Refreshing Spring Break with Birthday Surprises!

Yes, it was a week of Spring Break!  I stayed nearby Seoul and enjoyed a little longer sleeping hours, some walking, some work (finishing up preparations for ASA registration), and some birthday surprises!  It was an excellent week!

On Monday, I went into my office at YISS to work on some things to finish up all the preparations for the online registrations for the Quarter Four After School Activities on March 29 and 30.  I would value your prayers that all of the tech stuff works smoothly on Tuesday morning at 8:00 and that parents will have read the ASA information and checked out the website before Tuesday morning!

While I was working on ASA material as well as Quarter Three Reports Cards, I decided to take down the delightful pictures and comments that elementary teachers had hung from my ceiling while I was in the USA at the NICS headquarters for New Directors' Training and the Annual Leadership Conference and recruiting job fair in Southaven, Mississippi.  A couple teachers organized a surprise for me when I came back from NICS.  They had hung pictures of teachers with comments of encouragement for me when I returned to my office.  It was very special and meant a lot to me.  I wasn't able to get a good picture of the hanging pictures when I returned on February 29, so I took them down on Monday and took individual shots of each one.  I posted them on facebook if you wish to see them all.  Here are a few of the pictures from this very creative and wonderful group of educators!

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Tuesday I spent most of the day resting and walking and just enjoying the excellent weather we had all week!  It was just refreshing to have a day to do nothing!  But even on those days, I usually do a lot of reading and reflecting on all that the Lord continues to teach me.

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On Wednesday, I was able to finally arrange a visit to Anyang to visit my dear friend, Gunmo! We enjoyed a very delicious lunch at Chaesundang PLUS (Shabu & Salad Bar) on the second floor of the building where he works. After a great lunch and some excellent fellowship, Gunmo took me to the headquarters for “GrapeSEED,” the company he works for. I was able to meet the CEO, Mr. Nathan Lee, and we had a great conversation about the excellent ministry of GrapeSEED. Its mini-vision statement is: “English Excellence for Children Everywhere.” I was very impressed and want to find out more about this English curriculum with a biblical worldview that is currently in schools in 16 countries. What a great pre-birthday visit with Gunmo!

Here I am with Gunmo preparing to eat our Shabu Shabu and Salad Bar goodies!

Gunmo working his way through the Salad Bar!

The Shabu Shabu is getting close to boiling so the meat and   

veggies will be added soon.  Then we enjoy!              

Some of the pasta and Korean food on the Salad Bar.

Here are the collection of greens and veggies Gunmo is collecting 

to add to the Shabu Shabu!  So good!                  

Here I am at the main entrance to GrapeSeed with the company's CEO, Mr. Nathan Lee and their best employee (in my mind) - Gunmo!

Above are two gifts Mr. Lee gave me as I finished our time together. Jenny is one of their mascots.  She is on the left.  On the right is their 2016 GrapeSEED calendar especially designed with children in mind!

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Thursday, the actual day of my birthday, I decided to go to YISS in the morning after sleeping in to work on a couple things.  I actually stopped at the Original Pancake House in Itaewon for a birthday breakfast before heading to YISS.  While walking to OPH, I was handed a coupon from a worker for McDonald's.  Itaewon McDonald's was giving out a free breakfast sandwich with presentation of the coupon - no strings attached!  Since I was going to eat my breakfast at OPH, I took the paper and decided to keep it.  It was only good until 10 AM that day.  When I got to OPH, I showed the coupon to the three workers there.  For some reason, they got all excited about a free breakfast sandwich from McDonald's.  I heard them trying to see if they could take a break and go get one.  After I ordered my OPH breakfast, I said that I was going to get one for them.  They couldn't believe it.  I told them it would be my birthday present for them on my birthday!  They smiled.  I placed my order and got up and headed for McDonald's, which was only a 2-minute walk from OPH.  I was planning on getting a free sandwich and then buy two more for all the workers plus three hash browns.  When I told the man at McDonald's I only had one coupon but would like to buy two additional ones plus three hash browns, he said, "No problem."  He told me the total I owed was 3,000 Won (less than $2.00).  I looked puzzled.  He said, "All three sandwiches are free for you!"  So I paid for the hash browns and went quickly back to OPH.  I wish I had my camera ready for a picture of the looks on the faces of the wait staff!  They were thrilled and could not stop thanking me for the special treats. It was so much fun to give on my birthday!

