Mission To Promote Adoption in Korea

Building Healthier, Safer Families

We are delighted to support

and their efforts to give children their best start in life.

VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTSPERSONAL CARE

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In December 2011, a young college student in his senior year called me and asked me all sorts of questions about Pastor Lee and the Baby Box. He also asked if he could interview me and so he came to my house with recording equipment and filmed my interviews. His name was Brian Ivie, who would later introduce to the world, the story of Pastor Lee and his work in saving the lives of babies being abandoned in Korea through his award-winning documentary movie called The Drop Box. With many prayers and lots of hands involved, this small, independent documentary was shown in March 2015 in over 800 theaters nationwide before sold-out crowds. It was also through Brian that I would eventually meet Pastor Lee in November 2012.

Since that time, I have visited Pastor Lee many times and we have built up a great friendship based on our com-mon faith in the Lord Jesus, and our passion and love for the homeless children in Korea. We have joined our hearts and voices and campaigned together on behalf of the many children being abandoned in Korea, and to-gether, we have defended the rights of such children to have families and homes of their own through adoption.

So it is with great privilege that at MPAK, our members have come together to voice strong support for the work of Pastor Lee and his wife on behalf of so many children they have rescued since the inception of the Baby Box in the Winter of 2009. They have taken in over 750 children that came through the box. The large majority of those babies are placed in various orphanages by the government authorities in Seoul, and unfortunately only a handful of them are adopted due to the restrictions of the Special Adoption Law. Pastor Lee and I have stood together to bring about revision to the law, and we are still fighting to bring about a change.

Tonight I welcome you to our MPAK Gala to raise funds for the Baby Box, and most of all to raise awareness of the plight of so many children that don’t have voices. Pastor Lee has been a lone voice in this important cause in Korea for many years, but thanks to Brian Ivie and the team at Kindred Image for bringing Pastor Lee’s story to the world. Together we are the voice for all the homeless children that need families and homes.

May God bless you all for coming out tonight to support this worthy cause.

Thank you.

Welcome Message

STEVE MORRISON Founder/President

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Proud supporter of MPAK

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감사의 말

먼저 주님의 이름으로 문안드립니다.

부족한 저를 뜻깊은 자리에 초대해 주시고 함께 은혜의 시간을 가질 수 있도록 귀한 시간을 마련하여 주시니 얼

마나 기쁘고 감사한지 모릅니다. 지금까지 오직 천하보다 귀한 생명 특히 장애인 생명살리기 운동에 모든 삶을 바

칠 수 있도록 인도하여 주신 하나님을 찬양합니다. 여호와이레 하나님이 늘 함께 하여주시고 또 엠펙과 같이 저

희 주사랑공동체 사역에 마음을 모으고 뜻을 모아 주시는 분들이 곁에서 활발하게 활동하여 주셨기에 지금의 이

기쁜 순간을 맞이할 수 있었다고 자부합니다. 앞으로도 지금처럼 주사랑공동체 사역에 큰 힘이 되어 주시는 엠펙

이 되시길 간절히 부탁을 드리며 스티브모리슨 장로님을 비롯한 회원모두 주안에서 늘 강건하시길 축복합니다.

이종락 목사 드림

Thank You Message

Greetings in the name of the Lord.Thank you for inviting me to this place of honor, and thank you for your valuable time in allowing me to share the grace of God. I praise God that He has allowed me to serve Him by serving the precious lives of the special needs chil-dren that God values above all things since the beginning of the world. I can honestly say with pride that because God has been with me, and that He has united the hearts and purposes of MPAK and the Jusarang Community in serving together, and because all of you have joined us, that I am able to stand in this joyful place. I pray that in the future that MPAK will continue to be a strong force for the Jusarang Community, and that God will bless Steve Morrison and the members of MPAK and all of you to be strong in the Lord.

Lee Jong Rak

Pastor Lee Jong Rak and his wife Jeong Byeong Ok

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眀愀戀愀最爀椀氀 氀 ⸀挀漀洀

䌀栀 椀挀欀攀渀ⴀ匀琀攀愀欀   倀氀愀琀攀

匀栀爀 椀洀瀀   瀀 氀愀琀攀匀愀氀洀漀渀  倀

氀愀琀攀

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Keynote Speaker

Pastor Lee Jong Rak

Sr. Pastor, Jusarang Community Church (주사랑공동체교회 담임)

Pastor Lee Jong Rak is the founder of the Baby Box located in Nangok-dong, Kwanak District in Seoul, which has provided a shelter to over 750 abandoned children. The babies are still being abandoned on the average of 20 children per month. Pastor Lee graduated from the Koryo Reformed Christian College in Seoul in 1998, and was ordained as a pastor in 1999. The same year he started the Jusarang Community Church, and in December 2009 he founded the Baby Box after see multiple babies being abandoned around the church. Pastor Lee’s story was featured in the movie ‘The Drop Box’. Pastor Lee also has received numerous awards, including the George Muller award given by the Hope for Orphans in October 2014.

