Heat, Concerts, Parties, Special Visits, etc.!!

What a delightful week!  So busy, yet exciting and so much fun!  It was quite a full week and an exhausting one, but hoping to catch up on some rest this weekend.  Thanks for continuing to pray for me and others involved in the ministry of education here at YISS!  Before I share some of the events of the week, I want to ask for your strong prayers for a very difficult situation in our high school.  I do not know all the details, but I would just ask you to pray that God would give wisdom to those who have some difficult decisions to make involving several of our high school students.  With the ending of another school year and the very hot week, I believe that Satan is very actively at work among our YISS community.  Your faithful prayers at this time will be very much appreciated!

The elementary school had its final two music concerts for the year - both in our beautifully refurbished auditorium with a new balcony and a great sound system!  Tuesday evening was the Elementary Orchestra, Beginning Band, and 4th Grade combined concert!  Mrs. Harding and Ms. Zakula did a wonderful job with our awesome students!

Thursday evening was an exceptional concert by our 2nd and 3rd grade cherubs under the direction of Dr. Harding!  Almost 160 students on our bigger stage performed to the delight of a packed house!  Oh, how I wish you all could have been there to hear these little ones perform their concert - Hungry to Learn: A Celebration of Knowledge!  They sang and played with such joy and enthusiasm!

Beginning Band Concert!  This includes some 4th and 5th Grade students who are just starting on their instruments!

The Elementary Orchestra!  These 4th and 5th graders 

did a great job!  Can't wait to hear them next year!

The 4th grade cherubs singing at their music concert under Mrs. Harding's direction.

Grades 2 and 3 on stage performing their awesome

concert! 

Grades 2 and 3 again with some of those who were 

accompanying with the drums!  Great job!

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Thursday morning I heard this beautiful music coming into my office.  My office is near the Orchestra Room and often I can hear them rehearsing, but this sound was much closer and louder.  I got out of my chair and walked to the main area of the Elementary/High School Office Suite and found a String Quintet playing beautiful music.  They surprised us in the office suite with some selections they will perform at YISS High School Graduation on June 1. These five seniors are awesome - so gifted and talented!  If you have not seen the video I posted on Facebook of their little performance right outside my office door, you should check it out.

A Senior String Quintet after their great performance in the Elementary/High School Office suite! Awesome group!!

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The principals and assistant principals were invited to a PTO Luncheon on Thursday.  It was held in the new Multi Purpose Room near the new Library.  It was our opportunity to share our expression of gratitude to the PTO Board members for the amazing work and support of our students and the education programs at YISS!  They are a super group of volunteers!  I believe the total of parent volunteers reached 550 this year!

Above and below are some of the most delicious foods that were provided for the PTO Board Appreciation Luncheon!  Soooooo good!

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On Friday, the Elementary Librarian invited me to share my reading of one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books, Oh, The Paces You'll Go! to the group of elementary children in Kinder through Grade 5 who have been faithful as Librarian Assistants this past year.  I always love this time and I loved sharing this book and some of my experiences with this great group of youngsters!  Then I was invited to stay for some TICO ice cream bars and homemade brownies which were especially yummy!

Reading to the Library Assistants at their

Appreciation Party!

Some of the Library Assistants enjoying their ice cream and brownies!!

Here I am with Grace in 2A!  She is my

secret admirer (not so secret any more)! :-)  

Grace was my Assistant Principal of the Day

in last year's Read-A-Thon!  She is such a

great young lady!

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I had some special surprises this week with friends outside of my YISS community.  On Wednesday evening I was able to have a nice dinner at My Thai China Restaurant with Sooyong (Soul).  Sooyong and I met when he was a server at a restaurant called "Between" located near YISS.  Last August he left to study engineering at Auburn University in America.  He returned for the summer and contacted me to go out and catch up.  Sooyong is not a believer but continues to ask questions.  Thanks for praying for him as he studies.

Sooyong and me at My Thai China!  So great to catch up with him!

