One Very Busy Week: ASAs Begin, "Goodbye to Summer", Open House, and Friends!

Yeppers, it was a very full and busy week!  I am so grateful for the assistance I received the last two weeks form Mrs. Abby Williamson, our Grade 5A teacher's wife.  Abby has been so helpful in assisting me in getting everything accomplished for the ever-growing After School Activities program in the Elementary School!  I am not sure we would have been ready to begin this past Friday without her assistance.  I am grateful to Abby, Mrs. Yoo (Elementary Secretary), and Mrs. Roll (the other Elementary School Assistant Principal) for all they did to assist in so many ways to assist with bus monitors, After School Activities' Monitors, etc. We had a number of changes in procedures and things went fairly smoothly considering everything.

In addition to getting things ready for the kickoff of the After School Activities' Program, Mrs. Roll and I had to deal with a number of parent meetings involving various situations in the elementary school.  I could tell many people were praying.  I believe all of the meetings ended positively.

Each day this past week was an exhausting one.  I slept well when I went home each evening! :-) On Wednesday it was fun to just enjoy a relaxed dress day to celebrate our monthly Fun Day at YISS. Wednesday was "Say Goodbye to Summer" Day and the kids loved it.  They came dressed in a favorite summer outfit to officially say goodbye to summer.  Here are a few pictures from that day for your enjoyment:

Three fifth grade boys modeling their summer outfits!  I love Ryan's

                                               hat!

Pranav modeling his outfit beside the Yellow House Team's House Point box near the gym.  He's on the yellow team and wanted his picture taken there. :-)

Here I am with six boys as they entered school on    

Wednesday morning!                        

William showing off his summer outfit!

GGG with a brother and sister from China!

      Ms. Wheat's Kindergarten class in their summer costumes!

Ms. Han's Kindergarten B class modeling for the photographer!

And finally, Ms. Regnier's Kindergarten A class showing off their

summer outfits!                                       

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Thursday was a long day for elementary teachers and staff!  It was our Elementary Open House for parents.  Parents were invited to the school from 6:00 - 8:00 PM to visit their child's classroom and hear about what would be happening in that classroom throughout the year.  From 6 - 6:30 teachers in Kindergarten and First Grade had formal presentations for the parents in their classrooms; 6:30 - 7 was the time set aside for Grades 2 and 3; 7 - 7:30 was for Grades 4 and 5.  In between times parents could enjoy refreshments in the main lobby, chat with administrators, visit their child's Related Arts teachers (Physical Education, Art, Music, Mandarin, ELL, etc.), or make connections with other parents.  We had a great attendance and it is always a joy to meet the parents.

You may remember the second grader, Irene Bang, who recently passed away.  Irene's parents came to Open House (they have a son, Stephen, in grade 1) and wanted to express to our Elementary Chaplain, Mrs. Carol Franck, and me how much they really appreciated the memorial times we had in Chapels last week.  They were also so touched that YISS was planting a tree in memory of Irene in our one little courtyard.  It was great to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Bang once again.

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Throughout this past exhausting week I was privileged to have little breaks with some great friends. One is a new friend I have been getting to know at a little restaurant I go to near YISS.  It is called Rose Bakery and they have a great Tomato and Mozzarella sandwich with a special dressing.  I really like it!  The last several weeks there has been a new server at the restaurant who is always smiling and he loves it that I take time to talk with him.  His name is Ko and he is planning to go to university and also do his military service soon.  He always has a great smile and if he sees me walking past Rose Bakery, he will come outside and want me to come in.  Often I cannot stop so he will many times tell me to wait a minute until he prepares an iced coffee for me to go.  I try paying and he refuses.  After one of my exhausting days at YISS last week, I stopped in to have dinner and again we had a great conversation.  He wants to ask many questions and we are developing a great relationship. Please pray for this wonderful young man that he will come to experience Jesus.

Here I am with Ko after finishing my dinner at Rose Bakery!

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Then on Wednesday evening I received a call from a former SYME student and excellent friend, Jay Chae.  Jay wanted to come to YISS and have lunch with me on Thursday.  It was a good time so he came on Thursday and we had a really wonderful time together.  I am so excited about Jay and his desire to serve the Lord.  He is working on a Master's Degree in Marketing.  When he was at SYME, he told me he thought God wanted him to make a lot of money so he could build centers to care of the elderly and handicapped in South Korea.  Jay is still actively involved in his church and is still excited about serving God in this way.  Please pray for him as you think of him.

