Before going on, I want to ask you to pray for us as we continue to seek a Grade 3 Teacher. We had a great interview with a wonderful candidate this past Wednesday. Both Tony Kuhn and I thought she would be the perfect person for this grade as well as one who would bring many years of teaching experience with her to be able to provide professional development sessions for our staff. She was excited about the possibility of joining our team. Friday morning she called to let me know that she was still excited, but after talking with her husband, a Major in the U.S. Army, she had to decline our offer. She would like to be available to help with professional development seminars though. The main problem was paying for childcare for the little one that would be at home. Childcare tends to be more expensive for those in the US Army who are officers. So we are still in need of a Grade 3 Teacher. Saturday I received the name and application of another possible candidate from our placement specialist at NICS. Please pray that perhaps this young lady will be the one God has for ICS-P. It is becoming an even more urgent need since there is so much paperwork that must be accomplished through Immigration in order to secure the correct visa for a teacher in time to begin teaching in August. Time is of the essence! Thanks for praying. Also, please send me any names of persons who may be interested in serving as a teacher in South Korea!
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Some of the events that kept everyone busy this past week included AP Testing (Advanced Placement) for many of our ICS-P students as well as outside students (ICS-P is one of the testing centers), rehearsals for the Spring Music Concert on May 13, preparations for the Annual Sports' Banquet, finalizing the Parent-Student Handbook for 2017-18, Teacher/Staff Appreciation Dinner preparations, seeking a grade 3 teacher, and the ES and MS trip to Everland (one of Korea's prime amusement and entertainment parks). I would value your prayers as we work on trying to get all of the necessary reports accomplished for our accrediting bodies as well as the NICS Home Office. It has been a bit more difficult since it is very difficult to get our Field Leadership Team together all at one time because of having to substitute teach, work on other projects, etc. When you are working on a tight budget, you don't have the luxury of having additional staff to assist with many of the responsibilities that must be accomplished. It has been a bit stressful. Actually, it has been very stressful at times. But the Lord brings people along at just the right time to assist and/or encourage.
I was delighted to be able to get away for the day on Friday. I tried my best not to think or do any of the projects that need attention at ICS-P during that day. I was almost able to accomplish that goal, but not quite. :-)
Friday morning I traveled to the Gangnam area of Seoul to meet my "son," dear friend and brother, and former SYME student, JiSang. JiSang's birthday was April 26 but we weren't able to get together then so we had arranged to meet on Friday for a special lunch. JiSang selected the Brick Oven Pizza restaurant for his birthday meal. He also brought his cousin, Jingoo, along. We had a fantastic time of enjoying delicious food and awesome fellowship. After dinner, we went to a nice coffee shop and enjoyed some coffees and ice cream treats + some more fellowship. It was a great time together! Please continue to pray for JiSang as he seeks to serve the Lord.
I was able to quickly capture this photo (from the window of the bus) as I was leaving Pyeongtaek to head to Seoul to see JiSang! Some of the beautiful flowers all over Pyeongtaek!
Here I am with JiSang and Jingoo at the Brick Oven preparing to enjoy our pizza and Buffalo Hot Wings!
One of JiSang's classic expressive poses
as he models the tasty food we are ready
to eat while having great fellowship!
I just presented JiSang with his birthday card and gift!
Later, at the coffee shop, JiSang opened
the card and was in one of his "thinking"
times as he read the note and saw the gifts
from his Chambersburg "Mom and Dad"
and his Korean "Daddy" (that's what he
calls me. :-)
Our tray of coffee and other yummy treats after our Brick Oven birthday lunch!
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After a great time with JiSang and Jingoo, I left Gangnam and headed to Itaewon to visit What the Book?, my favorite bookstore. I had ordered some books online and needed to pay for them in person. Several books were in stock so I took those and then headed to the subway station to go to Nambu Bus Terminal in order to get the bus to Pyeongtaek. As I was walking from the bookstore to the subway station, I decided to take a little detour off the main street to see if my friend, Master Kim, the Taekwondo instructor for After School Activities at YISS when I was there, was in his Taekwondo. Because it was Children's Day, Master Kim has closed for the day and was not there. As I began walking again to the subway station, I ran into Craig Mooi. Craig is a teacher at YISS and was there when I was. We saw each other on the street at the same time and were surprised! I am convinced God wanted Craig to bump into me on Friday. Craig began to tell me how much I was missed at YISS by teachers, students, and parents. He asked how I was doing at ICS-P and I shared some of the stress and frustrations I had been feeling. I told him, "At times, I feel like I am a failure. It just seems like I can't get everything done and I often do not feel like I am a very good leader." Craig then began to share how much people at YISS appreciated all that I did and told me encouraging comments that he had heard as well as experienced that pertained to my leadership. He admonished me and encouraged me and said that I needed to quit beating myself up. I needed to meet Craig on Friday! And God knew it! Thank you for continuing to pray for this old man as I seek to lead at ICS-P even when it seems too stressful and frustrating.
This is a picture of Craig and me several years ago when we went to Pier 30 to celebrate his birthday! We always had such great conversations when we got together. I really needed to see Craig and chat with him this past Friday!
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Love, Gregg
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