16. Give me one month?

For the past few months I have been volunteering at a group home for elementary aged children.  At first I thought it was an orphanage but the children go home at the end of the day.  It seems to be a place for kids whose parents can't afford to raise them but don't want to give them up.  My friend Betsy and I searched all over Songtan trying to find this place and were unsuccessful until a little old Korean lady (ajima) walked us to a narrow opening between two houses.  We thought it was pretty amazing that this place could be so close and yet so many people had no idea what we were talking about.  We were later told that some people just pretend to not know about it because they don't want to acknowledge it.

Each week we bring books/ games/ or snacks and give a one hour English lesson.  We usually have to bribe the children with chocolate to get them to participate (especially the boys).  They are particulary fond of the game hangman. Interesting side note: half of the children are African - Korean and since there really aren't any people of African decent living in Korea other than Airmen from the base we assume they had some involvement. I was telling a Korean friend about this place and she told me that racism is a big problem in Korea.  Just as in America it has taken many years of fighting for equality, the Koreans are just now encountering having different races in their country and have not yet embraced it.  These children will certainly be up against more challenges in their lifetime than their peers due to racism and poverty.

Ok, back to my story.  This past week I went to the group home alone because Betsy could not make it.  Each week I have brought my 'Letter to a Birth Mother' with me but not shared it because it just didn't feel right at the time.  I didn't want Pastor Jeon to think that was the only reason I was volunteering there.  I didn't want him to think  I was trying to take advantage of his time or connections.  This week felt different so I hesitantly showed him the letter at the end of class. 

He read the letter and proceeded to spend the next 45 minutes making phone calls and trying to understand the legality behind my request.  He did not understand why we couldn't just use an agency.  After time, he realized that American agencies will not work with us while we are living abroad and Korean agencies won't work with us because we are American.  At the end of his phone calls and questions he looked me in the eye and said, "OK, give me one month.  (pause)  Give me one month....to find." 

My heart and brain were instantly racing.  One month to find.... a baby?  Or one month to TRY and find?  One month to find out what I'm asking for?  ONE MONTH TO FIND WHAT???  

The next day I talked to M**** because I knew he had called her to clarify things but couldn't keep up with the Korean conversation they were having.  She said he was concerned about the legality but understands now and seemed to have some personal connections he was going to contact on our behalf.  I emailed Pastor Jeon the English and Korean versions of our letter just in case he wanted to show them to anyone electronically and so that he could read them in English in case something had gotten lost in translation. 

We haven't heard anything but I am so eager to go back next Wednesday and see if he has anything to share with me.  :)  I felt a little bit stronger leaving that day and a bit more hopeful as well.