Day 4
Fun fact: in Filipino culture, Christmas celebration begins in September. Since P'Mark is from there and the Grapevine interns are filled with Holliday cheer, we spent the morning decorating the ministry house with Christmas swag. Yes, Christmas music was included in our festive renovation. After we finished at the North Pole, we spent the afternoon on campus. Lunch, passed out flyers for Cafe Qui Gaan, and helped the iServe team make flowers for the Royal Funeral. Perhaps the most challenging craft I've ever attempted, but we all did it! Also cool to think, maybe this small gesture will provide comfort to a grieving Thai person. It has been an eye opening experience to see the national mourning of their beloved king.
Cafe Qui Gaan - we spent the evening with students for Grapevine's weekly English Conversation night. It was awesome and we had a fun time playing cards, crafting, snacking, and chatting. P'Mark had each Thai student pair off with a native English speaker and we exchanged answers to the questions 1) Where do you see yourself in 5 years and 2) After you graduate what is your next step? It was great to share our hopes and dreams with each other and we had the chance to pray for our partners at the end of each conversation. It was a night full of quality time - and it was extra special because it was the first time to Grapevine for three of the students. We are hoping to see our new friends for karaoke tomorrow night!
Daily Superlatives:
Most Spirited Singer: P'Mark's 3-year-old son Devvani
Top Chef: Michael for his toast dessert bar
Day 5
We spent the morning at Thammasat's Bangkok campus praying for the students and also for the Grapevine staff to have opportunities to minister at this campus. The profound loss for the Thai people was even more noticeable in Bangkok today. Roads surrounding the grand palace were all blocked off and you can sense a city-wide sadness. We will continue to pray for the Thai people as they heal and remember their king.
'Grapejam' - Dinner and karaoke night. Thai people LOVE karaoke [we do too]! Another excellent night full of new students, community, and entertainment. I'm blown away with the growth and transformation I've seen so far in comparison to our time here last year. Students are engaged, want to be at Grapevine, and are bringing their friends with them to events. This ministry creates an environment where students feel welcomed and like we say at Flatirons, "you can belong before you believe." One of my favorite parts of tonight was looking at everyone sitting around the table - family style. There were 3, maybe 4 different faiths represented and it made me think of the quote, "When you have more than you need, build a longer table not a higher fence." We literally made the table longer all night to include each person who walked through the door. It's a beautiful reminder that Jesus invites us all to His table - everyone is welcome. It's also a reminder that our similarities are greater than our differences. Love God, love people. The gospel is pretty simple when you remember it's about a Father looking at all his kids saying, "It's dinner time, take a seat at the table." This idea of sonship/adoption into the kingdom family being the essence of the gospel - and just showing people they all belong in the family is the heartbeat at Grapevine. And it is evident in the way they love the students here. It's a privilege to witness and an extremely refreshing view of ministry. Very grateful to be here.
Daily Superlatives:
Best Interpretive Dancers: Tiya and Stef (Celine Dione - my heart will go on)
Best Karaoke DJ - Intern Alex
Fun fact: in Filipino culture, Christmas celebration begins in September. Since P'Mark is from there and the Grapevine interns are filled with Holliday cheer, we spent the morning decorating the ministry house with Christmas swag. Yes, Christmas music was included in our festive renovation. After we finished at the North Pole, we spent the afternoon on campus. Lunch, passed out flyers for Cafe Qui Gaan, and helped the iServe team make flowers for the Royal Funeral. Perhaps the most challenging craft I've ever attempted, but we all did it! Also cool to think, maybe this small gesture will provide comfort to a grieving Thai person. It has been an eye opening experience to see the national mourning of their beloved king.
Cafe Qui Gaan - we spent the evening with students for Grapevine's weekly English Conversation night. It was awesome and we had a fun time playing cards, crafting, snacking, and chatting. P'Mark had each Thai student pair off with a native English speaker and we exchanged answers to the questions 1) Where do you see yourself in 5 years and 2) After you graduate what is your next step? It was great to share our hopes and dreams with each other and we had the chance to pray for our partners at the end of each conversation. It was a night full of quality time - and it was extra special because it was the first time to Grapevine for three of the students. We are hoping to see our new friends for karaoke tomorrow night!
Daily Superlatives:
Most Spirited Singer: P'Mark's 3-year-old son Devvani
Top Chef: Michael for his toast dessert bar
Day 5
We spent the morning at Thammasat's Bangkok campus praying for the students and also for the Grapevine staff to have opportunities to minister at this campus. The profound loss for the Thai people was even more noticeable in Bangkok today. Roads surrounding the grand palace were all blocked off and you can sense a city-wide sadness. We will continue to pray for the Thai people as they heal and remember their king.
'Grapejam' - Dinner and karaoke night. Thai people LOVE karaoke [we do too]! Another excellent night full of new students, community, and entertainment. I'm blown away with the growth and transformation I've seen so far in comparison to our time here last year. Students are engaged, want to be at Grapevine, and are bringing their friends with them to events. This ministry creates an environment where students feel welcomed and like we say at Flatirons, "you can belong before you believe." One of my favorite parts of tonight was looking at everyone sitting around the table - family style. There were 3, maybe 4 different faiths represented and it made me think of the quote, "When you have more than you need, build a longer table not a higher fence." We literally made the table longer all night to include each person who walked through the door. It's a beautiful reminder that Jesus invites us all to His table - everyone is welcome. It's also a reminder that our similarities are greater than our differences. Love God, love people. The gospel is pretty simple when you remember it's about a Father looking at all his kids saying, "It's dinner time, take a seat at the table." This idea of sonship/adoption into the kingdom family being the essence of the gospel - and just showing people they all belong in the family is the heartbeat at Grapevine. And it is evident in the way they love the students here. It's a privilege to witness and an extremely refreshing view of ministry. Very grateful to be here.
Daily Superlatives:
Best Interpretive Dancers: Tiya and Stef (Celine Dione - my heart will go on)
Best Karaoke DJ - Intern Alex