Jesus Loves the Little Children

Sunday June 11

Breakfast was the usual (american fare) and then it was off to church.

Went to the largest church in Seoul, Youngnak Pres. Church. We were greeted like Royalty and we sat in the Foreigners Section and given headphones, bulletins English, and hymnals and bibles in English. The church was filled to capacity, and we were told that all 5 services are filled like this.

The choir was huge and filled with young people and they were great! It was pretty awesome to hear an entire soprano section sing a high A so crystal clear. My friend beside me is a retired choir teacher but still has a 140 piece adult choir at church and was also remarking how there was no vibrato and the sound was piercing (in a good way). There were 3 of us who attended, and let me tell you...it is GOOD sightsinging practice to sing hymns on the alto part when not only is no one singing the same pitch as you, but no one is audibly singing the same words. However, when the second song was not sang at pitch...I didn't stand a chance!

So...while the choir was singing, I had a moment. It's VERY hard to put into words, but it caused tears, so it deserves to be put into some sort of random, vague, sing songy (no pun intended) description. As the choir was singing, I was realizing that I was looking at a choir of Korean people...and my eyes just started to water...because it wasn't only that I was seeing a group of people of Korean people...I started to realize, that they were just people... that they were the "norm". That's the best way I can explain it. It wasn't, look at the one or two Korean people...who look different than everyone else. It wasn't, look at this special group who is visiting from another place. There weren't any Caucasian people in the choir that caused a Korean person to look "out of place" (although obviously, the white person would be the minority in this case, but still...the point being that no Korean person was set apart). Well, after the service, I started telling the other adoptee how I felt during this, and she felt the EXACT SAME WAY and she was actually full blown crying (and she is not a crier).  I don't feel I'm doing my feelings justice here, but it was very powerful.


 After the service, we were whisked away by the welcome committee for cake and coffee. It was an honor to be served by these ladies, all presidents or owners of big companies, but volunteers of this committee for decades.

After church, we decided to walk back to the hotel instead of taking a taxi (which is FINE by me since I never know if we'll survive the taxi ride) and it was beautiful out. We passed the Catholic church, saw a new bathroom sign, walked thru shops, saw the BEST cotton candy ever!, and visited the Buddhist temple.

 YEP!! These are the cotton candy creations!!! Aren't they incredible?

It was a pretty long walk back so I was tired (especially since I hadn't worn sneakers) so I took a nap and then it was BABY TIME!!!! Cue second time crying, lol.

After another harrowing taxi ride, we got there, took off shoes, put on socks, put on aprons, and it was time. Now, I've had like 24 hours to anticipate this wonderful event. When the lady put this baby into my arms, the tears just fell. Other than the 24 hours, I had NO investment in this baby, no love for this baby, this baby wasn't "mine"...and I PROMISE you, I could have brought her home and loved her as if she were mine, and wow...did every word that my mom (and all of these other moms) told me get confirmed 100% or what!!! Olivia, yes I named my baby) looked into my eyes (which were filled with tears) and she never stopped staring, and I instantly loved her. After the initial feelings, I believe we were all filled with such sadness that these babies could not go home with us and that they were not getting the individual attention and the contact that they so needed. The hour was not enough. She stayed awake for a long time, but finally, she put her head on my shoulder and I sang her Hush Little Baby, just like I sang to all of my girls and rocked her, and I prayed over her, and I loved on her as she fell asleep until I had to give her back. CHECK OUT HER HAIR!!! She was born May 1...and had the hugest cheeks ever!! Speaking of huge cheeks, found another pics of Sami that looks just like my newborn pic. And the reason I found it was because I was sending my friend a pic of her mom and me...and then I realized I wore Captain America socks today (not the socks I usually where...which she owns the same brand)...and I realized it was my friend and her mom, not me. Hahaha, we're the one saying we can't find people we look like. We don't look alike from the front, but our profile is pretty similar!!

Made it back to the hotel and met up with my friend....who I'm going to have to write about later when I get a charger because I have 3% and I have to post this!!!! It was another AMAZING DAY!!