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Oh, when I was at YISS, I received a packet of mail from my sister, Julee.  She collects my mail sent to ChambersburgGordon Hurlburt!  He had just published a little paperback entitled, Uniquely Human.

Here is Gordon's new book, Uniquely Human!  You might want to get a copy of it for your own.

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My complimentary Pumpkin Spice Latte with some

                  yummy whipped cream!

                                 

Here I am with the Ji Ho!  G-One was not working this shift so no picture. :-(

Ji Ho presenting me with the very delicious Strawberry Cheesecake!!

     A close up of my most delicious Cheesecake!

A little bit closer!

The first piece I enjoyed at home.  I added a little 

more whipped cream after I took the picture! :-)

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I was planning to meet Joshua, my friend and a former SYME student, on Friday evening.  At the last minute his company called him and told him he needed to return to Busan early,  So we couldn't meet.  :-(  I told him I understood and we would meet again soon.

Since I was not able to meet Joshua, I went to have dinner at my favorite Thai Restaurant, Taste of Thailand.  My friend and the owner, Young Ho, stopped by my table and gave me a little gift of soap shaped like a pineapple and with the scent of pineapple.  Young Ho had to leave for a meeting, but as I was finishing my tasty meal, Grace, one of the wonderful members of the wait staff, came to my table with a bag of Thai snacks.  She said that Young Ho wanted me to have these for my birthday. :-)

Above are the assortment of Thai snacks Grace and Young Ho gave to me for my birthday!  (The soap is not a snack!) :-)

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On Saturday, my dear friend and former SYME student, Yeongmin, texted me and asked me to meet him for my birthday dinner at Anguk Station (near Insadong).  We had a great time catching up with each other and enjoying some very delicious food at a restaurant called "The Traditional Korean House, Which Mr. Smith Likes."  That is the best English translation Yeongmin could give me. :-) During our meal and fellowship, Yeongmin received a phone call from SKTelecom (where he works) that the father of one of his colleagues passed away.  Yeongmin and I finished the meal and then he needed to go to his office to make arrangements for providing food and supplies for the family during the three days of visitation for his colleague's family.  I know Yeongmin would value your prayers at this time.

Yeongmin and I preparing to enjoy our delicious birthday meal!

         Here is the Salmon Appetizer we shared!  Sooooo good!

Beef Pasta with Garlic, Broccoli, and Mushrooms!  Also, very yummy!

This is our dessert!  First time I ever had Tiramisu 

with Vanilla Ice Cream in the center of it!  I will have

it again! :-)                            

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It has been a great week of rest and refreshment + celebration of my birthday!  I was overwhelmed with many emails and facebook messages and regular mail with special words of encouragement and greetings for my birthday!  Thanks to all of you who took the time to send me greetings in one form or another on my birthday.

I would value your prayers this coming week for the After School Activities online registration on Tuesday morning beginning at 8:00 + the accreditation team visit for the entire week at YISS.  We have some more to do to get Quarter Three Report Cards sent out to parents.  Thank you very much for your continued love, care, encouragement, emails, notes, cards, prayers, and support!  Enjoy a wonderful Resurrection Sunday!  He is risen!!

Love, Gregg

Quarter Three Ends as GWAM Teams are Sent Out!

Friday was an Early Release Day at YISS as Quarter Three ended and we sent out 13 GWAM (Guardians with a Message) teams totaling 190 students from middle school and high school, as well as 45 teachers, to various locations to serve and minister.  Would you please pray for the teams' safety, for strength and wisdom of leaders, favor and smoothness with immigration processes, that students' eyes will be opened to the needs throughout the world, and for team bonding?  I know they would appreciate it.  

Above is this year's group of students and teachers on the steps leading up to the YISS Soccer Field right after the commissioning and prayer service on Monday.

