreesboro, TN; NHS,
Mar High School in Marion. Plans to work. (Korea)
Roehrig, Emily—Louisville, KY; Student Coun-
cil, Kentucky Youth Assembly, Kentucky UN Assembly, soccer, tennis, Honors Program, Senior
Athlete Award. Plans to major in commercial art
at Jefferson Community College in Louisville, KY.
(Korea)
Satterfield, Daniel—Hopkinsville, KY; Daily Princetonian sports writer/editor; Study Abroad—University of Leon; Outdoor Action leader; Tower
Club, Juggling Club; ESL tutor. A.B. in Spanish
and Portuguese languages and cultures from
Princeton University in Princeton, NJ. Plans to
attend law school at Hofstra University on Long
Island, NY. (Korea)
Sauser, Steven—Hammonton, NJ; Dean’s List;
varsity tennis; Chi Phi Fraternity treasurer and
president. B.E. with honors in civil engineering
from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken,
NJ. Progressing to be a professional engineer licensed by the State of New Jersey. (Korea)
Scanlan, Shawn—Abilene, KS; FCA, choir, tennis,
powerlifting, musical, youth group; mission trips,
SEMP, Sister City representative to Minori, Japan.
Plans to study psychology and youth ministry at
Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS. (Korea)
Scheer, Marcus—Cook, NE; Valedictorian, NHS,
Student Council, band, jazz band, FFA, football,
Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, John Phillip Sousa
Award, Senior Class president, NHS president.
Plans to major in photojournalism at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE. (Korea)
Slater, Autumn—Toms River, NJ; Dean’s List, Cum
Laude. Associate in Applied Sciences in Photography
24
Fall 2006
Renaissance Club, Beta Club, Honors graduate,
Spanish Club, Campus Life, First Priority. Plans
to major in mechanical engineering at Tennessee
Tech University in Cookeville, TN. (Korea)
Spencer, Crystal—Janesville, IA; Music and band
letters; All-State Choir; NEIC Choir, Band and
NEIBA Band festivals; honor choirs; high school
and community theater musicals; I ratings at solo/
ensemble contests. Plans to major in vocal music
performance at Wartburg College in Waverly, IA.
(Korea)
Teater, Scott—West Burlington, IA; Eagle Scout,
Marching Band field commander; Louis Armstong
Jazz Award; Senior Honor Award Vocal Music Dept.;
Burlington Municipal Band percussionist; NHS; FCCLA; various scholarships. Plans to major in music
performance and education at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, IA, and transfer
to Central College in Pella, IA. (India)
Therrien, Matthew—Laupahoehoe, HI; Class
president; Student Council vice president; NHS;
Lion’s Honor Student; varsity football, golf and
wrestling; forensics gold medalist; drama; mock
trial. Plans to major in political science and the
biological aspects of conservation at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. (Thailand)
Towner, Theodore—Cape Girardeau, MO; NHS;
Cape Central Band, marching jazz, concert; poetry award; baseball scorekeeper. Plans to attend
Beloit College in Beloit, WS. (Korea)
Varney, Emma—Naples, FL; Honor roll, cross
country and track teams. Plans to major in computer sciences at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg,
FL. (Hong Kong)
Vert, Suzanne—Atascadero, CA; B.S. in neurobiology, physiology and behavior from the University
of California, Davis. No photo available. (Korea)
West, Justin
Voelz, Andrew—Paris, IL; (2005 graduate), basketball team four years. B.A. in communications
& marketing from Benedictine University in Lisle,
IL. Plans to work in athletics marketing in the
business world. (Thailand)
Wescombe, Meghan—Spokane, WA; NHS, March-
ing Band, Wind Ensemble, ASB, top 5 percent of
graduating class. Plans to attend Whitworth College in Spokane, WA. (India)
West, Justin—Spring Lake, NJ; Soccer, martial
arts, Honor Roll, CYO basketball. Plans to major in criminal justice at Monmouth University at
West Long Branch, NJ. (Korea)
Wicks, Graeme—Prospect, KY; NHS, Beta Club,
Who’s Who, Commonwealth Honors Academy
Science Olympiad medalist, wrestling, soccer,
graduated with honors. Plans to study polymer
and fiber engineering at the Georgia Institute of
Technology in Atlanta. (Korea)
Widmer, Amy Jo—Tillamook, OR; Valedictorian,
NHS, Who’s Who, band, basketball, track, student
government, church leadership. Plans to major in
elementary education at George Fox University in
Newberg, OR. ( Korea)
Williams, Lynn­—Urbandale, IA; Second Grade Teacher Mentor Program, church mission trips, Art Fair
exhibitor. Plans to major in esthetics at La James
International College in Des Moines, IA. (Korea)
Witte, Mary Lynn­—Cherry Hill, NJ; Summa Cum
