Happy August!! Heat and Humidity and Lots of Rain!

Yes, it is August already and it is hot in Seoul, and the humidity is so delightful, too!  NOT!  We had a quick break in the rain on Friday and Saturday, but the rain is supposed to be returning for almost all of this week!  It is August and we can expect rain here in Seoul.

New Staff Orientation ended on Friday and returning staff have arrived back in Seoul to begin All Staff Orientation on Monday!  It is always great to be reunited with returning staff!  I am sure our returning staff are going to enjoy our new teachers.  They are such a fun and creative group!  I am so excited to see how God is going to work in each of our teachers' lives this year at YISS.  Thanks for your prayers.

This past week was a good one as I got to know more of our new staff at our orientation sessions.  It has been really exciting to see them take their classrooms and begin to incorporate their unique personalities into their rooms!  Thanks for continuing to pray for this great group of new staff at YISS.  Here are some more pictures of new elementary teachers - ones I did not have a picture of last week.  I also included a few pictures of some of the orientation times.

Matthew and Brittany Miller enjoying some pizza

from Crow's Nest Pizza during orientation.  Matthew

        will teach 5A and Brittany will teach 1A!

Kara Minor and Itiel Sarmiento also enjoying 

some yummy Crow's Nest pizza!  Kara will be 

teaching Grade 2D and Itiel will be teaching 4B!

New teachers in the New Multipurpose Room for orientation!

Our new Headmaster, Ray Johnson, leading an orientation  

session last week!                                 

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Mr. Matthew Miller, Grade 5A.

   Mrs. Brittany Miller, Grade 1A.

 Mrs. Kimberly Lynch, Grade 4D.

Ms. Ellie Moncado, Grade 5C.

 Ms. Jamie Buster, Elementary Physical Education.

        Ms. Heidi Kim, Grade 1B.

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It was a busy week of orientation sessions as well as planning and preparation for a new school year.  I was heavily involved with plans for the After School Activities' Program as well as working with our Elementary Admin Team in planning our schedule of Related Arts classes for each of our elementary classes (22 sections this year).  This is a very complex task as we have to also include times for planning for teachers as well as their various duties in addition to the classroom.  We think we have it ready to go, but there are always little changes at the last minute.  I'd appreciate your prayers.

In between all of the orientation sessions and planning sessions, I was able to take some time to meet two special friends.  Both are former students when I was teaching in the SYME program my first two years in South Korea.  And both have become excellent friends!

Friday evening I was able to meet with Yeongmin (John), who continues to enjoy his position at SK Telecom.  He took me to a new restaurant on one of the back streets of Itaewon.  There are so many side streets and so MANY eating establishments in Itaewon.  I think I could eat at an establishment every night for at least 2 months and not frequent the same restaurant!

As I waited for Yeongmin at the end of Itaewon, I witnessed this beautiful sunset!  I wish my picture could really show the beauty of what I saw!

Yeongmin and GGG preparing to enjoy some yummy food at

a new restaurant near Suji's in Itaewon.  I am sure I will be back

here!  Please continue to pray for Yeongmin in his work and 

               that he will come to believe in Jesus!

 I had this yummy Chicken, Rice, and Green Curry meal!!

Yeongmin chose this stew of Rice Rolls and Noodles!

Also very tasty!                            

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Then on Saturday morning I met Gunmo (Steve) at a Starbucks in Itaewon for coffee and great conversation!  I hadn't seen him since back in May.  I always enjoy our times together.  He continues to do well at his position with GrapeSeed, but I know he would value your prayers as he is a little frustrated that his coworkers and boss seem to be satisfied with the "way things are" and don't want to make many changes that would make the GrapeSeed program an even better one. Gunmo will be moving to his own apartment in mid-August.  He has some painting and remodeling to do before he moves in so I know he would appreciate your prayers.

Gunmo and GGG at Starbucks on Saturday morning!

Gunmo modeling his new "holy" jeans - the new fashion look!!