I received the following picture from the teacher of our KA class, Ms. Regnier.  Throughout this past quarter, the KA students have partnered with the GWAM team going to Thailand.  They have been learning how they can pray for strangers in a far off land and write encouraging notes to the Thailand GWAM team members as they prepared for their ministry.  This is a picture of the KA students on Friday praying over Ms. Weir and Ms. Johnson, two of the leaders on the Thai Team, before they left for the airport.  What a special opportunity for these cherubs!

A very special time on Friday morning!

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The KA class has also been learning so much about caring for others and being grateful and expressing that gratitude in appropriate ways.  A group of the special cherubs visited my office this past week to bring a poster of gratitude to my office.  They came in with huge smiles and one little lady, Madison, kept hugging and hugging me.  They could not stop smiling and laughing.  They were thanking me for always making them laugh! :-)  

Here are the four cuties that came with their teacher, Ms. Regnier, to my office to present me with the poster they had prepared for me.  What a delightful surprise!!  I am still smiling!

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As teachers prepared for a week of Spring Break, they needed to complete their Report Cards with Grades and Comments for Quarter Three before leaving school on Friday.  I am responsible for Grades 2 and 3 and the eight teachers' comments and grades.  Please pray for me as I check these over the break and get them ready for distribution once we arrive back at YISS on March 28.  I will be busy during the break with final preparations for two big events happening the week of March 28: Online Registration for Quarter Four After School Activities and the Accreditation Visit from the Visiting Accreditation Team March 28 - April 1.  On March 29 will also be the closing assembly for the Read-A-Thon.  Students are looking forward to that to see if they reached their reading goal and get to smear pies in the Elementary Administrators' faces!  Your prayers are appreciated for this VERY busy week of March 28.  

Our Elementary After School Activities include 45+ activities in Quarter Four!  Usually, we have between 27 and 35 activities from which to choose.  This is the highest number of activities we have offered ever since this after school program was offered over 7 years ago.  I am asking you to pray especially on the morning of March 29 from 7:15 through 11:30 AM.  This is usually a very hectic time as I try to answer phone calls and emails from parents with questions about activities as they register + observe the online registrations to make sure all is running as smoothly as possible.

This past Thursday we finished After School Activities for Quarter Three.  Our Boys' and Girls' Grades 4 and 5 Basketball teams will still participate in a Basketball Jamboree coming up on April 9 and I know they would value your prayers.  One of our Elementary Phys. Ed. teachers and the coach of the Boys' Basketball (4-5) team always has a day when the boys on the team are asked to wear a nice shirt and tie for a picture.  Below is the picture of this year's boys' team with their ties.  I always love seeing them in their ties and shirts! :-)

Boys' Grades 4-5 Basketball team for Quarter Three!  Looking sharp!

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Thursday morning in the Elementary School teachers met to pray for the GWAM teams.  We had a great time of praying for the students and faculty going on these 13 teams over Spring Break.  At the close of the meeting, Mrs. Willetts, our Elementary Principal, invited teachers to write little notes of birthday encouragement to me.  My birthday has always been during the week of Spring Break for the six years I have been at YISS.  So I had an early birthday celebration.  All of the staff know I LOVE cheesecake, strawberries, and especially WHIPPED CREAM!! :-)  Mrs. Willetts had prepared a cheesecake and cut me a piece and served it with a lone strawberry (I got more later) and a mound of whipped cream!  What a beautiful way to start Thursday morning!  I could get used to that every morning for breakfast! :-)

Oh, soooooo yummy!!! :-)

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I was also visited by one of our little cherubs who will be leaving YISS because the father has been relocated to a new assignment.  Isha and her mother came to the elementary office to bring me a farewell cupcake and to get a picture of me with Isha.  One of the hard things at an international school is that students come and go frequently.  It is always hard, but I do enjoy building relationships with people from all over the world.  Isha and her family will be greatly missed.

Here I am with Isha in my office.  Isha is quite the Ballet dancer!  She loved being in our Ballet after school activity.

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I was invited to attend a little performance of one of our after school activities, Drama and Storytelling, on Wednesday afternoon.  Ms. Johnson and Mrs. Williamson led this activity and it was fun to see what this group of grade 4 and 5 students did in a few short weeks to do an oral interpretation reading of a mini-drama. They were having a great time of fun and interpreting a story.

