OSU-PNU 2006

Today I went with a group of five others from our fellowship to play with some of the kids at an orphanage that the group does ministry for at various times throughout the month. The orphanage is supported financially by private donations, which go to buy computers, books, toys, clothes and food for the kids. There are about 70 kids living in this particular orphanage, and about 12 kids share one apartment. Each apartment has four rooms, one for the kids to sleep in, one to play in and one to study in. The other is for the social worker who lives with the kids for part of the week (another comes and lives with them for the other part of the week). There is also a bathroom and small kitchen in the apartments. Kids of various ages live together in the apartments, but girls are on one floor and boys are on a separate floor. Those in the group who had been to the orphanage before didn't know how long the kids had been there or how they had come there. Since adoption is not very common in Korea, the kids will more than likely stay in the orphanage until they're 18. At that time, I was told by one of my students who did tutoring in an orphanage before, the kids are given money to study at the university for one semester. After that, they are on their own to find the money to continue and/or get a job. I was quite surprised at the conditions the kids are living in. I thought that they would be a lot worse, but it seemed that the kids had lots of toys and books and computer access. On the way out, we saw some kids learning handbells, and someone in our group told me that the kids also are given the opportunity to go to private institutions, which are very popular throughout Korea, to study various subjects. While there, I had the opportunity to meet and play with many of the kids and observe how they live and spend their time. The girls were quite active with drawing and reading; the boys were more interested in watching Tom and Jerry. ;) Despite the hot temperatures we're experiencing and the fact that the orphanage is not air conditioned, I had a great time spending time playing and reading with the kids. Next weekend we're taking them to the beach.