Refreshment and Reunions During a Very Busy Week!!

Each summer the Garman family enjoys a family reunion in memory of my parents, Glenn and Romaynne Garman.  It is so refreshing to reunite with many of my family members during this special time.  We love to just enjoy being together and relaxing and having a time of refreshment. Reunions are special times of enjoying those we love and don't see as often as we would like.  This past week I was able to enjoy a couple reunions of two very special friends.  These reunions happened after the holiday (Foundation Day in Korea) students and staff enjoyed some greatly needed refreshment on Monday.  It was great to just relax and refresh on Monday and do a little reflection and preparation for the filming for an ICS-P promo video.

Before I write anything else, I wanted to share with you the ICS-P Staff Photo for 2016-17.  We took some on Thursday morning in front of our new gym (began using in 2015-16) before students arrived.  On all the ones that were taken, we could not find one that was "perfect" so we chose this one.  Enjoy!  You might want to use it to pray for these wonderful colleagues throughout this school year. Thanks so much!

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Tuesday was a busy day, beginning with a meeting with those teachers who are teaching our students who still need extra teaching and practice with the English language.  We call this program ELD (English Language Development).  Currently, we are looking for a full-time person with a teaching certificate who has experience and credentials in teaching English to students who don't have English as their first language.  We spent some time discussing how we can help these students in the best way as well as talking about the qualifications we would like to see in a full-time ELD teacher/coordinator.  It was a good meeting, but we have some more work to do.  If you know someone with teacher certification and credentials in ELD, please let me know.  Thanks for praying with us for this need.

Most of your know my friend and alum of YISS, Matthew Hahn.  Many of you have been praying for Matthew for six years or more.  Matthew came to visit me at ICS-P on Tuesday for lunch.  Then he spent the entire afternoon with me meeting students and teachers and just seeing the school.  What a great time we had!  Matthew leaves on Monday, October 10, to join the South Korea's Marine Corps.  I can't tell you how excited I was to see Matthew and see the changes that God has accomplished in his life!   Oh, how he has grown from the 8th-grade boy I met back at YISS my first year there.  It was so moving to me when I was introducing him to some of our staff.  Matthew knew Mr. Ben Coyner, a former teacher from YISS. I asked Ben to share his current situation with tongue cancer.  When Ben finished sharing, before I could say anything, Matthew asked him if he could pray for him.  He prayed such an awesome prayer!  I was in tears.  This is the young man who wasn't sure what he believed when I first met him.  When I asked him what he would like for me to praying about, his main prayer request was that he would be able to show Jesus Christ to all of the soldiers in the Korean Marine Corps with whom he will have relationships.  Matthew has had anger  issues in the past and struggled with depression - a lot having to do with his father who left for another lady and pretty much gave up on Matthew.  Matthew is now an amazing young believer who has grown SOOOOOO much in his walk with the Lord.  I was so thrilled!  When I was taking him back to the Pyeongtaek train station, he said, "I love your school. I'm glad I came to visit you at ICS-P.  The teachers and staff were so kind to me.  I'm glad you are here!  I see God working at this school with students and staff.  At YISS I wasn't seeing that as much during my last couple years."  Thank you for praying for Matthew!  What a great reunion we had!

Here I am with Matthew in my office!  It was so great to spend most of the afternoon with this excellent young man!

I wanted to photo of us saluting each other.  Matthew said we would need to go outside! :-)  Here we are outside ICS-P right beside the rice fields!

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Wednesday morning was a special morning for our cherubs in Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2. Our Kinder teacher, Mrs. Cho, had arranged an Author Visit through Skype for these students.  One of her author friends, Laura Murray, visited ICS-P via Skype to share about some of our Kinder cherubs' favorite books, The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School, as well as many other "Gingerbread Man Loose" books by this author.  They had a great time interacting with Ms. Murray and finding out about writing and illustrating books.  They loved as she read some of her books to them.  Below are some pictures that I took during the Skype visit with author, Laura Murray, with our cherubs in Kinder through Grade 2. 