Special Speaker

Brian Ive Producer of ‘The Drop Box’ Movie, Cofounder, Kindred Image

Brian Ivie is the award-winning director of “The Drop Box” and co-founder of Kindred Image. Brian Ivie became a Christian while making the movie. Brian recently graduated from The Bryan Singer Division of Critical Studies at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, and never thought he’d start a non-profit. He is a published film critic, recreational songwriter, and was the only white male in the Saved by Grace Gospel Choir. If Brian were to get a tattoo it would be Galatians 5:1 or Hebrews 2:11. He thanks the Lord daily for his adoption into an eternal family. Brian recently married Amanda and together they have started a new journey of discovering all that God will accomplish through them.

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CREATE A NEW CULTURE FOR HEALTHY, HAPPY AND CONVENIENT LIFESTYLES

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Emcee – Jinah Kim

Welcome Message Steve Morrison

Introducing MPAK

Thanking Our Sponsors

Remembering K. C. Kim

Invocation Prayer Rev. Jim-Bob Park Sr. Pastor, Oriental Mission Church

Dinner

Solo Performance Jin Kim

Special Performance MPAK Children’s Choir

----- Silent Auction Closes -----

The Dropbox Movie Trailer

The Making of The Drop Box Movie Brian Ivie

Introducing Pastor Lee Steve Morrison

Keynote Address Pastor Lee Jong Rak Founder of the Baby Box Sr. Pastor of Jusarang Community Church

Live Auction

Live Fundraiser

Raffle

Closing Remarks Janet Lie, Fundraising Chair

Closing Benediction Pastor Lee Jong Rak

Group Photo

MPAK Gala Program

--- Reception / Silent Auction ---

MPAK GALA EMCEE

JINAH KIM

Jinah Kim is a Korean American reporter for NBC News and KNBC in Los Angeles, California. She is also President of the Los Angeles chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association. She is the Co-Founder of WorldWiseProductions.com.

MPAK CHILDREN’S CHOIR

DIRECTED BY AMY HWANG

ACCOMPANIMENT BY LUKE MIZUKI

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MPAK – Our Purpose and Our Mission

1999년 시작 때 부터 MPAK은 지칠 줄 모르게 미국에서는 재미 교포들에게 한국에서는 한국 국민들에게 입양을

홍보해 왔습니다. 입양에 붙여진 사회적 오명을 없에는 것을 통한 입양 문화의 변화와 발전 노력은 그동안 MPAK이

걸어온 미션이었습니다. 저희는 한국의 입양 문화가 이제 좋은 방향으로 변화하고 있는 것에 대해 큰 자부심을 가지고

있습니다.

아직도 MPAK 이 가야 할 길은 멀지만, 입양 가족들, 입양 기관들, 그리고 한국 정부의 도움과 더불어 우리의 미래로의

여정은 더없이 밝기만 합니다. 집이 없는 아이가 한명이라도 있는 한 MPAK의 미션은 계속 이루어 질것입니다.

Since its beginning in 1999, MPAK has tirelessly advocated adoption by Korean-Americans in the US and by

Korean nationals in Korea. Changing the adoption culture by removing negative social stigma attached to

adoption has been the mission of MPAK. We are very proud of the fact that the adoption culture in Korea has

been significantly changed over the years.

Although MPAK has a long way to go, together with adoptive families, the adoption agencies, and with the

Korean government’s help, our journey into tomorrow promises to be even brighter. As long as there is one

single child left homeless, the mission of MPAK will continue.

MPAK-Korea, Adoptive Family ‘Power Up, Together’ Seminar, August 13-15, 2015

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MPAK 설립목적 본 회는 한국에서의 입양을 홍보, 장려하기 위하여 설립되었습니다. 기독교 신앙에 기초한 기관으로 우리는 모든 어린

아이들이 자신들의 가정을 갖는 것이 하나님의 뜻이라고 믿습니다. 많은 한인들이 따뜻한 가정이 필요한 아이들을 향해

그들의 마음과 가정을 열 수 있도록 도움을 주는 것이 본 회의 목적입니다.

