Happy November!! Returned from the Heat of Bangkok to the Very Cool Weather of Seoul!

Happy November to each of you!  I will try to keep this short and sweet since I have just returned on a red-eye flight from Bangkok at 6:30 AM on Sunday.  There were about 13 of us from YISS who attended in the EARCOS (East Asia Regional Conference of Schools) Leadership Conference from October 28 - October 31.  It was a time packed with numerous seminars and workshops; some very helpful!  I was able to attend several sessions on Standards-Based Grading and some excellent seminars on Digital Citizenship.  A lot to reflect on and put into practice as time permits.  Enjoy some pictures from the quick trip to EARCOS and Bangkok.

Here are 11 of our 13 YISS staff at our first dinner together at Mozarro's Thai Restaurant in Bangkok!

    This was my selection: Chicken and Cashews!!

I liked this sign hanging on the wall near us at Mozarro's!

Part of the 1,200 delegates assemble in the Ballroom for our Opening Session each morning!

We had morning breaks and afternoon breaks.  This was the set up at one of the morning break stations!

A close-up of the chocolate treats!

                            Night time view from the hotel!

Another evening picture taken on my walk!

Another shot on my walk around the river area!!  

The swimming pool area at night at the Shangri-La Hotel!

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Right before I left for Bangkok, I visited Dr. Park, the doctor I found last year who has been able to give me some relief with my feet, especially several toes that really hinder my walking.  I went to have him do some slicing of the corns and a nasty callous on several toes and between two toes.  I was at least able to enjoy walking in Bangkok.  I will be back to see him this week.  The pastor at the church where I fellowship is also going to introduce me to a Sports Orthopedist that has helped his son with his feet.  Thanks for your prayers.

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Last week was the close of two of our After School Activities from Quarter One: 4th & 5th Grade Boys' Soccer and 4th & 5th Grade Girls' Soccer.  The last two weekends these four teams have done so well at two Soccer Jamborees hosted by two international schools in Korea for Elementary students. Mr. Resende and Ms. Prater, our Phys. Ed. teachers do a great job with these teams and I am so proud of how the students demonstrate great character qualities - especially when they compete with other schools.  Here are the four teams for this year!  Great job!

Our four teams (two girls' and two boys' teams) who participated in the YISS Elementary Soccer ASA in Quarter One!

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Friday was the official beginning of our After School Activities program for Quarter Two.  One of the activities that is led by one of our great Teaching Assistants in Kindergarten, Ms. Kathy Lee, began and the kids always love the activities Kathy leads!  This time she is working with second and third grade students in an activity called Draw & Paint & Print.  Below is what she sent me in Thailand from her first class with these cherubs!  A great beginning!  Monday begins a full week of Quarter Two activities.  Thanks for your prayers.  Here is the picture Ms. Lee sent me:

First ASA class of Draw & Paint & Print with Ms. Lee!

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Right after I returned from Thailand, I went home and slept a little.  Then I went for some yummy breakfast at one of my favorite places, The Flying Pan Blue.  As soon as I had placed my usual order, the one server came to tell me that the manager wanted to give me one of their hats they gave to special customers on Halloween.  I was very humbled.  They workers always look forward to me coming.  I think it is because I am one of the few people who goes to the kitchen after each meal I enjoy there to thank the cooks and dishwashers for their excellent and hard work.  They always smile and bow.  The one young man who has been there for some time is leaving in a few weeks to begin a job in creation and design.  He always wants to talk and said that he wants to stay in touch even when he leaves.  If you can remember Han as he begins his first position, I know he would appreciate it. Hopefully, I can get a picture of him and me this week or next.

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Thanks so much for continuing to encourage me and pray for me.  I would really appreciate your prayers as I have a big decision to make this week.  I will be telling more about what develops in the days ahead.  Thanks for praying.  Thank you for your love, encouragement, prayers, and support.

Love, Gregg

Technology is Great - When it Works; But God is Perfect - All the TIme; and I am Nothing!