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Friday evening two very special friends, Gunmo and Changyong, came to Seoul and stayed over at my apartment.  What a great time we had together!  Both of these young men are diligently serving the Lord in their work places and are so eager to show Christ's love to their colleagues and family.   I hadn't seen them for several weeks so it was great to just sit and talk and enjoy catching up.  Oh yes, both of them are strong Kia Tigers' baseball fans.  They also know that I am a strong Doosan Bears' fan and enjoy when Kia loses or any teams beats Kia.  They wanted to watch the NC Dinos (a new Korean major league baseball team) play Kia.  When we turned on the TV, Kia was losing 10 - 0!!  I loved it but Gunmo was groaning the entire time.  The Dinos have been the worst team in the Korean baseball this year so far and he could not stand it that his beloved Tigers were losing 10 - 0!! :-)  It ended 10 - 5, so I was happy! :-)   Saturday morning we went to Holly's Coffee for Brunch and then Gunmo had to leave for a work engagement and Changyong had to go the wedding of the son of his boss at work.  So great to be with these wonderful young men, who I am blessed to call dear friends!  Thanks for praying for them.

Gunmo and Changyong at my apartment enjoying

some yummy dead chicken!

Brunch at Holly's Coffee with my two crazy and awesome friends!!

Yummy brunches at Holly's Coffee!!

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At church on Sunday we welcomed back, Andy (a tenor) and Rachel (his week-old bride) to the choir.  They had a great time in Thailand and Andy said that they would be coming to New Harvest Ministry.  That is excellent news since he wasn't sure where they might be going once they got married.  It will be great to have one of our tenors stay with us!  What a nice couple they are!

This is Andy and Rachel today at Choir Practice after the worship service!  Andy was telling choir members that he and Rachel will be fellowshipping at New Harvest!  The Choir was delighted!  Please pray for this wonderful couple as they begin their married life together as one.

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We also had to say goodbye to Hojae!  Hojae is an amazing pianist and has been the Choir's accompanist for five years.  He will be heading to the USA to select a music conservatory for his graduate degree.  The conservatory that enrolls Hojae will be greatly blessed!  I went to his Final Recital at Yonsei University and was so impressed!  Hoping to stay in touch with him as he studies in the USA.  Thank you for praying for him.  He is going to be greatly missed!

At the close of Choir Practice today, Conductor Suh

and Mr. David presented a gift from the Choir to Hojae.

We then sang the traditional Korean blessing song. I 

love that song!

Hojae with me at Choir Practice today!  After practice

he came to me and thanked me for my support and said

he would keep me informed as to which conservatory 

he goes to.  Hoping to keep in touch with this very 

gifted young pianist!  Thanks for praying for him!

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I would value your prayers for these 8 days at YISS with our students.  So much is happening and there is still much to be done.  Teachers will be working on Quarter Comments and Grades as well as final grades and reports.  Thanks so much for all of your love, encouragement, notes, prayers, and support during this year.  You are special!

Love, Gregg

Really? Only 13 More Days at YISS for the 2012-13 School Year!

Yes, it is true...only 13 more days in this school year!  And so much going on and so much to do before June 5!  Then a closing meeting with teachers and staff and then I am off to a Technology Conference in Hong Kong on June 7.  I return to YISS on June 10 and finish some work before heading to the States on June 14.  I would value your prayers as we finish another year at YISS!

The next 13 days will be busy ones at YISS: completion of teacher observations and summative reports, last week of After School Activities, two concerts this coming week (4th grade Music and 2nd and 3rd grade Music concerts), PTO Board and Administrators' Luncheon, completion of final grades, recommendation letters prepared for those students leaving to travel to another country for a new assignment, and the list could go on! :-)

This past week was such a good one!  I had the opportunity to share with the students in Grade 5B concerning using the experiences (painful, joyful, sorrowful, etc.) they have experienced, or will experience, to then invest in others to encourage, comfort, help, etc.  I had the joy of sharing with a very attentive group who had many questions.  I shared several experiences in my life that were not necessarily pleasant ones, but how God turned them into opportunities to minister to others who were going through similar circumstances.  They had so many questions about my experiences and especially about my parents.  It was a treasured experience and I received the nicest note from the entire class the next day!  I am excited to see what these young people will do in the future to invest their lives in others!

