On Sunday afternoon last week after participating in the service at Dae Kwang Church, the ICS-P teachers and staff were invited to the home church of Mr. Song, our amazing Facilities' Manager at ICS-P. Mr. Song had invited our HS Principal, Mr. Mooney, to preach at their special afternoon service. Following the service, we all enjoyed a fantastic Thanksgiving feast to begin our week of celebrating Thanksgiving. I was glad I went to hear the message and support Mr. Song, who does so much for all of us. Mr. Mooney did a great job with John 11and we enjoyed some new friends and some very delicious food and fellowship!
Here I am with Mr. Song on my left and the recently retired pastor
of the church on my right.
Mr. Mooney preaching from John 11 and his interpreter (from a sister
church) on his right! Both did a great job!
Above are those who were present for this special Thanksgiving service.
Some of the yummy delights the church ladies
had prepared for everyone! So good!
This was my plate of delicious treats. The turkey tasted almost as
good as my mother's! It was all very good!
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ICS-P planned a special Thanksgiving Feast on Wednesday right before students were dismissed for the Break. Our amazing cafeteria staff under the direction of our Business Manager, Mylene Haselman, had prepared a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner for our students and parents! In addition to the food they had prepared, some parents and teachers also added taste treats to the feast. It was a grand time of thanksgiving, fellowship, fun, and gratitude.
Here I am serving the Thanksgiving Feast with some of our parents on Wednesday. Grades 1 and 2 are going through the buffet line at this point!
Mylene Haselman and the excellent cafeteria workers preparing
a magnificent Thanksgiving Feast for our students, staff, and parents!
Here is one view of the Turkey, Ham, filling, cranberry sauce, corn, and many other taste treats!
A view from the other end of the buffet table showing
more yummy goodies!
Some of the desserts on the dessert table!
Some parents and grandparents helping the Kinder cherubs select their food from the great variety of Thanksgiving goodies!
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Before the Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday, we had some special Thanksgiving performances by our Kindergarten cherubs and then a preview performance of the Christmas Concert that our music teacher, Ms. Kim, is preparing with our students on December 2. Our kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Cho, had her kinder cherubs dressed up as Pilgrims or Native Americans. They sang a cute Thanksgiving song and then performed a mini-play for the parents and grandparents. They all loved seeing their special ones perform!
Here are the cherubs singing their Thanksgiving song for their
parents and grandparents!
Now they are performing their little play that Mrs. Cho had written for them! They were so cute!
These two little Native Americans were so cute as they performed
their part of the play!
Here are some of the parents and grandparents enjoying the song and the play! Of course, they enjoyed taking photos! :-) Mrs. Cho is the one seated with some papers on her lap.
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After the Kindergarten performance, guests were invited to the B1 area for a preview of the Christmas Concert. Students in Grades 1 through 4 sang a special song for the guests! They did a great job. I was particularly impressed with one of our new students who sang a solo. I was not ready for her solo! She did an amazing job! I can't wait until December 2 to hear the entire performance by our students!
Here are the cherubs in Grades 1 through 4 singing just a preview of the Christmas Concert on December 2. (Sorry it is a little blurry; my good camera was not recharged so I had to use my phone.) The young lady on the right is singing a solo! She sings her heart out! So good!!
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After the mini-performances and Thanksgiving Feast, many stayed for the several basketball games by our Boys' and Girls' Basketball teams as they played against ICS-Uijongbu! Our Girls' Basketball team remains undefeated!
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On Monday of this past week, I had a somewhat stressful day with some situations, but I was so happy that I was able to meet on Monday evening with one of my friends from the Dae Kwang Church. I have been working with one of our members with some of his applications for graduate schools in the USA. His name is Bailey and I really enjoy hearing him play the piano at church. It has been great getting to know him and we were finally able to meet for dinner on Monday evening! Our time together was just what I needed after the somewhat stressful day. We enjoyed a delicious Chinese dinner and had a lot of laughs and some excellent serious discussions as well. Please pray for Bailey as he finishes his applications and exams for a number of graduate schools. He is very nervous, but I think he will do very well.
GGG and Bailey preparing to enjoy some very delicious Chinese food and some excellent fellowship!
These Black Noodles are soooo tasty!
We also shared some Chinese dumplings!
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On Thursday I was scheduled to meet with my dear friend Gunmo and his wife Sujin, but early Thursday morning, Gunmo texted me to sadly inform me that he had picked up a nasty cold and needed to stay in. Please pray that Gunmo will recover quickly and that we will be able to meet soon. Gunmo and Sujin will celebrate their First Wedding Anniversary on November 28!
Since these dear friends could not meet me on Thursday and my toes were feeling pretty good, I used the day to do a lot of walking and just reading and reflecting. Quite refreshing!
Here is the happy couple on their wedding day last November 28! I was so blessed and humbled to be a part of their special wedding ceremony!
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On Friday, I got up early and took the bus to Seoul and then the subway to Itaewon to visit my favorite bookstore, "What the Book?" and enjoy some of my favorite eating places. I ran into many students and families from YISS on my walk through Itaewon and enjoyed a great time at the bookstore and then had brunch at a favorite eatery, The Original Pancake House! The manager and my good friend, JinHwan Cho, was there and he loves talking with me. He was telling me about his girlfriend, his new kittens (he LOVES cats), and his recent trip of 12 days to Switzerland, Austria, and Czech Republic. I have been to all three of these countries so we enjoyed a great time of sharing. He had taken some fantastic pictures. Please pray for JinHwan as I continue to get to know him. Hopefully, he will come to know Jesus.