Enjoying a YISS lunch and great conversation with my dear friend, Jay Chae on Thursday!

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Saturday I had another special visit from my dear "son" and friend, JiSang.  We have not been able to meet since I have returned to Seoul after the summer break so I was excited to meet him!  We had a great time together.  We met at The Flying Pan Blue in Itaewon for brunch!  Please continue to pray for JiSang as he thinks and prays about his future.  He continues to work for a relative and is doing a great job, but he is not sure that is where he should be long term.  Pray that he will put on some weight! It was so good to see my dear friend once again!

JiSang and I about ready to enjoy our yummy brunches at The Flying Pan Blue!

My selection: The Fair Lady pancakes - strawberries,

    raspberries, whipped cream, and ricotta cheese!!

JiSang selected the Itaewon Breakfast with Savory

Pancakes!  It is one of their largest breakfasts and to

delight JiSang ate the entire breakfast.  It got tough 

near the end, but he finished everything!!      

    

Here is the proud "son" with the Korean sign "Fighting" as he chews the final bite!  Clean plate except the orange marmalade!

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Thanks, once again, for all you do for me.  You are special to me and I value your prayers, love, and support.  Please enjoy a great month of September!

Love, Gregg

A Week Full of Emotions!!

What a week!!  It was our first full week at YISS for the 2014-15 school year and it was a very busy week as well as a week full of many and varied emotions.  The week began on Monday morning with all of the YISS staff once again gathering in the lobby of the school to greet students as they began entering the building at 7:20 with the singing of an old hymn, Nothing But the Blood of Jesus! I love observing the students as they enter and walk between the teachers as we sing and then begin the week with prayer.

Later that day our Elementary Principal, Bev Birmingham, called our elementary admin staff together to inform us that one of our second grade students had passed away.  What a shock to all of us!  Irene Bang had developed cancer over the summer and had not attended school this year. However, the parents had been setting up a time to come in and talk with Mrs. Birmingham to see about getting her back in school in Second Semester.  Then suddenly God took sweet little Irene Home to be with Him.  Irene was a beautiful example of loving and caring for others.  She had started with us in Kindergarten and then one of her brothers, Stephen, began last year.  Stephen is in Grade 1 this year.  The news of Irene's passing was quite a shock to our young elementary students who knew her so well.  Out Elementary Chaplain and other staff spent many hours this past week talking with children concerning Irene.  On Friday Mrs. Franck, our Chaplain, used our 3 Chapel times and OASIS time to share a time of remembering Irene.  Mrs. Franck did a beautiful job of communicating Irene's death but letting children know about her faith in God.  There were a number of parents, including Mr. and Mrs. Bang, present for these memorial times.  Ms. Regnier, KA teacher, had prepared a brief Power Point presentation on the life and impact of Irene at YISS.  It was quite moving and again directed children and adults to Jesus.  I hope I can get a copy of this to share with you next week.  Below are a couple items that I thought you might find interesting as well as some pictures of my special friend, Irene, who is now enjoying being with her Savior.  I still miss her!

"Dear Elementary Parents,
Today we received the sad news that one of our YISS elementary students has passed away. Jungwon (Irene) Bang attended our school in Kindergarten and first grade. She would have been in second grade this year. Irene lost her life to cancer this morning, and we are all terribly saddened by this news. She was a sweet, friendly little girl who was always ready and eager to help others. Her parents and her brother Stephen, who is now in first grade, are in our thoughts and prayers. We will be remembering Irene in our chapel times this Friday. Mrs. Franck will be available to meet with students who are grieving over the loss of a friend throughout this time as well. I'm sure all of our elementary families will join with us to remember and pray for the family and the students. We will always remember Irene with love and fondness. "

 Thank you,

 Bev Birmingham

The above was sent out to all parents in the elementary school from our principal to inform them of Irene's passing.

This is what greeted students, teachers, and parents on Friday as they entered Chapel or Assembly. Mr. and Mrs. Bang had put this together.  There were also NUMEROUS handmade cards from students in the early grades who knew Irene.  They were given to the Bangs, who were very touched from the comments that these little ones made about their precious friend, Irene.

Above is a picture I took of Irene at one of the Elementary Christmas concerts! She is right in the center of the first row with the red ribbon in her hair.

Here is my precious friend, Irene at her Kindergarten graduation

ceremony 2 years ago.                               