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We were supposed to have a fire drill on Wednesday morning at ICS-P, but because of the rain, we postponed it.  Another wonderful reunion was to take place on Wednesday evening, but it was delayed!  One of the sons of my dear friends from Mystic, CT - Dale and Donna Ingram, was to arrive from Ulsan, South Korea that evening.  Jordan and Meredith

Wednesday afternoon, I received a text message on Facebook that Jordan and Meredith were stranded in Ulsan because of the typhoon weather right between Japan and South Korea.  The trains leaving Ulsan were shut down because of severe flooding.  They weren't sure when they could make it, but would not be there for filming on Thursday.  On Thursday, they were finally able to get the train out of Ulsan, arriving in Pyeongtaek at about 5:00 PM.  So we developed a new schedule for filming for Friday and on Friday morning at 6:00 AM, Jordan began his day of filming different events that were happening in classrooms, teachers teaching, after school events, and even some of the Volleyball games on Saturday in our new gym!  He fell in love with our students and loved meeting them and staff.  He also was able to get six interviews with teachers, etc.  He was so fascinated by the harvesting of rice that was happening most of the day in the rice fields surrounding our school.  When we got back to the apartment, he kept commenting about the great atmosphere in the school among students and staff.  

After filming some of our Volleyball games this morning at ICS-P, we went back to my apartment and picked up Meredith and then I took them to the train station.  They are going to Seoul and spending the week traveling there in celebration of the award Jordan received as well as celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary. It was so special to be reunited with this young man who I have known since he was a baby.  And I finally got to spend time getting to know Meredith.  We had some fantastic conversations and laughter.  Please pray now as Jordan goes back to Rhode Island.  Pray that he will be able to find some time outside of his regular work at the video company to work on putting our promo video together so that we have a rough cut by mid-December.  The goal is to have all editing done and a finished product by February 1.  I am grateful that Jordan is donating most of his time and editing work.  We would not be able to afford it otherwise.  

My awesome friend, Jordan Ingram, with his wonderful wife, Meredith, enjoying some very delicious dinners at Puffin Restaurant!  Jordan and Meredith like Puffin's food just as much as I do!

One of the first events Jordan filmed was the Student Body President, Mokin, giving the morning announcements and prayer over the P.A. system.  The students in the background came down to sing "Happy Birthday" to one of their classmates - a tradition at ICS-P.

  This is the Middle School Cooking Class!  Mrs. Haselman has

  all boys in her class this quarter!  They absolutely love the class!

Music teacher, Mrs. Kim, giving a private violin lesson to Brody, one of our elementary students.

  Elementary Science hands-on lesson today.  This

   is the kindergarten class all excited about using 

a pulley system they were studying about to move

Mr. Garman into the air.  They had so much fun.

Grade 5 came at a later period and wanted to see

if they could lift me using only one student.  They

                          needed two. :-)

Kinder students raising one of their own classmates!

Of course, they wanted to lift their teacher into the

air!  They loved it so much.  So did Mrs. Cho!   

Science teacher, Mr. Sortore, supervising and    

having the kids talk about how they are able to   

lift Mrs. Cho into the air using pulleys.         

Here are the kinder kids raising having fun raising their teacher off of the chair and into the air!  Lots of squealing and laughing! :-)

  Jordan was able to film some of the volleyball doubleheader in

   the ICS-P gym before he and Meredith had to leave for Seoul.  

Jordan captured bot some of the boys' matches as well as the girls!

The ICS-P boys during a time out getting instructions from their  

coach, Mr. Kuhn.                              

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In the middle of all the filming on Friday, there were two field trips planned by some of our teachers. This was one of the reasons we were hoping for Jordan's filming to take place on Thursday since two elementary and two high school classes would be missing on Friday for Field Trips.  It all worked out!  Both groups were able to return earlier than expected so all was good.  Juniors and Seniors, who had gained permission from parents, left at 7:00 AM to head to the DMZ - the Demilitarized Zone, that buffer zone between North and South Korea.  They came back and everyone I spoke to really enjoyed getting to experience this trip.  They were especially interested in the experience of going into the tunnels, that North Korea had been digging in order to bring troops into Seoul for a surprise attack, but they were discovered in time by South Korea in time to thwart such an attack.

Social Studies/History HS teacher, Mr. Kolbe, briefing juniors and

             seniors on the DMZ trip at 6:45 AM on Friday.

Another picture of Mr. Kolbe getting students to sign the Release 

From before boarding the bus for the journey to the DMZ on Friday!