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After meeting with Gunmo on Saturday, I took a walk through Itaewon to do some shopping.  It was so hot and humid and I suddenly saw a new store in Itaewon after taking care of getting a picture framed at Mr. Lee's Frame Shop.  It was a Patbingsu store!  Patbingsu is a popular Korean refreshing snack usually made of shaved ice, condensed milk, red bean paste, fruit, fruit syrup.  I saw this new store and just had to stop and try one of their specialty Patbingsu's - Oreo Cookie Patbingsu.  It was quite refreshing and just the right size, but still not as delicious as the Patbingsu place in Ichon.  I must return there to get a very yummy Patbingsu before summer is gone.  I do like the fact that this new little place is located about a 5 minute walk from YISS!!

Here is the Oreo Patbingsu that I enjoyed on my

                   walk in Itaewon today!

A close up of the Oreo Patbingsu before I mixed

it all together and then enjoyed eating it!!     

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As always, I want to thank you for your great encouragement, notes, emails, prayer, and support. You are very special to me and I value your prayers and support especially in this year of transition. I think it is going to be great!

Love, Gregg

Rain Begins; New Staff Arrive; Reunions and MEETINGS!!!

Following some beautiful sunny weather, the rain began in full force this past week in Seoul! We may get a little break on Sunday and Monday, but it will be here for a bit!  As I write this on Saturday morning in Seoul, it is raining off and on, but there is a nice wind that has made it a bit cooler today.

This past week I was able to meet with some Korean friends as well as some American friends who are now working in Pyeongtaek, South Korea.  Then in between working on After School Activities for Quarter One, I was involved in MANY meetings with our new Headmaster and new Elementary Principal as we prepared for the new staff as well as the returning staff.  I have been very impressed and excited with the direction our new Headmaster is bringing to YISS!  I believe it is going to be a great year.  Yes, there will be a lot of transition and a number of bumps in the road, but that is what our journey with the Lord is; not always smooth, but He is with us as we make our way through the bumps and pot holes in the road on which we are traveling.  I believe with this fresh vision, direction and strong leadership, God is going to do some exciting things at YISS this year.

Above is our group of administrators preparing to meet on Thursday morning with Mr. Ray Johnson, our new Headmaster.  Bottom left is our new CFO, Mr. Mike McCarthy.  We enjoyed some great times together as we prepared for the 2014-15 school year.

We learned early on that Ray likes to begin meetings on time!!  I am soooo excited about that!  Above he is checking his watch to see the time.  It was 8:30 AM and we began as soon as he checked his watch. :-)  To his left is our new Director of Admissions, Lindsey Powell.  The lady to his right is Mrs. Birmingham, the new Elementary Principal!

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On Wednesday I had the pleasure of traveling to the Incheon Airport to pick up one of our new elementary teachers.  When he assigned me this task, the Human Resource Director, Barry Birmingham, did not know that I had already met the teacher he asked me to pick up.  When Kara Minor came through the Customs Exit at the airport, I then remembered that I had met Kara through my good friends, Ben and Kari Davis.  When I officiated at their wedding, Kara was one of the members of the Bridal Party!  After greeting Kara and showing her how to purchase a bus ticket to the Capital Hotel, we boarded the bus an enjoyed a wonderful time of conversation on the hour trip to the hotel.  Kara will be teaching Grade 2D at YISS this year and she is very excited!  We have a number of new staff in the elementary school this year and so far I have been able to meet five of them.  Here are their pictures for you so you can pray for them.  I will have pictures of the other new elementary staff next week.

Kara Minor - Grade 2D

 Karen Henspeter - Elem. Librarian

 Itiel Sarmiento - Grade 4B

Lauren Dean - Grade 4A        

Kelly Han - Grade KB

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During this past week several of our returning teachers have been in to YISS to get their rooms ready for the first day of school on August 11th.  I have been excited as our Elementary Principal, Mrs. Bev Birmingham, our new Assistant Elementary Principal, Mrs. Krista Roll, and I have walked through each of the elementary classrooms and offices praying for the teacher in each room as well as the children who will be in that room.  As we made our journey through classrooms on Wednesday morning, we came to Grade 2B where Mr. Bennett was already working in his classroom.  He had three wonderful helpers with him - three of his children, Lukas, Zachary, and Zoey!  They were unpacking boxes for Mr. Bennett and I just had to get a picture.  Below is a picture of Zoey (recently adopted from China) and two of her loving and protective brothers:

Lukas, Zachary, and Zoey Bennett in Grade 2B preparing the Classroom Library!