이러한 목적을 달성하기 위해 우리는 다음과 같은 일들을 하고 있습니다.

1. 한국에 가정이 필요한 아이들의 대변인으로 그들의 사정을 널리 홍보

2. 가정이 필요한 아이들과 입양인들에 대한 부정적인 사회편견의 불식

3. 한국인들의 입양에 대한 두려움의 극복

4. 한국인들의 공개적 입양 장려

MPAK Mission StatementWe are dedicated to the Mission to Promote Adoption in Korea. As an organization driven by the Christian

principles, we believe it is God’s will that children have families of their own. It is our goal to enable many

Korean families to open their hearts and homes to the needy children in Korea.

The above mission statement will be accomplished by carrying out the following duties we have placed on ourselves:

1) Advocating the needs of homeless children in Korea.

2) Removing the negative social stigma attached to homeless children and adoptees.

3) Enabling Koreans to overcome fear in adoption.

4) Encouraging Koreans to adopt openly and not secretly.

MPAK-USA, 16th Annual MPAK Picnic, Buena Park, CA, May 23, 2015

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MPAK Movement…아름다운 입양 문화를 만들어 나가기 위한 운동.To bring about positive changes in the Korean adoption culture.

MPAK Progress

1999년 9가정으로 시작된 저희는 이제 한국과 미국 합하여 무려 1500여 가족들로 성장하였습니다. 저희는 한국에 두루

퍼진 여러 입양 가족들을 28 개의 지역 그룹으로, 또 미국은 여섯 개의 그룹으로 편성하였습니다. 미국에는 LA, Valley,

Orange County, NY/NJ, San Diego, 그리고 Georgia그룹으로 조직이 되어 있습니다.

What started out with nine adoptive families in 1999, we have now grown to over 1500 families in Korea and

in the US. We have organized 28 different regional groups spread throughout Korea, and six groups in the US.

The US groups consists of LA, Valley, Orange County, NY/NJ, San Diego, and Georgia group.

MPAK Today

• Approximately consisting of 1500 adoptive families• 28 MPAK regional groups throughout Korea• 6 regional groups in the US• 16 years of continued to efforts to promote domestic adoption• Contributed big to the progress of changing peoples’ attitude towards adoption• Recognized by the Korean Government as a strong adoption promotion organization

28 Regional MPAK Groups in Korea Promoting Adoption, 6 Groups in the US

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CREAMISTRY.COM

and their incredible, life-changing efforts to unite children in need with loving, open-hearted families.

IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MPAK

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We share this article in memory of our beloved friend K. C. Kim, who passed away March 15, 2015 while on a business trip to Australia while employed at Northrop-Grumman. K. C. and his wife Susan have adopted seven children from the same orphanage in Korea. In 2008 K. C. gave a speech at one of our conferences both here in the US and in Korea that moved so many hearts to tears. K. C. was a founding member of MPAK and responsible for helping 20 children to be adopted out of the same orphanage into loving Korean-American families over the span of 15 years. All of us at MPAK miss him very much.

K. C. Kim…

They Call Me Dad - by K. C. Kim (A speech delivered at MPAK Conference in 2008)

Good evening. My name is K. C. Kim. I live in Cerritos, California and I am working as a computer programmer. My wife, Susan, and I have been married for 24 years and we have four children (in 2008) - Hannah, Leah,

Sarah and Isaiah. They are priceless gifts from Jesus through adoption. This is my adoption story.

Hannah, my oldest daughter, is 15 years old and going to be in 10th grade. Leah and Sarah, my second and third daughters respectively, are 13 years old and are entering 7th grade this year. In addition, Isaiah, my fourth child,

is 9 years old is going to be in 3rd grade. All of them grew up in the same orphanage called Bang Joo Won (Noah’s Ark) in Kim-Hae, Korea before their adoptions.

Hannah was 5 years old when I became her father in 1998.

It is such a blessing that Hannah is my oldest daughter. There is a saying in Korea that the first daughter is

an asset to the family. It is so true for Hannah. She is a little stubborn in some ways but very thoughtful and understanding. Since Hannah was my first adopted child, my wife and I have cared greatly for her. As she became a teenager, her understanding of adoption deepened so that she played a considerable role in encouraging me to adopt Sarah with trust and hope. However, no matter how old she gets, she will always be my baby girl. Often Hannah came to my room, holding her pillow in her arms saying, “Can I sleep with you and Mom tonight, please, please?” I knew that she would take more than half of the bed

to herself and that I would have just a little space in the corner of the bed for myself, but I usually said yes because it reminded me of her very first night when she came home - she slept with half-open eyes and ground her teeth.