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Students in grades K and 1 took their field trip to the Osan AFB to check out the special fire stations and equipment utilized on this US Base.  The kids were so excited about seeing the special fire trucks as well as the special and unique equipment used in fire fighting.  They returned early wearing their fireman's hat - full of excitement, but tired.  As soon as the Kinder cherubs returned, they got their mats and took a much-needed nap! :-)  Here are a couple pictures of the Kinder and Grade 1 students enjoying their field trip to the Osan AFB Fire Department on Friday!  They loved it!

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Thanks very much for your continued love, encouragement, emails, prayers, and support.  I will be traveling to one of our sister schools on Monday.  Please pray as I journey to the International Christian School-Uijongbu, located near the border between North and South Korea.  I will be meeting with three other NICS directors from Korea and Japan.  Please enjoy a great week!  I thought I would tease you with one last photo.  This is what my friend at BC800 Coffee Shop gave me on Foundation Day as a service gift!! Oh, so yummy + it had whipped cream on it, and I didn't even ask for any! :-)  The one I enjoyed is called Honey Caramel Bread!!  :-)

Love, Gregg

MAP Testing Finishes September; ICS-P Annual Picnic Welcomes October!!

I know I have said this before, but I really don't know where the days and weeks go - at least so quickly!  Where did September go?  Quarter One will finish on October 21 and then ICS-P will have Parent-Teacher Conferences.  There is still so much to do and I feel like I am just beginning to work on a few things.  I would still value your prayers as I continue to adjust and transition to all of the things that need to be accomplished.

Enrollment continues to increase!  We are grateful for this and would continue to value your prayers as to future plans for our current building.  This past week we hit 146 students enrolled!  We are very thankful.  However, since many of our students are from US Army Base (Camp Humphreys) and the US Air Force Base (Osan), many of our students are moving to another assignment in two years. Thanks for your continued prayers concerning our enrollment and the future direction of the school.

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As many of you know, I returned from the NICS Fall Conference in Singapore early last Sunday morning.  As soon as I returned to my apartment, I laid down and was suddenly in dreamland. :-) When I woke up, it was mid-afternoon and I needed to unpack and work on some things for Monday morning at ICS-P.  The conference was very good and I really enjoyed being able to see beautiful Singapore!  I loved being able to visit classrooms and some events at the ICS-Singapore school as well.  A big highlight for me was to have the opportunity to share with the fourth-grade classes about South Korea, ICS-P, and read a book with them.  The kids seemed to enjoy the book and were very interactive and also quite attentive as I intertwined my testimony throughout my presentation. I have posted a number of pictures on Facebook about the journey to Singapore.  I will post some here for those who do not use FB.

I really like this picture at sunset in Singapore.  It was taken from the apartment of the ICS-Singapore of Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker and sons after a very yummy Indian dinner with them.  Mr. Whittaker is a HS Math teacher at ICS-Singapore!

    One of the scenes near Marina Bay in Singapore!  I love these
                 small boats taking tours throughout the bay.

Here I am posing while the Singapore Merloin attempts to shoot water into my mouth!

Another view of the Singapore Merloin!  The Merloin is a well   

known marketing icon depicted as a mythical creature with a lion's

head and the body of a fish.  It is widely used as a mascot and a  

national personification of Singapore.                      

One of the views in Marina Bay in Singapore!

 While at the Fall Conference, I was able to meet an alum of YISS!

I was very happy to meet Jay Kim for a very delicious Thai-Indian

 dinner.  So good to catch up with this young man.  Please pray for

        Jay as he finished his studies at a university in Singapore.

I was also able to meet a former YISS teacher Beth Trieber Abdillah and her husband, Robbi.  Beth is teaching at a very large international school in Singapore and Robbi is involved in Young Life ministry in Singapore.  We are enjoying some very yummy Chinese dumplings!!

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MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) Testing throughout the school continued this past week and concluded on Friday.  Once our MAP Testing coordinator finalizes the results, teachers will be given a report indicating where each child in her/his classroom is at this point.  This allows for some individualized and differentiated instruction.  The MAP testing measures each child's progress.  Each test is able to be based on the answers given by each student.  We find it very helpful.

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During the last two weeks of MAP Testing, students and teachers have been able to enjoy the changes in the rice fields surrounding the school.  It means that Fall weather will be upon us!  It is so fun to look out the windows of the school and each day and observe the changes in the rice fields.  Here are some pictures so that you can get a little view of the changes.  So beautiful!  Looking forward to observing even more changes as the rice harvest continues.

Above are two pictures of the rice fields right across the street from the ICS-P buildings in July when I arrived at ICS-P.  Below is a picture of those rice fields in late September!