Above are some of the scenes from their interpretation of the mini-drama they were working on!

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Saturday and Sunday have been relaxing and refreshing for me and I look forward to a week filled with lots of walking, refreshing, relaxing, and yes...some work. :-)  I need to put final touches on the Quarter Four ASA program so that all is ready for March 29th online registration.

Today, Sunday, after a very challenging and excellent message from Pastor Doug at church, I left church and saw a new shop had just opened!  It was a cake shop, but what grabbed my attention first was the name of the shop - Billy Angel Cake Company!  Probably only a few of you reading this know that my mother did not often call me by my given name of Gregg.  Her name for me was "Billy."  When she really wanted my attention, she called me "Wilhelm." :-)  In all of her letters and cards to me, the greeting was always - "Dearest Billy."  So I stopped to enjoy a piece of one of their many yummy cakes and a cup of coffee.  And of course, I purchased a new coffee mug for my collection!  The store manager, Justin, enjoyed hearing about my story of my mother's name for me. Those of you who know me well, will know that although my mother would have thought the name of this cake company was a perfect name befitting one of her sons, the name "Billy Angel" is really an oxymoron! :-)  It was a wonderful time to reflect on the morning's message and all that my mother taught me - as well as my sisters and brother.

Here is Billy Angel Cake Company near the church, New Harvest Ministry, where I fellowship!

Some of the very yummy cakes that you can purchase whole or by the piece.

     I enjoyed an early birthday Rainbow Crepe cake with coffee!!

Here is my new mug!!                   

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Happy Spring to each of you!  I hope you realize how special you are to me.  Thank you for all of your care, love, encouragement, prayers, and support.  I will be writing soon to let you know more details concerning my move to ICS-Pyeongtaek.  Things are coming together!  Thanks for your prayers.

Love, Gregg

Only One More Week in Quarter Three!!

Yeppers, although hard to believe, Quarter Three will end next week, March 18.  So much is happening in my life both at YISS and at ICS-P!  It is Saturday afternoon as I write this week's post and I just returned from ICS-Pyeongtaek.  I took my "Day of Rest" from YISS on Friday so that I could be at ICS-P on Friday for a Volunteer Appreciation Pizza Dinner and a Parents' Meeting to introduce me to the parents at ICS-P.  I traveled down to Pyeontaek on Thursday evening after school and was picked up by my friend, Tony Kuhn.  I spent Thursday and Friday evenings at the delightful apartment of Tony and Sue, enjoyed some delicious food and got to play with Chloe, their very playful and cute Yorkie!

On Friday morning, after a yummy breakfast with the Kuhns, I headed to ICS-P for the beginning of the school day.  It was such a great day of meeting teachers and staff, mingling with students in grades K-12, getting some questions answered by the current Director, Bob Newman, and the Business Manager, Mylene.  It was so much fun meeting teachers and students and just walking through the school and the new gymnasium!  Then it was time for lunch!  I soon found out from teachers and students that they love the food prepared by the kitchen staff, but especially love it when they prepare Beef Tapas for lunch!  They were soooo yummy!. (I am so sorry to disappoint many of you, but I did not get pictures of the food or any event during this visit.  I was just enjoying taking everything in on Friday.)  After lunch Bob Newman took me in his car to visit two possible apartments.  I enjoyed seeing both apartments, but I believe I have decided to stay in the apartment that Bob Newman and his wife have lived in this year.  It is a very nice apartment outside the main city but still with good access to the main subway and bus station at the AK Plaza in Pyeongtaek and another quaint little town, Anjeong-ri, near the main gate of the US Army's base, Camp Humphreys. I will get some pictures once I move into the apartment.  One of the wonderful provisions for me came from Bob Kennedy.  He said that he and Cynthia, his wife, are planning to leave their furniture, dishes, pots & pans, washer & dryer (American made), microwave, TV and Apple TV, linens, other miscellaneous items PLUS the car!!  All of this for only $2,200!!  I was overwhelmed and thanked the Lord.  I have been doing a savings plan each year and last year's total of savings in the envelope in my apartment in Seoul totaled 2,386,000 Won, which is almost the exact amount needed! I am so grateful!

