My week began last Sunday after church on Sunday morning. I had made reservations for two nights at the Grand Hyatt in Itaewon (part of Seoul) where I had spent six wonderful years at Yongsan International School of Seoul. It was a special time of refreshment as well as joy as I was able to have a special reunion with two dear friends, JiSang and Chang Yong! JiSang met me at Nambu Bus Terminal and then drove me to the Grand Hyatt to check in. Then we met Chang Yong in Itaewon and we decided (actually JiSang decided) to eat at the Original Pancake House in Itaewon. (JiSang LOVES their thick-cut bacon!) What a great time we enjoyed together. These two young men are so wonderful and continue to be a blessing to me. Chang Yong is studying and is not working presently. His studies will lead him to a new type of position. Please pray for him as he seeks what God wants for him. JiSang is still working for his uncle's company. He is doing lots of traveling the world for the company these days. He is going to go beyond my 40 countries if he keeps his present pace up. Please pray for him as he works and travels.
JiSang, Chang Yong, and GGG at the Original Pancake House preparing to enjoy our yummy feasts!
Chang Young's tasty Cheeseburger!
JiSang's BIG breakfast for one skinny boy. This
is before eating!
Now the "after" pic of JiSang's clean plate and
large stomach! :-)
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Here I am in one of the lobby areas in the Grand Hyatt! The hotel was so beautifully decorated for Christmas!
The big tree in the main lobby!
The Ice Rink at the Hyatt from the lobby area.
The Hyatt Ice Rink as viewed from my 11th-floor room!
Monday morning from my 11th-floor room!
Monday evening from the main entrance to the Grand Hyatt showing the Namsan Tower at night!
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When I returned to Pyeongtaek, I received some private messages from Carmen, one of our substitute teachers at ICS-Pyeongtaek. As some of you may remember, my dear friends from Mercer Christian Academy days, Ken and Judy Kiesler, have sent me hand-knitted scarves and caps each Christmas for about 5 years. They knew that I would not be at YISS this Christmas but wondered if we could use some scarves and caps to distribute to a needy group. I asked around and discovered that Carmen volunteers at a local home for unwed mothers and they were in need of warm clothing for the unwed mothers. She was delighted to take the box of scarves and caps Ken and Judy sent and was able to deliver them on December 18th! The ladies were so delighted!
Here is part of the letter that Carmen sent to me about this particular home. (I have deleted the actual name of the home since Carmen asked that its location not be given to protect the women.)
"The Home is a home for unwed mothers that have nowhere else to go and no means at all to live. They come from all different types of backgrounds - some are escaping abusive marriages; some are foreign brides and their husbands and/or his family no longer want them as part of their family; some are young college girls that believed the false promises of a young man; etc. Korea is changing but not fast enough in some areas. Families will turn their backs on their unwed pregnant daughter because of the shame. Businesses will rarely hire a single mom so how on earth will she be able to provide for herself let alone a precious new baby? The Home has opened their doors but is only able to accommodate 8 pregnant and post-pregnancy mothers at a time. Even though they receive 0 government subsidies, they still have to follow building regulations to keep their permit to offer living accommodations for these mothers.
The mothers are able to live at this home for 6 months after delivery. A hospital in Suwon volunteers and schedules planned c-sections for these moms for free. Within the 6 months, if they have not figured out a way to provide a home and income for themselves, then the mothers will have to leave their child in an orphanage. Some mothers leave right after delivery because they don't even want to get attached to the baby in fear that they can not figure out a way to survive alone in Korea with a baby. Most of these moms show up to the Home literally owning only what they are wearing. One young mother, currently there, is 8 months pregnant and they didn't have a coat big enough to cover her tummy. Someone had given us a wool maternity coat that fit her perfect! We hardly ever get maternity coats donated.
God is Good!!! A group of us try to go once a month to deliver donations because there typically is one, if not a few new moms there who are in need of basic necessities. We also prepare an American style dinner for them and bring luxury items like fresh fruit!
We did get to hear one good story yesterday during out visit. One new mother was there last month and we didn't see her yesterday. We asked if she was sleeping or if she was already gone. We were told that she had sent a photo of her and her new son to her family. No one responded to her except for her grandfather. He invited her and the baby to his home! He will help her get back on her feet and take care of the little boy while she is working. We were thrilled to hear this news!!! I know that you asked for something brief but I am very passionate about this home along with the orphanage I visit on Thursdays with 4-8 yr olds. Again, please let Ken and Judy know how very much their gifts from the heart were appreciated."
Judy Kiesler's hand-knitted scarves and caps ready to be distributed!
Some of the ladies at the Home enjoying some of the gifts including the scarves and caps that were distributed by Carmen and other volunteers!
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Thursday evening, I was invited to the home of Mike and Alicia Nicholes for a delicious dinner and some great fun with them and their four children. Mike is the Pastor of the Exciting Dae Kwang Church where I am in fellowship. I was so delighted to be able to spend time with this delightful family and get to know each other even better.
The Nicholes' Christmas tree!
Alicia Nicholes putting the final touches on the very delicious dinner we enjoyed!
My first helping of Alicia's homemade Hearty Bean & Barley Soup
and homemade sourdough bread! SO good!