The first week of Quarter Two was one of the most hectic ones I have experienced at YISS.  This year the administration implemented several major technology changes that were supposed to improve communication and make things easier for teachers and parents!  There has been one glitch after another during the first quarter causing this old man, who is not a technology expert at all, great frustration and stress.  Things got better and then we were informed that we would need to create a new Grade Report for students to match with the new technology and we had to have it quickly. Grade Reports were to go home by Wednesday of this past week.  Teachers were to have their Quarter Comments to the three principals by Monday and grades the following day.  Well, that didn't happen since there were major glitches with the technology system that had been initiated this year. Many staff members were working extra long hours in order to come up with a solution.  Things look liked they were ready to go on Thursday morning.  Our Elementary secretary had prepared 460 envelopes with students' names and grades on each of them.  Why? Because instead of sending grade Reports electronically as we did with our old system, we now have to print the report, fold it and place it in the envelope.

All of a sudden our elementary principal came to the office and informed us that it was decided that we would use large envelopes and that each principal would be sending a three-page document (that still needed to be prepared and printed) instead of the regular business envelope.  Grade Reports were still not printed.  So all three elementary principals and staff who were not teaching came to the elementary office and began the process of printing out Grade Reports, proofing the three-page letter, placing labels on the new large envelopes, and, as soon as we were able to print Grade Reports for a grade, then placing all the documents in the larger envelopes.  As we completed each grade, someone delivered them to the appropriate teacher and that teacher distributed the material to their students. We were not sure the Grade Reports for Grades 2 and 3 would be able to be printed.  At about 1:30, we got the news that we could now print those reports.  Between 1:30 and 2:50 (school dismisses at 3:00), we were able to complete the process for these two grades.

And Thursday was the day I had set aside to work on completing everything for the Quarter Two After School Activities so that everything would be ready for the person who would be taking care of things this coming week.  Why?  Because I was the one from the elementary administration who was chosen to go to the EARCOS (East Asian Regional Council of Schools) Conference in Bangkok, Thailand from October 27 through November 1.  I stayed later than usual on Thursday and then on Friday spent the entire day working on ASA stuff.  That still was not sufficient time and I spent a good chunk of time on Saturday in the office putting things together.  I will still need to work on Monday finishing things for ASA and going to a meeting and then packing.

My desk during Friday and Saturday as I completed things for the ASA in Quarter 2! :-)  Over 350 cherubs will be involved in ASA.

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Friday was the day for Parent-Teacher Conferences at YISS.  It was a long day for teachers, but it was exciting to hear excellent reports from most teachers about the conferences.  During the busy day, elementary teachers were invited to come to the elementary office to enjoy some taste treats. We had ordered Caribou Coffee and Coffee Latte + Mrs. Willetts, our elementary principal, brought in her waffle maker and made waffles for teachers when they had a break.  Mrs. Roll, assistant elementary principal, had made some very delicious cookies for the staff to enjoy as well.

Two of our teachers as they stopped by the office on Friday for a waffle with fruit and WHIPPED CREAM and homemade cookies!  Mrs. Biersteker on the left and Mrs. Bongiovanni on the right!

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With all of the hectic and frantic events on this past week, God's timing is always perfect!  On Wednesday evening, I had agreed to meet my dear friend and former SYME student, Gunmo Kim.  I was so thankful that I was able to meet with this delightful young man in the middle of everything! What a joy he is and such an encouragement to me!  We had so much fun catching up.  One of the reasons Gunmo wanted to meet me was to ask me to give a "congratulatory address" at his wedding. I am so humbled to be able to be a small part of my dear friend's wedding.  On November 28 he will marry Su Jin.  I have met her before and I think she is the perfect lady for Gunmo.  He is so excited about this special event.  We met at Los Amigos for dinner and enjoyed a lot of laughter and joy and sharing of prayer requests.  Would you please pray for Gunmo as final preparations are made for the wedding?

GGG and Gunmo enjoying some great conversation as we prepare to eat our yummy dinners at Los Amigos!

The very happy Gunmo as he prepares to marry his beautiful Su Jin!  He enjoyed the Chicken Sizzling Fajitas!

       I enjoyed the very tasty Chicken Quesadillas!

Here we are with my friend, August, the smiling waiter who has become my friend at Los Amigos.  He is always giving me service gifts.  He loved seeing Gunmo again and is excited for his wedding.