I also had the privilege of sharing in our OASIS assembly about "worrying" and how God has used many people in my life to help me let go of so many of my worries so that I could be more effective.  I come from a long line of worriers, and although I am not worrying as much, I continue to learn and grow from so many in this area of my life.

I was invited to attend the Poetry Recital of our three third grade sections!  Oh, I wish I could send you a video or picture of each child's recitation!  Parents were invited and it is always one of my pleasures to watch parents as they watch their children perform!  There were smiles and tears of joy, and many proud parents!  Several times I also had tears of joy as I observed the students perform.  It was a true joy!  They did a superb job!  Here are just a few pictures of some of those who recited.

One of our 3A students sharing in front of parents and friends at the Poetry Recital.  There were three recitals going on simultaneously in each of the third grades.  It was so great to see the many parents who came!

 Above is Alexis (I think) and Christian reciting their poems.  Christian was one of the best at using expressions and gestures during his recitation!

On the right above is one of our new students, Gautham.  He and his sister came in late January and he has grown so much.  His recitation was excellent!  Loved watching his mother!  On the left is one of my special friends, Heemin!  Heemin has a dose of Asperger's Syndrome.  I absolutely have loved watching his classmates (ever since first grade when I came to YISS) care for him and help him!  When he was introduced to share his poem, the children in the class gave him such an ovation.  Then when he recited, I do not think there was a dry eye in the room!  He used such great expression and spoke so clearly!  It was just amazing!  His mother was beaming and crying and smiling for her delightful son!  Oh, how Heemin has grown and how he has changed for the better everyone with whom he comes in contact!

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Our After School Activities program for Quarter 4 came to a close this past week for most of our activities.  Some will finish next week.  It was very difficult for me to have my last time together with my two Discipleship boys, Paul and Joshua.  I love them so much!  I would value your prayers for these young boys as they seek to follow Jesus.  Pray especially for Paul as he moves into the Middle School next year.  He has some fears and I have already told him that he can come and visit me any time!

Above are Joshua and Paul at our last Discipleship 

Activity.  I asked the boys if they would like to go

out to KFC, Burger King, Baskin-Robbins, or 

McDonald's for our last time.  They got excited and 

said together, "McDonald's!"  Joshua, on the left,

is in 4th grade and he wanted a Happy Meal in order

to get the toy! :-)

Here we are on the second floor of McDonald's enjoying

our last "official" time together.  I gave them a copy of 

the book we were using, A Boy After God's Heart.  We 

had a great time together!  I love these boys!!

On the left and right are the front and back page of a card Paul made for me after our McDonald's visit.  Paul enjoys writing - especially poetry - and he wanted to share one that he wrote.  It is below entitled Majestic Lord.

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It is a joy to observe each of the After School Activities, but I especially enjoy visiting the Ceramics class.  The ladies who teach this class are so good with our students.  The students learn so much while learning to enjoy making their ceramic pieces.  The class is finished for this year, but on June 3, they will receive their finished products after the instructors take them to their organization's work place to fire them in the kiln!

In Ceramics the children are instructed how to use 

the pottery wheel.  Here is one of the instructors

guiding Nora from 1A with her piece on the wheel.

Nora, and all of the kids, loved getting their hands

messy!! 

Three first grade boys working on their ceramic mugs!

These young cherubs are so focused in this picture! 

