Monday was a free day in Busan. Kari had requested a visit to the Holt office here to see if there was any chance we could get more information. The visit, while pleasant, was a bust. We were hoping to find out if her family here ever came to visit—to see her file. But they didn’t have that information. All of that kind of info is sent back to Seoul and we had already been through those files. We did find out that she had a foster mother in this city also. But Kari only stayed with her for about 25 days.

Kari between Mr. Hwang the director of Holt Services in Busan
and Mrs. Oom, our bus guide who came along and translated.
Mr. Hwang was such a kind and humble man.

It was hard for her to be in the city of her birth and not be able to meet her birth mom. Knowing her birth mother was in the city but was unreachable was terribly frustrating and we both ended up in tears many times. Here’s where the truth of adoption being built on grief came full force. No matter how selfless and brave a birthmother is, it is a rejection to the adoptee. Many adoptees have shared that feeling with me and I am slowly beginning to see their point of view. While I always think of adoption as a miracle (and it is for our family) it starts from a sad situation.

What do you do when you have a hard day?

Call your boyfriend! Kari called Stephen to let off

a little steam that day.

How would an adoptee be able to process all this without the comfort of Jesus Christ? I keep thinking of the verse from Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you…”. Only knowing that a being so much bigger and wiser has plans for each of us, to me that is the only way this all makes sense.

So, it was a difficult day. Yet, as a mom, it was one of the best days as well. We just hung out together and talked for hours about all kinds of things. I am so blessed with such a mature and wonderful daughter. I wish that I could take all of her hurts away but I am thankful she allows me to hurt with her.

Busan has such a different look and feel than Seoul. While it is twice the size, it has half the population. It is a popular vacation spot and honeymoon destination. It is a port city, thus it's mainstay is the seafood. These pictures are from in front of our hotel.