What a Great Thanksgiving! Now the Christmas Events Begin!!

It was only a four-day week at YISS, but there was so much packed into the entire week!  Thanks for continuing to pray for all of us at YISS during this very busy season.  I am praying that I will be able to slow down and enjoy the real reason for this special season - probably my most favorite time of the year!  I am so thankful for my faithful family and friends who continue to love me and show the love of God to me in so many ways!

I will try to make this brief but don't count on it! :-) So much was packed into last week.  I will try to use pictures to explain some of the many happenings.

Monday, I was invited to the Kindergarten B class for their presentations of their "I can" statements.  Each week this year we have been emphasizing the Guardian Honor Code at YISS. The mascot for YISS is a Guardian.  Our behavior and discipline policy centers around the various character traits that we are encouraging our students to learn and role model each day!  It was exciting to see these little kindergarten cherubs do their first oral presentation using their "I can" statements with their own illustrations.

Two Kinder boys giving their "I can" presentation!!

These two also did a great job!  The little girl is one

who I think will be a teacher some day!  She is quite

the talker and it was fun to see how she took charge!

_______________________________________________

On another day, I was walking through the hallways and came across the writings of our 4C students.  They were working on their writing skills and Mr. Mooi, their teacher, displayed their self portraits and their mini-autobiographies!  Very interesting and very revealing.  Here are a few that captured my attention.

Above is the writing of Yudon.  Yudon has become

one of my buddies.  He has the greatest smile and will

always stop to talk with me.               

Chloe is a really nice girl and I was impressed with

         her printing in her writing.  Good job!

______________________________________________

Wednesday was "Everyone can be a Hero" Day.  Elementary students were encouraged to come dressed as one of their heroes.  I dressed in a white shirt and one of the ties I had given my Daddy when I was working for Wheaton College.  Different ones asked me who I was dressed as.  It was my privilege to share with them about one of my main heroes, my Daddy!  I posted a number of pictures of the various heroes on Facebook so I have only put a couple on here.

A group of our second graders posing in the outfits

                     of one of their heroes.

Our kindergarten teachers love to do something as

a group.  Here are Ms. McGinnis, Ms. Regnier, and

Ms. Wheat in their costumes of the three men in the

furnace during the time of Daniel in the Bible.  I loved it!

_______________________________________________

On Thursday, I had a really special experience.  I was invited by the Bible teacher of Middle School students to come and observe a group of his 6th grade students as they taught the book of Jonah to a class of first graders!  I was so proud of our 6th graders.  They have grown in so many ways and what I witnessed was a group of 6th graders actually teaching first graders who were so interested and involved.  They were using technology, illustration booklets they had made, Children's Bibles, and many other resources.  These 6th graders had already been taught Jonah by Mr. Palmer, their Bible teacher, the book of Jonah and then they prepared lessons that will continue through December on Thursdays for these first graders.  The 7th grader Bible students are teaching second graders the book of Joel!  Enjoy these pictures of our 6th graders teaching some of our first graders.

Above is one of my Discipleship boys, Paul - on the right.  I was so proud of him on this day!

The first grader is Valentina - a new student - having

a great time with her 6th grade teacher.        

This first grader is Chloe.  I believe this was the quietest most still I have ever seen her!!  She was having a great time!

_________________________________________________

One of our After School Activities is preparing to present a couple songs at each of our upcoming Christmas concerts for elementary students.  We will have three concerts in December just for elementary.  The Strings Performance Ensemble is made up of 2nd through 4th grade students who play string instruments.  The teacher has been doing a great job with them in their After School Activity!

Some of our 2nd through 4th grade string students in the Strings Performance Ensemble in their ASA preparing for their songs at the upcoming Christmas concerts!

_____________________________________________

Here is a poster of our Christmas concerts in December.  You can be praying for this busy time!

______________________________________________________

One morning this past week I went into Mr. Lazor's office in the Elementary Office suite and saw a beautiful sunrise!  Mrs. Yoo, our elementary secretary, had her phone handy and captured the following picture out Mr. Lazor's office window.  What a wonderful way to begin a day!!

___________________________________________________________

Thursday evening a group of us went to Suji's for their annual Thanksgiving Buffet!  We had a great time together eating yummy turkey and the trimmings and enjoying a great time of fellowship on Thanksgiving evening!