Leah is a very compassionate girl and she is my second oldest daughter. She was 7 years old when she came

K. C. Kim’s Family: From Left: Leah, Rachel, K. C., Isaiah, Jeremiah, Noah, Susan, Hannah, and Sarah

RememberingOur Friend

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home in December, 2002. She always comes to me with a smile, walks besides me holding my hand and hugs me whenever possible. She is very feminine and loves to wear dresses rather than jeans. If allowed, she would spend the whole day changing into her collection of clothes in front of a mirror. She loves singing and dancing. Even though sometimes she has a hard time with her schoolwork, it does not seem to bother her as much as it does to me. Earlier this year she got quite frustrated with her inability to do schoolwork as well as her sibling do, so she came to my wife and said, “Mom. You know that it is too late to send me back to the orphanage. Why? Because once a daughter forever a daughter. No one can change that.” My wife told me this and said, “No one can take such confidence from her!”

Sarah was 10 years old when she became my daughter in March, 2006. When my family heard Sarah’s adoption had been disrupted, Hannah insisted that we should adopt her if we want her to be happy. And we all agreed. Sarah’s transformation after she came to us was amazing. For the first a couple of months she rarely talked, rarely smiled and when she talked, she often used bad language. It burdened my family. But, Hannah tried to understand her, taught how things were done in my family, and sometime took the blame for her. There were a couple of incidents that I disciplined Hannah in order to show Sarah what is allowed and what is not allowed in our house. Then, one night in July, about 4 months later, Sarah came to my room, sat next to me, looked into my eyes and said, “Thank you, Dad, for adopting me.” Then, she got up and hugged me saying “Good Night, Dad.” It was very, very hard not to show my tears in front of her. All I could say was, “You are welcome.” From that moment on Sarah smiled a lot, talked a lot and loud, ran to me for hugs and tried very hard not to use bad language. Now I have a hard time chasing her out of my room at night because she says “good-night” to my dog, my computer, my printer, my desk, my chair, and on and on. Sarah has turned out to be very determined and focused. She told me that she’d like to play the violin and if she had a violin, she would study it very hard. Her desire to learn violin did not waiver for a year. So last July she started her violin lesson. She is now determined to be a violinist. She practices up to 4 hours a day.

Isaiah came home in November, 2005 when he was

6 years old. He is sharp, intelligent and very detail-oriented. He is very, very energetic. He runs in the house, jumps off from the sofa and always runs to me when I call him. Most of all, he talks a lot – either talking to his sisters or singing when he is alone. He asks lots of questions when we watch movies together. When I went to Korea to see him, he was circling around me and asking the same questions over and over again. “Are you going to be my dad?” I scooped him up and asked, “Do you want me to?” He looked into my eyes and nodded vigorously. Then, he said, “Can you buy me an ice cream bar?”

Although it took some time, my children seemed to have adjusted well to the family setting. They understand that the adoption has bound them together as a family and they have expressed very positive feelings about their adoption. From time to time we talk about how we met them, how they feel about being adopted, how they feel towards their birth parents and so forth. Whenever we talk, I try my best to show them how grateful I am to be their father. Especially when I discipline them, I am adamant in showing them how much I care for them.

Now Hannah, Leah and Sarah are in their teens and Isaiah is entering his pre-teens. With 4 children at home our life is very dynamic, even disruptive sometimes. Each child demands his/her own preference in what to eat, what to wear, what to watch on TV, what DVD to rent and where to go for vacation. It is not easy any more to decide which restaurant to dine out for dinner. I had several phone calls and emails from their teachers about behavior and grade problems. As for that matter, now I do not even flinch when they get notes from their teachers - notes are far better than phone calls. Two of them made trips to the emergency room in the hospital due to their injuries while they were playing. They have become more territorial in their rooms as they grow older – almost every other day someone is shouting, “Don’t come into my room unless I say you can!” I ask myself, “How can I handle all the things they are bringing into my life?”

I know I can handle them as long as my children call me “Dad”. I wasn’t there when my children were born. I wasn’t there when they were in a cradle, so I do not know the joy when a father holds a baby in his arms when the baby wakes up in the middle of night. I wasn’t there when they started talking, so I do

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not know the excitement when a father hears them saying “Daddy”. I wasn’t there when they started walking, so I do not know the pleasure when a child’s hand dearly holds on to a father’s hand. Nevertheless each one of them has chosen to call me “Dad”. They call me “Dad” not only when I make them happy but also when I discipline them. They call me “Dad” when they are upset with me. They call me “Dad” when they make fun of me. They call me “Dad” because I believe they have accepted me as their Dad. If I had a secret to share in having a successful adoption, it is that I would wait for my children to accept me as their “Dad” rather than tell them. I accepted my daughters and the son as my children when I decided to adopt them. Then it was their turn to accept me as their “Dad” after they came to live with me in our family. All I could do was to wait.

