By Stephen C. Morrison
Ever since leaving Korea at the age of 14 to become a new member of the Morrison family in Salt Lake City, Utah, I have never forgotten the faces of homeless children who remained in Korea with no families of their own. Though my life as a Morrison was a very happy one, I always remembered the friends I left in Korea, and the countless number of children who had to grow up in orphanages. I remember thinking how wonderful it would be if the Koreans would adopt those children like they do in the US.
After graduating from college, I got involved with the Holt International Children's Services, Inc. of Eugene, Oregon. I went on the Motherland Tour to Korea with 31 other grown adoptees in the summer of 1983. It was the first time back to visit since leaving Korea. It was a wonderful trip. At the request from Holt, I wrote an article that reflected my sentiment on the trip. It was titled, "The Memories of Il-San" , which was published in the Hi-Families Magazine and now in the Holt web site under Adoptees section.
Because of my continued interest and support for Holt, I was elected to the Board of Directors at Holt. I was honored and privileged to serve on the board with Mrs. Bertha Holt, the founder. As a little kid growing up in Il-San, I remember calling her "Holt Halmoni", meaning Grandma Holt. I also remember her husband Harry Holt very well. Harry used to let me ride on his earthmover as he worked in the fields of Il-San. Not in my wildest imagination have I ever thought that one day I would seat alongside Grandma Holt in the council of the board at Holt to join them in helping homeless children throughout the world. It was like a grown up son joining his parents to take a part in the mission, which he was, a benefactor. I served sixteen years on the board and was very grateful for the opportunity to serve.
In 1989, I began to work at the Aerospace Corporation as a satellite systems engineer. The company is in El Segundo, California, employed around 4000 people. There I befriended several Koreans. Among them was a man named Chul Min Kim. People called him "Kim Jang No Nim" meaning "Elder Kim" since he was an Elder at a large Korean Presbyterian church. The Elder Kim took special interest in me and we became very good friends even though he was ten years senior to me. He was very spiritual. Fortunately, most of the other Koreans at Aerospace were Christians as well. Whenever we went out to lunch together, the discussion always centered on things happening in their church and other Christian topics.
He was a dynamic Christian man who inspired me to be a better Christian through his example. Often I would visit his office and he would visit mine and we would talk about everything from finding me a wife (I was a single then) and more church related discussion. He taught a Christian marriage seminar for singles and couples, and had a weekly Korean Christian radio program on the subject of Christian marriage. Also, I would occasionally talk to him about my adoption experience and my parents.
I remember one day I was in his office talking about my adoption experience. After listening to me for a while, he looked at me straight and said, "Steve, as far as I can see, there is only one thing you are missing." I looked at him thinking that maybe he would say I needed a wife. Instead he said, "You need to go around different churches and give testimonies. You need to give God the credit for what He has done in your life."
I forgot about our conversation for some time after that. Each year I remember going up to Eugene, Oregon for the Holt Board meetings. By this time I have already been a board member for over ten years. I began to think how I might be able to serve more actively before my term expired. It was during that time Korea was trying hard to avoid being embarrassed for being labeled as the number one exporter of orphans in the world. Some called it a national shame in light of the fact the country is no longer considered a poor nation.
However, Koreans were not about to adopt their own children to alleviate the large number of children being placed into foreign countries. They faced a dilemma with guilt. They didn't want children to go abroad, but they weren't willing to adopt themselves. This is because the concept of adoption is not very well accepted in Korea. (See The Biggest Barrier in Korean Adoption: Secrecy in Adoption)
In the early 1995, I was in the office of the Elder Chul Min Kim and confided in him that I would like to look into the possibility of promoting adoption in the Korean community in the LA area. When I shared with him my thoughts, he said it was a great idea. He immediately invited me to be a guest on his weekly radio program dealing in Christian marriage. I remember asking him, "What's adoption got to do with Christian marriage?" When I asked him that question he said it was appropriate with the theme of the program and said, "Just come and share your heart." I was thinking perhaps he was running out of the guest speakers and was desperate to have me on the program regardless of topics.
It was right at that moment a lightening flashed in my mind. I said, "Well, yes, this is a Christian marriage radio program. Why don't I talk about my parents who I really think set before me a living example of what a Christian marriage is all about. And how can I talk about them without talking about my adoption?" The Elder Kim beamed with a smile as if to say that was what he had in mind.
It was March 1995 when we arrived at the Gospel Broadcasting Station in the Koreatown. I interviewed with the Elder Kim and a lady named Mrs. Yoon Jung who directed the program. The interview was for 30 minutes. As they asked me questions on my parents and my adoption experience, I spoke from the bottom of my heart. I spoke to them of my parents' love for God and for me. I spoke about Harry and Bertha Holt. I spoke about my growing up with the new family. I spoke of God's wonderful mercy and grace He has shown me through the adoption experience.
