Holt Picnics 2005 March/April 2005 Vol. 47 No. 2 Bearing Gifts to Korea Tsunami Aftermath: Aid for Thai Children 05.03 HF1.indd 33 2/23/05 11:39:26 AM From Your Heart to Your Home Fulfilling the dream of a family. Adoption from China and other countries. www.holtinternational.org 1-800-355-HOLT 05.03 HF1.indd 2 2/23/05 11:36:12 AM MARCH/APRIL 2005 VOL. 47 NO. 2 HOLT INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S SERVICES P.O. Box 2880 (1195 City View) Eugene, OR 97402 Ph: 541/687.2202 Fax: 541/683.6175 OUR MISSION Holt International is dedicated to carrying out God’s plan for every child to have a permanent, loving family. In 1955 Harry and Bertha Holt responded to the conviction that God had called them to help children left homeless by the Korean War. Though it took an act of the U.S. Congress, the Holts adopt- ed eight of those children. But they were moved by the desper- Photos clockwise from top left. On the cover, a boy in care at the Jeonju Baby Center in Korea— ate plight of other orphaned children in Korea and other countries related story p. 18. Top right: Tim and Wynter Chauvin with Marit on adoption day, story p. 22. as well, so they founded Holt International Children’s Services Next: Holt President Gary Gamer in Thailand after the tsunami, story p. 8. Next: Mary Beth in order to unite homeless children with families who would love LaRocca visits Korea, story p. 18. Bottom: Ray and Mary Masterson with Malia, story p. 28. them as their own. Today Holt International serves children and families in Bulgaria, China, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Korea, Mongolia, the Philippines, Romania, Thailand, the United COUNTRY FOCUS States, Uganda, Ukraine and Vietnam. After the Tsunami 8 PRESIDENT & CEO Gary N. Gamer Donor money goes to help children and families VICE-PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS & SERVICES Carole Stiles in Thailand. VICE-PRESIDENT OF MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT Phillip A. Littleton VICE-PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC POLICY & ADVOCACY Susan Soon-keum Cox INSPIRATION VICE-PRESIDENT OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Kevin Sweeney BOARD OF DIRECTORS Led by a Child 18 CHAIR James D. Barfoot VICE-CHAIR Julie Banta PRESIDENT EMERITUS Dr. David H. Kim SECRETARY Steven Stirling MEMBERS Donna V. A young teenager with Down syndrome leads her Bailey, Kim S. Brown, Lawrence R. Cahill, Wilma R. Cheney, Clinton C. Cottrell, Will C. Dantzler, A. Paul Disdier, Rosser B. mother through Ilsan—and shows the Korean Gift Edwards, David L. Hafner, Claire A. Noland, Janet E. Peterson, Team another way of seeing. Jeffrey B. Saddington, Shirley M. Stewart HOLT INTERNATIONAL magazine is published bimonthly by Holt International Children’s Services, Inc., a nonprofit Christian child FROM THE FAMILY welfare organization. While Holt International is responsible for the content of Holt International magazine, the viewpoints expressed in Life is Good 22 this publication are not necessarily those of the organization. A couple who adopted two daughters from China EDITOR John Aeby sing the praises of their experience—on CD. MANAGING EDITOR Alice Evans ASSISTANT Sara Moss No Smile of Face 24 SUBSCRIPTION ORDERS/INQUIRIES AND ADDRESS CHANGES Send all editorial correspondence and changes of address to Well-meant advice to send her baby back to Korea Holt International magazine, Holt International, P.O. Box 2880, did not deter this committed mother. Eugene, OR 97402. We ask for an annual donation of $20 to cover the cost of publication and mailing inside the United States and $40 outside the United States. Holt welcomes the contri- bution of letters and articles for publication, but assumes no ADOPTING responsibility for return of letters, manuscripts, or photos. REPRINT INFORMATION Signs of the Times 26 Permission from Holt International is required prior to reprinting any Sign language is a great tool for children with spe- portion of Holt International magazine. Please direct reprint requests to editor John Aeby at 541/687.2202 or [email protected]. cial needs, but also for children who are dealing ARKANSAS OFFICE with a whole new spoken language. 5016 Western Hills Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204 Ph/Fax: 501/568.2827 CALIFORNIA OFFICE ADOPTEES TODAY 3807 Pasadena Ave., Suite 115, Sacramento, CA 95821 When an Adoptee Adopts 28 Ph: 916/487.4658 Fax: 916/487.7068 MIDWEST OFFICE SERVING IOWA, NEBRASKA AND EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA A Korean adoptee adopts two girls from China. 