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During this busy week of greetings and meetings, I was able to meet with several friends.  Last Sunday evening I was so happy to be reunited with Jisan (Jared) in Hyewha where we met to enjoy some great fellowship and a very yummy meal of Doenjang Jjigae - a fermented soybean paste stew with veggies, tofu, and fermented soybean paste!  So delicious!!  Please pray for Jisan as he wants to use his talents and gifts in acting and directing with plays and movies that will be honoring to God and lead people to Jesus.

Above is the yummy Doenjang Jjigae I enjoyed

                   with Jisan in Hyewha!

GGG and Jisan enjoying a great time!!

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Tuesday evening my longtime friend, Tony Kuhn, and his wife, Sue, came up to Seoul from Pyeongtaek to have dinner with me.  Tony has returned to teach Bible and Math in the Middle School at Pyeongtaek International Christian School.  We had a delightful time together at one of my favorite restaurants, On the Border.  I got so involved in our conversation and enjoying one another that I forgot to bring out my camera from my briefcase to get a picture of Tony, Sue, and me enjoying our yummy meals. :-(  I was very unhappy.  I promise to get a photo next time Tony, Sue, and I meet.  Please pray for them as they serve the Lord in Pyeongtaek.  Pray especially for Sue as she adjusts to living in South Korea.

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On Saturday I was so excited to be reunited with my wonderful friend and former SYME student, Jinseok!  Jinseok is enjoying his translation work for the Korea National Tax Service.  We continue to enjoy a great friendship.  I have the privilege of doing some grammar checking and giving some assistance to Jinseok with some of the more difficult pieces of translation.  Please continue to pray for this dear young man as he seeks to serve the Lord.  The National Tax Service will be restructured and he is hoping that he will be able to be in the group that will be used in serving his seniors.  Thanks for praying for my dear friend!

Here I am with Jinseok at Smoky Saloon in Itaewon for some tasty burgers and onion rings!

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I continue to communicate with Gunmo and JiSang, and am very eager to meet both of them.  I have communicated with them via Kakao Talk and email, but really want to meet them face to face soon.  Thanks for praying for them as they seek to serve God in their positions.

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Just got back from New Harvest Ministry on Sunday morning and wanted to ask you to pray for our summer missions teams that are doing service and ministry this summer.  A week ago our Thailand Team left for their ministry in Cambodia and will return on August 2.  This morning we heard from our Mongolia Team which will be leaving on August 1 to serve in and around Sainshand, returning on August 10.  I know they would value your prayers!

Above is the Mongolia Team singing this morning at the NHM worship service.  There are actually 10 members singing; one is hidden behind the young man in the front on the left. :-)  Thanks for praying!

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Thanks so much for your great encouragement, wonderful love, faithful prayers, and continued support.  Please enjoy this last week of July.  Hard to believe August will be here soon!

Love, Gregg

Refreshment in the USA; Return to the Heat and Humidity of Seoul!

I have returned to the heat and humidity of Seoul!  Really no different than being in Chambersburg - just a bit more rain at times.  Good to be back in Seoul although I enjoyed a wonderful time for relaxation and refreshment with family and friends.  I only wish I could have seen more of my friends, but time and money were limited.  Thanks to so many who made my time of refreshment so enjoyable.  It is always great to return and see my wonderful family at our annual Garman Family Reunion!  Had an excellent time with almost all of the family on July 12th!  If you wish to see pictures of my travels in the USA this summer, you can check them out on facebook.

