Thanksgiving Celebrations and Refreshment!

Thanksgiving!  One of my favorite times of the year!  This past week was no exception!  Ever since I was a little boy, Thanksgiving was a special time of joy, gratitude, and special times with family and friends. Over the years, I have enjoyed a number of friends and family members who overflow with thanksgiving and joy when I meet them.  It doesn't matter if they are going through suffering or trials, their hearts overflow with joyful gratitude.  I continue to ask the Lord to help me be more like them every day.  What a difference this would make in our world today if we all spent more days each year celebrating Thanksgiving, rather than just on one day.

This past week was a shortened week at ICS-Pyeongtaek, but it has been a refreshing week of thanksgiving for me.  On Wednesday morning, Ms. Kathy Lee, our Art teacher, led our morning devotions by having us gather in a circle and going around the circle thanking the person next to us for him or her.  What a fantastic and joyful time we had!  I am so thankful for the redeemed life I have through Jesus Christ!  I am so grateful for an awesome family and many caring friends!  I am thankful for a community of teachers at ICS-P and their encouragement and joy!  I am thankful for a very grateful church family!  I am so thankful for the many friends and relationships I have been privileged to enjoy!  I hope you will pause and thank the Lord for those in your life this Thanksgiving.

After the shortened week, I traveled with my dear friend, JiSang, a former SYME student and one who continues to be such a blessing to me.  JiSang had told me we would do something and go somewhere on Thanksgiving Day, but he didn't know the details yet.  Thanksgiving Day came and we met and he still did not have a set plan. :-)  So we decided to have a planned "No Plan" Thanksgiving journey.  We headed to Jeonju, home of delicious Korean food and lots of history.  We begin the trip with a plan from God!  He sent snow!  I love snow on Thanksgiving and Christmas!  We had so much fun on Thursday and Friday with the snow.  I even enjoyed some snowball fights with JiSang!  I think the people watching us thought we were both a bit crazy!  (I already knew that!) :-)  We didn't know exactly where we were going to eat our meals, but at just the right time, we came upon some most delightful restaurants and enjoyed some scrummy (my new word) food and fantastic fellowship!  I believe I will just put in a few of the pictures of our Jeonju Journey on Thursday and then our smaller journey in Pyeongtaek on Friday.  If you wish to see more pictures, you can find them on facebook.

THURSDAY

As we traveled to Jeonju, snow began to fall - an unplanned event by us! :-)  We loved it!

Another picture of the snow from the car as we headed to Jeonju!

At a rest stop, I even decided to throw some snowballs at JiSang! :-)

Our first stop was for lunch at "The 300 House"!  Continued to snow while we enjoyed a very delicious Korean lunch!

                Our very delicious lunch at "The 300 House."

 

Arriving at the Jeonju Hanok Village, the largest hanok village in 

Korea that features about 700 hanok houses clustered together.    

Photo from the balcony of a coffee shop where we enjoyed some coffee and wonderful views!

Some of the beauty throughout the Hanok Village!

The Jeondong Catholic Church located

                    in the village!

The monument of Jesus Christ beside the Catholic church with two very appropriate scriptures!

The beautiful interior of the cathedral.

Another view from the coffee shop showing some of the village with a number of hanok houses.

JiSang and I stopped to see if we could take a photo of this group of ladies touring the village.  One of the things visitors can enjoy at the Hanok Village is to rent a hanbok and take pictures at various places throughout the village.  After taking their picture, they wanted me to get in the group picture.  So here I am with the ladies using the current "love" symbol in Korea.

In the village was this little business that made Hotteok, a sweet

       Korean pancake with various fillings.  I love Hotteok!!

Here is one of the workers making Hotteok!              

GGG and JiSang on the coffee shop balcony with one of the village streets below us!

We finished the day with a very delicious late evening Korean meal at this beautiful restaurant!

GGG and JiSang preparing to enjoy our yummy feast!

We enjoyed this Tteok Galbi with a sauce and grilled pineapple and cabbage + all of the other side dishes and soup.

FRIDAY

On Friday morning, I looked out my kitchen window to behold this beautiful sight!  It snowed during the night!

This was the view Friday morning from my living room windows!

We decided to go to this Shabu Shabu 

restaurant near the church I fellowship

            at: Dae Kwang Church.

We are preparing to enjoy our very delicious Shabu Shabu lunch +

the buffet that comes with it!  We were very full and satisfied after 

enjoying this excellent lunch.                            

You can see the bowl of greens and bean sprouts along with a container of beef.  All are placed in the pot of boiling water.  When finished, you take one of the white edible circle things, next to the glass of Mango Juice, and place it in the pinkish liquid until it softens.  Then you place the greens and meat with some of the raw veggies and one of the sauces, roll it up and pop it in your mouth!  Yummy!

JiSang preparing the greens and meat

                   for boiling!

After our Shabu Shabu feast, we went to Tangbok Open Market and then to Starbucks for some coffee before heading back to my apartment.  It was a great two days with my wonderful friend, JiSang.  Very refreshing and I was not ready for it to end.  Continue to pray for this dear young man as he seeks to follow the Lord!