"While on earth, Irene was a beautiful girl. Her heart - the person she was on the inside - was loving and humble. She was a 'little mommy' to her younger brothers, and I saw her show the same kind of patience you see from a good, loving mother in our class every day.  In some ways, Irene seemed older than her age. She was a wise girl. I think that's because she built her life on the rock of Jesus and what he says to do. He said love, she loved. He said, try hard, she did. He said, forgive your friends, and she would. Irene made many many choices that made her grow in wisdom and in knowing God's love for her.

Irene also always worked hard! I could often hold up Irene's work and say "Good job, Irene! Wow guys. Look at this!" Irene never ever made others feel left out. She really did treat everyone with equal love, and actually wanted other people to shine. Some people like to look the best, even if it means pushing others down to look 'better' than their friends. Not Irene. She would let others shine, and I know that's one reason why children and adults loved her so much. Irene was humble, and… she also loved Jesus with a BIG and simple faith from the heart. She really did believe that He is her friend, and I also know that her friendship with Jesus on earth was just the start. She is continuing her wonderful friendship with Jesus in heaven right now! Irene loved to smile, to laugh, to draw with lovely colors, and to hug! Ooh she was a good hugger! I know Jesus loves Irene's smile, laughter, drawing and hugs too! Irene would want us to let God give us a big hug that never-ever stops.  As we grieve and are sad that she has left us, she would want us to trust in God's love and friendship just as she did."

Above is the beautiful piece that Irene's first grade teacher, Mr. Adams, wrote and read to everyone on Friday during our times in Chapels.  It was perfect to describe this wonderful little girl!

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Wednesday the PTO at YISS had a Newcomers' Coffee for all of the new Elementary School parents.  Quite a few of the parents came out to hear about things in the Elementary School as well as how to become involved in the PTO at YISS.  I was especially impressed with the number of Dads who came out this year.

Welcome sign that greeted new Elementary parents at the PTO Elementary Newcomers' Coffee!

Our Headmaster, Ray Johnson, welcoming newcomers to the coffee!

    Some of the families at the Newcomers' Coffee!

Another picture of some in attendance at the Coffee!

One more picture of some in attendance. They were working on their Ice Breaker!

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Throughout the week I was quite busy with the online registration of our After School Activities. This is always a very exhausting time for me, but I was delighted to have the assistance of Abby Williamson, who married Ross Williamson, one of our veteran staff who is teaching Grade 5A this year.  Abby was a huge help and helped relieve a lot of the stress that usually accompanies this hectic time.  On Saturday I went to the office to organize all of the payment slips and liability forms to distribute to all of the cherubs who have registered for an ASA.  Activities will begin on Friday, August 29.  Thanks for your continued prayers.

This is what my desk and office looks like during the week of on line registration for After School Activities!  It is organized, but sure doesn't look like it! :-)

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In the midst of this busy week, both Krista Roll and I had to deal with a number of issues related to several families int he elementary school.  I would ask your prayers as we have a couple serious situations with families who are separated and divorced with custody issues.  They are very complicated and very tough on the heart.  Please pray for the children especially as we work through various issues.

Friday was a wonderful day!  It had been raining all week, but on Friday morning the sun broke forth and the day became perfect for our Back to School Picnic scheduled for Friday night.  Before we enjoyed the Back to School Picnic festivities, YISS teachers and staff were encouraged to gather at the main entrance at 7:30 to greet students from the elementary through high school for "Weird Out Friday."  Our task was to greet students as they entered the building to "weird them out" a bit and help them to enjoy their day.  It was such a fun time to see students react to the various "weird" personalities of staff on this special Friday.  I was having so much fun being "weird" that I failed to get any pictures of this special time. :-( I did a dance with my dancing boy, Andrew, on the front steps of YISS.  I was not aware that one of the Tech people, Carol Pitts, was taking a video of my weirdness with Andrew.  I posted it on Facebook if you care to see it.  I might be able to get it available for posting on here sometime.

Then Friday evening was our annual Back to School Picnic sponsored by the YISS PTO.  The weather was perfect!  The food was so yummy!  The games for the kids were so much fun!  Many families came out for a grand evening of fun, food, and fellowship!  It was great to see families connect with each other at this special event!  Enjoy some of the pictures from this special evening!

     Here I am helping at the Raffle Booth for Kids!

The line begins to get longer for the Kids' raffle Booth!

Two YISS cherubs enjoying each other the doggie!  

The manager of On the Border, John Won, and I at the On the Border food booth at the picnic!

Enjoying my On the Border supper with two YISS 

                     siblings at the BTS Picnic!

