As I began to write the first post on this blog I looked up some private adoption facts to make sure I shared the correct information with you all. When I typed "private adoption korea" into google, the following link popped up, please read:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-03-05/news/ct-met-korea-adoption-baby-20130305_1_christopher-duquet-sehwa-private-adoption
As you can imagine, the thought of this happening to our family and our child is terrifying. I have started to research more information about private adoption to make sure we follow the correct legal procedures. We also need to finish our adoption letter with the legal information for a future birth mom.
I came across a really cool organization in my research. www.mpak.com
Here is MPAK's mission:
As a Nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization, MPAK's mission is to promote adoption in Korea, and to bring about positive changes to the Korean adoption culture and to advocate the needs of homeless children to have homes of their own. MPAK was established in April 1999 in the US by Steve Morrison, an adoptee who has lived in an orphange in Korea for eight years before being adopted at age 14 by the Morrison family in the US. MPAK was expanded to Korea in November 1999. Currently there are 28 regional MPAK support groups spread throughout Korea, and five in the US (LA, Valley, OC, NY/NJ, San Diego). We also have many families that live elsewhere but are part of MPAK, and we welcome all the adoptive families that wish to be a part of this blog.
I contacted MPAK and asked them to assist us with where to turn for more information on legal advice. Hoping to hear back soon! Here is a link to Stephen's blog:
http://mpakusa.blogspot.kr/
Another MPAK connection:
When Martha James came to visit we were randomly asked to be in a Korean documentary about foreign backpackers. We happened to be wearing backpacks when we were approached since we had a big day of travel ahead of us. We told them that we weren't really backpackers but I think the combination of our willingness to participate, the fact that we are American and technically had backpacks, and Martha's beautiful red hair won them over. We traveled to Seoul the following week to spend two days exploring while being followed by three Korean film students with cameras. We became good friends with Nina, Oliver, and Morning Star over those two days. At one point during the filming Morning Star began to ask me if I have kids or want kids. I told her we haven't be blessed with children yet and are considering Korean private adoption. She shared with me information about an upcoming Korean Adoption Event. Turns out it was a MPAK event!
Patrick and I attempted to attend that event the same weekend we were in Seoul for the marriage conference but ended up at the wrong train station. Gumcheon station is not to be confused with Gumchon station! We were an hour and a half train ride from where we were supposed to be. However, it was nice to at least be in it together. That was the same weekend that we began writing our letter to a future birth mom and I think missing the conference gave us a little more amunition to make the weekend "worth it" by preparing our letter. While Patrick and I were in the car making notes about what would be in our letter, an ad came on the radio for military legal assistance. The advertisement said that they are able to help with adoption! We will be looking into what sort of legal assistance we can get through the military channels. Why didn't we think of free military legal assistance sooner?
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