People often asked me why I adopted. In fact, I asked the same question to myself countless times. “Why adopt?” I am not quite sure I have an answer to that yet. Maybe I have a good heart or I am not as bright as I thought. No wonder my children call me a geek sometimes. I think they know part of the truth because I am not sure how I was able to adopt them if I were not open to it. Nonetheless, I am very proud with my decision of adoption, not because I did it but because I had the courage to start it. Adoption certainly stirs up lots of worries and anxieties, but equally brings challenges worth taking.

The most difficult challenge that I am facing now is to not to give in to my children’s despair or anguish about their adoption under any circumstances. I truly believe that adoptive parents should remain strongly

positive about their adoptions. My children may lose self-respect, despair or drift away from me at one point in their lives. Even if it happens, they can overcome the situation if they know their parents believe in adoption and that adoption has brought goodness and happiness to their parents’ lives. I try not to pass a day without saying, “How can this be that such a wonderful child has come to me as MY own child!”

I have a dream. One day, when all my children have their own families, they can say this in front of their children. “My father is the one whom I have looked up to whenever I faced challenges in my life because I am most proud of my father for adopting me and putting up with me.” What else can I ask for if they acknowledge me as a father worth mentioning by experience, not by knowledge?

I am most grateful that Jesus has given me strength and a heart for adoption. And I’d like to give my sincere thanks to MPAK, especially to Steve Morrison. It was not quite possible to adopt my children without his help and support. I thank all the MPAK members for sharing their adoption experiences and providing encouragements when we have house gatherings and picnics. They have become the integral part of our lives. I also thank our parents who have been great supporters. Last, but not least, I thank my lovely wife, Susan, who has always supported me with lots of love and understanding, and together our decision to adopt without hesitation.

Thank you.

In Remembrance of My Dad – Isaiah Kim

I just want to start by saying that I’m really sorry that I couldn’t be the son that you wanted me to be: I regret the things that I’ve done. The last time you and I had an argument about MY grade and MY life I couldn’t let go of my pride but in return I ran away from home.

You always told our family “If by me staying here won’t help then I’ll gladly go to heaven knowing that you’ll do better without me.” I always thought this was a bluff but now I realize the harsh things you said was for the better of my life. Your only pride was the 7 kids that you have adopted but I never took pride in it.

Now that you left I’m not capable of holding the family together. For the sake of our family you went on business trips nonstop just to feed us. All the damn days when you were here I didn’t even bother knowing what you have been through to keep our family alive. While we ate the food served on our table we took it for granted. I never thought that you will leave so soon and suddenly.

I MISS YOU DAD!! I know that the earthly emotions are temporary but your memories will never fade. Although I can’t blame God of your passing but if I could have just 5 seconds just to see you and talk to you I want to say that I love you with all my heart. Dad no matter what people say you’re my MVP.

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여러분 안녕하세요. 제 이름은 김 기철 입니다. 저는

캘리포니아 세리토스에 거주하며, 컴퓨터 프로그래머로

일하고 있습니다. 제 아내 수잔과는 24년를 함께 하고

있으며 4명의 자녀가 있습니다. 첫째부터 한나 (Hannah),

레아 (Leah), 사라 (Sarah), 이사야 (Isaiah) 입니다. 이 네

명은 저희 부부에게 입양을 통해서 주어진 하나님의 최고의

선물입니다. 여러분, 지금부터 우리 가족의 입양 이야기를

들어 보시지 않으시겠어요?

저희 부부의 첫째인 한나는 이제 열 다섯 살, 10학년. 둘째와

셋째인 레아와 사라는 모두 열 세 살, 7학년이 되고, 이사야는

9살, 3학년이 됩니다. 이 네 명은 모두 한국 김해의 방주원

보육원에서 자랐습니다.