Clockwise: Mrs. Rachel Pallesen (Student Learning

Center Coordinator), Ms. Sharon Gorman (MS Art),

Ms. Sharon Mince (MS Social Studies), GGG, and

Mr. Terry Pallesen (HS Social Studies) enjoying our

              Thanksgiving feast at Suji's!

This was my first plate full of yummy goodies.  Then

we had pumpkin pie and coffee!!            

___________________________________________________________

To top off the week, there were 30 faculty and staff who went on the 6th Korean Foreign Schools Foundation Study Trip.  I have been privileged to go on 4 of these and the KFSF provides these at no cost to the YISS faculty and staff.  We traveled by KTX train to Busan and spent Friday and Saturday in the second largest city in Korea - Busan.  Busan was a key city during the Korean War from 1950 - 1953.  We had a wonderful time and our hotel was right on one of the many beaches in the Busan area.  It was a great way to end November and begin a busy month of December!  Once again, there are many pictures that I have posted on Facebook so I will not put too many on here.  Busan is a beautiful city!  Always love going there and learning more each time!

One of the many beaches around Busan!  Many Koreans and foreigners flock to the Busan beaches in summer!

Here I am at the Busan Tower. We had

a great view of the city on all sides from

             the top of the Tower!

At the base of the Tower was this famous Korean actress - Choi, Ji Woo!  I decided to sit down beside her, but she refused to talk with me! :-)

A view from Busan from the top of the Busan Tower!

Again from the top of the Tower, we were able to view the opening of the draw bridge.  It happens only at Noon every day.  It just started to reopen about 3 days ago so you can see the crowd of people at the bottom left who came to view the opening of the draw bridge.

As many of you know, I cheer for the Doosan Bears

baseball team.  On this trip we visited the main head-

quarters of Doosan Heavy Industries.  Here I am in

my hard hat!  We had to wear it when touring the

three different heavy industry areas.  I am trying to 

                             look mean! :-)

Our hotel on the beach!  We stayed there on Friday night and had a yummy breakfast buffet on Saturday morning.

Here I am rubbing the belly of Buddha

which is becoming black from so many

touching his belly in hopes of having a

son!                         

This temple is the only one built on a beach.  It is a beautiful setting!

 ______________________________________________________

OK, I will stop for this week.  I have a special prayer request for my dear friend and former SYME student, David Baek.  I promised David I would not share his concern, but it affects his future: his wedding and his desire to serve the Lord full time.  If you think about it, please pray for David!  I know he would really appreciate it.  Please pray for Gunmo and his nephew, who is still in the hospital, but doing much better.  Pray for Gunmo as he prepares for another test.

Thanks so much for your love, encouragement, prayers, and support.  You mean so much to me and I am so thankful for each of you!

Love, Gregg

Events of the Season Begin in Full Force!!

What a week!  So many events happening are happening between now and Christmas at YISS and this past week was the beginning of these wonderful happenings!

In addition to the After School Activities in the Elementary School, which finished their third week in Quarter Three, our annual Fall Book Fair was held Wednesday through Friday.  This is a major event sponsored by the PTO and takes MANY volunteers to accomplish everything.  The kids and parents love the fair and from initial reports, this year's fair was very successful and will add many books to our library as well the classroom teachers' classroom libraries!

Two fifth grade girls helping one another select books!

This is David selecting a book.  English is not his first language but he wants to read English books!

Our Elementary Librarian, Ms. Creecy, assisting a

girl in selecting some books.                

One of my special buddies, Ian.  I just love how he has grown sine I first met him in Grade 2.  Now in grade 5, Ian has come a long way and I am praying for his salvation.

Ms. Creecy assisting a few more girls in selecting

          appropriate books for each of them.

______________________________________________

Two After School Activities are gearing up for special events during this season.  Compassion Club prepared collection boxes for its clothing drive which will culminate on Saturday, December 7 with its annual "Bundle Up" outing at Seoul Station.  That is the day the students in the club will distribute scarves, hats, gloves, and other warm clothing to the many homeless that seem to congregate at Seoul Station during the cold days of Winter.

One of our first grade teachers, Ms. Ku, is the leader

of Compassion Club.  Here she is assisting some of

the Compassion Club members in decorating the boxes

that each grade will use as collection boxes for the 

Bundle Up Seoul Station outreach on December 7!