Laude, 4.0, Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society,
Drexel University President’s Award. B.S. in business administration from Drexel University in
Philadelphia. Works at J.P. Morgan in finance and
banking. (Korea)
Zava, Emily—Germantown, TN; French Honor Society, Beta Club, Key Club, coach for church volleyball league. Plans to attend the University of
Memphis Honor’s Program in Memphis, TN. (Korea)
2007 Holt
Heritage Tours
Places
in the heart
connection :: culture :: experience :: engage
Heritage Tours for adoptees
and their families
China Family Tours
Contact Angela Burke, China Program | (541) 687-2202 | angelab@holtinternational.org
Korea Motherland Tour
|
Korea Family Tour
Contact Paul Kim, Korea Program | (541) 687-2202 | paulk@holtinternational.org
holtinternational.org/tours
First Day of Kindergarten
By embracing life’s many unknowns, a feisty 5-year-old inspires her mom to try harder.
Today was my daughter’s first day of kindergarten,
and with a kiss and a wave she was off. There was
just a moment when it appeared she wouldn’t make
it without a push. Her older brothers clung to me on
their first day of school, but Fern’s hesitation came
only because the weight of her backpack imbalanced
her, causing her to waver precariously on the steps
of the bus. Before I could react she regained her
balance and continued to climb aboard. I caught a
last glimpse of her—safely seated and looking triumphant—and then the bus rushed off.
Until then I didn’t realize I had been crying. But the
gust of wind from the bus chilled tears on my face
even on a hot August morning in Atlanta, and gave
me away. The tears were not of sadness, but only
because her courage so vividly reminded me of our
first meeting 2½ years ago in Thailand.
On that day, my husband and I sat on the floor of
a Bangkok hotel reception room and waited. I felt
so nervous I was sick to my stomach. Finally she
appeared in the doorway, impossibly tiny for a 3year-old child. She hesitated only while her social
worker spoke to her. Then she crossed the room to
meet us, alone and with her head held high.
We later learned that what she lacked
in stature she made up for in feistiness.
Thais have a name for petite girls who
are mighty. They call them Lek Prikki
Nu, which means little red hot pepper.
Lek Prikki Nu describes my daughter
perfectly. Her personality is a gift that
has served her well, both when she left
everything she ever knew and everyone
she ever loved to cross that hotel room in
Bangkok, and again this morning when
she climbed aboard the school bus.
She is my hero, and I am privileged to call
her my daughter. This morning, I dried
my tears and drove to the college campus
where I will begin taking classes for the
first time in 20 years. I have been nervous
about this midlife career change I am working toward, but because of my daughter‘s
example, I feel inspired to at least try.
—Laura Tribou/ Atlanta, Georgia
Fern Tribou waits to board the
bus on her first day of school.
www.holtinternational.org
25
adopting
A Difficult Question When Adopting a Child
What special needs will you consider?
by Patricia Gillule—
Smithboro, New York
Patricia Gillule has taught
special education for the
past 21 years. She is the
mother of four children,
including two biological
sons and two daughters
from China and Korea, both
adopted through Holt.
W
When I was first asked this question while filling out
paperwork that led to the adoption of our daughter
Anna from Korea, I pondered my answer for days. I
had given birth to two healthy boys after uneventful
pregnancies and never before thought about this possibility seriously. Now confronted, I couldn’t decide
if the question was a blessing or a curse. If this
baby were growing in my womb, I would accept her
unconditionally regardless of any special needs she
presented. It was hard to admit to myself that when
given the choice through adoption, I might make different decisions.
I felt guilty admitting that some children might not
fit well into our family, and it was up to my husband
and me to pick and choose. Both of us are special
education teachers comfortable being with differently
abled kids. Why couldn’t we accept and love all children enough to fit them into our family? Finding the
right answer forced us to put our lives under a microscope and make an honest assessment of ourselves
as parents. Ultimately, we opted to say “no” to many
of the special needs on the list. We felt that bringing
home a healthy baby was the best decision for us as a
family. A few years later, we made a different choice
and adopted an older child with special needs. The
timing was everything.
