I love being a girl!

I love being a girl! Every month at Grapevine we have a girls sleepover called "The Period." It's a great time to eat chocolate, and cry, and watch sappy movies, and talk about issues specific to girls. Our themes have included, "The Mirror" a look at self image, "Uplift and Support" encouraging each other, and "Love and Chocolate."

It's all about the LUV

Second semester ends in February in Thailand. (March, April, and May are the summer months here.) Since we emphasize Jesus' love at the Grapevine and since February is the month of pink, pink love, it's a great time for a Love Banquet to wrap up the year with our friends at Thammasat U.

Last year was the year of the dog (Chinese calendar), so we had Puppy Love as our theme. This year it's the year of the pig, so we went with "Will you be swine" and "I love you pig time." Is that stupid? Probably, but you can't stop us. Next year is the year of the rat. That might be harder to work with.

Grapevine is a Christian club for students, but you don't have to be Christian to hang out with us. In fact, most of the students at Grapevine are Buddhist. (I always love explaining that to new people. "This is a Christian club, but most of the people are Buddhist.") Our team, a few Thai Christian students, and exchange students live out the Gospel and let our Buddhist friends get a sneak peak of what life in Jesus is like. And they get to have fun while they do it.

The Love Banquet wraps up the year, but the relationships go on. This has been a good year for relationships. Some of our friends have gotten so much closer to Jesus. Others at least know a real live Christian. Pray that God will ferment all that good stuff while they are away over summer.

From GA to Mexico and back again(for a bit)

Just wanted to check in with all of y'all - we are currently in the US on furlough for a half-year, and have really been enjoying the chance to visit and reconnect with friends, family and supporters. We are currently based in Peachtree City, GA at the fabulous Gronner manse (otherwise known as Angie's parents house :) )

This Sunday Angie and I are going to present/preach/generally get the word out about what Globalscope is and what God has been doing in Puebla - all in an hour at Angie's home church, 1st Presbyterian of Peachtree City. Feel free to drop in! Later this month our sweeping (& ever expanding) tour will take us to the much-ballyhooed CCF Gatlinburg retreat, Washington DC via Fayetteville NC, and perhaps the Dwarf House.

Anyone who has spent much time with me knows my love of a good restaurant, and so any suggestions you all have for unique places to eat on our travels around to see supporters are most welcome. We'll check in again in March, when we will travel out west to visit supporters and friends in Colorado and Utah. The picture is of my dad and Jack playing with a euphonium during a recent visit to NC.

- Matt