Here I am with JinHwan after a wonderful brunch and a great chat with this young man. His one cat recently had kittens and he wanted to give me one. :-)
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I was also able to enjoy some Pumpkin Spice Latte at my favorite dessert and coffee place in Itaewon, Sweet East! The owner was present and she was so happy to see me and catch up. She brought me some very delicious pumpkin pie with whipped cream that one of her friends makes. She is trying to get the word out about her friend's new bakery. The pumpkin pie was very delicious! I especially enjoyed the crust of this pie. Almost made me think I was enjoying Thanksgiving in Chambersburg, PA!
GGG with the owner of Sweet East Cafe', Mrs. Park.
I so much enjoyed my Pumpkin Spice Latte and my freshly baked Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream!! :-)
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On Saturday, I met my friend, Chris Haynes, for lunch and studying together. Chris took the TOEFL exam last week and received a very good score! Now he begins his search for a college/university in the USA to continue his studies. We always have a great time and today's lunch was no exception. I am so excited to see how Chris continues to grow in his walk with the Lord. He has a growth in his upper right chest that comes every so often and causes great pain. Doctors don't seem to know what it is. He also has a growth in his left knee that looks nasty and is extremely painful. Please pray that the pain will subside and some doctor will be able to give some indication as to what causes these. Please also continue to pray for him as he seeks to continue his studies in the USA now that he has scored well enough on the TOEFL exam. Chris has everything sent to Appalachian Bible College and is praying that all will work out for his visa beginning Second Semester at ABC.
Chris and I at AK Plaza enjoying a great time together at lunch on Saturday!
I had some yummy Kimchi Jjigae! The other pictures did not turn out. Chris enjoyed some Octopus Bibimbap and we both enjoyed some very tasty Chamchi (Tuna) Kimbap!
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Saturday evening was a delightful time at dinner with Jin Seok and his wife, Eunsun! It was great to see them after a long time of waiting. They drove to Pyeongtaek and stopped to see my apartment and then we went for a very delicious dinner at one of my favorites, Puffin Restaurant! What a great time we had together during a very tasty dinner. They are very excited about a special event that is expected to happen near the beginning of June! Eunsun is about three months along and they showed me some pictures from a recent ultrasound! Please pray for this lovely couple as they are working very hard at their jobs as well as being involved in their church while preparing for a precious little one to arrive! I almost had to fight with them about the bill for our dinner. Jin Seok wanted to treat me and I wanted to treat them. This time Jin Seok and Eunsun won, but I will treat the next time. They said it was an early Christmas gift!
I was excited that the owners of Puffin Restaurant had decorated their restaurant for Christmas! After our wonderful dinner, we posed beside the lovely Christmas Tree for a Christmas photo!
Jin Seok had a very nicely prepared Beef Tenderloin steak with mushrooms, potatoes, garlic, and squash! (In order to get the right lighting on his face, Jin Seok had to hold the overhead lamp a bit higher.) :-)
I enjoyed a Beef Tenderloin steak with French Fries!
Eunsun enjoyed the Seafood Risotto! (Sorry that
it is a bit blurry.)
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I am going to close this Thanksgiving week's post with two more items. The first is the most recent update on Ben Coyner, our Guidance Counselor at ICS-P. He began radiation therapy this past Tuesday. I know he would continue to value your prayers. Here is his most recent update from November 22:
Ben's Nov. 22 Praise Updates & Requests :)
Answered Prayers!
1) Praise God that my first daily radiotherapy and weekly chemotherapy sessions at Severance Hospital went well!
Prayer Requests:
1) That this new treatment plan will eradicate the tumor by the end of 2016, so I will not need surgery.
2) That I can make time to meet with more people during November and December before radiation side effects become severe.
3) That I won’t be disappointed with unfavorable treatment results, but focus on the eternal blessings that I have through Christ and my relationship with God.
4) That I will be a more dynamic encourager and effective witness to my school’s students, parents, staff, and the wider community that I interact with in Korea and online.
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God has blessed me with an amazing family and excellent friends. On the close of this Thanksgiving Day in South Korea, I have been thanking God for each one of you. My life has been touched in countless ways
· * because we have walked a special walk together,
· * because you matter to me,
· * because we are friends,
· * because you have given me courage, and
· * because you care about me and love me in spite of me!
For many years, I have used John Baillie’s book, A Diary of Private Prayer, each morning and evening. Many of my family and friends have helped me in my growth in the graces of Godly character. Thank you!! I would ask you to pray the following prayer, which I have adapted from one of Baillie’s prayers, for me on this Thanksgiving Day. I will be praying
Dear God,
I come to you today and ask that the graces of Godly character will more and more take shape within my soul:
· * THE GRACE OF A THANKFUL AND UNCOMPLAINING HEART,
· * THE GRACE OF COURAGE, WHETHER IN SUFFERING OR IN DANGER,
· * THE GRACE TO ENDURE HARDSHIP AS A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST,
· * THE GRACE OF BOLDNESS IN STANDING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT,
· * THE GRACE OF PREPAREDNESS LEST I ENTER INTO TEMPTATION,
· * THE GRACE OF STRICT TRUTHFULNESS,
· * THE GRACE OF LOVE AND CHARITY, THAT I MAY REFRAIN FROM HASTY JUDGMENT,
· * THE GRACE OF SILENCE, THAT I MAY REFRAIN FROM HASTY SPEECH,
· * THE GRACE OF FORGIVENESS TOWARDS THOSE WHO HAVE WRONGED ME,
· * THE GRACE OF TENDERNESS TOWARDS THOSE WHO ARE WEAKER THAN ME, AND
· * THE GRACE OF STEADFASTNESS TO CONTINUE TO DESIRE AND FOLLOW YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST!
In the name of Jesus, Amen!
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Love, Gregg
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