A Shining Jewel

by
published on 02/27/08
categories: Comfort   Grace   Life   Testimonies  

This life in Korea was something that was stolen from me.

This trip to Korea was to be so simple.

I was to find the truth about my beginnings, discover the story that lay behind how I came to be and know who was responsible for my life with the circumstances that surrounded it. It was to entertain my thoughts about having a mother that didn’t know better, or couldn’t help what she did-so I could forgive and feel pity on those last precious moments we may have had together. I was suppose to find this “person” who exists only on papers in a file tucked away in a social service agency; filled with Korean volunteers who see thousands of hopefuls like me. It seemed too mechanical. They take my photo and hand me a gift all in the same movement but then tell me that nothing in my file will help me. Anger tells me that they keep parts of my file behind closed doors when they realize I’m coming. In the same breath, they utter, “Good luck” in their Korean accents and walk away.

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Robyn Afrik is a life long resident of Holland. Growing up, she attended Holland Christian High School, studied Social work and business as her undergraduate studies at Valparaiso University and Cornerstone University. She is in the process of attaining her MSW at Grand Valley State University and is a national certified Global Career Development facilitator endorsed by the National Career Development Association, the National Employment Counseling Association and the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals. Robyn is an active member on the LEDA board, is the treasurer on the executive board for 70 X 7 life recovery and serves on the board of Buen Pastor. Robyn has traveled and lived in Senegal, W. Africa, Seoul, Korea and enjoys speaking for diversity forums such as the Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic harmony and served as the 2007 keynote speaker for Calling all Colors. Currently she is raising a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic family in Holland, enjoys writing, challenging status quo and community collaboration.


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Michael Boyink

on 03/15/08

Robyn -

Thanks for posting your story here. Sorry for the delay in publishing—we were on a vacation.

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"O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old." Psalm 44:1