Mrs. Yoon did most of the questioning. I didn't realize it until later in the program that the Elder Kim was very quiet without saying much. I thought that was odd. I glanced over to look at him and saw tears streaming down on his face. Even though I spoke gently of my experience and without much drama, my testimony nevertheless moved his heart. There wasn't enough time and we had to continue the following week.
After the interviews, there were phone calls from people who wanted to know more about adoption. Soon after that the Elder Kim and I met again over a lunch and discussed how we might approach promoting adoption in the Korean community. A plan began to form. What we decided to do was to hold an event at a local Korean church and invite Grandma Holt, the founder of Holt, and David Kim, the former president of the Holt to be the guest speakers. The Elder Kim insisted that I speak as well. To put this event together, an organizing sponsor team was needed. I was invited by the Elder Kim to come and speak before the men and women of the Voice Mission Fellowship group in LA. The Elder Kim was the president of this group, which supported the Korean missionaries all over the world. There I spoke for the first time in a public setting. The purpose of my testimony was to speak my heart to those men and women of the fellowship group to see if they would be willing to sponsor the event we had in mind. Afterward they all agreed that holding an event to promote adoption in the Korean community was in line with their mission.
It was right around that time a big article came out in the front page of the second section in The Korea Times in May 31, 1995. It featured a picture of me holding a satellite model, and a picture of me taken on the first day I arrived in the States, and a picture with my parents. The article was written by Ms. Rok Park and was very well written. It read as if she put her heart into it. From that day, I received numerous phone calls from the Koreans all over the US. The majority of the calls came from the LA area. The timing of the article was perfect since we were going to hold the event on June 17, 1995. The people at the Voice Mission Church went out of their ways to make me appear in a television special. I was featured in a segment called Saturday Report, a fifteen minute segment on the coming event and introducing me as an adoptee in the space technology world. The reporters from KTAN-TV came to my company and videotaped my work. The TV report was also done very well. There were a couple of radio interviews as well. I was very busy trying to follow the instruction given by the people at the Voice Mission who knew how to get the words out about the June 17th event.
So began the event called, "Ib Yang Gan Jeung Ui Bam", or "The Night of Testimony in Adoption" in June 17, 1995. The event was held at the former Choong Shin Presbyterian Church in LA and was attended by around 250 Koreans. It was well organized and coordinated by the members of the church as well as the members of the Voice Mission. There were three main objectives for the event: 1) To promote adoption in the Korean community, 2) To remove social stigma attached to orphans and adoptees, 3) To raise funds for the Holt International Children's Services. Grandma Holt gave a testimony on how she began her work to help homeless children. Dr. David Kim shared his experience during his 40 years of service at Holt. I gave a testimony of my own after them.
At the end of the event, there were approximately 20 families who wanted to know more about adoption. There were 20 new sponsors who signed up to $25 per month donation to support a child, and thousands of Dollars were raised through donations. As I took Grandma Holt and David Kim to the LA airport the next day, they were so grateful for the opportunity to take a part in the event. I can still remember Dr. Kim telling the Koreans that during the 40 years of service at Holt, he had always wished he could reach the Korean community some day, and that day has finally arrived.
The whole experience buoyed my heart and many others. Through mass media and through other channels, many people became aware of the needs of homeless children, and for the first time, many have started to ask themselves, "Is adoption an option for my family?" On the night when the event was finished, a couple named Patty and Moon Choe came up to me afterwards and said, "We have made up our mind tonight to adopt." If the event were just for that couple only, it would have been well worth it. Today, Patty and Moon have a son they adopted from Korea and they told me how joyous they are because of the boy. They are now planning to adopt another one. I hope their dream will come true soon. How I wish there were more Korean families like them.
From that day on, I began to get invitations from various churches in the LA area to come and give them my testimony. A church in Pennsylvania once invited me as well. There was another aspect of my life that was quickly changing. I believed I have finally found a mission in my life. It all began to make sense why God would make me suffer as a child, be adopted by a loving family in the US, raise me the way He did, and give me a burden in my heart for those children who remain in Korea. When I realized that God had placed in me a special burden in my heart for those children, God blessed me with a beautiful wife named Kyong Mee, who shared the same vision with me. We were married in December 1995. He blessed me with a new house, and I subsequently got a new job with a promotion at TRW Space and Technology Division as a Senior Systems Engineer. My daughter Helen was born in 1997. I now had everything that I had always dreamed of, having a family of my own. One of the most joyous moments was watching my Mom and Dad come out to LA just to celebrate with us the first year birthday party for Helen. It was a dream come true for me as I watched them holding my daughter on their laps.