Assisting Ms. Ku is one of our great Teacher Assistants, Ms. Lee.  Here Ms. Lee is assisting two of our Compassion Club members in the preparation of their collection boxes.

Another pic of Ms. Lee helping one of the boys!    

__________________________________________________________

Mrs. Franck, our Elementary Chaplain, works with a group of students involved in an after school activity called Puppet Team.  They work on the preparation of puppet skits during the special assemblies and chapels coming up in December and then throughout Quarter Three.  I stopped by on Friday as they were practicing and was so excited to see these young fourth and fifth graders diligently and passionately preparing their skits.  Two of my Discipleship boys are on the Puppet Team and I have been so proud of them.  Owen and Henry are so excited about sharing on the Puppet team.  Owen has been especially diligent in his preparation.  The students do not have to memorize their parts, but Owen has been carrying his script with him throughout the day and uses any spare moment to memorize.  On Friday morning I saw him come in to school and took him aside and we worked on putting feeling into his lines.  He was so excited and I am thrilled to see how he has grown in so many areas of his young life!

Here is this year's Puppet Team!  My two Discipleship boys are in the back row - Henry (second from the right) and Owen on the end!  I am also especially encouraged by Olivia on the far left.  What a tremendous growth she has experienced since Grade 2!

___________________________________________________

In the middle of this busy week teachers needed to prepare Progress Report grades for the middle of Quarter Three.  I work with the teachers in Grades 1 and 3 and we were able to get everything ready for distribution to parents and students on Friday afternoon.

On Wednesday afternoon, the opening day of the Book Fair (always the busiest - especially after school), we had a little emergency.  It's a long story but for about 2 hours we lost a 4th grade boy and his four year old brother.  The Nanny was to pick up the 4th grade boy after school.  In the confusion in the lobby of so many people browsing the books at the Book Fair + the After School Activities, she lost the boys.  The Nanny is from The Philippines and her English is very limited. After we looked and looked and looked and questioned many people and spent time praying while we searched, we were notified by the mother (who left her office immediately to assist in the search) that the boys walked home! We were so grateful and thanked the Lord!  We ha a great discussion with the mother and she was so grateful for all that we did to look for her sons.  I am just so glad all ended well.

Friday began a VERY busy weekend at YISS.  YISS was hosting a basketball tournament in our gymnasium, a Speech and Debate Competition using so any of the rooms throughout the school, a full slate of After School Activities, and two nights of our Drama Department's Fall Play - Pride and Prejudice!  There were people and kids everywhere!  All went well!  Opening night for the play was awesome.  I was so proud of the students and their excellent performances!  Saturday continued to be busy with both the Speech & Debate competition and Basketball Tournament + the Saturday performance of Pride and Prejudice!  Thank you for all of your prayers!

I would like to have been able to take some pictures of the performance, but we were not permitted to take photos or videos.  I was so impressed with our students, especially Andy Halter and Emily Brower, who played the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet!

_________________________________________________________

In addition to the busy week at YISS, Sunday was a busy day at New Harvest Ministry, the church where I worship.  Today, Sunday, was our first Sunday in our new location!  Everyone was so excited!  The main Korean church, Sarang Community Church, has moved to its brand new location and part of the old location now houses the New Harvest Ministry, the English speaking part of Sarang.  Instead of three services, we now have only two services (10 AM and 2 PM) because the new worship center can accommodate twice the number we were able to have in the basement of the rented building near Sarang.  We actually have a stage now and a much larger space!  The choir rehearsal room is almost next to the main sanctuary of our new location.  We had a great first service this morning and now everyone does not have to rush out to make room for a service at 12 Noon.  Continue to pray as we make the transition to our new location.

This is the main sanctuary (well, part of it).  I took 

this picture as the choir entered to rehears on stage.

It was taken from the second level of the sanctuary.

This is a picture I took from the stage looking out into

the sanctuary.  Conductor Suh is preparing to lead our

rehearsal prior to the worship service this morning.  I 

will try to get better pictures to share with you later.

