Sung Ae Won Orphanage

May 1st was Korean Labor Day. For us, this loosely translates into a day off for Tyler, though oddly enough not for the girls from school.  It also happens to be Foreign Affairs Day,  a day set aside to commemorate all the service given by the State Department and the men and women who serve and staff embassies around the world. We decided to spend the day in our form of service; volunteering a few hours of our time at an orphanage in Busan. 

One of the things I fill my time with in Busan is my involvement with the Busan International Women's Association. It is a fantastic organization of women from all different nations and cultures. We do monthly coffees and lunches and socialize with other members. But more importantly, we find ways to serve in the community together. The amount of money that BIWA has raised over the years and donated back to the larger Busan community is truly admirable and impressive. 

One of the ways BIWA gives service is through weekly visits to the Sung Ae Won Orphanage. It is a fantastic orphanage with children from birth through age five. Orphanages here are interesting combinations of children who are available for adoption, and children whose parents are temporarily not able to care for them. There are several rooms of children, grouped by age. We typically volunteer with one room, playing, singing, taking them outside to play, going on walks. The children love it, and look forward to it. This particular orphanage is only available for domestic adoption, and with the global financial difficulties adoptions have all but stalled.

Despite the lousy hand played to many of these children, they are thriving. They are happy, energetic, healthy, loved children. Everyone thinks it would be sad to visit and leave these children alone, but honestly this orphanage brims with love. They have "nurses" with them at all times, playing, taking care of them.  They have clothing, food, toys, a playground, and lots of love. Though not ideal, it is a family and they are happy and well cared for. Don't get me wrong, I would take them home in a heart beat. . . . but that's not an option. 

So to commemorate Labor Day, and Foreign Affairs Day, and the reasons why we love loving overseas, we spent our morning playing with the two year olds. Tyler's intern Soo Jung and her husband Adam accompanied us and helped occupy the children. We colored (even on the walls. . . . oops!), made paper crowns, invented games, and left giving each child a pack of fruit snacks (which you would guess were the prizes of all time). When we arrived the kids ran to the door and pulled us into their room, they spent the next few hours climbing all over us, chatting with us (none of which I could understand), and loved being held and cuddled. 

I look forward to many more visits to the this orphanage, and it's darling, sweet little occupants. I look forward to taking my older children with me to show them how amazingly blessed and lucky they are. And I look forward to sharing more love with this amazing kids.

Soo Jung and the kids

The girls loved Adam

Group Shot (minus Tyler, Maddie and a few others)

Tyler playing the Hi-5 game. They ate it up. Don't worry the baby in pink come home with us, we're quite fond of her!