한나는 5살이 되었을 때 저희 부부의 딸이 되었습니다. 한국

속담에 첫째 딸이 가족의 보배이듯이 한나는 정말 사려 깊고

이해심이 많은 조금은 고집 센 저희의 보배입니다. 한나가 10

대 소녀가 되었을 때 한나의 입양에 대한 관심과 이해는 더욱

깊어져 갔고, 그러므로 인해서 저희 부부가 사라를 입양할

수 있는 원동력을 한나를 통해서 찾을 수 있었습니다. 물론

한나는 나이가 들어도 여전히 저희의 어린 아기입니다. 종종

한나는 베개를 가지고 제 방에 와서 “나 오늘 엄마 아빠랑

같이 자도 돼? 제발, 제발 ” 하고 말하곤 합니다. 전 한나가

제자리를 반 이상이나 차지할 것을 알면서도 “그래 그러렴”

하고 말한답니다. 왜냐면 한나가 첫날 저희 집에 와서 반쯤

열린 눈으로 이를 갈면서 자던 때가 생각나서죠.

레아는 저희 부부에게 매우 정이 많은 둘째 딸이에요. 7살인

2002년 12월에 저희 집으로 왔었죠. 항상 웃는 모습에, 저의

손을 잡고 걷고, 저를 안아 주기도 많이 한답니다. 레아는

여성스러워서 청바지보다는 드레스 입는 것을 좋아하고,

만약 온종일 다른 옷 들을 입고 뽐낼 수 있다면 너무나 행복해

할 아이입니다. 그리고 노래 부르고 춤추는 것도 좋아하고요.

저는 레아가 학교 공부를 다른 아이들처럼 곧장 못 따라가면

걱정이 되기도 하지만 레아는 그다지 걱정하는 눈치는 아닌

것 같아요. 한 날은 레아가 제 아내에게 “ 엄마, 이제 나 다시

보육원에 다시 보내는 거 너무 늦은 것 알고 있지? 왜냐면

한번 딸은 영원한 딸이잖아. 아무도 날 여기서 돌려보낼 순

없어” 이 말을 아내가 하면서 “ 레아도 이젠 완전한 우리

딸이야”라고 한 기억이 나네요.

사라는 2006년 3월 10살의 나이로 우리 가족이 되었습니다.

처음 사라의 이전 입양에 파양이 생겼다는 얘기를 들었을 때,

첫째인 한나는 사라가 행복해 질려면 우리가 입양을 해야

한다는 주장을 굽히지 않았습니다. 가족 모두는 거기에

동의했었죠. 사라가 집에 도착하고 나서는 엄청난 변화를

격게 되었습니다. 처음 몇 달간은 말도 잘 하지 않고 웃지도

않으며 나쁜 말을 사용하곤 했습니다. 이런 행동들은 우리

가족을 힘들게 했었죠. 하지만, 한나는 사라를 이해하려

하고 적응할 수 있도록 도와주었으며 사라를 위해 야단까지

맞아야 했습니다. 한번은 제가 이 집에서 해도 되는 일,

안 되는 일을 보여주려고 한나를 꾸짖은 일도 있었습니다.

그러던 4달 쯤 지난 어느 날, 사라가 제 방에 와서, 옆에 앉아

제 눈을 보며 “저를 입양해 주셔서 감사해요.”라고 말하는

겁니다. 그리곤 저를 껴안아 주면서 잘 자라고 하는 순간

저는 억지로 눈물을 참았습니다. 저는 사라에게 “천만이다.”

라고 말할 수 밖에 없었습니다. 이 일이 있은 후로 사라는

웃고, 말하고, 안기고, 나쁜 말 하지 않으려고 노력하는 딸이

되었습니다. 지금은 사라가 자기 전에 저희 방에서 나가지

않고 시간을 끌려고 하며, 나가면서 “굿나잇” 을 개에게도

하고, 컴퓨터에다도 하고, 프린터에다도 말하고, 저의 책상과

의자등 에다 말을 하며 나가는 아이가 되었습니다. 사실

사라는 목표 의식이 강한 아이입니다. 바이올린을 연주하고

저를 라고 부릅니다 글 김 기철 장로 (MPAK 대회에서 나눈 입양 스토리)

아래 글은 고 김기철 장로님을 기억하는 마음으로 함께 나눕니다. 장로님은 2015년 3월 15일 Northrop-Grumman 사를 위한 호주 출장중에 쓰러져 돌아가셨습니다. 장로님과 수잔 사모님은 일곱명의 자녀들을 한 고아원에서 모두 입양하셨습니다. 2008년도에 미국과 한국에 개최된 MPAK 대회에서 나눈 연설문은 많은 가슴을 움직이며 눈물을 흘리게 하였습니다. 저희 MPAK 의 설립 멤버이시며, 지난 15년동안 20명의 아동들이 고아원에서 미주 한인 가정에 입양이 되어 행복하게 자랄 수 있도록 길을 열어 주셨습니다. MPAK 모든 회원들은 아직도 장로님의 사랑을 잊지 않고 있습니다.