I arrived safely back in Seoul on Tuesday evening, July 15th - right on time and with all of my luggage accounted for.  It seems they push me through customs and immigration much more quickly and smoothly these days.  Took the Airport Bus to the Hotel Capital and then loaded all my stuff in a taxi for the short ride in the rain to my very hot apartment in Seobinggo!  Turned on the air and began unpacking.  On Wednesday afternoon I went into YISS to get my office in order after the outside waxing people had moved many of the items.  Went in a bit longer on Thursday and by Friday I was there the entire day working on items for new staff orientation, elementary field trips, emergency sub folders, and After School Activities.  It was great to see most of the Korean staff who do such an outstanding job for us at YISS.

This next week will be busy with meetings with our Elementary Admin Team (Bev Birmingham, Principal; Krista Roll, Assistant Elementary Principal; and GGG, the other AEP.  We will also have a number of meetings with the new Head of School, Ray Johnson.  I am enjoying getting to know him during the last few days as the only other administrator at YISS right now is the new High School Principal. (I will give you his name later, because it is a hard one to spell and I don't have it in front of me.)  New Staff arrive on July 23rd and they begin their orientation on the 24th. Returning staff are to be in country by August 1 and then we begin All Staff Orientation on August 4th.  The first day for students will be on Monday, August 11th!  Thanks for praying for these busy weeks of preparation and transition.  In addition to the transition of leadership in all schools, the elementary school will be moving Grades 4 and 5 (7 sections) to the 3rd floor of the new wing (added last year).  I know teachers are going to be VERY busy preparing their rooms, but those who are moving rooms will be especially busy.  Thanks for praying.

One of the first things I noticed on my walk up the hill to YISS on Wednesday afternoon were these beautiful flowers.  This flower is the national flower of Korea.  In Korea they are called Mukunghwa; in English you may know this flower as Hibiscus or some call it the Rose of Sharon. I think they are really beautiful.

I hope you enjoy these beautiful flowers.

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After taking care of a little problem with the Korean phone I use, I was able to reconnect with some of my wonderful Korean friends: Gunmo, JiSang, Jin Seok, and Yeongmin.  So great to connect with them again.  I was able to meet with Yeongmin on Friday evening for dinner but forgot to take pictures.  All four of these young men are very busy with their full time jobs and seem to be doing very well.  Thanks for praying for them.  Each of them are eager to find a beautiful wife! :-)

Friday I had several delightful meetings!  For a quick breakfast I met with my new friend from New Harvest Ministry, Kyunghoon Rhee.  He had just finished his final exams at medical school in Korea but wanted to meet with me before he left with his Mom and Dad to go to Nebraska to visit his sister and observe her at work in a hospital in Nebraska.  I am excited about what God has in store for this delightful young man. We seem to have hit if off and time goes by so quickly when we are together.  I know Kyunghoon would value your prayers.

Kyunghoon and I at church right before I left to come to the States.

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Then I met Heidi Corbett, one of our excellent third grade teachers for lunch at The Flying Pan Blue.  This restaurant serves breakfast all day (I love that) so we had more of a breakfast than a lunch.  Heidi has been teaching in Korea for almost 12 years and she continues to do a great job - especially in getting her cherubs to think.  She also is so good at building lasting relationships with her students.  Heidi leaves Sunday with a group from her church in Seoul to travel to Cambodia to do some mission work.  I know she would value your prayers.

Heidi Corbett and I at The Flying Pan Blue eating our very yummy breakfasts!!  Great conversation!

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I had a special surprise on Friday evening while I was waiting at the Itaewon subway station for Yeongmin.  I saw this family walking by and I noticed one of my little dancing buddies from Grade 2.  I called out, "Thiago!"  Immediately he looked up and ran over to me giving me a huge hug and calling out to his mother, brother, and a friend of his mother's, "Look Mom, it's Mr. Garman!!"  He had the huge "Thiago smile" that I love so much.  He was just coming from a Taekwondo lesson.  We chatted for a bit and he told me he was so excited about going into Grade 3 at YISS.

Above is Thiago with some of his friends in Grade 2.  He had just done the "Thiago Happy Dance" for me to the delight of his friends and me!!  He makes me smile so much!

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Well, I think I better stop for now.  Once again it is a pleasure for me to write to you.  I really love your encouragement, prayers, love, and support.  You have been so faithful and I really appreciate that!  I am praying for you as well.

Love, Gregg

A Bitter-Sweet Finish to 2013-14!!