______________________________________________

JiSang needed to head to his home on Friday evening, so after helping me with some tech stuff on my cell phone and personal computer, he headed to his home.  I always enjoy our times together and this special Thanksgiving time was no exception.  On Saturday morning, our Pastor and his wife, Mike and Alicia Nicholes, had invited the singles at Dae Kwang Church to their apartment for a Thanksgiving Brunch!  Many of our singles were not able to attend because of previous commitments, but those of us who were available came and enjoyed a very special time of fellowship and delicious food!  We also got to enjoy the four Nicholes' children!  Here are some pictures of our very enjoyable Thanksgiving Brunch with the Nicholes!

Our hosts, Mike and Alicia Nicholes with their youngest, Titus, getting his winter attire on so he can go sledding.

Titus turned around so that I could see his winter outfit!

Love this picture of Titus with his Daddy!

  Hostess and cook Alicia with Allison

and Alexi enjoying some fun moments!

This was my brunch plate of scrummy taste treats!!  Sooooo good!

Here is the table with the extra items in

addition to our individualized omelets!

_________________________________________________

It is hard to believe that December will begin this next week! The next three weeks are going to be very busy ones at ICS-P.  Your prayers are greatly appreciated as we finish Quarter Two.  I know the MS and HS students would value your prayers as they prepare for their Final Exams on December 13, 14, and 15.  Basketball season gets under way this next week as well.  Some exciting news!  We have added several students to our roster and there are a possible 4-5 more ready to begin on January 10!  Thanks for your prayers.  Please thank the Lord for a recent gift of $1,000 from a donor in the USA for our roof repairs/new roof!

Thank you so much for your faithful love, care, encouragement, emails, prayers, and gifts!  You are very special and I am very thankful for each of you.  I trust you enjoyed a wonderful time of Thanksgiving with your family and friends!  Please enjoy this last week of November!

Love, Gregg

Busy, but an Encouraging and Wonderful Week!

Yes, it was a very busy week!  I was greatly encouraged by many who responded to my email sharing about my decision to return to the USA at the close of the current school year!  Not only have family and friends been so encouraging and helpful in so many ways, but the teachers and staff at ICS-Pyeongtaek have been very encouraging as well - although they still would love for me to stay.  Our theme this year at ICS-P is "United in Love; United in Knowledge".  These beautiful teachers and staff members have demonstrated this so well and it has been caught by our students as well.  I just love how this small ICS-P community has come together in so many beautiful ways this year!  Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.

From Monday through Wednesday, we had the privilege of having Dr. Duane Jobe, our new Vice President of Leadership Development from the NICS Home Office, with us.  We all enjoyed a delightful time with Duane.  He shared devotions with the staff twice and had a number of very productive meetings with our Leadership Team.  I really appreciated his input, encouragement, and recommendations to all of us.

As Duane and I left ICS-P on Tuesday evening to go to dinner, this is what greeted us as we walked to my car in the parking lot.  Another beautiful sunset in Pyeongtaek!

GGG and Duane at one of my favorite Chinese restaurants preparing to enjoy our Black Noodles and Fried Dumplings!

We each had a bowl of these delicious Black Noodles!

We shared this plate of yummy Fried Dumplings!    

Duane had a grand time snacking on the many snacks that are typically available at ICS-P! He said he would not be able to eat such treats once back in the States.  He must eat healthy there! :-)

______________________

I had scheduled a dinner with a former student of ICS-P who is living in the Songtan-Pyeongtaek area and working on completing his degree in Criminal Justice online.  Jonah Yang is a delightful young man who has been helping with our Volleyball and Basketball Boys' teams.  He is assisting our coaches in so many ways and building some excellent relationships with our high school boys.  We had an enjoyable dinner at the "Stoop" - a very nice restaurant near the Camp Humphreys' U.S. Army Base.  We got so involved in our conversation that I failed to get photos of our food!  (Can you believe it?) :-)  So here is a picture of Jonah with two of our ICS-P High School athletes and leaders, Hansol and Joon Ha.

Jonah is in the center and Hansol is on his right and Joon Ha is on his left.  All three are growing into fine young men!

__________________________________________________

Thursday was our Elementary School Chapel and I continued to lead the students and teachers through the Walk Thru the Bible (Old Testament).  We have so much fun learning and the kids seem to really enjoy when I use them as some of the Bible characters to act out the stories.  We were finishing up Esau and Jacob and leading into the 12 sons of Jacob, centering in on Joseph.  This coming week we will not have ES Chapel because of having off half of Wednesday and all day Thursday and Friday for the celebration of American Thanksgiving.  When we return for ES Chapel on November 30, I have asked one of my MS young men I have been mentoring to play the part of Joseph!  His name is Joseph and he is excited to be able to play the part.  I am including some pictures that our Art teacher and Korean teacher, Ms. Kathy Lee, took during this past week's Chapel including a picture of our Kinder cherubs performing the robot dance in one of their favorite worship songs.