I had a delightful evening at the Appreciation Dinner and Parents' Meeting.  I was one of the servers and enjoyed every minute of it.  I love serving others - especially in an eating situation.  I was able to interact with volunteers and parents as I served.  They began to see my humor and seemed to enjoy it. One of the Korean parents commented to me that she could not believe that the Director was serving her!  Another parent commented as he and his wife departed, "I wanted to leave a tip for your excellent service."  Another parent said, "It was so exciting to see your real heart!"  I am grateful to the Lord for giving me the gift of service and allowing me to do that in a culture that usually does not like to be served by older people.

After the dinner, I was introduced and shared a bit of my background and testimony and what parents could expect from me and that my main desire for the first few months was to observe and build relationships; not come in and make major changes all of a sudden.  They seemed to appreciate that. Thanks so much for praying for me and continuing to pray as details are worked out for moving my things to Pyeongteak after finishing responsibilities at YISS.  Pray for me as I decide on dates when I can get to the USA this summer after spending a couple weeks with the current director at ICS-P to find out answers to some more questions and continue to discover what he sees as the future at ICS-P. I will be writing more later as I prepare to move, etc.

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During the past week at YISS, I had some delightful opportunities to share with some students.  One of them was an email I received from Ryan in 4A.  They were working on persuasive writing pieces and Ryan wrote a persuasive piece on Let's Play Dodgeball.  He actually did a great job and I was so proud of him and his excellent writing.  He was not complaining or saying negative things about why it has never been offered, but presented compelling reasons for having the activity while doing it in a very positive way.  I was very impressed and went to the 4A classroom to share publicly with his classmates what a good job he had done.  I also informed the class that Ryan's letter came a little too late since all of the after school activities had been decided for Quarter Four.  I wish I had my camera ready to get a picture of their expressions after I said that. BUT I then went on to say, "However, I am pleased to report that Mr. Resende (Physical Ed. teacher) and I had already included Dodgeball as an activity for Grades 3 and 4 in Quarter Four!"  You should have heard the cheers and seen the expressions.  I again complimented Ryan on his excellent piece of persuasive writing and encouraged students to learn from Ryan's excellent example.

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I was also involved in a Bible Class Interview conducted by the Grade 4 team!  Students in 4th grade have started studying the prophets Elijah and Elisha.  They were looking at the calling of Elisha and how he completely left behind his old way of life to follow God and be a prophet.  They then looked at Luke 14, where Jesus tells His disciples and the crowd to count the cost before deciding to follow Him.  The teachers wanted students to interview modern-day followers of Christ to see what challenges and blessings they have had in their walk with following Jesus.  Students were to select a YISS staff member who they wanted to interview.  My name was selected by two delightful students, Max and Joan.  They came to my office on Wednesday morning to interview me for about 20 minutes, which ended up being about 35 minutes!  What a delightful time I had as they asked me questions and furiously wrote notes on all that I said.  At the close of our interview, I asked both Max and Joan if they had accepted Jesus as their Savior - explaining what that meant.  Both said they were still working on that.  They asked some more questions and told me that this assignment was helping them to clarify their beliefs.  I would ask you to pray for these two beautiful students, Max and Joan. They are both very special to me.  Both are excellent students and I believe they are ready to commit their lives to following Jesus.

Here I am outside my office with Max and Joan after our interview about the cost of following Jesus.  Two very special students!!

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Since I missed the Mystery Reader Day during the Read-A-Thon because I was in Mississippi for the New Directors' Training and Annual Leadership Conference, the Grade 3B teacher. Ms. Corbett, invited me to come on Thursday afternoon to be the Mystery Reader for her class.  She wanted me to share some books that were special to me and would be of interest to her students.  I had a great time of sharing a few of my favorite books and then I read this year's Newbery Medal Winner, Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena.  It is about a boy who continually asks his Nana, "Why everyone else had it better than he does?" and other similar "Why" questions.  His Nana begins to open him up to a brand new way of thinking about what is out there.  The kids enjoyed it and want me to come back and read some more.  Ms. Corbett was going to send me some pictures of my special time in Grade 3B, but I haven't received them in time for this post.  Maybe next week?

