Korea Trip Day Two

Day two was Sunday, so of course, we started the day by attending a church service. We went to a 25,000 member Presbyterian church in Seoul.
I have often heard that Korean Christians are very serious and intense, and the few I have known have been. Worshiping today proved it to be true. Since it was a Presbyterian church, it was a formal service. The music was magnificent, with a wonderful choir and small orchestra. There were several times of prayer. A church elder prayed early in the service for several minutes. He prayed strongly for the nation, especially for the Christians of Korea, that they would be leaders in their nation, and their nation would be a leader in the world, to be an example, to be an influence for peace and unity.
After the service, we were given a tour of their building, then we met with the International Ministry of the church for coffee and cookies. We were treated like celebrities or dignitaries. Even the soloist from the choir came and repeated his solo for us.

We spent the afternoon at a children's home. Seventy children live in the home, plus 30 teenagers who live in a separate building. Some are orphans, but most have at least one parent living. The children are in the home because their parents cannot take care of them due to poverty or illness. The facility was very nice, extremely clean and well maintained. The director said that it is the best children's home in Korea! It probably is. They had a beautiful library, with an indoor play area next to it, a computer room, and very nice dorm suites. They have 12 children per suite, with one adult. Each suite has two sleeping rooms, a bath, a large living, play area, and kitchenette; no furniture. The children sleep on mats that are stored during the day.
Everything about the home was good. It was well equipped and supplied, and the director obviously loved the children and made every effort to provide for them well. Even so, it is so sad that these children cannot be in homes with parents.
After we toured the home, we broke into small groups to play with the children, do crafts, and a simple English lesson. The children's ages ranged from 2 years to 12, with some teenagers helping us. One little boy broke my heart. He is 2 years old, and was abandoned by his mother. He cannot be adopted because since 1988 Korean law requires parents to relinquish parental rights in writing before a child can be adopted. Because the little boy was abandoned and the parents cannot be found, there is no way to get the proper paperwork done. So, this precious, beautiful, little boy will spend the next 16 years or so in this group home.
I don't have pictures from this afternoon, because I was too busy to take any! I will get some from Libby soon.