What does “special needs” mean?
Above left: Leah at age 4,
while still in care in China.
Above right: Leah at
home at age 6.
Opposite page, bottom: Leah, 6, and Anna,
7, cuddle on a rock while
enjoying Niagara Falls.
Opposite, top: Leah in an
early photo taken in China.
You can request a
Waiting Child Packet
either by calling the
Waiting Child Program at
(541)687-2202 or through
our website: www.
holtinternational.
org/waitingchild
26
Fall 2006
The term may conjure a fear of the unknown or worries that a child may need more than parents believe
they can give. Often “special needs” is considered to
be synonymous with a child who is more challenging
to raise, or even more difficult to love. But “special
needs” is a broad term. If you only consider adopting
a child without special needs, you may prevent your
family from receiving the wonderful blessing that a
differently abled child will bring into your lives. The
key is to make an informed choice that works well for
your entire family.
The definition of “special needs” varies by country.
A number of conditions viewed as disabilities in other
regions of the world are not real issues of concern in
the United States. Many disabilities are fully correctable or require minimal management on the part of
parents. Children with special needs generally thrive
after they are settled into their new loving families.
What’s it like to parent a child with special needs?
When we decided to adopt our fourth child, we opted
to look specifically for an older child with special
needs. Our youngest daughter, Leah, came home
from China a month before her fifth birthday. We
found her on Holt’s Waiting Child Photolisting.
Immediately drawn to her smile and description,
we requested more information. Although Leah was
considered to be significantly delayed by China’s stan-
dards, we were encouraged by her reports. Holt sent
a thick file of medical and developmental information,
with pictures of Leah that chronicled her life from
infancy through age 4. From those photos we learned
that she was dressed in multiple thick layers to stay
warm during the cold winters in her unheated foster
home. Most likely she could not bend her knees or
elbows while wearing them. She also appeared to
have some bowing of the legs (perhaps due to nutritional deficiencies early in life). No wonder she didn’t
walk until late and had some early motor delays!
We also discovered that her “cognitive delays”
were diagnosed as a result of one test given on the
same day the doctors evaluated her physical growth.
Apparently she was stubborn and would not cooperate with the examiner. Consider the fact that she was
driven two hours from her home to a hospital, and
then put through a battery of physical exams, X-rays,
bloodwork, and a developmental IQ test, all on the
same day. That’s a lot to handle for an adult, let alone
a 2-year-old child!
Ultimately, my husband and I asked ourselves one
question: If Leah arrived with the capacity to perform
exactly the skills and abilities that we saw in her
records and no more, would she be a good fit for our
family? The answer was an easy yes, so we moved
forward with enthusiasm and anticipation. We knew
it was a leap of faith, as some of her symptoms were
potential indicators of an undiagnosed syndrome, a
pituitary tumor, or a learning disability. But we saw
enough positives to feel confident in what she could
do. We completed the necessary steps and made
arrangements to adopt her.
When Leah first came home, she looked and acted
more like a 2-year-old. Almost 5, she weighed in
at only 27 pounds and was 34 inches tall. During
her first night home, she appeared uncoordinated
and needed help climbing the stairs. In those early
weeks, she wanted warm milk in a sippy cup, rocking,
Barney videos and toddler toys, and she wet the bed
nightly. She had meltdowns at bedtime, grieving for
her foster family. A few times she asked to be fed like
a baby, as she had seen her “China mommy” do with
her infant foster sister in her Chinese home. We fed,
cuddled and coddled her, knowing these behaviors
would be short-lived. Her requests were her way of
placing us in the role of her primary caregivers—and
they paved the way for her to accept us as her loving
parents. We treated her much like a young baby, not
expecting anything in return. Her attachment to us
was that young. We could see in Leah an intelligent
little girl with unlimited potential to grow once she felt
safe and secure.
Within two months, Leah was acting like most other
5-year-olds in every area but language and emotional
bonding—two areas which were still progressing well
and emerging nicely.
Leah is now in first grade. She has no cognitive
delays—in fact, she is reading at grade level and counted to over 1,000 in her kindergarten class last spring.