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You may remember last week's post concerning "Josh," a second grader at YISS, and the prayer request concerning his relationship with his parents - especially with his mother.  Josh's Mom stopped by last week to let me know that she decided not to take the business trip she was planning this week. She was going to go and take Josh along, but she said to me last week, "I think it is better for me to stay home and rebuild my relationship with Josh."  I was thrilled and later I saw that she had posted some pictures of a special fun time that she enjoyed with Josh.  I told Josh the next day that I saw the fun pictures and it looked like he was having a great time.  He told me that he was!  Keep praying for Josh and his Mom and the entire family!  Below is a photo of the grade 2 Publishing Celebration from several weeks ago.  I thought I would give you a photo of Josh so you can be praying for him.

I love this picture of some of the second grade boys surrounding the little boy in the chair.  He is reading his story to them.  "Josh"  is the boy standing on the left of the reader.

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You may also remember Alliot, a YISS student who left YISS 2 years ago to begin his high school years in a public school in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC.  Alliot and I began our friendship when he was in the elementary school at YISS.  We continued to get together and chat about many things including God and Jesus.  Alliot was asking many questions of me when he was in middle school about God and Christianity.  Last summer he made a point to come and visit me when he was back in Seoul with his family.  We always have some excellent conversations.  We have chatted privately on Facebook where he asks many questions about Science and God.  This weekend he sent some private messages to me on Facebook that just excited me so much!!  We are now planning to meet via Skype because he really misses our chats and continues to "seek God."  Here are some of the messages he wrote to me this weekend:

"Mr. Garman, I truly believe that God brings people together! As I have said before, I've talked to a gentleman named Solomon and have got to know God a bit better. He has moved to fulfill the perfect plan that God has set for him, but I have met a new person! I got to know this man by the name of James as my friend's father. I was at Joanne's choir concert and met him in the waiting room. He's a fan of the Dallas Cowboys and I was talking to him about football when I mentioned Solomon as God has sent him on a mission to play for the Dallas Cowboys as he is over the age of 40 and it would be humanly impossible for someone of that age to recover from a football injury he suffered in college and play representing

I think that God purposely put me in this environment where I went to YISS, a Christian school, and arranged my life so that I can meet all these great people, including you! I would love to talk with you about this as well. We can potentially Skype if you have an account or call through Facebook one day. I will also be praying for you.

I believe God set my life this way so that I can seek Him!"

Would you please pray with me for Alliot as he continues to seek God and His Son, Jesus Christ?  I am so excited that Alliot is so eager to continue seeking God!  Here is a picture of us last  summer when he called me to have a meal and talk together while he was home.

Here I am with Alliot at The Flying Pan Blue in Itaewon enjoying our food and fellowship.  

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I will close for this week.  Thanks so much for being so faithful with your encouragement, love, notes, emails, prayers, and support.  Please enjoy a great week!  It will be a busy week this week as we end Quarter Three and prepare for our Spring Break.  You can also pray for the GWAM (Guardians With a Message) during Spring Break as they go out to various countries, including South Korea, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and China, with over 190 middle school and high school students + 45 YISS staff to do service projects and present Jesus Christ to children, teens, and adults.

Love, Gregg

March has Arrived with Some Warmer Weather, but It is Full of Activities!

As many of you know, I arrived back in Seoul on February 28 and was greeted by snow!  After being away for two weeks, there were many things on my desk.  So although YISS did not have school on Monday, Gregg had school!  When I arrived in my office, I was greeted by numerous pictures and comments hanging from the ceiling.  As I read the comments on the photos, I realized how difficult it is going to be for me to leave this wonderful group of elementary teachers when I finish at YISS in June and head to ICS-P!  I am sorry that you can't read all of the pictures, but I have included a few of the hanging pictures/comments for you.  They were filled with encouragement and humor that I was so humbled to receive from these wonderful teachers who seemed to miss me a lot.  It was a very special return to my office.