Usually they are so active and would look up when they

saw me, but I could not get them to remove their focus

from their project in the Ceramics class! :-)

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One of our excellent Korean staff at YISS, Ms. Hannah Suh, has been a real delight to get to know.  Hannah is one of the assistants in the Library + she is the Housing Coordinator for the staff at YISS.  She is the one who was soooooo helpful to me in being able to secure and apartment two years ago.  I love the apartment and if I ever have a problem, I take it to Hannah and within a day, the problem is remedied!  Each morning one of her jobs is to get the coffee machine up and running.  I usually run into her as I go to get my cup for the day.  I started last year greeting her with the following, "Good morning Ms. Hannah, Wanna, Banana, Tanna, Ranna, Canna, etc."  She loves when I do this and she will make me say it to other staff when we are together.  At the recent Book Fair I found a children's book called Ms. Hannah is Bananas! I thought of Hannah and bought it for her.  When I gave it to her, she said, "Oh, this makes my day!"  Then gave me a huge smile.  She shows everyone the book!  Please pray for Hannah as she serves at YISS and join me in thanking God for her great example to our children and staff at YISS.

Hannah wanted to take a picture of us with her new book!  She took it on her phone and shared with me as well as many others!  Hannah is such a wonderful lady and I am so glad she is involved with our elementary cherubs!

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If you are reading this, I want to thank you for taking time this year to read my ramblings on this blog.  I really value your notes and emails of encouragement!  I treasure your prayers, your love and your support!  Thank you so much!  Please enjoy a great week!

Love, Gregg

Busy Warm Days...Field Day, Birthday, International Bazaar Day, 5th Grade Musical!!

What a great and busy week it has been!  So much is going on as we bring the 2012-2013 school year to a close!  In addition to regular activities at YISS in the Elementary School, this week we had Elementary Field day on Wednesday, a birthday celebration lunch for Bev Birmingham (the other elementary assistant principal), Annie, Jr. performances on Friday and Saturday by the fifth grade music classes, International Bazaar on Saturday, MAP Testing, and the list goes on!  It was a packed week and I am ready for a break...but it will not come for a few more weeks.  I am also fighting off a slight case of bronchitis; mainly just an annoying cough in the mornings.

I think I will let the pictures do most of the talking this week.  There was so much and I can only give you a small taste of the exhausting, yet delightful, week!

After School Activities:  In addition to everything else this week, we continued to have a full slate of After School Activities.  I wanted to show you a special picture of our up and coming ballerinas in our Ballet class.  They are so cute!

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Elementary Field Day on Wednesday!  Our Phys. Ed. teacher, Mr. Resende did a great job of organizing a packed day of fun and competitive activities to culminate our House Team Competition!  He was able to encourage MANY parents to volunteer to help in this massive undertaking for 400 + students.  We had a gorgeous day of weather and the Blue team, the one I am on, came in second!  I was very proud of them.  I absolutely love the four way tug-of-war competition, however, I always get very loud as I encourage the kids to pull and work together.  So I lost my voice and my coughing did not improve! :-)

The day ended with a wonderful movie, The Loretta Claiborne Story!  This is based on the life of an amazing lady, Loretta Claiborne.  She was partially blind at birth and unable to walk until age 4.  Our fifth graders met her at the Special Olympics in South Korea this past January and were given some very articulate and inspiring words from Loretta.  She had been called "retard" most of her early life and went on to participate in 6 Special Olympics World Games.  She gives the credit to God.  I would encourage anyone to get a copy of the DVD and view it!

My kindergarten buddy, Fabian!!                                         The Blue Team preparing for battle!

The Yellow Team (winners) preparing!                        Here are the 4 House Teams on the steps!!

Some 2nd graders preparing for the Marble Relay Race!

Kinder cherub Jade in the Hula Hoop Game!                Michaela picking up marbles in the relay!

I am giving a play-by-play commentary on the Teachers' Water Balloon Launch with all of the House Teams cheering on the teachers on their House Team!

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A Visit from Grace!  One of our wonderful Korean staff, Mrs. Grace Oh, returned to YISS for a visit with Shion, her first child!  It was so good to see her and her little boy!  Grace did an amazing job at our receptionist desk and probably knew every child's name at YISS.