She is learning English and needs only minimal help
in this area. Her physical growth continues to be
slow, due to an abnormally small pituitary gland and
subclinical hypothyroidism. She is doing well on daily
growth hormone shots and thyroid medication that we
give her, and she takes them like a pro. She is short in
stature and may always be so, but she’s big in humor
and charm. Her needs required a few environmental
adaptations and a bit “more” at times—more attention,
more patience and more understanding.
So, are we glad we opted to say “yes” to adopting
a child with special needs? One issue cropped up
that we did not expect. We didn’t expect to be privy
to daily miracles. Miracles such as seeing Leah’s face
light up when she was finally tall enough to turn on
the light switch by herself. Wonders such as watching
her delight in her first Christmas, observing her joy at
finally outgrowing a pair of shoes, and experiencing
that first spontaneous “I love you Mommy” that she
whispered in my ear one night five months after coming home. These were unexpected gifts of grace.
Every day we thank God for bringing Leah into our
lives—and we think about how much we would have
missed if we had said “no” to her due to her special
needs. With differently abled kids, sometimes the
work is more intense, but the end results are so very
worth it. ■
Tips to Help Guide Your Decision
• Consider the type of child who would best fit into
your current life, including age range, gender and
levels of ability. If you already have children, get
their input. Some kids, for example, may be fine
with changing the birth order, while others may
not.
• Learn about special needs from both medical and
parental perspectives. Get a feeling for what
it’s really like to live with a child who has the
challenges you are considering. Search for helpful
organizations and parent bulletin boards. Ask
questions–people are generally happy to help you.
The Holt Forum is one such resource.
• Read up on attachment and bonding. These are critical issues and are
a “special need” for all children, particularly for those who join their
families through adoption.
• Recognize that “special needs” exist on a continuum. Our society
labels differences at specific levels of severity, and we have developed
standard criteria to better serve children educationally and medically.
In day-to-day life, however, the line dividing handicapped and
nonhandicapped is not so well defined. Plenty of people with
challenges meet and exceed expectations. Research the label that has
been placed on the child, but see the individual who is wearing it. The
term “special needs” is somewhat subjective, and degrees of neediness
exist within each disability category. A child who is visually impaired
may have an easily correctable condition or have only light perception.
• Ask your agency about cultural differences that may affect
development. For example, babies in Korea are often held and not
given much “floor time.” As a result, they may be slower to reach the
early milestones of rolling over and sitting up.
• There is no “perfect” child. Parenting does not come with a guarantee
for continued health. One of our biological boys developed allergies
and another was diagnosed with a transient tic disorder. Would I have
said “yes” to a tic disorder? Probably not. Would I now, having lived
through the issue? Absolutely!
• Keep an open mind and heart for new possibilities and blessings.
Recently I met a 6-year-old adoptee who was missing both legs and
had a hand difference. These issues were not something I said “yes”
to on my form for Anna, but after meeting this boy, I walked away a
changed person. Enjoying his spunky personality, seeing him navigate
hills and stairs on prosthetic legs, and hearing from his mother how he
independently puts them on gave me a new perspective. Parenting this
child would be a delight.
• Check out your medical coverage. Sadly, this can be a deciding
factor in what special needs you can accept. We were initially open
to children with hearing impairments–until I called our insurance
company. I was shocked to learn that while they would pay for speech
evaluations and therapy, they would not cover hearing aides.
• If you work outside the home and do not have many family sick days,
adopting a child needing frequent hospitalizations could be hard.
• Although public schools are required to educate children with
disabilities, some do a better job than others. Speak with parents, call
the director of special education, or check school websites to see the
range of services offered. Get a feel for how differently abled children
are accepted into the educational environment. If appropriate services
aren’t in place, you may need to advocate for change.
www.holtinternational.org
27
adoptees today
Seeing My Beauty
in Asian Form
On a quest for self knowledge, a
young Korean adoptee who grew up
in America’s heartland finds a piece of
what she’s looking for—at a nightclub
in LA’s Koreatown.
N
by Amy Jin Schmelzer
Never underestimate the power of your intentions.
You always seem to get just what you ask for.
Koreatown… but, as always, I was intrigued and had
to have an experiential taste all my own.
I was traveling the West Coast on synchronicity in
2004. No real plan, no real objective, other than to
travel without as I traveled within and, I hoped, gain
some clarity and self-knowledge.