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Tuesday, March 1 was a Professional Development Day for teachers and staff at YISS.  I was able to work much of the day on preparations for Quarter Four After School Activities.  Greatly needed and I was able to get finished with most of what I needed to accomplish.  I would continue to value your prayers as I work with one of our YISS staff on taking over the ASA program for next year.  Usually we have about 30 - 35 activities to offer to our elementary cherubs.  In Quarter Four we will offer the most activities ever - 44 regular activities + 4 in the Aquatics Department!  Still lots to do and I would value your prayers.

I was very happy that after the snow on February 28, the weather in Seoul became warmer.  We had some very nice weather for the beginning of March allowing children to get outside at recess times.  I am hoping the warmer weather continues.

This coming week I will be heading to ICS-P for a Parents' Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.  I am excited about being at the school all day on Friday, March 11, to meet teachers, students, staff, and then parents at the evening dinner and meeting.  Thank you for praying for me as I share a little about me to allow parents to get to know me a little before I come full time.  You can also be praying for two more teachers needed for 2016-17 at ICS-P.  We are in need of a 4th grade teacher and a High School English teacher!  If you know anyone who might be interested (and qualified for either position) in coming to the delightful and beautiful country of South Korea and joining us on our team at ICS-P, please let me know as soon as possible.  You could also direct them to the NICS website where they can begin the initial application process.  That website is: www.nics.org .

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In addition to catching up on the pile of work needing my attention on my desk,  there were many wonderful activities happening  in the elementary school at YISS that I wanted to experience.  It was the final week of our Read-A-Thon (RAT) so students were all excited about that.  It was also a special week for some of our cherubs in Grade 1 as they celebrated the 112th birthday (March 2, 1904) of Dr. Seuss.  Wednesday was a dress down day for the RAT where students and teachers were encouraged to dress as one of their favorite book characters.  Then on Thursday I was asked to read one of my favorite books by Dr. Seuss - Oh, The Places You'll Go!  I loved both days!  Here are some pictures from each of those events!  If you are reading this and want to win a little prize, please respond with the title of the book represented by these faculty members are representing or collection of books or the author of the books.  For most of them, you just need to look carefully; a couple you will have to do more thinking. :-)

  Our Kinder team of teachers and teaching assistants!

Grade 3 Team of teachers!

Grade 4's Team in their outfits.              

This the team of teachers from Grade 2!

 Some of our related arts teachers and ELL teachers

                  went together for this one! :-)

The Assistant Principals and Assistant Principals!

Grade 5D teacher, Mr. Benedict!    

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Below are some pictures from my visit to Grades 1B and 1D to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss:

 I love reading Oh, The Places You'll Go and have

    so much fun integrating a biblical worldview 

  throughout the story!  Students of all ages seem 

                       to always love it!

Another candid shot that Mrs. Miller, Grade 1B      

teacher, took while I shared this book with her cherubs!

Children in 1B listening and interacting.

Another candid from Mrs. Miller.

After reading to the cherubs in 1D, the teacher, Mrs. Thomas, and 

         I posed with the "Things" for a group picture!  I love it!

My "thank you" gift from 1B after reading with them!

One boy made sure to tell me not to eat the cat; "we  

used old pasta for the hat and tie," he told me with a 

big smile! :-)                           

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Friday was filled with some special events as well!  During February students in Kinder through Grade 12 were encouraged to submit art entries for the 2016-2017 YISS Calendar.  There were 113 entries and then on Friday administrators and art teachers were asked to vote on their top picks for the calendar.  This is always very difficult for me since there are so many wonderful entries.  The theme for the 2016-17 calendar is "Faith, Hope, and Love."  Students did a great job depicting the theme in their pieces of art!  I am posting a few of the 113 selections for your enjoyment!  I wish I could post all of them.

