Getting Settled in Pyeongtaek!

It has been a very interesting week!  I finished six years at YISS on Wednesday afternoon!  I am hoping that I was able to complete the clearing out of my computer at YISS.  At least they gave me the all clear when I checked out.  And the "settling in" process began in Pyeongtaek!

Wednesday evening one of the dear families at YISS had arranged to transport me with a few remaining belongings (the movers had taken 95% of everything on Saturday) to my the apartment of my wonderful friends, Tony and Yvonne Kuhn, in Songtan.  I am very grateful to the Kang family for their generous offer to transport me.  It was much better than taking the bus or train.  Thanks to Binnie and Noah for the great trip to Songtan.  What a great time of fellowship and saying "hasta la vista" to this dear family.

   My buddy, Noah posed with me in my Itaewon

  apartment after taking the last couple bags to the

        Kang van.  (His mother took the photo.)

Noah and his mother with me in front of the Kuhns' apartment in Songtan upon our arrival on Wednesday evening!

Saying farewell to Noah and his mother after unloading the van.  

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Bright and early on Thursday morning, Tony transported me to ICS-Pyeongtaek where I met with the current headmaster, Bob Newman, and connected with a few teachers and students.  At 8:40 AM, the Assistant to the Headmaster, Helen Lee, went with me to the Pyeongtaek Immigration Office.  We were escorted by Mr. Song, a gentleman who has served the longest at ICSP.  I am finding that both of these individuals are such assets to the school, and particularly to me.

Upon arrival at the Immigration Office, Mrs. Lee took a ticket and we began the wait to see one of the immigration clerks and show them all of the documentation needed for the renewal of my Visa. After waiting only a few minutes, Mrs. Lee, went to one of the windows and asked if she could see the person she had spoken with a couple times in the weeks prior to Thursday morning.  (I later discovered that this man is the #2 person at the Pyeongtaek Immigration office.) Shortly, this gentleman appeared and Mrs. Lee introduced him to me and presented him with all of my documentation.  They spoke a few minutes.  He left and soon returned and he and Mrs. Lee talked some more.  He returned the documentation and it indicated that I was cleared and all I needed to do was to go to the Revenue Stamp window and pay 60,000 Korean Won.  Mrs. Lee and I went to the window, showed the paperwork from the top official, and paid the fee.  The lady returned my Visa card with the renewal stamp, new address, etc. to Mrs. Lee.  She was so excited because it can take anywhere from 5 to 15 days to get everything approved and get the renewed card!  I was excited too! Many of you had been praying and within an hour, we had my renewed Visa + it was renewed for two years!!  Usually, the visas are renewed for only one year.  This was a huge answer to many prayers!  Thanks to all of you who were praying.

Here I am with two amazing ICSP employees, Mr. Dong and Mrs. Lee, after our return to ICSP from the Pyeongtaek Immigration Office.  (A bit blurry because the photographer was really happy with the fast Visa renewal process.) :-)

Mr. Song wanted to have a photo with the outgoing Headmaster, Mr. Bob Newman, and the incoming Headmaster, GGG.

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Later on Thursday, Mr. Newman invited me to go along with him to share a farewell lunch with the Korean staff at ICSP.  We had a great time with a new food experience at the AK Plaza in Pyeongtaek.  Mr. Newman had prepared little gifts for each of the Korean staff and we all enjoyed a great meal and great fellowship!

  Picture of one of the main beef dishes using the Hot Stone to grill

 the meat right on your main plate.  You take some of the beef from

the ball of meat and cook it on the hot stone then enjoy it with some

 eggs and cheese!  The vent (at each table) is used to pull the smoke

                              away from other customers. 

This was my choice - already cooked beef with veggies and mashed

 potatoes and sunny side up egg! Yummy, but I wish I had selected 

the choice pictured in the first photo.                    