Dessert: Homemade Apple Crisp with Caramel Ice Cream!! :-)
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Most of Thursday and Friday I was spending much of time finishing the Christmas Eve message that Mike Nicholes had asked me to share at Dae Kwang's special Christmas Even service. Then on Saturday morning, I woke up and was delighted to see that we had received some snow during the night! I have always loved snow on Christmas Eve day and Christmas Day! It was just enough snow to get me all set for the Christmas Eve service but not too much so that we did not have to cancel the service. It was a special evening with lots of singing of Christmas songs. The children had also prepared a little drama to share the story of Christmas. Following the children's drama, I introduced the audience to my longtime friends, Faith and Zippy! I was using them in my Christmas Eve message entitled Why All the Fuss About Christmas?. I shared three reasons why we have Christmas from Luke 2:8-14. It's a time for celebration, a time for salvation, and a time for reconciliation. I was thankful that the message was well-received, by the children as well as the adults.
Saturday morning snow!!!
Saturday morning snow right beside where I park my car!
Program cover for the Christmas Even service!
Order of the Christmas Eve service!
The children in their costumes as they begin to tell the story of Christmas!
Some of the angels!
Mary "pondering all of this in her heart!"
Faith and Zippy are usually found on my bed, but they
made an appearance at the beginning of my message at
the Christmas Eve service. They are 65 years old so it
is a bit more difficult to get them off the bed for special
appearances! :-)
GGG sharing about Faith and Zippy during the Christmas Eve message!
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On Christmas Day when I came out of my apartment to go to church, I found a little package that my new neighbors in Apartment 301 had left for me. They are a young couple and both speak very good English. I met them when they first arrived and we chatted a little but have not been able to connect because of work, etc. I am hoping that we can have some time during this little break from school.
This was the gift left at my front door from my new neighbors!!
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Then following the Christmas service on Christmas morning, my new friend, Chris Haynes, treated me to lunch at Subway near the church. I really enjoy the times that Chris and I can spend together. He continues to ask many questions about his desire to follow the Lord. Please continue to pray for Chris as he seeks to follow the Lord. Sorry, but we got so involved in our discussions over lunch that I failed to get a photo. :-(
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When I got back to my apartment, I then opened the remaining gifts from my sister, Gae. Gae had my name this year and had already had me open a few of the gifts that could spoil if not opened before Christmas. So I enjoyed opening the remaining gifts today. Thanks so much, Gae! I love all of them!
Later on Sunday, I went to my favorite coffee shop, BC 800 Coffee & Tea to see my friend, Chang Sik
You may remember that last Friday our Field Leadership team + met for an all day Planning Day. I did not have a photo of the entire group together, but one of the members sent me a couple this week. As you think of us, I would appreciate your prayers as we seek to complete our planning for next year and complete this year in the black. Right now, it is a bit tight. Thanks for praying for us as you think of us.
I will close this week with Ben Coyner's most recent update on his bout with tongue cancer. He shares some excellent news this week. I know he would continue to value your prayers.
As always, I want to thank you for your faithful encouragement, care, love, notes, emails, cards, prayers, and support. You mean so much to me. I hope that you will have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy this last week of 2016. I trust that you will enjoy a very special year in 2017!
Love, Gregg
The remaining gifts that my Christmas name, Gae, gave me! She sent me some glazed pecans not knowing that I had made some of my own to give away. Very happy to receive her pecans since mine had disappeared! Thanks, Gae!
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Later on Sunday, I went to my favorite coffee shop, BC 800 Coffee & Tea to see my friend, Chang Sik
My extra Christmas gift from Chang Sik at BC 800. I love the little puppy!
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Here is our ICS-P Field Leadership Team + at our lunch on December 16.
Someone took this picture during our FLT+ discussions at the Haselmans' home. It appears I am in deep thought! :-)
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I will close this week with Ben Coyner's most recent update on his bout with tongue cancer. He shares some excellent news this week. I know he would continue to value your prayers.
Here are Ben's Dec 19 Prayer Updates:
Answered Prayers!
1) Praise God that YOU and many others have formed an amazing support group of prayers and encouragement.
My doctor emphasized that a strong support group is vital to treating cancer. I am blessed to count you as part of my tongue-saving support team.
2) Praise God that today's CT scan has confirmed that my cancer tumor has shrunk so much that it is difficult to detect.
The surgeon stated that this confirmed his examination of me on Wednesday that showed little evidence of the hard tumor on my tongue that he had found last month!
3) My neck lymph node metastasis shrunk 25% since three weeks ago. If there is still some mass, a biopsy can be done to determine if it's just a dead clump of cells with no cancer (meaning no surgery!).
4) Praise God that my treatment plan will still attack any remaining tumor for more than one month after ending concurrent chemo & radiation therapy. This means that I probably won't need to extend more treatment in three weeks.
5) Praise God that Winter Break has begun! I am able to relax more while I finish my current treatment plan (until Jan 6).
Prayer Requests:
1) That if this treatment plan doesn't completely eradicate the tumor by January 6, then January will be a month that the tumor will disappear without further radiation sessions.
2) That the elimination of cancer tumors will allow me to avoid surgery.
3) That I will find positive ways to endure significant radiation side effects over the next several weeks.
4) 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.
5) That my time helping high school students during Winter Break will allow me to be a more dynamic encourager and effective witness.
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Love, Gregg
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