Adventures in Korea!

On Thursday, September 1st we boarded a taxi with plenty of time to make it to the orphanage to meet Tae for the first time...or so we thought. Who knew it would take 50 minutes to drive about 2 miles?!?! The traffic was terrible! It was high adventure and stressful, but we made it on time.

We completed all of the paper work (which was one form) and made our way to the fourth floor of the adoption agency and waited for Tae and his foster mom.

We were so excited when they walked through the door! We said hello and to one another and started playing with the toys we brought him in his jungle animal back pack. Blowing bubbles was the absolute best ice breaker! He loved them!!!

We loved him from the instant we laid eyes on him...and he didn't mind us at all! In fact, he warmed right up to us...loved on us...and snuggled right up to us. He was like a litte koala bear! He laughed, played, and almost fell asleep in both of our arms. Our first hour together flew by and felt like just a few minutes. We were so sad to say goodbye.

We then had the best Korean lunch buffet in the agency's cafeteria with 10 other adopting parents and the agency's director Dr. Kim. She remembered Christy from 2004 when she spent so much time working with the children and un-wed mothers at Jacob's and Ester's Home in Pyongtaek near Camp Humphreys. She kept hugging Christy as we shared old pictures of some of the get togethers we had participated in back then. It was great!

After the lunch, we tried to make our way over to a military base in Seoul so that I could finish my in country in-processing for work. And with an interpreter (our case worker) giving verbal instructions...and with written instructions...the cabbie kicked us out of the taxi because he didn't want to take us! Adashi!!! Christy was in the middle of changing into her tennis shoes and had to jump out onto the side walk bare footed! It was too funny!

We eventually made it to the base and to Camp Casey the next day (via and hour and half subway ride!) and I was able to complete a site survey for work. There was an old lady selling packets of gum on the train and she wouldn't take no for an answer from Christy. She kept throwing the packs down her shirt! It was hilarious!!!

Saturday, September 3rd we made our way south to where we lived in 2004 while I was in the Army at Camp Humphreys. That was an amazing experience and brought back so many great memories. We saw our old apartment and ate lunch (two lunches...about 20 minutes apart) at two of absolute favorite restaurants in the whole world...the Katusa Snack Bar (KSB) on Camp Humphreys and Italy Pizza in An Jung Ri. They still got it! We loved it and had fun catching up with the workers at each place. We then hopped in a taxi and drove up to Song Tan outside of Osan AFB and did some serious shopping! Purses, shoes, shirts, back packs, hats...you name it...we bought it. We used to spend a lot of time there as well back in 2004, so it was a great experience to re-live some of those memories again.

Today is Sunday and we have had a great day! We woke up and had yummy breakfast at the hotel and then went to Youido Full Gospel church. It was a very cool experience- there was a section for foreigners and they had headsets with the sermon translated in English. The church is the largest church in the world and is in the Guiness Book of World Records. It has around 800,00 members and has the most beautiful choir of around 130 people. We sang the Lord's prayer and Alleluia!! They have a section for foreigners and have headsets with the sermon interpreted in English. After the service there was a foreigners briefing and we attended it. We were alongside fellow Christians from: Taiwan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Phillipines, Nepal, Pakistan, Nigeria, England, India. It was an awesome experience as we all held hands and prayed at the end. We are so reminded of the verse in Revelation 7:9 every nation, tribe, people and language stood before the throne and in front of the Lamb.

We got a taxi from the church to Itaewon, where we used to go shopping outside of the Yongson Gate. We ate at Outback- not quite the same menu as the states, but still good. Then we found a few more souvenirs and found this guy that does monogramming free hand! It was amazing.

We have talked to Charlie and Jerri Lynn daily and they are doing great. We are so thankful that Ree and Kailee have kept them so busy and they aren't missing us at all! They both started school this week. It was Mootsie's first day ever:( The highlight of the week seems to have been CiCi's Pizza! We miss y'all and will be home with your brother so soon!

Looking forward to seeing Tae again tomorrow!