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| Back to front page Just Gabe First visit Receiving Gabe Holt offices Holt reception center At the Airport Activities in Seoul Logistics of the Trip Arriving Home |
| Eric and I were thrilled to get to meet Molly Holt, who has been working in Korea at the agency her father founded for more than 35 years. She was very busy when we were there, feeding residents, combing hair, coordinating trips to town, and running errands. Her house, on the Il San grounds, was full of people all the time, and she lives very humbly with a real heart for the Korean children and disabled people. |
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| Our tour guide was one of the Ilsan employees, and she was very knowledgeable not only about the current functionings, but also about Holt's history. |
| Each of the residences at Ilsan is named for a Holt child, and these were some of the residents of one of the women's houses. The houses were well-equipped, and the "house parents" very attentive. |
| There were many different skill centers at Ilsan, where many residents were practicing crafts or handiwork. The skill level varied from simple pottery, left, to very skillful painting (right.). |
| Military service is mandatory for males in Korea, and these guys apparently had been assigned to work at Ilsan for the day, helping assemble paper roses to sell as part of an awareness campaign. There is also a gift shop at Ilsan, with handicrafts from the residents. We would encourage anyone to shop there if they can - the residents get a portion of the money for each of their items sold. We got some very neat pottery and some magnets. |
| It was obvious that Holt was using our donations and contributions well at Ilsan - they had a fully equipped hair salon for the residents, which was staffed by volunteer professional stylists. They also had a newly floored gym, which is used for the equivalent of our Special Olympics. The entire facility was very well maintained, and nicely run. The chapel there has been home to many weddings of adoptees, residents, and others. |
| Both Harry and "Grandma" Holt are buried at Ilsan. Their graves were a stirring sight, especially with the scripture verses chosen for each. For Harry, it was Isa. 43:5-6, and 2 Tim. 4:7. For Grandma Holt, it was Proverbs 31. |