______________________________________________________

This coming week will be a busy one as well, but also a shortened one.  YISS will have off on Friday for American Thanksgiving.  I know it is on Thursday, but we take the day off on Friday. I will however have a yummy turkey feast at one of my favorite restaurants, Suji's!  There are five of us who will go their Thursday evening for the Thanksgiving Buffet they serve!  Can't wait! I have so much to be thankful for!  I hope that you will enjoy a special time of thanksgiving during this week.  You are among the many who have impacted my life in such a positive and powerful way and I am truly thankful for all you have done, and continue to do!  Thanks so much for your many prayers, your notes of encouragement, your abundant love, and faithful support.  May the Lord bless you and give you a wonderful time of Thanksgiving this week!

Love, Gregg

Busier Means More Time in Prayer

I believe it was Martin Luther who said that the busier he got, the more time he needed to spend in prayer.  I find this so true.  This past week began a very busy time for us at YISS.  In addition to all of the activities and events that are - and will be - happening, a number of our teachers have been struggling with colds, flu, etc. I know they would value your prayers.

Our Elementary Principal, Dan Lazor, shared the following fun story to begin our week.  I thought I would share it with you.  Nothing special, but it made me smile at the beginning of a very busy week:

"My Favorite Animal:

Our teacher asked what my favorite animal was, and I said, 'Fried chicken.'  She said I wasn't funny, but she couldn't have been right, because everyone else laughed.  My parents told me to always tell the truth.  I did.  Fried chicken is my favorite animal.  I told my dad what happened and he said that my teacher was probably a member of PETA.

He said they love animals very much.  I do too.  Especially chicken, beef and pork.

Anyway my teacher sent me to the principal's office.  I told him what happened, and he laughed, too.  Then he told me not to do it again.  The next day in class my teacher asked me what my favorite live animal was.

I told her it was chicken.  She asked me why and I told her it was because you could make them into fried chicken.

She sent me back to the principal's office.  He laughed and told me not to do it again.

I don't understand.  My parents taught me to be honest, but my teacher doesn't like it when I am. Today, my teacher asked me to tell her what famous person I admired most.

I told her, 'Colonel Sanders.'  Guess where I am now?"

______________________________________

In the midst of the busyness of this past week, I was reminded once again how valuable a wonderful secretary is.  Our elementary secretary, Mrs. Yoo, came to YISS last year when Mrs. Baek left to give birth to her second son.  Mrs. Yoo is amazing and is so helpful and so organized. It has been a real joy to add her to our elementary family!  I thank her every day often and I than the Lord for her every day.  Below is one of my favorite pictures of Mrs. Yoo and me.  We had the joy of working together at the YISS FunFest in October.  The picture shows us at the Drink Booth selling water, juices and sodas to the many who came. 

______________________________________________________

It was our second full week of Quarter Two After School Activities!  Things continue to run smoothly.  Still having a little problem with a few parents who don't plan to be at the school at 4:30 to pick up their cherubs. :-) Saturday, November 16, the Chess Club travels to participate in a Chess Tournament at one of the other international schools in South Korea.  Four of our Elementary Chess Club ASA were chosen to represent the elementary school along with our High School Chess Club.  I will be eager to hear the results.  I thought I would share some pictures of our Elementary Chess Club that meets on Thursdays in our After School Activities program under the coaching of Mr. Ivan Franck.  He does a great job with 32 eager Chess students.

It is so much fun going to the Chess Club on Thursdays

and seeing Mr. Franck work with each of the groups.

Mr. Franck helping two girls learn more Chess moves.

 I loved watching these two boys (3rd graders)     

eating their snacks,but staying intense on         

 their Chess moves.                         

The boy on the right is Ian from 5A.  He and I have grown to have a great relationship since he was in Grade 2 when I came to YISS.  He wrote me the most wonderful apology letter on Thursday because of his behavior in Library on Wednesday when I was subbing.  Ian has grown so much and I am so excited about his future.  A great young man!

Two young ladies planning their next moves + others

     playing their Chess games in the background.