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I was also invited to experience 2A's Publishing Party on Friday!  What a great time I had.  I could have spent many hours interacting with these delightful cherubs.  Many of the students in 2A do not have English as their main language.  A number of them attend additional ELL (English Language Learners) classes.  I was so amazed and impressed as I sat with various students to see how much they have progressed in their English skills.  We have been placing an emphasis on reading and writing throughout the elementary school and the hard work by teachers and students is paying off. Students in 2A had been working on creating an illustrated brochure that included several sections: favorite character in the book they read,  favorite part of the book and why, and a review of the book. I was so impressed with the tremendous growth from the beginning of the year!  Ms. Minor, grade 2A teacher, is so creative and her students love her so much.  She has done an amazing job bringing her students to the level of writing I witnessed on Friday!  You can look on Facebook for more pictures but here are a few of them:

    This is what greeted 2A students as they entered Ms. Minor's

classroom on Friday morning!  They were so excited about sharing 

            their brochures about their favorite adventure book!

At each student's desk was this big donut with

little slips of paper for students, principals, and

teachers to "sprinkle each student some    

compliments!"                     

Here are the 2A students putting final touches on their amazing brochures!

One of the students checking over his brochure before

            visitors began coming to the classroom.

I love this sign that was hanging in 

the room! :-)                

    Students reading each other's brochures and "sprinkling some 

                         compliments for their classmates!

This young man is amazing!  Struggled with English but now speaks with great passion and writes beautifully.  I loved having him interact with me!!  

  Another beautiful young lady who is in our ELL class for help 

with English.  She has come soooo far with her skills and was so

                   proud as we interacted with her brochure!

This is a young man from Turkey who has grown by leaps and bounds with his English.  Oh, what a great job he is doing!!

And after the guests left, students enjoyed donuts and juice while 

reading their big donut "sprinkled with compliments." :-)       

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Friday afternoon, my great friend, Koko So, came to visit me at YISS.  He wanted to see where I was working.  I met Koko at the chiropractic office started going to over 3 years ago.  I had not seen Koko and found for over 2 years and I found out that he decided to go (with very little money) on a journey that took him to 21 countries in 28 months!  I followed his journeys and was taken by how God provided for his every need throughout the journey - even when he came down with Malaria, then had his bicycle stolen, then his wallet, passport,  and credit card in Morocco.  I loved hearing first hand how God provided, as we toured YISS and then had dinner at the Original Pancake House.  I want to meet him again soon to hear more of his experiences.  He asked prayer that he would continue to strengthen his faith in God first and then seek what it is God wants him to do.  He has a heart for Ghana but wants to make sure that is where he is to go.  Thanks for praying for my dear friend.

  Koko and I in front of YISS after touring the school.  He was so 

 impressed with the facilities and all that was happening to impact 

                                        lives for Jesus!

Here we are enjoying our time at the Original Pancake House! It     

was so wonderful to hear the very powerful stories Koko had to share.

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This week I would like to conclude with a big prayer request for a family who has son in our grade 2. When I was in Mississippi for two weeks for New Directors' Training and the Annual Leadership Conference, this little boy found himself in some trouble in our after school activities.  I am going to call him Josh although that is not his real name.  God knows his name and his mother's name.

Josh's mother has been involved in starting several businesses in Seoul and the marriage has suffered. Josh has a little brother and both boys are often left in the care of a driver.  Mom and Dad are separated.  I have known the mother and when I contacted her about the problem we had with Josh in an after school activity plus a couple other incidents, she called me and asked for a time to talk.  We met on Thursday after school and she unburdened her heart concerning her lack of relationship with Josh and is concerned because he has become very distant and she is worried that she is going to lose him.  I listened and then shared how important it is to be in the lives of your children - especially in this day (and especially in Korea) when any person including children can get on the Internet and see things that are just not appropriate.  After giving her some recommendations, she was very grateful and expressed her desire to stop spending so much time at her new business ventures and getting to know her sons and getting into their lives to make sure, as best she can, that she is aware of the dangers of technology today.  As she got up to leave, I asked her if she would mind if I would pray

Would you please pray for this family?  Pray that Mom and Dad will get back together.  Pray that Mom will make special time for her sons, especially Josh.  Pray for Josh that he would realize that his Mom loves him, and even more importantly that Jesus loves him.  Thanks so much!

Thank you so much for your continued encouragement, love, care, prayers, and support.  I especially need them right now as I desire to finish well at YISS and begin well at ICS-P.  Thanks so much.

Happy March!

Love, Gregg