As good fortune would have it, Jay’s friend, Ben,
was at the Velvet Room. Ben was apparently known
as the “mayor” of Koreatown. After Jay explained
to Ben that he was showing me around, an Iowan
adoptee in LA, Jay then turned to me and said that Ben
could get us into the Velvet Room. I was grateful for
this opportunity but knew I was on the fringe—halfdressed enough to get into the club, but also dressed
like I could hit the nearest yoga shala, if I wanted to.
I had been on Mt. Shasta practicing yoga
one day—something that gave me vast
revelations in flashes and floods—when I
broke down crying… so hard that I had to
sit down on my mat and take the time to
sob… just long enough to hear the words
in my head, “I want to see my beauty in an
Asian form.”
Now, having been a product of the
Heartland of America, adopted at the age of
5 months old, and gently (or not so gently)
placed by Fate’s hand into the cornfields of
Iowa, I had a desire to know myself deeply
on every level.
Above and top: Amy Jin
grew up in Iowa and currently lives in Overland
Park, Kansas, where she
models, writes, teaches
yoga and works as a marketer and energy healer.
28
Fall 2006
When I traveled back to Los Angeles
some months later, I was taken on a tour
of the city. My Korean friend, Jay, whom
I had never met in person before, took me
to see the UCLA campus, introduced me to
different neighborhoods, and finally, found
me a sushi joint on Sunset Boulevard
which, interestingly enough, was run by
a Korean family. I was enamored with
the art of sushi-making, but even more
so with the faces I saw behind the counter. So refreshing and new was it to be among “my
people.” No matter how universal I may have gotten
in all my journeying, there was nothing like seeing a
reflection such as theirs.
Conversation ensued. One thing led to another.
And before you knew it, we were talking to the
owners’ sons about clubs in the infamous K-Town.
I was new to all this talk about club culture and
As it turned out, though, this was not a real issue.
I just followed Ben and his friends into the place and
took a seat with them at a secluded booth toward the
back. Heck, who am I kidding? Every booth in the
place seemed secluded. Made for good, nonchalant
looking around.
I was amazed by the cleanliness and crispness of
the atmosphere. A marked trait, from what I could
see, of Asian American culture in general. Shirts were
neatly pressed. Every guy wore a button down. Hair
spiked up just so, sleeves rolled up accordingly. Jet Li
had nothing on these guys! They looked like superstars in the making! I had never seen such a fashion
conscious bunch… and they all seemed to hit the
mark. It was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
On my first trip to the bathroom I was whisked
away by the dating game called “booking,” a Korean
tradition in which single ladies are seated by aggressive waiters at the tables of young, single men. I had
a hard time explaining to my table what I was doing
there. The guys’ friends whispered and giggled like
a bunch of little school girls as the guy, half patiently,
half perturbed, tried to understand why I only spoke
English, had short blonde hair, and wore flip flops on
my feet, as opposed to the customary high heels and
miniskirt.
I did not know the answers to his questions—could
only share that the journey had brought me this far.
Told him I was adopted and did not know why I was
5 feet, 9½ inches tall, why I had been a jock my whole
life, or why I was so involved in studying their beauty,
as if I were that disconnected to my own. But I was
there. And I was witnessing it. And simultaneously,
even as I felt the feeling of being an anomaly, I also
felt the feeling of being at Home.
Kind of like everywhere else that I went to in my
journeying. I was beginning to get an in-body awareness of the answers to the original questions that had
sent me forth journeying in the first place—“Who am
I?” and “Where do I belong?”
As I made my way to the bathroom at the end of the
night, I stood in line among the young women waiting
to use the facilities.
It’s hard to remember sometimes how beautiful you
are when you’re surrounded by things you don’t possess. Like certain hair or lips or small, tiny figures.
But in this moment, a feeling took me over as if Quan
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Yin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy and compassion
herself, was morphing into my body, and mine into
hers. She looked around and smiled like soft spring
rain, misting down and gently washing over all the
young waiters-in-line. I wished for them the full
knowledge of the beauty that I saw deep in their eyes,
and more so, for the beauty that I, in that moment,
experienced as my own. It was intrinsically bound
to them and could not give expression without their
presence but was uniquely experienced and distinctly
my own, all at the same time.
I can honestly say that I have not gotten enough yet
of seeing my beauty within Korean culture, but I can
definitely say that my prayers had been answered in
those moments in the club in Koreatown.