What I continue to learn:

1 - As I get older, it seems that the years go by so much more rapidly!
2 - Saying good-byes, or rather "Hasta La Vistas" does NOT get any easier as I get older - especially to those I have come to love!
3 - Change is difficult, and I still do not like it, BUT...
4 - God is still in control and He is bringing some new and wonderful people to YISS!
5 - I am excited to see what God has in store for YISS for 2014-15!

This past week was a week that brought forth many emotions in all of us at YISS.

*  VBS Ends the Year for Elementary Students!!

Our three days of Vacation Bible School/Values Based School centered on the love of God and Mrs. Franck, our Elementary Chaplain did a great job putting this massive undertaking together and using our auditorium stage right in the middle of High School Graduation, Kindergarten Graduation, Elementary Awards Assembly, and Grade 5's Advancement Assembly.

Ms. McGinnis, Ms. Greaves, Ms. Corbett, and some

         fifth grade students leading VBS songs!

GGG, Mrs. Birmingham, and Mr. Lazor performed an opening skit each day of the VBS!  Such fun!

More music by the VBS worship team!          

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*  Kindergarten Graduation and Grade 5 Advancement!!

Tuesday evening was our little graduation ceremony for Kindergarten students!  It is always a highlight and our three Kinder teachers do an amazing job of putting together a wonderful celebration that once again shares the love of God with our kinder cherubs and their parents.  I have posted just a few pictures here.  You can check out my facebook page to see some really cute videos of their songs!

Then on Wednesday morning we had our Awards Assembly and Grade 5 Advancement Assembly. It was so encouraging to see our students receiving well-deserved awards, but difficult to know that for some of these special students, it would be their final time at YISS.  Please pray for those students who will moving to another country.  This is one thing that is so difficult at international schools.  Children have moved frequently and often seem to be in transition constantly.  I am amazed at the number of students in elementary school who have already lived in 4 - 6 countries. We call these children...TCKs (Third Culture Kids).  You might want to take a few minutes to Google that and check it out.  Please pray for all of our kids, but especially for those who will move on to Middle School or those moving to another culture.

Here are the Kindergarten cherubs following their processional to the stage!  They were so cute and did a great job!

Above I am with my little buddy, Preston, who is in

KA, along with his Dad.  We discovered that we all

have the same Itaewon tailor, Dayton's Tailor!  Rather

cool!  We are showing our labels.  I thought it was so 

         cool that Preston had a custom made suit!

Here I am with the entire Kuykendoll family at Kinder Graduation!  I love this family!

Here I am with another great family at YISS.  Noah is

Kinder graduate in front of me.  He had just given me

a bouquet of roses!  A bouquet of flowers is a traditional

gift to give graduates in Korea, so I was surprised that

Noah gave me a bouquet!  Mother is holding Oliver, 

Noah's little brother, who always comes to find after  

school when they come to pick up Noah.           

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Mrs. Franck and Mr. Lazor unveiling the Guardian Art Work for 2013-14.  Each year Mrs. Franck creates a piece of art that represents our theme for the year as well as the Guardian Way code of honor. Each quarter students who have earned "Guardian of the Quarter" from each grade come to Mrs. Franck's workroom to create this masterpiece.  Above is this year's masterpiece made up of little squares, each one designed by one of the Quarter Guardians!  This year's theme was "Faith Expressing Itself Through Love."

Grade 5 Boy and Girl winners of the Citizenship Award

                        for the entire year!

Mr. Lazor with Ms. Bandy, Ms. Hughes, and Mr. Murphy with the Guardian of the Year winners in Grade 5.  This is the highest award and honor an elementary student can earn.  I am so proud of these three girls!

Grade Five students preparing to sing at the Advancement Assembly.  They are wearing their special shirts that were made for this special event as well as their celebration trip last week to Everland, an awesome amusement park in Seoul!    

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Above is my friend from the YISS High School.  His name is Patrick Han.  Patrick and I have developed a wonderful relationship over the last 3 years.  Last week he came to my office with a gift (a very handsome Korean necktie) with a special handwritten card.  I knew he was leaving to go to New England in the States to a boarding school, but was not expecting a good bye and a gift.  Please pray for Patrick.  He has that smile almost always. I am going to miss him!