Some of the families enjoying food and fellowship in the YISS Courtyard!

A PTO Officer, Mrs. Kim and I at the Raffle Booth. 

We both wanted to win the Jeju Island Trip prize, but 

we both failed. :-(                           

One of our students, who is very wet from the Water Battle Zone, with his cute doggie!

Here I am with one my favorite YISS Dads, Aaron

Simmons.  He and his wife have three wonderful girls

and they have been a delight to have at YISS.  They

are moving to Singapore; leaving on Sunday!  I am 

           going to miss this wonderful family!

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I leave you with very good news!  Many of you have been praying for my dear friend, Matthew, for ever since my first year at YISS.  As you may remember, Matthew had to leave YISS last January. I saw him at YISS graduation in May and was so excited to hear that he would be returning to YISS for the 2014-15 school year!  I have seen Matthew many times since he has returned to YISS. Matthew is a senior this year and is very interested in going to an American college or university that would have a Military Science program including Air Force R.O.T.C.  This past week Matthew stopped by my office to tell me about some excellent experiences he has been having this year.  We cried together and then I prayed with him before taking him to his next class.  I am asking you to continue to pray for this wonderful young man.  If you know of any colleges that would have such a program as I mentioned, please let me know! More later.  I am going to include a previous photograph of Matthew for those of you who are my faithful prayer warriors.  Thanks!

Here I am with Matthew.  Thanks for praying!!

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I really value your prayers - especially during this very busy time at YISS.  Thank you so much for your faithful notes, emails, encouragement, prayers, love, and support.  God continues to use so many of you in teaching me more about Him.  Have a great week!

Love, Gregg

The Cherubs Return!!!!

Monday, August 11, was our first day (actually a half day) for our wonderful cherubs at YISS!  Our headmaster, Ray Johnson, asked all staff to gather in the main reception area lobby at 7:20 AM to be present as elementary, middle, and high school students entered the building for their first day of 2014-15.  One of our HS teachers, Ben Steigner, accompanied over 120 teachers and staff as we sang Be Thou My Vision as students entered!  It was so wonderful!  Parents and students would stop and listen!  They walked through the middle of all these teachers as we sang a prayer for each of us and them to begin this year!  If you want to see the video clip, you can check it out on facebook at my home page.

After students were in their respective classrooms, then the Kindergarten students arrived at 8:30 for our annual Boo Hoo Breakfast!  It was a great time of meeting our Kinder parents and their little ones on their first day of school!  I was able to meet many of the parents and I am excited about the little ones God has brought to YISS for our Kinder classes this year.  After breakfast we took the parents outside for class pictures and final boo-hooing and goodbyes!  Enjoy some pictures below:

One of our new Kinder Moms with her two children;

     the one on the left will begin Kinder this year.

Another Mom with her two children.  Dad was in line getting breakfast for them.  The little boy will be in the Kinder class this year.

Mrs. Birmingham giving a little welcome to the families

gathered for the Boo Hoo Breakfast!              

Some families going through the Breakfast Buffet line and some enjoying breakfast and fellowship.

Some more of the families at the Boo Hoo Breakfast!

The cherubs of our Kindergarten A class with their teacher and teaching assistant!

Here is Kinder B class with their teacher and teaching assistant! 

And finally, Kinder C class with their teacher and teaching assistant!

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At 10:00 all of the elementary school (442 cherubs this year) gathered in the YISS auditorium for our annual Opening Assembly.  Mr. Johnson and then Mrs. Birmingham greeted the students and we had a very fun and informative assembly to introduce the students to YISS for this year.  We introduced a new program - our Fifth Grade Guardian Ambassador Program!  At the end of last year, our fourth grade teachers nominated various students, who had demonstrated the Guardian Way Honor Code so well all year, to be 5th Grade Guardian Ambassadors.  They have been having training classes with Ms. Weir in various ways they will be used to model the Guardian Honor Code and be peer mediators for simple disputes at recess or in the cafeteria.  I am excited about this program and value your prayers as we implement this with our students.

Above is the Elementary Administrative Team doing a skit in our "Chub Suits" for Opening Assembly.  The Guardian Mascot is actually the husband of Mrs. Krista Roll, Assistant Elementary Principal in the red suit.  Mrs Birmingham, Principal, is in the black suit.  And I am in the green suit! :-)

Four of the Grade 5 Guardian Way Ambassadors doing

a little skit to introduce the program to the student body.