I wish for all people everywhere to see their beauty
in all places, in all things, and all people. It’s a long
journey Home, but we’ll get there. ■
Copyright 2006 by Amy Jin Schmelzer
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2007 Ad
How to Make Your Family More Multicultural
Many Caucasian adults in America have never experienced being in the minority. In contrast, if you have
adopted a child from a different race or ethnicity, your
children may live with the daily experience of feeling
“different.”
Depending on where you live, it can sometimes seem
difficult to find ways of incorporating your child’s
culture into your everyday family life. But, we owe it
to our children to do so. Research shows that internationally adopted children have the healthiest outcomes
when aspects of their birth culture are celebrated and
woven into the adoptive family’s fabric.
Here are some of the ways you can do this.
Take the whole family on a Holt Heritage Tour or send
your child to a summer heritage camp or Holt Adoptee
Camp. What about hosting an exchange student? Are
there international festivals in your area? How about
international student functions at a local university? Do
you have friends from other racial and ethnic groups?
How about visiting ethnic grocery stores, restaurants
and shops?
Even if you live in a rural area, there are plenty of
things you can do, especially if you have access to
Internet. Read books to your children about their
birth cultures, subscribe to magazines. Learn some
children’s games, listen to music, learn the language,
watch or learn some traditional dances from your
child’s country. Keep a supply of basic ingredients to
make foods from the country your child is from. Bring
these dishes to a potluck, or serve them when you have
company. Celebrate holidays; decorate your home with
items from your child’s country.
Pat McConnell, MSW
Holt International
Director of Social
Services, Korea
With some forethought it is very possible to help
your children feel proud of their race and culture.
Personally, it’s hard to imagine a New Year’s dinner
without some delicious Korean New Year’s soup.
www.holtinternational.org
29
neighborhood calendar
Arkansas
Nebraska
Oregon
Dec. 9—Little Rock Holt Branch Office Open House
& Quarterly Meeting RSVP for details of time/
place to (501) 568-2827
Feb. 24, 2007—Embassy Suites Hotel, Omaha Colors
of Hope dinner auction to benefit the children of
Korea. Contact: Event co-chairs Tracy Frerichs
at (402) 614-6002 or frerichsgreg@yahoo.com
or Susan Bailey at (402) 614-8859 or bailey75@
cox.net
July 29–Aug. 2, 2007—Ashland Holt Adoptee
Camp for adoptees 9 to 16 years old. Contact:
Steve Kalb at (541) 687-2202 or stevek@
holtinternational.org
May 11, 2007—Valley River Inn, Eugene Colors of
Hope dinner auction to benefit the children of
Vietnam. Contact: Caroline Toy, Holt Events
Manager, at (800) 451-0732 or carolinet@
holtinternational.org
July 22–26, 2007—Corbett Holt Adoptee Camp for
adoptees 9 to 16 years old. Contact: Steve Kalb
at (541) 687-2202 or stevek@holtinternational.
org
August 4, 2007—Eugene Holt Family Picnic for
adoptive families, adult adoptees, parents in
process and prospective adoptive parents.
Contact: Todd Kwapisz at (503) 244-2440 or
toddk@holtinternational.org
California
Jan. 28, 2007—St. Mary’s Cathedral, San Francisco
Holt Silk Bag Luncheon to benefit children in
China. Contact: Monica Wilton at (800) 4510732 or monicaw@holtinternational.org
Aug. 5–9, 2007—Dobbins Holt Adoptee Camp for
adoptees 9 to 16 years old. Contact: Steve Kalb
at (541) 687-2202 or stevek@holtinternational.
org
Colorado
June to August 2007—Fraser Colorado Heritage
Camps, Birth culture camps for children adopted
from various countries. For more information
see www.heritagecamps.org
New Jersey
July 2007—Stirling Camp Friendship, a Korean
culture day camp for Korean adoptees and
their siblings entering grades K–7. For more
information see www.campfriendshipnj.com
Pennsylvania
Aug. 12–16, 2007—Starlight Holt Adoptee Camp for
adoptees 9 to 16 years old. Contact: Steve Kalb
at (541) 687-2202 or stevek@holtinternational.
org
Iowa
Texas
Sept. 15, 2007—LeGrand Holt Family Picnic for
adoptive families, adult adoptees, parents in
process and prospective adoptive parents.
