International Flavor

Every semester we have many nationalities represented at Grapevine. Not only do we connect with Thai students, we also meet exchange students from all over the globe places as close as Vietnam and China, and places from further away like South Africa, Germany, and Brazil. This semester we celebrated the beautiful nature of our cultural heritages with an International Night. The event included foods from around the world, games, mixed languages and of course, PEOPLE.

One of my favorite aspects of Globalscope, the International Campus Ministry branch of CMF, is that we all have a passion for reaching out to students throughout the world. As we train up leaders we hope that they too will develop a passion for sharing Christ's love with the nations. In the past two years we've had the opportunity of hosting interns from two other Globalscope ministries. In God's timing, we hope that Grapevine will send out interns and exchange students into this larger community.

Above ( A delicious buffet of International foods)

Below ( students hang up a poster to mark "Where you've been" and "Where you're going")

Below (Intern Glaucia says goodbye to some good friends before returning to Spain)

Good People

We've been truly blessed this year with some great people at Grapevine. We've had several amazing interns, a great group of exchange students, and a wonderful Thai student leadership group. The core members of grapevine really form the heart of our ministry, and allow it to grow and flourish here in Rangsit. Please keep praying for our core members as we learn to live in community, and as we show the world what it means to love as Jesus loved.

Below (Some of our core members pose for a snapshot in front of Grapevine)

Last weekend Grapevine took a trip to the beach. We had 11 students, 4 staff members, 3 exchange students, and 2 interns (but we left the partridge in the pear tree.)

It was a nice getaway after mid-term tests, and a chance to grow into closer relationship with each other.

(above) Some people were up to see the sun rise. I wasn't.

(below) They say getting there is half the fun.

(below) We all stop for a group shot in front of our hostel.

Wall Mural

Here are a few pics of the not quite finished but still very cool living room mural. I've wanted to paint this wall for a long time, but always lacked the "right idea." Then I decided the best way to decorate a community space was to let the community decorate it. Everyone jumped in and we even convinced non-artistic people to add a squiggle or two.

Souper Tuesdays

Souper Tuesday happens every Tuesday. And we eat soup. And it's actually pretty super.

Not only do we eat awesome free soup, we also play games, sing and worship, and have a short Bible discussion. On our opening night at grapevine this year, we tried to see how well our students know the minds of the staff by playing "Match Game." We introduced the basic concept of grapevine by studying the passage of John 15:5 - God is the vine and we are the branches. If we stay connected to Him we will produce good fruit.

The staff carefully consider their answers (above)

while a team of students listen to a question (below).

As I try to figure out the rules to a new game, students pose for a picture. (below)

The First Party

As usual the first party of the school year required every ounce of

energy from our staff, exchange students and Thai student leaders. And as

usual, the effort paid off. We had 37 students both new and old join us for

this event, and everyone left with a smile on their face and a promise to

return.

(above) Michal Ruth and Milk welcome students to a night of fun,

games, and great food.

(below) Some die hard karaoke fans sing until

we close the doors.

(above) Students pose for some cute photos with friends.

(below) Every party requires a great clean up crew.

"I know God is real because I have a microwave," were not the words that I expected to hear from my student Eak. At first I thought this must be one of those language barrier moments that missionaries speak about so often. But as he continued to tell the story, and I tried to follow his rapid Thai, I realized that I'd heard him right. Let me back up and explain from the beginning.

Two years ago, Eak, a student at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand, would hardly look foreigners in the eye. His good friend attended our weekly Bible studies at the Grapevine Student Club. She'd tried coaxing him to our free Tuesday meals, but his shy manner prevented him from coming. A year later, though, he decided to join us for a party, and had so much fun that he returned the following week. Soon he became actively involved in the ministry, and eagerly listened as we shared stories about Christ. When we began to talk about the power of prayer, he decided to experience it for himself. That's where the microwave comes in.

At a New Year's work party, Eak's company raffled several items, including two big ticket pieces - a TV and a huge microwave. Looking around the room of over 2,000 people, Eak knew he had a slim chance to win. So he enlisted the help of God. The simple prayer crossed his lips, "God, if you are real, let me win that microwave." And he got it.

If you are interested in sharing financial with the ministry of the grapevine, please contact me:

michalruth@gmail.com for more information.

To give online go to:

http://cmfi.org/michal-ruth-penwell

I had a good conversation with God this morning. I often find that the best conversations include His gentle reprimands. Sometimes the better than the best conversations include His not so gentle reprimands.

This particular prayer time was no different. Since learning about my need to raise additional support, my prayer times have contained a large dose of supplication for funding and new givers. Today almost before I'd sat down, I said, "Lord, please help me to raise support." I didn't start out with a cheerful, "It's such a beautiful day, God, thanks for sharing it with me." Nor did I greet Him with a, "Our Father who Art in heaven." I rushed in and just said, "Dad, I need 20 bucks." I found it rather interesting that I could do this with my heavenly Father, but I've never done that with my earthly Dad. It rankles me when kids selfishly demand money in that manner.

I stopped, backtracked, and asked myself, what's the issue here? Unfortunately for me, there are several. God and I tackled worry first. My preacher's kid training automatically took me to Matthew, where I picked up reading under the not too subtle heading "Do Not Worry." It's a passage we're all familiar with, so I won't quote it here (if you want to read it, though, go to Matthew 6 : 25 - 34). Toward the end, the famous exhortation to "seek first His kingdom and righteousness " stood out to me, just as it does every time I read that chapter. (You'd think I'd learn sooner or later)

I pondered the nature of seeking verses the nature of worry. While both can saturate us thoroughly, worry is easy, but seeking is not. Seeking requires action; worry drives us to inactivity, or I should say, worthless activity. Seeking inspires us , but worry drains us.

I chose worry this morning because worrying is easy, and seeking is hard.

After turning these ideas around in my mind, I latched on to the phrase, "His kingdom." I adore this phrase, and love the way that it pops up in the Gospels. I've recently started reading the phrase "His kingdom" with a silent definition tacked on to it. I always think, "His kingdom - any place, situation or opportunity where His will is being done."

Taking a deep breath I waited for this to saturate me. The silence brought me this thought, "Worrying is about my will, while seeking is about His will."

I started to protest (perhaps too much) saying, " It is undoubtedly God's will that I return to Thailand. It's His will that I become team leader. The team needs me there, and the students need me there. The ministry needs me there. I need to be there, and not here. I need to go, not sit around and wait for the money so that I can go."

And then God brought me to the deeper issue, which by the way is always the issue and I don't know why I didn't just jump straight to it. Pride always nestles itself very closely to my heart. My pride tricked me into believing that without me the ministry would have a terrible start at the beginning of the year. Pride deceived me by whispering to me, telling me that if I don't raise the funds no one will do it for me. It's no wonder I worry. If all my success depends on my will then I do not worry enough.

But, the addition of goodness in our lives does not depend on our will, so why worry? Instead seek first His kingdom. Seek His righteousness.

I'm seeking the strength to ask, and seeking people to help in this process of revealing His will to the nations. Seeking people to help usher in His kingdom. I'm trying not to just sit around and worry about how it will happen or if I'll get the funding on time. I'm seeking to swallow my pride and ask for His will to occur even when it forces me off of center stage.

Like I said, it was a good conversation, and you didn't even hear the half of it.