Here they are finishing their skit.  I was so impressed with the student holding the microphone.  His name is Evan and he sounded just like a teacher!

Here is the picture of all of the Ambassadors and their names!  

Please pray for them this year.                        

YISS elementary students at the close of the Opening Assembly preparing to return to their classrooms.

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This year we are using 23 school buses to transport children to and from school.  So at the close of the day we have a HUGE dismissal situation.  A number of our students go home by bus, some are picked up by parents, some receive permission to walk home or ride the subway, some are in After School Activities, etc.  It gets quite complicated.  We are attempting a new program this year and I ask your prayers as we work through all of the bugs.

After the first very busy week, students, teachers, and staff had Friday off for celebration of Gwangbokjeol (literally "Restoration of Light Day".  August 15 (established in 1948) is the day that Korea commemorates its Victory Over Japan Day, which liberated Korea from colonial rule. I was delighted to have a day off since I was fighting off one of my sore throats.  I was able to rest as well as meet for lunch with my new friends, Jake and Scarlet!  You may remember I met them last week and was interviewed by Jake for his English class.  They wanted to meet me again and treat me to lunch and talk some more.  We were able to learn more about each other and begin a friendship.  Jake, especially, was quite interested to learn more about things from the Bible and had already done some checking of YISS on our website.  He had excellent questions about the school and our beliefs.  We had a great time at my favorite Thai restaurant, Taste of Thai, owned by my friend, Young Ho.  I hadn't seen him since returning to Seoul after the summer break so we had a lot of catching up to do!  Please pray for all three of these wonderful people.

Since Friday was a big holiday in Korea, many people were out and about on the streets.  As Jake, Scarlet, and I walked to taste of Thai, we came to this LONG line waiting to order some treats from Street Churros!  There seems to be a line here any time I go by, but today the line was even longer.  One of these days when there is a short line, I may have to try some of these treats to see what all the excitement is about!

GGG with Jake and Scarlet at lunch at Taste of Thai.

When we arrived, all seats were taken and the hostess

said, "30 minutes, please!"  The the owner, Young Ho,

saw me and came out and took us to a private room

so that we would not have to wait. Jake was so surprised

that I had such a great relationship with Young Ho! :-)

A picture of the three of us at the end of our 2 and a half hour lunch and excellent conversation!

Young Ho pretending to hit me because I keep   

asking him to let me work as a server at his     

restaurant.  He keeps saying I am too old. :-)   

And here I am pretending to hit my wonderful friend because he won't let me work for him! :-)

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Saturday I was so happy to meet with a YISS graduate from this past year.  Joseph Yi and I connected at YISS when we discovered we both liked the New York Yankees.  Joseph and I have been talking a lot and he came to YISS this past week to ask if he could meet me Saturday before he flew to Florida to begin his four years at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida.  He will earn a degree in Aeronautical Science and become a pilot.  Please pray for Joseph as he leaves. We had an amazing time of conversation and I am very impressed with Joe's maturity and desire to obey the Lord.  Pray that he will stay strong in his faith.

At Pizzeria in Gangnam with Joe Yi about ready to enjoy our Gorgonzola Pizza.  I loved their Strawberry Ade, too!

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I was also delighted to be able to meet with Tony and Sue Kuhn plus our mutual friend and former SYME student, Bob Cho, on Saturday evening.  They wanted to go to Suji's, but they were on break time so we decided on Los Amigos.  We discovered they have moved.  Glad we were able to find them again.  And my great Filipino friend and the greatest server in Itaewon is still employed there. August, our server's name, is always smiling and so friendly.  He loves when he sees me coming and we have some great fun and talks.  Pray that he will come to know Jesus!  We also celebrated Tony's birthday (August 13) with a special dessert!  It was so great to see Bob Cho again!  We always have so much fun with Bob.  I asked him to pray for our meal and he actually said yes.  We said he should feel free to pray in Korean, but he wanted to do it in English and he did a great job!

Here we are getting ready to enjoy our Baja Burritos at Los Amigos!

For those of you who like pictures so you can have a face of those

I request prayer...here is a picture of August and his amazing smile!

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Coming up this Friday, August 22, will be the annual YISS PTO Back to School Picnic!  It's an exciting time with over 1,000 people expected to attend between 4:30 and 7:30 PM.  It takes a lot of work to put everything together, but it is a great event when YISS families can connect with each other and have a great time together at the beginning of the new school year.

Thanks once again for all of your love, encouragement, notes, cards, prayers, and support.  Enjoy a great week!

Love, Gregg