Tag: Ilmagwon

Korea: Old Pictures of Ilmagwon Orphanage

by Kathryn Spurgeon, posted in International

While planning our trip to Korea, I found some old pictures of the orphanage – some 38 years ago no less, where my two Korean daughters were from  – and I lived for a short while. It was also called Il Maek Won.

It has moved locations and now has older children also. Notice the girls wore red sweats and the boys, brown.

When I walked in the front door, I took off my shoes and stepped up onto the wooden floor and kids surrounded me. Small rooms opened from the hallway, starting with the youngest babies in the first room. 

I almost didn’t include the orphan pictures – they make me cry. The faces still affect me 38 years later, they are so precious. But I must include at least a few pictures of kids. They are precious.

I know Ilmagwon Orphanage will be very different after this many years, but I will always remember and pray for the children I could not adopt – and I’m anxious to be in Korea again.

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Our Trip to Korea

by Kathryn Spurgeon, posted in International

I’m excited for my 3 daughters and I to be going to Korea, me – after 38 years.  

When I was 19 years old, I left Oklahoma to live in Korea, because my husband at the time was stationed at Kunsan Air Force Base. While there, we adopted two baby girls. He left and I stayed in the orphanage for a while. If you know me, you know it was hard to leave Korea without a dozen more children! I came back to the US, had a baby girl and my husband and I divorced. How God took care of me and my three children during the next twenty some years is another story, but He did – in amazing ways.

My three daughters grew up, graduated from college, married wonderful guys, and gave me beautiful grandchildren. After they were grown, God blessed me with Bill, a godly husband, and three step children. Our heavenly Father has been so good!

Through helping International students at UCO, Bill and I have met many wonderful young people over the years, and grown to love them. Many times, Korean students have invited us to visit. I want to see them again, face to face, and encourage them in their walk with the Lord.

I contacted the orphanage, Il Mag Won Babies Home, the one where my daughters lived, and it is still there. About 35 children live in the orphanage today. The Orphanage Director is the son of the couple I knew before. In fact, his mother who ran the orphanage is now ninety years old and, hopefully, we’ll see her.

So for the first time since 1974, on May 24th, 2012, my three daughters and I will travel to South Korea and spend 12 days. I remember the old Korea, but I’ve been assured it has changed a lot. Just like I have.

Ilmagwon Orphanage and loved Korean students, here we come – we will never be the same, well, actually, Korean orphans changed my life many years ago!

www.spurgeons.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/korea-a-trip-of-a-lifetime/

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