_____________________________________________________

One of the things I love doing so much at YISS is observing what is happening in classrooms. Our teachers are so wonderful and they are so involved with their students in so many ways.  This past week I noticed some illustrations outside the fifth grade classrooms.  Our fifth graders are taught Literature, Reading and Writing by Ms. Hughes.  She does an outstanding job and her passion for reading and writing has a great impact on our students.  She was working on a unit on Idioms.  I was smiling and laughing as I viewed the finished work of the fifth graders as they took idioms from various cultures and explained them in writing and drawings.  Below are a few of my favorites:

One of my favorites!!  :-)

I wish that I "had a short mouth."  Oh, I

am certainly not picky with my food! :-)

I am getting better at "hanging it on the nail."  Still not completely able to hang everything on the nail!

_____________________________________________________

Our PTO had an appreciation brunch on Friday for the parents who have volunteered for many of our school's fall activities.  I always enjoy meeting our parents and interacting with them.  Friday was no exception.  Over 75 parent volunteered came to enjoy the Appreciation Brunch.  (I forgot to take my camera because I was involved on Friday with 3 Chapels and an OASIS assembly and just forgot.)  Preparations are almost complete for the annual Fall Book Fair which will be held from November 20 - 22.  The kids, teachers and families always get so excited about our Book Fairs.

________________________________________________________

Last Saturday, most of you know that I had the privilege, along with Bev Barner, of having a special reunion with some of the students that I had taught at SYME.  I included some pictures from that special afternoon but did not have the following one at the time.  The picture below is of me with two special friends, Jae Hong (Dr. Fred) and Yeongmin.  It was raining as we walked along the man made river where the Seoul Lantern Festival takes place.  Someone snapped this picture as we stood under the umbrella.  I love these two young men so much.  Yeongmin still has not accepted the gift of salvation and Jae Hong continues to have many questions.  I share the picture for those of you who would be willing to pray for these two wonderful young men each day.

Jae Hong on my right and Yeongmin on my left.

_________________________________________________________

Last week, I also had the privilege of meeting three former SYME students!  Thursday, David Baek asked if he could come to YISS and have lunch with me to seek some wisdom and advice and prayer.  We had a great time together.  David is so eager to serve the Lord as a missionary and right now has some complications and he has asked me to ask you to pray for him at this time.

GGG and David Baek in the YISS Cafeteria on Thursday!

_________________________________________________________

I also was able to meet Tim and Amanda, former SYME students on Friday evening for a yummy dinner and great conversation.  Both are still studying and seeking God for their next step. I know they would really appreciate your prayers.  It was so good to see them and catch up with how God is working in their lives!

Here we are with our server, August, at Los Amigos!  So good to see Tim and Amanda again!  August is such a great server.  He is from the Philippines.  He told me his family and friends were not affected by the recent devastating typhoon.

_____________________________________________________

OK, I think I better stop for this week.  Thank you for taking time to read this.  You are very special to me and I greatly value your prayers, encouragement, love and support - especially at this very busy time!  Lots of field trips, school play (Pride and Prejudice on November 22 and 23), and Christmas concerts coming up!

Love, Gregg

P.S.  One additional item:

This past week the president of NICS (Network of International Christian Schools) sent the following email to each of us concerning an exciting event at our NICS school in Kabul.  YISS is one of about 20 international schools throughout the world.  I know several of the teachers at our Kabul school.  I know this must have been an exciting event for them.  I have received permission from Joe Hale, our NICS president, to share the following email and photo.  He has asked that you would not post this on any social networking site.  I am sharing it for your prayers and if you wish to give, that is entirely up to you. Please feel no obligation.  I just wanted to share this for your praise and prayers:

"Thank you for keeping our school in Kabul in your prayers!  A special meeting took place last week with President Karzai in which he met with our school leaders, including some of our staff children.  One of our staff family’s daughter (pictured below) won Mr. Karzai’s heart.  Mr. Karzai expressed to our staff how grateful he is for their service to Afghanistan by serving at ISK, and reiterated how important the role of the school is in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.  At the end of the meeting, our school leaders asked the President for his help in three critical areas:  1) funding assistance for ISK, as many of the students could not pay what it costs to educate them, 2) land to be donated by the Afghan government for the school to build on, and 3) requests to vendors in Afghanistan who have made millions ($) in the country to build buildings for ISK.  He assured our folks of his support and asked for another meeting in the near future.  Please keep these matters in your prayers.  And a special thanks to those who have helped with the fund-raising drive; your donations are so needed and so appreciated by the 370 students of ISK. If you wish to give, you can go here:  http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/setting-a-world-record-in-afghanistan."