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Then on Thursday evening, it was time for the ICSP Kindergarten graduation.  What a fun time!  ICSP's Kinder Graduation is actually a celebration dinner.  I am sorry that I did not get any photos of the amazing food that was prepared from scratch right at the school.  (The workers prepare some of the most delicious food!)  The little cherubs had chosen their own processional music.  They chose the Star Wars' Theme music!  Everyone loved it.  It was a great evening of celebration, fellowship, and food!

Parents, staff, and friends gathering for the Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony/Dinner.

Following the procession of the Kinder cherubs, each took a seat in the front of the audience while their teacher, standing on the right, and the teaching assistant, standing on the left, begin to lead the kids in some of their favorite songs from the year.

During the ceremony, the children took one of the little books they had written in their Reading and Writing class and read them to their families.  It was so cool to see them reading their writings to their parents!

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I am currently staying at the apartment of Mr. Newman.  Once Mr. Newman concludes his term at ICSP, I will take over his apartment.  Bob suggested that I stay at home on Friday and start unpacking and settling into the apartment.  That is what I did!  I made a huge dent in going through many of the boxes the movers packed (along with those packed by JiSang and me).  Bob had already unpacked my suits and dress shirts!  During the unpacking, I accidentally picked up a package that was near my boxes, but when I opened it, I realized it was not mine.  As I unwrapped the package (wrapped in bubble wrap), a very heavy and beautiful ceramic candle holder fell right on to my right foot attacking my toe that resides right next to my big toe!!  Oh man, did it hurt!  That night the black and blue set in.  It feels better today, but looks a bit nasty.  Here is a picture.  I am sure you will be so excited! :-)

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On Saturday evening, the staff at ICSP had a Farewell Picnic for all staff in order to say farewell to those staff leaving ICSP this year as well as sharing some wonderful memories and enjoying some great food and fellowship!  It was a nice time to get more acquainted with the delightful staff with whom I will be working in the coming year.  Enjoy some pictures of the ICSP Farewell Picnic!

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Well, I was going to finish my post, but after I went to church in Songtan this morning, I came back to the apartment and checked to see if the Internet connection in the apartment was working.  Bob Newman and I have been having a bit of trouble with it over the weekend.  It was back up and working and I decided to check messages on Facebook.  There is one part of the "Messages" section that I discovered had "filtered messages.  I did not know they were there until today.  I found several private messages for me, one of them dated April 13 from a young man, Grayson Greco, a former student at Mercer Christian Academy when I was Headmaster there.  I was completely blown away by his private message.  I am still overwhelmed and thanking the Lord for working in this young man's life.  Here is the message I received:

"Mr. Garman, I'm not sure you will remember me, but I was once a student at MCA. One day in late April 2002, I was in your office with my parents. That day you expelled me from the school upon recommendation from the board due to an unrepentant breach in school policy. Your memory might be jarred now. I was very bitter at that time as a young man for reasons I won't bore you with. I was also unrepentant to God for my sin. I was certainly not a follower of Jesus. Anyway, six years went by and, praise the LORD, He gave me space to repent and turn to him. Since that day—literally that very day, September 11, 2008—I felt the need to ask for your forgiveness for the disrespect I showed you that day in your office. I dreaded it really, asking your forgiveness. I felt it was a legalistic burden in a way. I can't fully explain it. But alas the LORD again gave me time to mature in my faith and today I was reminded of that burden that I needed to ask your forgiveness. Well, I say all that to finally, after nearly 15 years, ask for your forgiveness. I hope that you can give glory to the Father for His conviction of sin and miraculous salvation of sinners as you read this. After all, Soli Deo Gloria. —A Hopefully Reconciled Brother in the Faith, Grayson Greco."

What a wonderful way to finish my Sunday afternoon in Pyeongtaek.  Please pray for Grayson as he seeks to follow the Lord!

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That's it for this week.  Thank you very much for your continued love, care, encouragement, prayers, and support.  I have especially appreciated them during these last couple weeks of leaving YISS and moving on and settling in at ICSP!

Love,
Gregg