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Bev Birmingham's Birthday Luncheon!  On Thursday at Noon the Elementary Office Staff took our other elementary assistant principal to lunch at Pizzeria D'Buzza to celebrate her birthday!  Bev has been a great addition to our elementary administration team!

Left to right: Bev Birmingham, GGG, Mrs. Yoo - 

our elementary secretary - and Dan Lazor, Principal.

Pizza from Pizzeria D'Buzza is sooooo yummy!  

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Annie, Jr. Musical on Friday and Saturday evenings! The fifth grade students (with a few students from third grade) had their performances of Annie, Jr.!  I was very impressed with their production since the kids do everything - from costume to make-up to set design to sound and lighting!  It is a student production led by Dr. Harding.  Having only two afternoons to rehearse in our newly refurbished auditorium, they did a superb job!

The Playbill for Annie, Jr.!

Part of the 86 students making up the cast and crews

of Annie, Jr. after their final performance on Saturday!

From left to right: Miss Hannigan, Annie, Drake, and 

Mr. Warbucks!  They were awesome!!

Here I am with two very special actors, Paul (Rooster) and Catherine (Lily).  Paul is one of my Discipleship boys and did a tremendous job acting and singing!  Catherine has a learning disability and is an up and coming actress!  She did accents so well!  I was so proud of both of them!

This is Joshua with me. He is a very quiet young man

who loves technology and sound equipment!  On Opening 

Night, Annie dropped her microphone set into the toilet!

Her mic was not able to be used.  She had the opening line

in the musical and there was silence.  Within 10 minutes, 

Joshua had reorganized all 12 of the mics to that the show

could go on!  So proud of this young man!

One of the set designs that the Set Design crew had prepared for the performances!

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YISS International Bazaar Day!!!  This amazing undertaking each year by our YISS PTO was awesome!  So many families + visitors came on Saturday from 11 AM - 4 PM to experience the international flavor of YISS.  Teacher and administrators volunteer to assist for an hour or two at one of the stations.  The International Bazaar is an annual event to celebrate the cultural diversity of the YISS community!  Again, we had gorgeous weather!  The day included the following:  Country Food Booths (food vendors provided yummy food from various cultures and gave back part of their proceeds to YISS), Bazaar Tables (anyone wanting to share products from their country or sell used items could set up a booth), Games and Activities (set up on the soccer field and various additional places for the children), Prize Raffle and Silent Auction (NUMEROUS businesses donated amazing products for the raffle and auction.  I was able to win lodging at The Plaza Hotel in Seoul and a food certificate for the famous Edward Kwon Restaurant in Korea.  He is a famous chef in Korea and his two children go to YISS.), Cultural Music and Dances (These included performances from our High School Praise Band, three of our teachers, a Brazilian percussion performance, the Middle School Praise Band, a Zumba dance performance, etc.), The Parade of Nations (There are about 54 countries represented at YISS and almost all of them had children carry their country's flag during the Parade of Nations!) and finally the Cultural Program which featured children and parents performing music and/or dances from their countries!  An amazing and exhausting day!! :-)

Only part of the excellent crowd who enjoyed the

Music and Dance Cultural Performances throughout

the day!

Many of you have been praying for my excellent high school friend, Matthew.  Here I am with him as he prepares to play with the High School Praise Band.  He also was the drummer for one of our high school teachers, Mr. Richards!

High School Praise Band preparing to perform!

One of the MANY food vendors!  Yummy!

The MCs on the left during the Parade of Nations and

Cultural Performances!

Two more students during the Parade of Nations!

One of our fifth grade boys, Balint, and his mother 

playing one of the fun table games set up inside.

Three charming little cherubs performing a Hula Dance, Pearly Shells!

Another dance group!  The ones in the Hanboks are

all students at YISS.  They did a great job of performing

the traditional Korean dance,  Sogo-chum!

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It was a very wonderful week!  Thank you for praying for my acute bronchitis.  Thank you so much for your faithful love, prayers, encouragement, emails, and support!  Please enjoy a great week!  Hard to believe that May is almost half over!

Love, Gregg