It's that magical time of year when giant marshmallows begin appearing! It's the straw part of the rice plant that they then wrap up with plastic.  (Some are tempted to go marshmallow tipping at night!) :-)

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In the middle of a very busy week, I had the opportunity to travel with the Girls' and Boys' Volleyball teams to the Osan Air Force Base to watch our teams play the Osan Cougars.  I love watching these young people play.  ICS-P is a much smaller school than Osan so we were bringing our varsity teams to play against Osan's junior varsity teams.  It was fun to observe the reactions of the Osan players who appeared to be impressed with the skills and ability of our teams.  Both the girls and boys from ICS-P won their matches and represented ICS-P so well both in their performance on and off the court.  We continue to have a presence on the Osan Air Force Base and we continue to get inquiries about our school from those serving on the base.

    The ICS-P Boys' Volleyball team doing their warm-ups in the 

                              Osan Cougars' Gymnasium!

ICS-P Boys on the right preparing to score the winning point against the Cougars!

The ICS-P Girls playing!  They had a little struggle at first, but   

came out on top in the end!                         

The Boys' team making a tunnel for the girls to run through after winning their match. ( A little blurry; so sorry!)

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I have a dear friend from my days in Groton, CT who is in South Korea to receive an award for one of his marketing videos which earned him a great award.  His name is Jordan Ingram, and I am so excited that he and his wife, Meredith, will be coming to see me in Pyeongtaek once their convention is complete in Ulsan, South Korea.  Jordan has agreed to do some filming for us at ICS-P and then put together a promotional video that we can use for recruitment of teachers as well as new students. As you think of ICS-P this coming week, would you please remember Jordan and the ICS-P staff as he spends the day with us on Thursday, October 6.  So much to accomplish in a day, but I believe we can do it.  Thanks for remembering us on that day.  There are many interviews to film and many classroom activities and other school events to get clips of.  Then Jordan will be taking all of the film clips back to New England and putting together our promo video  Out desire is to have it ready by February 1.

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October was welcomed at ICS-P with our annual School Picnic on Saturday, October 1!  The rain held off until Sunday and it was so great to see quite a few of our families come to the park to enjoy a great time of fun, fellowship, yummy food, and laughter!  Our Athletic Director, Mr. Jon Greener, put together a number of "Get Acquainted" games for the entire family, fun games for the kids, and some tug-of-war competitions, which the kids, parents, and ICS-P staff enjoyed!  Then we enjoyed some amazing food!  Such a great time.  I saw a couple of the parents who attended at church this morning and they were so happy to be able to meet other families and some of our teachers and staff! Our Business Manager, Mrs. Haselman, and our great kitchen staff put together some delicious food + each family brought something to share!  Obviously, it was my first ICS-P school picnic, and I loved every minute of it!  Enjoy some pictures from this delightful event!

    Mr. Greener getting everyone's attention in order to begin the

    get-acquainted activities so that everyone can get to know one 

                        another!  Everyone had such fun!

"Getting to Know You" activity!

Mr. Greener getting the kids ready to play another fun game - a   

version of tag.                                     

Some of the families spread out throughout the park area enjoying one another and having fun getting to know other families!

                Two cherubs enjoying some fun!

Tug-of-war fun!

Some more kids enjoying each other!            

These two loved the park's playground equipment!

                This little lady enjoyed the slide!

A group of students having fun!

The kitchen staff and volunteers serving the families some very delicious taste treats!!  Sooo good!

    Our amazing kitchen staff with our Facilities Man, Mr. Song!!

Here I am eating with some parents (two of them on staff at ICS-P).  What a great time!

      After lunch, the Tug-of-War gets underway!!

Kids getting ready to defeat the parents!                 

I had the pleasure of announcing that the kids won the Tug-of-War!!  They were delighted!

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Following the ICS-P School Picnic, I went with Tony Kuhn, to COSTCO to do some shopping for food and snack items.  We had a great conversation going to and from COSTCO + we were able to pick up the necessary items we needed.  Then we went back to the Beauty Shop that Tony's wife, Yvonne (Sue) Kuhn gets her cut as well as a pedicure.  When we arrived, Tony had previously agreed to get a treatment on his feet from the "Doctor Fish" at this beauty salon.  I told him I would join him for my second one.  I actually thought he would back out, but he didn't.  All three of us (Tony, Sue, and me) were going to sit on the bench and have the Doctor Fish nibble on our feet and eat the dead skin!  However, Sue had already had her treatment so it was Tony and GGG on the bench! Tony seemed to really enjoy it and I enjoyed my second treatment.  It is quite relaxing for me! Here are some pictures of the Doctor Fish at work on our feet.