아빠

18

싶어서 일 년이나 포기하지 않고 기다린 후 마침내 지난 7월,

사라는 바이올린을 배우기 시작했습니다. 지금은 바이올린

연주자가 되려고 하루 4시간 씩 꾸준히 연습을 합니다.

막내인 이사야는 2005년 11월, 6살의 나이로 우리 가족이

되었습니다. 막내는 똑똑하고 현명하며 세심합니다.

항상 힘이 넘쳐서 집에서도 뛰고, 소파에서도 뛰고, 제가

부르기라도 하면 금세 뛰어 오곤 합니다. 그리고 무엇보다도

말을 많이 합니다. 누나들에게 말을 하든지 아니면 혼자서는

노래를 부르기도 합니다. 영화를 볼 때도 여러 가지 묻는 게

많습니다. 제가 한국에 이사야를 보러 갔을 때 이사야가 제

주위를 돌면서 “아저씨, 아저씨가 제 아빠가 될 거에요?” 하고

몇 번이나 물어보는 거에요. 그때 저는 이사야를 번쩍 들어

올리며 “내가 너 아빠가 되면 좋겠니? “ 하고 물었죠. 그때

이 녀석이 제 눈을 보면서 흔쾌히 고개를 아래위로 흔드는

거에요. 그리곤 저에게 “아이스크림 사 주실 수 있으세요?”

라는 부탁을 했지요.

이제 이 4명의 아이는 우리의 진정한 가족에 적응이 잘

되었습니다. 입양을 통해 한마음이 되어선지 서로서로를

잘 이해하고 입양에 대해서 긍정적인 태도도 취하게

되었습니다. 가끔씩은 애들과 우리가 어떻게 만나서 가족이

되었는지, 입양된 기분이 어떤지, 낳아 주신 부모님을 어떻게

생각하는지도 이야기합니다. 그럴 때면 항상 저는 아버지가

된 기쁨을 보여 주려 하고, 제가 야단 칠 때는 더욱 조심해서

사랑으로 대합니다. 이제 이사야를 제외한 한나, 레아,

사라는 사춘기로 들어갔습니다. 그 래서 집은 항상 활기차고

가끔은 혼란 스러울 때도 있습니다. 각각의 아이들이 각자의

취향, 먹고 싶은 것, 입고 싶은 것, 보고 싶은 것, 가고 싶은

곳을 말합니다. 외식을 할 때에도 음식점을 정하기가 어려울

때가 많이 있죠. 그리고 몇 번씩이나 애들의 선생님으로부터

행동이나 성적 때문에 전화를 받았었습니다. 이제는

선생님으로부터 편지를 받으면 그래도 전화받는 것보다는

마음이 편합니다. 두 명은 응급실에 간 적도 있습니다. 애들은

커가면서 자기 자신의 방도 다른 애들이 마음대로 들어오는

것을 싫어하며 “허락없이 마음대로 내 방에 들어오지마!”

라고 소리를 지를때도 있습니다. 제가 이 애들을 어떻게

감당할 수 있을까요?

저는 그 답을 알고 있죠. 애들이 저를 아빠라고 부르기만

하면 저는 애들의 어떠한 행동도 받아 줄 준비가 되어

있습니다. 제 아이들이 태어날때 저희 부부는 그 자리에

없었습니다. 애들이 갓난 아기일 때 저는 거기에 없었고,

그래서 아기가 한 밤에 깨어 울 때 가서 안아주는 것이 어떤

기분인지 알지 못합니다. 그리고 아기들이 아빠하고 처음

말을 시작했을 때가 어떤 기분인지도 모릅니다. 그리고

처음 아기와 손잡고 같이 걷기 시작하는 아빠의 심정도

모릅니다. 하지만, 이 4명의 아이는 저를 아빠라고 부르려고

이 세상에 태어났습니다. 아이들은 그들이 기분 좋을 때

뿐만 아니라 야단을 맞아도 저를 아빠라고 부릅니다. 화가

날 때도, 저를 놀릴 때도 그렇습니다. 그들은 저를 아빠로

받아들였습니다. 제가 이 입양이 성공적일 수 있었던 것은

제가 아빠라고 말하기 전에 아이들이 아빠라고 부를 때까지

기다린 것입니다. 저는 이미 제가 입양을 결정 했을 때 그

아이들을 저의 자녀로 받아들였습니다. 제가 할 수 있는 일은

아이들이 저를 아빠로 받아 들일 때까지 기다리는 일입니다.