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Then on Friday evening I had arranged to meet with my excellent friend, Nam Gyu Baek (David) and another former SYME student, Louis (Kyu Jin Nam)!  I hadn't seen Kyu Jin since I left SYME and it was so good to see him.  Nam Gyu told me Kyu Jin wanted Nam Gyu to come along since he was afraid of his English. :-)  Nam Gyu had told me that Kyu Jin had lost his job suddenly because of economic reasons and was greatly distressed.  It was so good to see both of these young men who are serving the Lord.  Kyu Jin wrote to me after our dinner at Toma Tillo to tell me how I had greatly encouraged him - especially when I shared about tough times in my life and not knowing what God wanted, but still being able to stay joyful because of God always bringing me through the tough times.  What Nam Gyu and Kyu Jin did not know was that they were such an encouragement to me by coming to see me.  God knew they were just what I needed after a very tough week at YISS.

GGG with Kyu Jin and Nam Gyu at Toma Tillo on Friday evening.  What a great time we had together!

   My wonderful friend, Nam Gyu, with his huge 

                   plate full of Mexican treats!

Kyu Jin with his great smile and his plate of      

Pork Quesadillas!  Very yummy!              

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At church on Sunday morning, the choir sang one of my favorite songs, Lord, Make me an Instrument of thy Peace. It has been attributed to St. Francis of Assisi and you probably know it well. However, it was just what I needed this week as well.  Here are the words of the song.  I have been reflecting on them a lot and have been using it as my prayer - especially right now.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,

To be understood as to understand, To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.

After the choir sang, Doug Park, our pastor introduced Pastor Peter Ahn from New Jersey.  Pastor Ahn was in Korea sharing at our church's family retreat (which I was not able to attend) and stayed over to preach on Sunday morning.  Just what I needed after this past week.  Pastor Ahn preached a powerful message from Acts 9: 1-19.  I wish you could have heard it.  The title of his message was Breaking Free From Spiritual Complacency!  One of the things he said that is sticking with me and causing great reflection on my part was this, "God's work is at work most powerfully in our lives in our nothingness! To experience the fullness of God, the element of human possibility must be destroyed!" 

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Thank you for praying especially for me this week that I will be able to complete everything for the After School Activities program for Quarter Two before leaving for the EARCOS Conference in Thailand.  As always, I want to thank you for your love, care, encouragement, prayers, and support over the years!  I am a blessed man to have so many upholding me with their love and prayers. Enjoy this last week of October!

Love, Gregg

YISS Annual FunFest Brings the End to Quarter One!

What a busy week!  And the coming week is going to be a hectic one as well.  Quarter One came to a fast finish on Friday with the annual PTO-sponsored FunFest!  The theme this year was "YISS on Broadway!"  Many elementary students and teachers got into all of the fun by wearing a costume of a favorite character from a Broadway show.  There was quite a variety and it set the mood for a wonderful evening in the YISS Courtyard and Soccer Field.  Many local vendors came to sell yummy food and give a chunk of the proceeds to the PTO to help with various projects at YISS.  Each elementary class was encouraged to have a Game Booth; HS Clubs had a booth to share their clubs that raise money to help various needy organizations; teachers and administrators provide special prizes that students can win through the Teacher Raffle; many fun activities are set up around the Soccer Field; and people just enjoy eating and talking and walking with other families!  It was a great finish to Quarter One! A number of photos of children and teachers in their Broadway characters follow, along with some pictures from the FunFest evening activities.  Enjoy!

Below are the pictures from the evening at FunFest!

This is John Won, my friend and General Manager of "on the Border" in Seoul.  OTB had a food booth at FunFest and gave a good % of what they made to YISS.

Some of the game booths on the Soccer Field!

This was Middle School's "Water Toss" booth.  Various students and teachers sat on the chairs for 15 minutes at a time and were attacked by water balloons!  The young man on the left is now in Middle School and we have continued our friendship since I met him for a discipline problem in Grade 2.  His name is Ian and it has been exciting to see how he has grown and matured!

I threw some water balloons when Ian was on the chair and he came back to return the favor when I was on the chair! If you look at the bottom of my jeans, you will be able to tell that everything else was completely soaked after my 15 minutes! :-)

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In addition, Friday was a busy day as I was invited to attend the Grade 3A Science Exhibition and the Kindergarten's "Kinder Publishing Parade," which showcased the writing these little cherubs have been doing.  They were so cute parading with their hats and books throughout the school, as well as getting cheers and encouragement from students, teachers, and administrators.