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*  YISS Staff Final Gathering of 2013-14

Thursday and Friday were work days for YISS staff.  Students had their last day on Wednesday. Teachers were cleaning and organizing their classrooms, preparing for the waxing of floors during the summer.  Then there were a number of teachers who had to get things packed to take with them since they are moving from YISS to another avenue of service.  In the Elementary School at YISS we usually do not have more than 2 or 3 who leave each year.  This year we have eight staff people leaving - most having served at YISS for at least 4 years.  Friday at 10:30 AM we had a special gathering in the auditorium to acknowledge those who would be leaving from each of the schools. Our current headmaster, Dr. Joe Beeson, presented a beautiful gift to each teacher and administrator leaving, thanking them for their excellent ministry and service.  Then he divided those departing into four groups (administrators, Elementary teachers, Middle School teachers, and High School teachers).  Then the remaining staff were divided into 4 groups and we rotated through each group praying for those leaving and blessing them.  This was followed by some worship music. Finally we had a Papa John's pizza lunch!  During this time there were many tears of sadness mixed with joy as we said our "Hasta La Vistas" to these special people.  Please pray for our Elementary staff who are leaving as well as those who have been selected to replace them.  Those in Elementary who are moving to another teaching ministry are: Nancy McGinnis (KB teacher), Liz Ku (1A teacher), Sun Moon (2D teacher), Melanie Herman (3A teacher), Jim Murphy (5A teacher), Aimee Hughes (5B teacher), Shannon Bandy (5C teacher), and Dan Lazor (Elementary Principal).  Dan is still looking for a position.  He is so grateful for many of you reading this who have sent possible positions for him to consider.  I am going to miss each one of these very talented and gifted educators!

A few of the MANY boxes of Papa John's pizza we

             enjoyed at the YISS Gathering!

Faculty and staff enjoying pizza and fellowship!

Some decided to enjoy the sun and sit on the ground!

My wonderful friends, Ron and Sheretta King.  They were with me at the NICS Prefield Orientation back in 2010.  We came to YISS together.  Their two children, Janet and Caleb, were born during their stay in Korea.  They are moving back to the States.  I will miss them so much!

Here is my little lady, Janet.  She wouldn't look at me

for most of the pictures but I finally got her to look at

                   me by barking like a dog. :-)

The Murphys!!  They also came to YISS the same time as the Kings and GGG.  Jim has been teaching 5A and has been such a godly example to many students - especially the boys!  Pray for them as they head to Texas for a teaching position.  They are also looking to adopt another child!

Here I am with our headmaster, Joe Beeson, and his wife.

They are leaving after four years to return to Ohio where 

Joe will be Head of a school in Ohio.            

My dear friends, the Lazors!  Dan has been my boss and a great friend ever since I arrived at YISS.  He and his family were in Seoul at the ICS NICS school prior to the beginning of YISS.  I believe it has been 9 years for them!  Here they are with me at the YISS gathering with their six children.  I don't think they are finished either!! :-)  I certainly will miss this delightful and gifted family!  Isabelle on the left is almost as tall as her Daddy! She is an avid reader!  We share books!

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I want to leave you with a few more highlights from the week!

*  Special Gift From my Korean Staff Friends in the YISS Business Office!

On Thursday I bought Starbucks drinks for all of my Korean friends in the YISS Business Office and the Receptionist Desk.  They are so wonderful and do so much for me.  Later in the day I was called to the Business Office to receive a little thank you note as well as this beautiful cell phone charm (handmade by one of the Business Office ladies).  I was so touched.  It is on my cell phone and a constant reminder to thank the Lord for these wonderful people and pray for them.

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*  Early Birthday Dinner with my Dear Friend, Gunmo!

