Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Introducing the Shalom Home
It was about a 50 minute drive, depending on traffic (it took about an hour and 15 minutes that first trip) and it was dark when we arrived. I had been told we were visiting an orphanage for disabled Korean citizens, and I was not sure what to expect.
What I found was a group of roughly 40 people whom I came to love over the following months. They came from all walks of life, the once affluent to the destitute. And they created a "Home" for each other. That first visit my heart was touched by the love, and by the need of these people
We only had one interpreter with us that evening, so we mostly smiled and nodded. We were served a very unpleasant tasting hot tea that I did my best to drink. (In Willy's job he had been informed that it was an insult of sorts if you did not accept and consume offered hospitality.) And the were giving out of their need.
Jordan, two resident women, and Andrew
The people of South Korea look down on anyone with a disability, whether it is a physical, mental, or emotional one. It doesn't matter if you were born with it or it was a result of an accident. The majority like the illusion of perfection. Mr Pak is the director and founder of the Shalom Home. He was once a famous rock climber in Korea. As a result of a fall he became paralyzed from the waist down. He went from hero to lower class citizen...(to be continued)