My friend, Susan and her husband Bill, were happily living in Arizona. Both professionals in their field and living the good life except for one thing. They desperately wanted children. Both of them felt that their lives would be complete if they had children.

The couple researched infertility treatments and like most other couples, found that they are very expensive and very emotionally draining. Not to mention, tons of visits to the doctor’s offices with no guarantee of success.

Susan and Bill went through the whole infertility regime for 2 years and at the cost of approximately $10,000 before deciding not to resume more treatments.

A caseworker that Susan knew through her consulting work suggested another option, adoption. At this point, Susan was 26. They were unsure if this was the direction, they wanted to take. Domestic adoptions are usually quite a long process and do not provide much of a guarantee of healthy infant. By the age of 29, they decided to adopt an infant to bless their family internationally.

They had heard about some success stories of other couples adopting through South Korea, so they, after much prayer and contemplation, chose that route. They used Dillon International out of Arizona, because they felt that the organization was committed to the lifetime care of these children.

Dillon International is based on the concept and belief in the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. More research is available on Dillon International by going to http://www.dillonadopt.com.    

In South Korea, when a woman becomes pregnant she has the option of hiding the pregnancy until birth or go to one of the Korean Social Services until the baby is born. In South Korea several years ago, most birth mothers kept the pregnancy a secret. Society and their families could completely reject them and turn them out to the streets. If society and the families knew of the pregnancy, these women could and most times became unemployable and unmarriageable. If the biological father wanted to acknowledge the baby he would have the child listed in his family blood lines, because most families follow the teachings of Confucius and the blood lines are very important. These children are then listed on the family registry. 

Once the birth mother decides to check into an adoption birth home, she would relinquish her rights upon checking in. Most birth mothers relinquished their rights to the baby by either her signature or a red thumbprint on the documents in lieu of the signature. She is also asked to write a brief paragraph of herself and the biological father and divulge any family medical history if she so choose. With the lack of government documentation as it is here in the United States it is possible for the birth mother to give a fictitious name and/or not even mention the biological father’s name. 

Once these babies are placed in orphanages they are usually cared for by foster parents. These are usually of grandparent age. These parents are provided with the formula, diapers, wipes, etc. that they baby would need. They are responsible for making sure that the babies receive all the proper medical care and immunizations. These babies are emotionally, physically stable babies, and lack many of the issues that come with babies and infants that have been institionalized. Most children past the age of three are not available for international adoption and are cared for by foster parents, families of the biological parents or orphanages. 

Susan and Bill adopted their first child, Sung-Joon, when he was six months old. They used the Family Adoption Consultants out of Michigan and Ohio in conjunction with the Korean Social Services that oversee all government orphanages in South Korea. Once they were notified of a baby available they were notified by Dillon International Adoption Agency in accordance with the Hague Convention. They were required to have a home study performed and all background checks completed.

The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoptions is an international agreement to safeguard inter-country adoptions. It aims to prevent the abduction, sale of, or traffic in children, and it works to ensure that inter-country adoptions are in the best interests of children.  It ensures a safety net for the adoption to be finalized and complete.

Susan and Bill were not required to travel to South Korea for their baby as some countries do. The baby was transported to the United States by guardianship of Dillon International. From the time they were notified that the baby was available, it was two months before they received his picture and another four months later he blessed their home.

During this waiting time, they were instructed to contact the Department of U.S. Immigration to begin the paperwork for their baby’s citizenship in the United States. These children become United States citizens upon adoption. The baby is transported to the United States under the guardianship of the adoption agency and the families are inspected and reviewed for 6-9 months before the adoption is finalized. All concerned had only the desire to have the best interest of the child as the most important aspect of the whole adoption process. 

Bill and Susan were so pleased with their whole adoption experience from South Korea that they have since adopted two other children, one who is now 12 years old named Joo- Hee and another baby, who is now 11 years old and named Kill-Soo. To protect the privacy of the family we have only given the children’s Korean names. They were changed at the time of adoption. 

Bill and Susan’s love of children and their overwhelming ability to open their homes and their hearts to these children has blessed them beyond measure. They now also have a biological 4-year-old son named Billy. 

On a day-to-day basis, this family incorporates Korean culture with American culture. The children have the opportunity to attend classes at a local church on Saturdays where Korean is spoken, celebrated, and Korean customs are explained. This family also has the resources available from a local Korean Support Group. 

International adoption is a joy and blessing to every family. Children are children regardless of where they are born. They all need a nurturing, loving supportive home that can help them through life and the many challenges that may come their way. The families that adopt these children give them the best opportunities that life has to offer and in exchange, they receive the overwhelming unconditional love that these children so freely want to give, for a lifetime.