3A's Science Exhibition

Grade 3A students sharing with parents and teachers about their science experiments!

I loved going from display to display throughout 3A's classroom and listening to each student share her/his experiment and what each discovered!

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Kindergarten's Publishing Parade

KA's Teaching Assistant, Ms. Lee, carrying the banner as the Kinder

                     cherubs parade through the hallways!

Here they are with their writing caps on and carrying the book each

one had written!                                    

They made a stop at the Elementary School Office

  and were eagerly waiting for us to come out and 

           greet them and look at their books!

Another view of the Kinder cherubs parading!    

This little man wanted me to see his illustrations!

Here are the ladies that make up our teaching team in Kindergarten!  They are awesome!

My buddy, Eli, knows I love his smile every day so he wanted to make sure I got a picture of him!

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The week began with a professional development day for staff that included a great seminar by our High School Principal, Mr. David Baniszewski, on biblical worldview integration, or as Mr. B calls it - "illumination."  There were meetings for our Accreditation Self-Study Committees in preparation for our Accreditation Visit in March.  Time was given for teachers to complete their Atlas Curriculum Mapping and begin working on Quarter One Comments and Grades for each student.

Monday evening I enjoyed a special dinner meeting at Holee Chow with a group of administrators from Cairn University (formerly Philadelphia Biblical University.  The president of Cairn, Dr. Todd Williams came to Korea to visit several schools to meet students who may be interested in higher education possibilities at Cairn as well as explain the special graduate program Cairn has for international teachers.  It was great to see my friend, Todd, once again as well as hear about the goal of getting more Asian students involved in Cairn's education program.

Here is the group of faculty and staff who met with Dr. Todd Williams, the president of Cairn University, and two other staff members from Cairn at Holee Chow!  (Todd is next to me.)

Several of us enjoyed General Tso's Chicken!  Very tasty!

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Last week was also an exciting time as we were informed that the work on the floor and walls in the Elementary Gymnasium is complete and we can once again, use the Gym for Physical Education classes as well as Quarter Two After School Activities!  Our very patient P.E. teachers, Mr. Resende and Ms. Prater were soooo excited and so was I!  The gym was used by students on Tuesday and by our After School Basketball activity on Tuesday afternoon!  The kids were thrilled!

Two pictures of one of our Grade 5 classes enjoying the updated ES Gym with their Phys. Ed. teacher, Mr. Resende!

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Right in the middle of this very busy week was the day elementary cherubs had their school photos taken.  It is always fun to watch kids get ready for their school pictures!  They always make me smile.  All went well with the picture shoot on Wednesday.  Now, hopefully, the parents will like the pictures! :-)

Ms. Han doing some fun exercises with her cherubs

while waiting for the others in Kindergarten B class

                 to have their pictures taken!

Kinder students waiting their turn for their school photo!

Mrs. Roll getting some of the Kinder cherubs ready for their photo!

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As I close this week, I would ask you to pray for the following items as we go into this coming week:

1 - Teachers have their comments and grades due by Tuesday afternoon!  Because of the new technology programs the school instituted this year, there are still some bugs in the system.  It is causing some extra work for teachers and administrators in order to make everything work.

2 - Online registration begins on Monday at 8:00 AM.  The first day of online registration is always a frantic time of activity with questions coming via email and phone and in person from parents who have not read the information about the ASA before registering.  Please pray that all of the technology works and that this old man keeps from getting too stressed! :-)

3 - In addition to working with the online registration for ASA, I will need to be reading and proofing about 170 students' comments sent to me by teachers and then checking grades for those 170 students.

4 - Last weekend I had recovered from my "acute laryngitis" (that's what is listed as the diagnosis) and then on Thursday, I felt it returning.  I went to Dr. Kim yesterday and he said the infection has returned and gave me more medication.  He said I should rest a lot, but I don't see that happening this week with all that needs to be accomplished.  Thanks for praying.

OK, I will stop. Thank you so much for your encouragement, love, care, mail, prayers, and support. They are very much appreciated.  Just think, October is half over! :-)  I hope you are enjoying some excellent weather!

Love, Gregg