Contact: Todd Kwapisz at (503) 244-2440 or
toddk@holtinternational.org
March 25, 2007—Austin Ranch, Grapevine Tea &
Fashion Show to benefit the children of South
and SE Asia. Contact: Julie Banta at (817) 3295257 or julia54@verizon.net
Left: Liberty Mingjin Strafuss of Branson,
Missouri, attended the June quarterly meeting
of the Arkansas Branch Office with her family.
a big
Thank you
to our donors for their generous support of our auctions and fundraising events
Portland Dinner &
Auction 2005
Ken Wright Cellars
Mark & Nancy Brown
Larry Cahill
Michael Curtis
Silk Bag Luncheon 2006
Steven M. Chew DDS
Texas Tea & Fashion
Show 2006
Captain Kirk’s Sailing Adventures
Dr. Randy Davis - Mid-Cities Oncology
Tim Larson
Blissful Bites
Verizon
Timothy F. Brewer, PC, Attorney at Law
Field Stone Winery
The Croney Team - ReMax
Phil & Julene Littleton
Oregon Electric Station
Jim & Leah Barfoot
Paul Disdier-Dreyfus
The Lawrence Fong Family
Verizon Super Pages
Barry Brenneke
Rey Vaden Family Foundation
Luxor Custom Jewelers
Pacific Continental Bank
David Miller - Sky Wave Technology
Omaha Dinner &
Auction 2006
Eugene Dinner &
Auction 2006
Pacific Office Automation
Lueder Construction
KVAL-TV
The Hult Center
Matt & Donna Johnson
McKenzie River Broadcasting
The Science Factory
Kim & Skip Hanson
Lincoln Financial
SELCO Community Credit Union
Andy & Susan Bailey
Retirement Planning Group
CDI Vaults
Greg & Sue Duffy
Peter & Jane Kay
Multi-Financial - Penn Rettig CFP
Omnium Worldwide - Kevin Brown
Associated Business Systems
Jerry’s Home Improvement Center
Key Bank
KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8
MCH Construction Co.
Wells Fargo
Jeff Preece
Jeffrey Saddington
Shelton Turnbull - AdGroup
family tree
Brothers Timothy, 8, and Benjamin Stewart, 7, both
from Thailand—Snohomish, WA.
Melinda Whitmire, 21, India, with her daughter,
Regina—Midwest City, Okla. Sadly, Regina passed
away April 18. We had already selected this photo;
Melinda requested that we go ahead with the
publication.
Mikel Beam, 29, Korea, at his wedding with
bride Dawn Smith-Beam—Greenfield, NH.
Left: Shaye Holladay McCarthy, 4, China—
Glendale, CA.
Right: Grace, 5, and Shay Bailey, 3, both
from India—Omaha, Neb.
Send your photos to
Family Tree!
Throughout the year we need photos for Holt International
magazine, our calendar and other productions… and we’d love
to consider yours. Send us your best child & family photos.
Mail original color prints to:
Holt International magazine
Family Tree
P.O. Box 2880
Eugene, OR 97402
alicee@holtinternational.org
Please send glossy photographic prints or e-mail high resolution digital images. We cannot use studio photos or prints
from digital files. Because of the many photographs we
receive each month, we are able to publish only a small
percentage. We keep all photos on hold for possible future
publication and will contact you if one of yours is selected.
Siblings Luke, 5, Mongolia, and Jeanne DeMeo, 6, China—Portland, Ore.
Kyla DeWittie, 4, China—Lewisberry, Penn.
Siblings Andrew, 8;
Theresa, 7; Peter, 5;
and John Donahoe,
4, all from Korea—
Chatham, N.J.
Allison Borkenhagen, 2, Mongolia, Lincroft, NJ.
www.holtinternational.org
31
The 2007 Holt International calendar
finding families
for children
$10 (price includes shipping)
Order yours from
www.holtinternational.org/calendar
Featuring adopted children from around
the world. Every calendar you purchase will
benefit children who still need families of
their own.
The large wall calendar (12 x 18 when hung) will
brighten your home or office and heart… every day
of the year.
finding families
for children
finding families
for children
Post Of fice Box 2880
E u g e n e OR 9 7 4 0 2
finding families
for children
Change Ser vice Requested
finding families
for children
Nonprofit Org
US Postage
Paid
Eugene OR
Permit No. 291