The two bad boys after sitting down on the bench are beginning to feel the tickling sensation of the Doctor Fish! :-)

Here we are again and you can see the Doctor Fish enjoying our feet.  (I did not check on Sunday to see if the fish were still living.) :-)

A closer look at the fish enjoying some tasty feet! :-)

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I would really appreciate your prayers for this coming week.  ICS-P does have Monday as a holiday for Foundation Day in Korea.  However, lots to be done beginning on Tuesday.  I will be doing some work on Monday.  Please pray that I will be able to get some time to just begin to prioritize what needs to be accomplished first, second, third, etc.  Your prayer for my friends, Jordan and Meredith, as they travel to Pyeongtaek this week to spend some time with me as well as help us prepare an effective promo video.  I would especially appreciate prayers for a couple of my toes.  It is amazing how 1 Corinthians 12 becomes real when two little members of your body hurt!  I just can't seem to get effective relief

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I am ging to leave you with a great praise as well as prayer request!  Some of you may remember that the first Middle School boy who I connected with my very first year at YISS has graduated from YISS and completed a year at California Baptist University.  You may remember that I have shared often concerning this wonderful young man who has been through so much, but I am so excited about how God is working in his life!  His name is Matthew Hahn.  Matthew has wanted to serve in the military for a long time.  During his first year at California Baptist University, he was in the R.O.T.C. program there. All Korean men need to serve two years in the military in Korea and Matthew was accepted into a very special Marine Corps program with the ROK (Republic of Korea).  He will leave on October 10 to begin his service.  Following his service, he is planning to return to California Baptist University and continue his studies there as well as his involvement in the R.O.T.C.  Matthew plans to come to ICS-Pyeongtaek on Wednesday to meet with me before he leaves. Please pray as we get together on Wednesday.

I would like to share with you what Matthew posted on Facebook just the other day about his decision and also a comment he made in reply to my comment of encouragement to him.  He continues to bless me and I am so thrilled how God has grown Matthew!  Keep praying for this wonderful young man!  Here is what he wrote to his friends on facebook about his decision to join the Marine Corps in South Korea:

"Greetings! For those of who I have not been able to update, my enlistment in the Republic of Korea Marine Corps (대한민국 해병대) has been made official. The date has been set on the 10th of October and I will be heading off to Boot Camp in Pohang, South Korea. Although it has not been a part of my plan initially, I am so grateful for the privilege I get to have in serving the people of Korea. I truly feel blessed to be surrounded by those who have encouraged me throughout this Summer when I was overwhelmed by fear and I once again, give all of you the credit for the new uniforms to be issued. Much love and respect to you all :)

My beloved Lancer Company, I don’t even know where to begin to thank you guys. I can say with much confidence that my year in ROTC was probably one of the hardest and the best moments of my life. All throughout the year in the program, you guys were the ones who were always beside me and everything that I was able to accomplish and achieve couldn’t have been done without the love and hospitality that you guys have demonstrated. I am truly excited for the future to come ahead of each and one of you as officers of the United States Army. As soon as my service in Korea is over, I will be returning to ROTC and I know that I will eventually be able to see all of you again, whether that is during my time in the program or during my service after commissioning. Until then, best of luck to you all and God bless. HUA!"

After I saw the above, I made a comment on FB to Matthew and this was his response to my comment:

"Thank you Gregg, my brother and father :) I was and am able to be brave because you have been and will continue to be there for me. I cannot fully express by words how much I thank you for being the father figure of my life when I needed it the most and I know that you will continue to do so. It is truly my honor to be able to serve with them and this was possible because of you. Thank you Gregg and see you soon! :)"

Here is the most recent picture of Matthew.  He posted it on FB with his post.  It is so good to see that smile.  Thank you for praying for this young man.  Many of you have prayed for him ever since I told you about him way back in 2010.  Thank you!!

Matthew - ready for Boot Camp! :-)

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As always, thank you very much for continuing to be so faithful with your love, care, encouragement, emails, regular mail, prayers, and support.    Enjoy a great month of October!!

Love, Gregg