Alumni Reunion

It's always good to see old friends at Grapevine, and this year we had a special Souper Tuesday where several schedules aligned. Former intern Raef came and shared a talk, Bank shared about his work with Habitat for Humanity, and Anas blessed us with a song. It was good to be together again and realize the impact that this community can have on people's lives and futures. 

We stopped to take a group shot.

And then they all squeezed into one taxi on the way back to Bangkok!

The Golden G Awards

Each year our student leaders grow in skills and confidence. As a staff we try to encourage their unique gifts and personalities with an end of the year awards ceremony called The Golden G's. Students receive recognition for helping out in the kitchen, bringing friends, encouraging the community, and utilizing their skills. This year we add a special surprise as guest "celebrities" (really it was just use in costume . . . ) presented the certificates. The event was part awards show, part talent show and entirely hilarious. This group of students always blesses us with creativity, talent and love. 

THANKS G-FORCE!

Students show off their Golden G Awards

Aom receives an award for most hours spent at Grapevine.

Enjoy grins excitedly as she accepts her award.

All these pictures were taken by Khem who understandably received "The Golden Camera."

Sometimes Fliers Really Do Work (Part 2)

In an earlier post I mentioned a flier which connected three students with Grapevine during the start of our semester. I ended that post by saying that I believed these girls would continue to come, and that prediction came true. Jeab and Dew (Dew is pictured below) became very active members of our community last semester. They helped out washing dishes almost every week, and they frequently  serenaded me with songs from their high school days as we splashed soap and water around the kitchen. They attended almost every event, and even dressed up for our Halloween party. When we had our Thanksgiving in March dinner, they attended and participated in our Thankfulness Show and Tell. 

As Dew began to talk, she smiled as she pulled a folded piece of paper from her purse - a flier. The flier that first introduced her to Grapevine. She simply said she was grateful for this piece of paper which brought her to Grapevine and to this group of friends. Thinking back on all the wonderful talks I've had with Jeab and Dew, the games and laughs and fun we've shared, I'm pretty thankful for it, too.

If you pretend this spoon is a flier, this photo works perfectly with this blog.

Jeab and Dew get ready to enter the Haunted Maze at our Halloween Party. The scariest part of that maze was me dressed as Frida Kahlo standing at the door.

Chance Encounters

On any given day you will find me "wandering about" campus looking for divine appointments. I often take a book and sit near a crowded corner, or walk through busy hallways hoping to meet an old friend or make a new one.

A few weeks ago I started out to campus and just as I was passing by the bus stop it began to rain. I quickly decided to jump on the trolley instead of taking my normal short cut. The moment I got on I saw a friend of a friend, who eagerly called out for me to sit with her. We talked as the trolley brought her closer and closer to her dreaded afternoon class, and just as we arrived at her stop she said, "Do you want to go to a coffee shop with me? I'm going to skip class."

Now, I don't encourage skipping class, but my time as a campus minister has certainly taught me that I can't change the fact that they will skip class. I simply make the most of every opportunity as it comes to me. We went to the coffee shop and chatted for hours. The afternoon ended with a promise to meet up again sometime.

Don't judge me, but I said, "Any time you feel like you need to skip class, give me a call."

Like I said, I don't plan a student's life for them, I show up and meet them where they're at.

We love GREEN at Grapevine. So of course, we love St.Patrick's day. We also learned, thanks to our special guest speaker Perry Rubin from Auburn Christian fellowship, that God LOVES us.

Halloween in March!

It's been a semester of Holidays at grapevine, and every week's a party! Using Holidays for the Souper Tuesday theme has been a fun way to keep people entertained, and it's added a lot of creativity to our events, and our talks. Costumes, a haunted maze, and crazy games set the backdrop for a talk about a scary story - The Fall of Man. Although this isn't the typical ghost story, it highlights the common fear of death, and if the story ended there it would truly be terrifying. But the Holiday theme continues, and at the Easter Party, which will take place on April 10th, we'll share the rest of the story.

"Where o Death, is your sting?"

Finding Nemo Retreat

In mid-February Grapevine took a trip to the beach to relax and enjoy God's awesome creation.

The weekend centered on the idea of finding lost things. Students played games about searching, performed wacky skits and loosing something important, and shared in discussions about redemption and forgiveness. One student, View, was able to share her testimony about being found by Christ. Of course, everyone found something while on the trip - a cute little puppy or an interesting seashell . . . or it might have been new Friends.

above: View, Michal Ruth, and Aom standing on the beach.

above: Michal Ruth with View

above: students take one last photo before heading home

Sometimes Fliers Really Do Work

Every semester starts off with a big promotional push for those of us in campus ministry. Trying to catch them before their schedule picks up, we strike out to every canteen and busy intersection and give away fliers and candy. After a few smiles and quick conversations, aided by more fliers and candy, we've talked to hundreds of students. Some of them appear genuinely interested. Most I'll never see again. But at least we've gotten our name out on campus.

Usually the fliers bring in a group of first timers to the next event. Sometimes they stick around, and sometimes they don't. That's just the way the process works. I've come to accept that fact.

Sometimes these random bits of paper take me entirely by surprise.

Last week three girls showed up near the end of our Bible study, and slipped in near the door. Afterward I went to talk with them, and asked if they had a friend at grapevine. They said that no they didn't know anyone here, but they had received a flier three weeks ago, and hadn't been free to come sooner. They'd kept the information and had been so excited to join that they showed up long after I'd anticipated seeing any real results from our opening promotion. They've also returned and, I believe, will keep coming back.

Sometimes fliers just get tossed out and trampled mere seconds after they've been handed out, and sometimes, not unlike a seed, they really do work.

Giving Thanks in All Circumstances

I love this photo that my roommate Grace took before we started our flood clean up. Such an appropriate hidden message to find scribbled on the walls of Grapevine.

Flood Clean Up

When we returned to Grapevine after almost two months of "floodcation," we had a daunting task ahead of us. Mud and mold covered the floors and walls. Furniture literally fell apart as we tried to pick it up, and mice had destroyed many cords and containers that the water hadn't reached. But with a little elbow grease and sweat, new paint and plenty of shopping trips, we were able to give our old rooms a fresh new look. We've already opened our doors and students are enjoying a new semester and a new place to hang out.

If you would like to help financially with the flood renovations

go to GIVE TO FLOOD RELIEF