10685 Bedford Ave., Suite 300, Omaha, NE 68134 Ph: 402/934.5031 Fax: 402/934.5034 MISSOURI OFFICE/KANSAS OFFICE DEPARTMENTS 203 Huntington Rd., Kansas City, MO 64113 Ph: 816/822.2169 Fax: 816/523.8379 122 W. 5th St., Garnett, KS 66032 Holt History 4 [email protected] Dear Readers 5 OREGON OFFICE Capitol Plaza 9320 SW Barbur Blvd., Suite 220, Portland, OR 97219 News & Update 5 Ph: 503/244.2440 Fax: 503/245.2498 NEW JERSEY OFFICE Around the Globe 6 340 Scotch Rd. (2nd Floor), Trenton, NJ 08628 Family Tree 12 Ph: 609/882.4972 Fax: 609/883.2398 COPYRIGHT ©2005 BY HOLT INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S SERVICES, INC. Easy to Love 14 ISSN 1047-7640 Neighborhood Calendar 30 Directions 31 05.03 HF1.indd 3 2/23/05 11:36:24 AM Holt history: Looking back 50 years The Seed from the East God confirmed the Holts’ faith to adopt children from Korea. by John Aeby, o hesitation. woke up about 3 this morning. I have been thinking Director of It’s a remarkable indication of their so much about whether to go down to Tague first or Communications faith that after their momentous deci- just get some of the kids at Seoul so we could get the sion to adopt eight children from Korea, red tape started sooner, kind of leaning on my own NHarry and Bertha Holt immediately purchased understanding I guess. So I prayed that the Lord an airline ticket. Even though they understood would show me from His Word. Then I turned on that it hadn’t been done before and that the laws the light and just opened the Book. It opened at the didn’t support adopting this many children from 43rd of Isaiah, and out of all God’s wonderful Word, overseas, the Holts decided that Harry should these words came up at me: identify the children and that Bertha work out the legalities in the United States. Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring During June and July Hesitation, however, finally caught up with thy seed from the east, and gather thee of 1955 Harry Holt depended upon his Harry at a stopover in Tokyo. (In 1955 prop- from the west; I will say to the north, Give sense of God’s leading to choose the eight children driven airliners took three days to make the trip up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring the Holts would adopt. from the U.S. West Coast to Korea.) Harry later my sons from far, and my daughters from This photo foretells Harry’s understanding told Bertha that he began to wonder if the idea of the ends of the earth; Even every one that that institutionalized children need loving adopting was simply his own and not God’s will. is called by my name: for I have created physical contact to help Wracked with doubts Harry turned to God’s direc- him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, them develop, a con- cept that continues to tion and his own faith to continue. The following I have made him. be a hallmark of Holt International’s care of is an excerpt from his letter home. children to this day. I just had to get down and weep before the Lord. Grand Hotel Tokyo I know that some would say, “This is written for June 2, 1955 the Jewish nation,” but this morning it is for me. … It is almost 7,000 miles the way we came and The Word of God is active and living. the vibration gets one awful tired. I got through about 3:30 yesterday and laid down on the bed for With all my love a few minutes, and the next thing I knew it was 9 Harry Daddy o’clock. So I just went to bed without any supper, 4 March/April 2005 05.03 HF1.indd 4 2/23/05 11:36:26 AM news & update Holt Makes Music Seven Christian groups or solo artists recently joined Holt International’s newly formed artist Dear Readers affiliate program. The program allows artists to convey Holt’s global mission during their perfor- “She’s my daughter,” concludes Vicki Pitts Caine mances, providing audience members a chance in her article about adopting Holly from Korea to become a Holt sponsor. Sponsorships help in 1980 (page 24). “That’s the only answer support homeless and at-risk children until their placement in permanent families. needed.” Through the years Holt International has Readers may go to the listed websites to obtain more information about the artists currently enjoyed remarkable success in helping homeless signed to the program, including dates for when children, but of course the greater portion of the they will be performing in your area. credit should go to the parents. The parents’ daily devotion, unconditional love and immoveable commitment give children the foundation of belonging they Eighth Day www.eighthdaymusic.com Nate Sallie www.natesallie.com need above anything else. Holt International believes in the power of parents’ Ashley Glass www.ashleyglassmusic.com love to provide the most important things in children’s lives. And so our efforts Kelley Rees www.kelleyrees.com to do “what’s best for the child” is nearly always focused on a family.