사람들은 저에게 왜 입양을 했느냐고 물어봅니다. 사실, 저도

저 자신에게 같은 질문을 물어봅니다. 그 질문에 정확한 답을

제가 가졌는지 아직은 확실하지 않습니다. 아마 제가 좋은

사람이어서 아니면 똑똑하지 못해서 일 수도 있고요. 그래서

제 아이들이 가끔 저를 바보스럽다고 할 때도 있습니다.

저는 아이들이 저의 입양에 대한 진심을 알고 있으리라

생각합니다. 저는 입양에 대한 저의 결정과 용기를 자랑스럽게

생각합니다. 물론 입양이라는 결정은 항상 걱정과 근심을

동반합니다. 가장 어려운 일은 제가 아이들이 입양이라는

환경 때문에 절망이나 좌절을 경험하는 것을 허락하지 않는

것입니다. 모든 입양 부모들은 입양에 대해 강한 자부심과

긍정적인 인식을 하고 있어야 합니다. 제 아이들은 어느

한순간 절망으로 저에게서 멀어질 수도 있습니다. 하지만,

그들이 그들의 부모님들이 입양 덕분에 행복, 희망 그리고

감사함을 느끼고 있다는 것을 안다면 아이들은 다시 제

자리로 올 수 있을 것입니다. 저는 항상 이렇게 멋진 아이들이

저의 품으로 왔는가를 단 하루도 생각하지 않을 수 없습니다.

저는 먼 훗날, 제 아이들이 결혼해서 가정을 이룰 때, 그들의

아이들 앞에서 너희 할아버지, 할머니는 나를 입양을 통해서

사랑으로 길러내신 분이라고 말하는 것을 듣고 싶습니다.

그들이 저희 사랑을 알아준다면 더 무엇이 필요하겠어요?

이 모든 것을 예수님께 감사드립니다. 예수님께서 저희에게

입양에 대한 용기와 희망을 주셨습니다. 그리고 MPAK, 특히

스티브 모리슨님께 감사의 말씀을 전합니다. 그분의 도움이

없었더라면 입양은 가능하지 않았을 것입니다. 그리고 모든

MPAK 가족 여러분에게 감사의 말씀을 전합니다. MPAK

모임에서 얻은 입양 이야기들과 격려는 저에게 많은 힘이

되었습니다. 저희 부모님들께도 감사의 말씀을 전합니다.

마지막으로 저를 옆에서 지켜주고, 입양을 하기에 서슴치

않고 늘 함께 하며 도와준 사랑하는 저의 아내, Susan에게

감사와 사랑한다는 말을 전합니다. 감사합니다.

19

20

MPAK GALA CHAIR

JANET LIE

GALA PREPARATION COMMITTEE

JANET LIE

JUSTIN HA

STEVE MORRISON

JAE HAK CHO

HANNAH SHIN

ESTEE SONG

TABATHA WHANG

ANNETTE HWANGBO

ANYA LEE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JAE HAK CHO

JUSTIN HA

HENRY HOUGH

ANDREW KIM

SUSAN KIM

JUNHYUNG LEE

MIN LEE

BRIAN SHIN

CHARLES YOO

OFFICERS

STEVE MORRISON Founder/President

DENISE ADAMS Secretary

HELEN KIM Treasurer

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ThankstoOurSupportersInadditiontothecorporatesponsors,wewouldliketoextendourheartfelt

thankstoallwhohavecontributedgenerously.

AbigailDixon

BrianShin

CharlesYoo

CherishApparel,Inc.

ChulSoonYim

DanielIm

Dennis&KeunhoKeefe

EdwardYang

EmmanuelRhee

Gene&AnyaLee

HighlandCornerstoneChurch

JaeKyunMoon

JaneLee

JanetLie

JohnNeu

JustinHa

LaurieKim

LouisSong

MargaretFitch-Hauser

MyungHeeHyun

StephenCha

WarrenChoi

William&GracePaik

WoonsupPark

YongReuter

YongSon&BokUiSong

JimBobPark

Jay&SheenaHan

Includesindividuals&organizations,tablepurchasesasofOctober10,2015.

Listdoesnotincludeindividualseatpurchases

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Our goal is to meet all of your family’s dental needs in a comfortable & friendly environment.

Featuring: *Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

* Specialized Endodontics *Pediatric Dentistry

*Oral Surgery * Orthodontics

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