Keimyung University in Daegu -
In mid December, Barb was invited to speak on Bioethics to the graduate students at Keimyung Unversity in Daegu - in the southern part o Korea. We took the KTX Bullet Train (photo 1) and arrived in less than two hours. Dr. Chungnam Kim (photo 2) is a great friend who has her doctorate in public health. She is a pioneer in both parish nursing and rural and urban health centers in Korea. Keimyung is also a Christian University started by Presbyterian missionaries. The campus is absolutely gorgeous (photos 3 and 4). Students asked many questions and were very willing to pose for a formal picture (photos 5 and 6). Barb is pictured with Dr. Myungae Kim, Dean of the graduate school, Dr. Yeoung Shin, Dean of the College of Nursing and Dr. Chungnam Kim, Professor and former Dean (photo 7).

Holt Orphanage: A special place of love . . .

Thursday Dec 7 was a day to remember. Helen Um, retired faculty from Ewha, took us out to the Holt orphanage in Ilsan, about an hours drive northwest of the city. We really didn't know much about this place before we went. John had seen a building near our church with "Holt Family Services" on the sign. Helen told us on the drive out that we were going to the disabled orphanage. There are 275 disabled children and adults in residence there. It is one of 11 Holt facilities throughout Korea. There are over 400 staff at Holt. The baby reception building is the one near our church - where they receive and assess the babies for adoption.

When we arrived, we met Molly Holt - the daughter of the founder ( photo 1). She has run the orphanage for almost 50 years. She is a nurse who got her MS in rehabilitation from UNC in Colorado - so we are alums from the same school. She lives on the compound in the home her father built. (photo 2 - his photo is on the mantel.) We visited many of the homes - girls home, boys home, adult home, etc. and then saw the rehab facilities. Our translator on our tour was Korean, but Ma Kyong Hee spoke fluent English (photo 3). She had prepared for 7 years to be "good enough" in English to get the job of international public relations.

At the orphanage, each home has a house mother and several nannies depending upon the severity of the kids. Some have Cerebral Palsy, some are blind, some have mental retardation. All are loved and cared for with special care. Molly gets special equipment like wheelchairs at a discount from the US (photo 4).

Molly was one of 6 children and grew up in Oregon. In 1950 her dad, Harry Holt, had a heart attack and almost died. At that time he sincerely prayed that if God would let him live, he would serve Him the rest of his life. After recovering, he and his wife Bertha saw a movie by World Vision in the high school auditorium about the orphans that were left in Korea after the Korean War. These were Amerasians ( half American and half Korean). Molly's parents could not get the orphans off their mind - so in May of 1955 her father went to Korea to adopt 8 Korean kids. Congress actually had to pass a law to allow him to bring more than 2 orphans back to the US - Eisenhower signed it. That is how it all started. Before long, her mom and dad were living in Korea helping send many orphans to the US through the Holt Adoption Services. Now their organization serves over 30 countries worldwide. In the past 50 years, Holt International has placed over 40,000 children in US homes. It is quite a family heritage. The orphanage in Ilsan sits on the side of a mountain and is filled with the love of Jesus (photo 7). Helen and John found special kids to love that day ! (photos 5 and 6).

The Yonsei campus Christmas Tree is decorated and my RN-BSN classes are over . . .

It is almost the end of the fall semester. Time has sure gone quickly. We have been here for three months, but it seems like only yesterday that we arrived and began this marvelous adventure.

This past Wednesday evening I taught my last RN-BSN class (photo 2). I had the students prepare their professional portfolio as a class assignment and during this final class session, they shared their expereinces and unique contributions to the profession with their peers. I presented my professional portfolio by PowerPoint and then ended with some pictures of my family and a final leadership blessing for them based on Jeremiah 29:11. As they shared in small groups, I was amazed at the number who have already passed the NCLEX exam ( RN licensing exam) and who have very high Tofel (Fluency in English) scores. Most of these students want to study in the US and all are eager to learn ways to prepare and plan for this next chapter in their career. John and I plan to have some informal gatherings next semester to assist these nurse leaders in preparation for their dream of US study. After class, we had a BIG celebration with lots of food. I baked cookies (chocolate chip, of courses) and we had lots of snacks (photos 3 and 4). There were LOTS of pictures taken (photos 5 and 6). These truly are the next generation of nurse leaders in Korea. All the students have camera phones and so they snapped picutres of John and me for about 10 minutes non-stop. My teaching partner and mentor, Dr. Euisook Kim, has become a great friend (photo 7). -- not such a good picture of me but it will have to do :-) We had a wonderful time teaching together and learning from each other. Euisook is internationally known for her expertise in community and international health and health policy. She serves on the Board of Directors of ICN. Jane, the Teaching Assistant for these courses (photo 8), stayed late and came faithfully every Wednesday evening to be sure my PowerPoints were in the computer properly and that handouts were available for all students. What a blessing she has been !! She is getting married Dec 15th and we have been invited to her wedding. She and her husband plan to live in the US while they both study to get their PhDs.

The next couple of weeks will be spent reading, editing manuscripts, preparing research proposals and gettng ready for next semester. We will also travel to Taegue in southern Korea December 12 - 14 for some teaching (Ethics) at another university there. And then we come home to Lakewood for Christmas. YEA! We are eager to be home for the Holidays.