Our first-grade teacher, Ms. Hunter, is amazing at teaching all of our students worship dance songs.  Here are our Kindergarten cherubs up front helping her lead ES Chapel worship with this song that involves a robot dance!  The kids love it!  This is part of our Kinder kids doing the robot!  So fun!

Here I am reviewing the 22+ hand signs the ES students have learned since we began with "Creation."

This is the last hand sign they have learned as of Thursday.  It is for "Jacob" because he was "smooth" and Esau was "hairy."  So fin to hear them say "Jaaaacob" in a smooth voice as they slide their hand down their cheek! :-)

Here we are acting out the part where "Rebekah" is telling Jacob to

 go and kill two young goats so she can make the stew for Jacob to

          take into Esau to steal the blessing meant for Esau.

Here I am with the four characters from our story this past Thursday:

from left to right - Jacob, Esau, me, Isaac, and Rebekah!          

_____________________________________________________

Friday was a special day!  As you may or may not remember, ICS-P has a "Week Without Walls" in March each year where our students prepare to serve in our community as well as outside our community on trips to nearby countries where they can serve.  One of the groups that we take a group of students to each year is within walking distance of the school.  It is called the Peace Welfare Society.  The Peace Welfare Society is a Christian organization that provides a daycare and a day work facility for adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities.  The Director of the society, who is also a Pastor, had arranged with our Academic Principal, Mr. Mooney, to come to ICS-P on Friday to use our Gymnasium for some fun activities.  They do not have a gym nor a facility to give their residents exercise through fun activities when the weather is cold or rainy.  We were delighted to welcome about 75 people - both Peace Welfare staff as well as the adults they work with and care for each day.  It was an exciting time.

After I gave a welcome to the staff and the adults, Mr. Mooney shared a very moving introduction to affirm them as human beings exactly the way God created them,  In a culture that rarely affirms these kinds of human beings, it was so moving to observe them respond to Mr. Mooney as he shared with them about his little Cora.  They became so excited as he told them about Cora and how special she is and how special each one of them is.  Our wonderful Secretary, Mrs. Helen Lee, interpreted for Charlie and me and I loved watching our guests' reactions as they heard about Cora and how we love them just the way God made them.  After Charlie and I finished, the Peace Welfare Director made a presentation to both of us for granting them the privilege of using our gym.  Then we had to pose for pictures.  Then the adults were divided into two teams and they enjoyed a beautiful afternoon of games, laughter, and fun!  I was even asked to compete against the Director in the competition to see who could throw their shoe, using only the foot, the longest distance. (I was the winner and both teams were laughing and cheering!)  So much fun.  I made a new friend, too.  He was seated in the audience when I gave my welcome and introduction.  I saw him wearing a New York Yankee baseball cap!  I have been a Yankees' fan since I was about 10 years old.  I pointed him out in my welcome by saying, "I see there is one young man who is wearing the best baseball cap ever!"  I had him stand and everyone clapped and cheered. :-)  During the game between the Director and me, I went over and asked him if I could wear his NY Yankee hat to help me do well! :-)  He loved it!  We have told the Director that anytime they want to use our Gym, just call and see if it is not being used and we will be glad to open it for them.

Here are our friends from the Peace Welfare Society in the ICS-P Gymnasium waiting for a welcome and introduction to their awesome afternoon in the Gym!

This is Mr. Mooney and Mrs. Lee sharing an introduction to all of the Peace Welfare Society friends!

  I tried to capture some of their expressions during Mr. Mooney's

  introduction.  They were focused and so interested!  This was the

                                     group on one team.

Here is the other group listening to Mr.

Mooney's presentation.            

The Director/Pastor of the Peace Welfare Society presenting gifts and a beautifully engraved porcelain plaque to Mr. Mooney and GGG for the school!

Here I am with my new NY Yankee buddy!  I absolutely LOVE his smile!

Game time!  This was so much fun to watch.  One team was trying

  to turn over the other team's red squares and the other team was 

  trying to turn over the other team's white squares.  They were so

                     intense and having sooo much fun!

These two really got into this game!!! :-)

More fun!                                         

The game leader was explaining the foot throwing of the shoes to the first two contestants.

  I took this picture just as they had kicked the shoe off of their left

   foot!  The young lady on the left had one wicked toss with both

                         her right foot and her left foot! :-)

__________________________________________________

This coming week is one of my favorite times in America.  Thanksgiving!  It was always a very special family time growing up and continues to be.  I trust that you and your family and friends will enjoy a wonderful time of Thanksgiving together!  My dear friend and former SYME student, JiSang, has invited me to go on a special trip somewhere in South Korea!  We will leave on Thanksgiving Day but he has not yet given me exact details.  This is usual and I just enjoy!  I know it will be a special time.  I just want to thank you so much for your continued faithful encouragement, love, care, prayers, and gifts.  I was especially encouraged this past week by the many emails I received from many of you concerning my decision to return to the USA at the close of this school year.  Thank you so much.  Please enjoy a fantastic Thanksgiving!

Love, Gregg