In 1997 October 4, 1997 we did another "Ib Yang Gan Jeung Ui Bam", or "The Night of Testimony in Adoption" at the First Presbyterian Church of the Orange County. This time it was sponsored by the Shin Woo World Mission, Inc. It was possible, because my friend, Elder Chul Kim became the president there later. It was a much bigger church than the one we had before in 1995 and was attended by approximately 200 people. The guest speakers were Grandma Holt and Molly Holt. For over 40 years Molly has served the homeless special needs children living in the Holt Il-San Children's Center. She remained single all her life just so that she could devote herself to those children. What an experience she shared. There was not one heart that didn't get touched that night. In addition to them, I again gave my testimony. The objectives were similar as before: 1) To promote adoption in the Korean community, 2) To change the negative social stigma toward orphans and adoptees, and 3) To raise funds to help the special needs children living in the Holt Il-San Children's Center.
The second event resulted in approximately twelve families wanting to know more about adoption, 22 new sponsors, and thousands of Dollars were raised on behalf of the children at Il-San. Just as the first event two years earlier, I'm sure there were many changed hearts toward orphans and adoptees, and many were challenged to think about adoption as an option.
Having done the past two events over the span of four years, I have often wondered if I should form an organization whose express purpose is to promote adoption of Korean children by Korean families. Through the two events, I had many friends who shared the same enthusiasm and concern for the homeless children in Korea. Lately the concern included children in North Korea as well. But I wasn't sure about forming an organization, that is, until my trip to Korea during the Christmas season in 1998.
My family traveled to Korea to spend the Christmas with my wife's family living in Korea. I was invited by the English Ministry of the Sarang Community Church in Seoul to come and give testimony on three different services. That was a great experience since I have never spoken at three different services in one day. I believe they were challenged by my testimony. They were very appreciative of my message. I think there were many changed hearts, and several couples came to me afterward to say they will consider adoption in the future.
I spoke at the Holt Il-San Children's Center where Molly Holt worked and lived. Of all the places I have spoken so far, that one was the most meaningful one for me because that was my childhood home. I spoke to about 250 people who consisted of special needs children and the workers. I also met the Rev. Han Min Hee, the minister for the children living in the Center. He was gracious enough to introduce me to several churches. While in Korea, I spoke nine different times. Despite catching flu, God used me each time. I even got invited to speak at a Junior High School where I spoke before the 900 students. My job was to teach them to be more service-minded rather than to think only of themselves. The principal was very concerned for his students. I hope those students realize what a fine principal they have. Speaking to them was a challenging experience since the request was made with such a short notice and I had no prior preparation time.
One of the most memorable time I had along with speaking at the Holt Il-San Center, was visiting an orphanage in Kimchon City, about three hours drive south of Seoul. The name of the orphanage was Immanuel Children's Center. The director of the Immanuel was Mrs. Kim Jung Sook, who along with her husband are very close to my family. We visited the infant room and were surprised to see so many children. In a room that was suitable for six or seven babies, there were about fifteen babies there. Some babies didn't have crib spaces so they were laid on a large soft blanket on the floor. There they slept and ate. According to the Director Kim, due to the bad economic condition in Korea, their parents abandoned them. In the recent months Korea has experienced a tremendous economic decline where many families have been hit hard. Children are the ones who suffered the most. It really saddened my heart to see those babies there.
Another thing I learned while in Korea was that the Korean Government was gradually cutting back on foreign adoption. Each year fewer children are being allowed to be placed into foreign homes. Their intention is to close the foreign adoption completely some day (see LA Times Article). I believe they should. However, only if there are enough Korean families who are willing to adopt children who could otherwise be placed into foreign families. I'm afraid that there will be more children who will grow up in orphanages because of this policy. Who will help these children?
I was not aware if there was any effort by the Korean Government to promote Korean adoption, at least not one that I am familiar with. Realizing that Korea will one day stop sending children oversea, I felt a heavy burden in my heart to do something about this. During my talks at various churches and organizations during the past four years, I have always advocated adoption as something that is beautiful and wonderful for both children and parents. Koreans must open up their hearts and homes to homeless children. The time has come for them to abandon the centuries-old tradition and custom of taking care of only their family members and reach out to these children in Christ's love. The Mission to Promote Adoption in Korea (MPAK) was formed with these thoughts in mind, and to be a voice for those homeless children remaining in Korea.