In South Korea, Molly was known by many names, from the Mother Teresa
of Korea to the Mother of all Korea’s Orphans. Although she devoted her
life to caring and advocating for children and adults with medical,
developmental and physical needs in Korea, she leaves a legacy that is
felt around the world.
Born on November 24, 1935 in Firesteel, South Dakota, Molly was the
second eldest daughter of Harry and Bertha Holt, who pioneered
international adoption in the mid-1950s and later founded Holt
International. Molly attended high school in Creswell, Oregon, and later
graduated from both the University of Oregon and Sacred Heart Hospital,
where she earned a nursing degree in 1956.
The summer of that same year, Molly traveled for the first time to
South Korea — fresh out of nursing school, and ready to help her father
care for children left orphaned and abandoned in the wake of the Korean
War. A devout Christian like her parents, Molly had a vision for her
future while in Korea. “I felt that this was where the Lord would have
me be for the rest of my life,” she later said.
Molly would go on to spend most of her adult life at the Ilsan Center
in Korea, a nurturing, long-term care home that her parents built in
the early 1960s for children and adults with special medical,
developmental and physical needs. As a nurse and foster mother to the
residents of Ilsan, Molly worked to ensure they received the specialized
care they needed to reach their potential and live as independently as
possible. Through her tireless advocacy, Molly also made it possible for
many children in care at Ilsan to join loving, permanent families
through adoption. Today, hundreds of families adopt children with
special needs every year from countries around the world. But long
before it was common, Molly actively sought families for the children
who others considered “unadoptable.” Like her parents before her, Molly
helped change the culture of adoption by showing that every child is
equally worthy of love and acceptance, and that every child deserves to
be part of a family.
Only a few times in her life did Molly leave the Ilsan Center for
extended periods, and only to pursue additional training so that she
could better meet the needs of the children and adult residents of
Ilsan. She studied at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, attended
Korean language school and Multnomah School of the Bible, did
post-graduate work in special education at the University of Oregon, and
in December 1991 she earned a master’s degree in special education and
rehabilitation from Northern Colorado University. Throughout her life,
she received many honors, including a presidential award, the National
Order of Civil Merit from Korea in 1981, World Vision’s Bob Pierce award
in 1984 and in 2009, for her lifetime of dedication to orphans and
people with disabilities, she received the Royal Order of Merit from the
king of Norway.
Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2013, Molly nevertheless remained
steadfast in her commitment to the children and adult residents of the
Ilsan Center. Despite her declining health, she said that she would
devote her remaining life “to the things that she loves with her whole
heart.” Molly never married or had children, but to the residents of
Ilsan — many of whom are now in their 50s and 60s — Molly was their only
family. They called her “Unee,” or big sister, a name that Molly
cherished.
“Molly Holt moved so many with her tireless and admirable efforts,
especially for those children with mental and physical disabilities,”
says Stephen Noerper, senior director of the Korea Society and senior
advisor to the United Nations. “As a brother of adopted, special needs
siblings, I salute and admire her legacy of service. She offered six
decades of tireless devotion, stood as a credit to her brave parents,
and touched, formed and grew many through her compassion. The Korea
Society and the entire community of those bent on international
friendship and support extend deepest condolences to her family and
friends and the entire Holt organization. To Molly Holt’s nobility,
spirit and service, all tribute and our love and heartfelt prayers.”
Of Molly’s passing, Lee HongKoo, former prime minister of the
Republic of Korea, wrote, “The contribution of Molly Holt to humanity
and humanism … is a historic achievement. The modern history of Korea
will record her achievement with gratitude and admiration. Many of us in
Korea join the Holt adoptee community in recording our love and
farewell.”
“I am saddened to hear of the passing of Molly Holt,” says Oregon
senator Ron Wyden. “Although she lived most of her life in Korea, all of
us in Oregon consider her an exceptional Oregonian. Molly leaves a
legacy of caring and compassion that will endure for generations to
come. Her devotion to orphaned children in Korea and around the world
touched the lives of thousands of children and families and changed the
hearts and minds of many more for the better.”
Steve Stirling, president and CEO of MAP International, lived at the
Ilsan Center in Korea before he was adopted in 1966, at the age of 11.
“I thank God for Molly for faithfully serving those in need through Holt
and living in Ilsan to care for disabled residents,” he says. “While we
will miss you now, I will rejoice when we unite for eternity in Heaven
with our Lord and Savior Jesus. So long for now until we meet again in
our forever home.”
Please pray for Molly’s family and for the many people who have loved
her that they might find peace and comfort in their memories.
Services for Molly will be held in Korea at 10:00 a.m. on May 21 at
Holt Ilsan Center of Korea. Molly’s family requests that gifts be made
in her honor to the Molly Holt Fund for Children With Special Needs. If you would like to share memories or photos of Molly Holt, please email them to photosubmission@holtinternational.org.
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Article Source: "In Memory of Molly Holt" by Robin Munro
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