SPONSORED RESIDENTS

I thought I would take a moment and introduce you to two residents that have wonderful sponsors!  And by the way, if you are interested in sponsoring a resident at Ilsan Town; just let me know and I'll tell you how you can.

First is my friend Claudia.  We met on my second trip to Korea in 2000.  For the past 10 years, Claudia has been sponsoring a resident here at Ilsan.  When she found out I was going to go and volunteer, she asked if I could bring Young-Ah a gift from her? So we met for lunch in Napa and I got her gift for Young-Ah and brought it with me to Ilsan.  It was perfect timing as Young-Ah was recovering from brain surgery.  She had fallen on a walk around the grounds and injured her head.  Two weeks ago, she was able to return to Ilsan from the hospital. 

I sent Claudia pictures of Young-Ah, and gave Young-Ah pictures of Claudia and her daughter.

1999 was my first trip back to Korea.  I had worked it out with Holt to be able to escort a baby back to the U.S. that was being adopted.  She was a cute little 3-month-old girl, named Soon Gee Hae.  She was going to a family in Sacramento, CA.  The Stogsdill family came to the San Francisco Airport to pick her up - their little girl  named Tristen.  It was an amazing experience for me to be able to escort a baby back, just as a business man did for me and my family back in 1967. 

When Traci & Doug found out I was going to Ilsan to volunteer for three months, they told me they had been sponsoring a boy there for awhile.  His name is Choo Han Sol.  Of course I told them I would seek him out and spend some time with him, and send them pictures of him.  Well, it took a little time to nail down the whipper-snapper, but I managed to find him today after church.  He's a bright boy, with a somewhat severe learning disability; but other than that he's a regular kid.  He's only known Ilsan to be his home.  He currently in lives in the Peace House with several other male residents.  His best friend was adopted several years ago, and it was a heart-breaking split for the two of them.  But Han Sol is a very popular boy among the residents.  I'm told he's the boy that is wanted on everyone's team!

Through an interpreter, I found out that Han Sol likes all food, video games, basketball and riding his bike.  He's such a sweet boy, and it makes me sad he never found a forever family.  He's sixteen now, but looks like he's about 12-years-old. Han Sol also sings in the Sunday church choir and the "Voices of Soul" choir.  This is a renowned choir comprised of Ilsan residents.  They have traveled all over the world performing for not only dignitaries, but large audiences, in famous venues.  At only sixteen, Han Sol has seen many parts of the world.