On Monday evening I was so happy to be able to celebrate an early birthday for my dear friend, Gunmo Kim.  Gunmo's birthday is actually on June 20, but I will not be here so we went to Holee Chow and had a delightful dinner together celebrating his birthday.  He continues to enjoy his new work and ministry at GrapeSeed!  This weekend he is helping lead the unity camp for his church. He will be teaching the children as well as leading in other areas.  Please continue to pray for this man of God who desires to serve Him so faithfully and passionately!

Gunmo with his trademark "Gunmo Smile"

   enjoying his birthday gifts from me at

                      Holee Chow!

GGG and Gunmo enjoying some Chicken Fried Rice and Shanghai Noodles at his birthday dinner!

Birthday Dessert!!!  Yummy!!              

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*  Saturday Lunch with my Dear Friend, JiSang and Dinner with Another Dear Friend, Yeongmin!

I was able to get together on Saturday for lunch with me dear friend and "son", JiSang!  He is also enjoying his work AND is almost officially a "morning person" now!! :-)  He continues to lose weight!  So we went to Smokey Saloon for a big burger and he almost ate all of his "Ambulance" burger. :-)  He continues to do lots of thinking about his future and I know he would appreciate your prayers as he seeks to follow the Lord.

JiSang is having trouble believing the size

of his Ambulance Burger!  I was proud of

him as he ate almost every bite + one onion

                          ring! :-)

GGG and JiSang preparing to eat their yummy   

burgers and onion rings!  I enjoyed the "Cowboy"

burger which included an extra slice of cheese since

JiSang gave me his; he doesn't like cheese!! :-)   

Later on Saturday I had a dinner with Yeongmin.  I am trying to meet up with so many of my Korean university friends as well as some students at YISS before heading back to the States on June 11 for about 4 weeks.  Yeongmin decided to go to a Japanese restaurant in Ichon for our dinner.  We had a great time of conversation and enjoying some delicious food.  Keep praying for my dear friend to come to know Jesus.

Above is my choice which included pork cutlet, shrimp,

     fish and all of the usual side dishes!  Very tasty!

Yeongmin enjoyed a soup with lots of shellfish and

mushrooms and veggies in it + some raw seafood on

the side.  Yeongmin didn't want me to take his picture

because he had just gotten a haircut and was not pleased

with the amount that was cut off. :-)  I thought he looked

just fine!                                

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*  Sunday Breakfast and Lunch with Some New Special Friends!

Sunday morning before going to church I met my new church friend, Kyunghoon, at Starbucks. We had some coffee and sandwiches and more importantly, had a most delightful time of getting to know each other better.  Kyunghoon is a fine young man who is studying at a graduate medical school in South Korea.  His desire is to be a doctor.  It was exciting to hear how he came to know the Lord through the Discipleship Training School of Y.W.A.M.  Although Kyunghoon was brought up in a Christian home in Korea, he never personally accepted Jesus as his own until after finishing the Y.W.A.M. training.  He is so eager to serve the Lord as a medical doctor and I know he would appreciate your prayers as he seeks to determine what medical field he should specialize in.

After a Starbucks breakfast and great conversation we went to church.  Here we are at New Harvest Ministry prior to the 10 AM service.

After church, I met Jae Eun, another new friend from YISS.  Jae Eun and I started to get to know each other this year at YISS, but today we really had a great time of sharing with each other about the spiritual condition of YISS and the transition with the new leadership + numerous other fascinating topics!  Jae Eun just graduated and he is currently tutoring some students in English writing before he leaves for Colgate University in August.  Jae Eun is a wonderful young man eager to be a doctor and serve the Lord in some capacity - perhaps as a missionary doctor.  Please pray for Jae Eun as he tutors and as he prepares to go to university.

Jae Eun took me to a new restaurant in Ichon.  We enjoyed Shabu Shabu, a Japanese dish featuring thinly sliced beef with various veggies in boiling water!  Above we are about ready to eat this tasty food!  

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Well, that's it for now.  I am not sure when my next post will be as I will be in the States from June 11 - July 14.  Thank you for your prayers as I travel and then as I will have lots to do both at home in the States and back at YISS as soon as I return.  Lots of transitions and lots to do.  Thank you for all of your prayers, encouragement, emails, love, and support.  I really appreciate all you do!

Love, Gregg